Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

July 20, 2014

Pioneer Day is fast approaching and we can’t believe that July is almost over.  We actually have only twelve weeks more of our mission.  As I was listening to “Music and the Spoken Word” today, I got a little teary eyed thinking about leaving.  As I have mentioned before, when does anyone have such an opportunity as we have serving our mission right at church headquarters.  We are strengthened by the spirit on a daily basis just being here.

Following surgery you can see the  screws

 

 

Taggart had his back surgery on Friday so we came home to Ogden for his recovery.  The operation went well and we are hopeful that the pain he has been experiencing will diminish over time.  At the moment he is in great discomfort but it has been only two days since he had his operation.  We were comparing this moment to what it is like in the repentance process.  You have to go through the extreme misery before you can enjoy the exquisite joy or you have to go through the extreme misery before you can enjoy being relieved from the pain.

As we came home for Taggart’s recovery, we realized we would miss the giant waterslide that ran down Main Street in honor of Pioneer Day on Saturday.  Apparently according to our daughter, April, it was quite the sight.  It would have been fun to just gaze at the people as they slid down the hill in front of our apartment.

The Pioneer Day Mormon Tabernacle Concert was on Friday and Saturday.  Unfortunately, we could not attend but on Thursday during a hospitality tour I saw part of the rehearsal.  The gentlemen who played the villain in the Disney movie “Frozen” was the guest artist.  Although we didn’t see the whole show in person, we were able to see it on TV.  It is quite remarkable that the church puts on these grand performances so often during the year and for free.