Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

April 20, 2014

This was Easter week with many people coming to the Square to partake of the spirit and think about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, His atonement and resurrection.  A special film “He is Risen” was playing continuously in the North Visitors’ Center and “The Messiah” was performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Friday and Saturday nights.  “Music and the Spoken Word” was marvelous as well because all the songs were Easter related.  The concluding number “The Hallelujah Chorus” was out of this world and there was a standing ovation for the choir and Mack Wilberg, the director.

The senior couples, Curtises and Frosts, decided to put together an Easter dinner for the sisters.  So we gathered together the food for the dinner all week long.  The menu included ham, green salad, tropical fruit salad, rolls and sheet cake.  We also put together 200 plastic eggs with jelly beans in them.  It was a lot of work but the sisters were so appreciative.  I’ve never heard so many “thank yous” in my life.  I know a little taste of home means so much to them.

Elder and Sister Frost with our tool boxes to assist the Sisters

As was mentioned before, we are in charge of clean checks for the sister’s apartments this transfer.  On Wednesday of this week we performed them.  Between the Curtises and ourselves we looked at forty-two apartments.  Out of that forty-two only one failed.  We went through them rather quickly and I was surprised that it only took three hours.  In another two weeks we will do it again and hopefully the next transfer we will have a new office couple to take over this responsibility.

The Legacy Theatre in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is getting a new film to replace “Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration.”  We were lucky enough on Thursday to preview that new film.  It is entitled, “Meet the Mormons” and is geared for those people who know very little about the Mormon faith.  There were six different scenarios of members throughout the world telling their stories.  It was terrific and of course Taggart and I cried from beginning to end.  When the spirit touches you it is almost impossible to control emotions.  Although they have not told us when the film will be out to the general public, we hope it will preview this summer.  With so many visitors coming to the Square at that time a lot of souls could be touched by this film.

Special moment with Sisters Wu and Lunddahl

We also had an opportunity to go to the temple this week and do a baptism for our sweet Chinese sister, Sister Wu.  Taggart was able to be baptized for her grandfather, Wu Jiu ming.  She was very emotional throughout the baptism and confirmation and said she felt like she had just been baptized herself.  We are hoping and praying that he will be receptive to this ordinance and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ.