Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

March 23, 2014

It is now officially spring although some days it feels more like winter.  As we walk around Temple Square we are filled with such joy with all the daffodils, pansies, tulips, crocus, and the deep scent of the hyacinths blooming.  Our souls are filled with appreciation for the beauty of God’s creations.

Luckily, I was at full force this week even though in going to the doctor on Monday he found that I still had a head and nasal infection.  So, I am again on antibiotics, but it feels great to actually talk again and even sing.  Speaking of health, Taggart needs to have surgery next week.  A little growth appeared on his nose and it was found to be cancerous.  He will go through a process of having it cut out and hopefully he will not need plastic surgery.

This week we had mission training from those in the Missionary Department.  As Conference approaches our interactions with members may be a little different than before.  At the last Conference we were encouraged to get as many referrals as possible.  The Missionary Department wants us now to encourage members to do missionary work and think of someone they could teach rather than giving us the name of that individual.  Apparently the referral system has not been working too well.  The sisters seem to really appreciate this new approach to their teaching.

Since Hospitality Tours are fast approaching, we are looking for some new part-time senior couples to help with this activity.  Brother and Sister Ken Burton, from the Malan’s Peak Ward, came to mind as a potential part-time couple.  As we called them to see if they might be interested, we were thrilled when they said they would be anxious to serve in this capacity.  These new senior couples need to know how to handle these Hospitality Tours and Temple Square so the Curtis’ and Frosts’ are putting together a handbook for senior couples.  Hopefully it won’t take us too long to complete this project

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We had another celebrity sighting this week when we saw President Uchtdorf.  We were leaving the Church Office Building through the parking lot when we saw him get into his car.  As he passed us he waved and made the first gesture.  Also we heard back from Sheri Dew and she will be speaking to us in Relief Society on May 15^th.  What a thrill it will be to hear from her on the topic “Women and the Priesthood.”

It was an unexpected surprise today when Taggart started to have chest pains while at “Music and the Spoken Word.”  Because it was so much like the pain he had experienced before when he had to have heart stints, we went to the emergency room.  After a number of tests, including a nuclear stress test, he was released and sent home.  We are just waiting for the results of this stress test to see if there is something to be concerned about.  We are keeping our fingers crossed.