Twenty Sixth Week

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
December 1, 2013

Elder and Sister Frost, Sister Seppi (wife of a counselor to
President Gillette) serving the dinner.

This was the week of Thanksgiving, a time to pause and show our gratefulness for all of our blessings.  We held quite the celebration in the mission.  We rented a facility called “Noahs” which had many rooms where various activities could go on at the same time.  The sisters celebrated by line dancing, skating (yes, ice skating), watching movies, playing walleyball, pool, and various and assorted other games, doing crafts or just relaxing.  Of course, we had the traditional turkey dinner which was catered.  All the senior couples and the mission presidency dished out the food and so we didn’t eat until everyone had been served.  Luckily, the food held out except for corn, so we had quite the feast.   Most of the sisters had never experienced

Sisters ice skating on Thanksgiving at a place called Noahs

a Thanksgiving dinner before so it was quite a cultural shock to them……..especially tasting dressing and cranberry sauce.  We also presented a skit where the president and the senior couples played pilgrims, Indians, and assorted turkeys.  There was a lot of laughing and fun.  Because we had been given the assignment of decorating we spent a great deal of time pulling together all the decorations including getting thirty pumpkins and assorted gourds.  But, it was well worth it!

Prior to Thanksgiving Day we held another Transfer Conference.  Time is just whizzing by and we couldn’t believe that another transfer was occurring.  It is so difficult to say goodbye to sisters that we love and bid adieu to those that are going outbound.  We also greeted twenty-four new incoming sisters.  I know that we have mentioned this before, but just when you start feeling comfortable with everyone, knowing their names etc., you have to start all over again.  Interestingly, all the new sisters are from various parts of the world, but there are none from the United States.
 

Taggart was privileged to go on a VIP tour with Jewish leaders from various parts of the world this week.  Included in the group were Rabbi Noam Marans and President Stan Bergman of the American Jewish Committee.  Elder Larry Gibson, 1^st Counselor in the YM General Presidency, also joined them.  He was a privilege for him to tag along and answer various questions regarding Temple Square.  They seemed very impressed by what they saw and according to Elder Gibson donated a large amount of money to our humanitarian effort. 

Since Thanksgiving is over, we begin the Christmas Season.  The lights on Temple Square were lit the day after Thanksgiving and it was wild……wall to wall people.   It seemed like everyone in the valley was on Temple Square.  The beauty of the surroundings was phenomenal.  It looked like a fairyland out of a storybook.  It is truly magical to be here at Christmas and feel the warmth and love that emanates from this sacred place.  To honor our Savior, Jesus Christ, is what this holiday is all about and we are glad to be surrounded by images of Him and His birth.