Revelatory Changes, Ministering and Service

I know that President Russell M. Nelson is a Prophet of God!!  It has been revealed and confirmed to me.  The General Conference that just completed was an amazing experience for us personally.  Each session was inspiring and that inspiration continued to come quicker throughout the conference.   This was an appropriate culmination to the past few weeks which have been filled with spiritual experiences.

As we approached Easter and General Conference our focus was on preparing ourselves for these special days.  We were also preparing for a family activity on Easter and participating in the Jordan River Temple Open House.  We love being retired and being able to use our time in those things that matter most.  It brings us much joy!

We love participating in self-reliance classes with the young missionaries at Welfare Square.  Each week we are inspired by their service and their efforts.  We have enjoyed seeing them in other settings.  For example, I saw Elder Ben Milligan assigning lockers in the dressing room of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  Sister Rueckert thinks she saw Elder Swainston in the choir in the Saturday afternoon session.  Sister Rueckert's showed her love for these missionaries by baking these Easter cookies. 

Easter cookies for the young missionaries at Welfare Square

We have now completed 8 lessons with them and will complete lesson 10 before we leave for Europe.  We will finish up the My Foundation lessons when we return and then begin other self-reliance materials.  We have also completed 10 lessons in our family Self-Reliance  Finance course.  We expect to finish these lessons before leaving for Europe.  We have also made arrangements to begin Self-Reliance lessons in our ward when we return.  We love participating in these divinely inspired materials that bless lives both temporally and spiritually.

We continue to find more ways to involve others in the wonderful work of Family History and Temple Work.  We have had over 200 baptisms performed for our ancestors in the past few weeks by the youth in my brother's ward and by grandchildren of one of our neighbors.  We are sending another 100 names to another brother in California for his ward to perform next week.  In many of these cases those individuals involved will also help do the additional ordinances.

Last week I was able to pass some of the family history work to a 14 year old grand nephew who is excited about the work that we are doing.  He will begin entering data into Family Search and encourage his family to help with the temple ordinances.  We are loving seeing so many family and friends assisting in this great work that we have been blessed to be a part of.

We started our work as volunteer ushers for the Jordan River Temple open house last week.  We met initially at our ward meetinghouse for a general orientation with other volunteers.  We then took a bus to our assigned locations.  On Wednesday we were assigned to work at the meetinghouse next to the temple where visitors come initially.  There we helped them to get seated in different rooms where they watched an introductory movie before they began the temple tour.  It was rewarding to see so many come to the open house.  I (Tom) had the opportunity to escort those that spoke different languages to a multi-lingual room.  I was able to use my Portuguese with many of the Spanish speaking visitors.  Some even thought I was speaking Spanish.

Part of the presentation given to all volunteers

Sister Rueckert outside her room

Directing visitors to her room

 We went back on Friday and were assigned to work in the basement of the temple, which included the baptistry.  This day was specially busy as it was Good Friday and many schools were on spring break.  They estimated that we would have about 1,000 visitors per hour coming through the temple.  We experienced a steady flow of visitors, many families with their children and grandchildren. It was gratifying to see so many teaching their children and many other visitors who were seeing the temple for the first time.  We moved around from station to station, including helping people come up and down the elevators.  After 4 hours of service, we were physically tired but spiritually uplifted.

Our assignment on the back of the badge

Usher badges that we word

Together with our usher badges

On the bus from the initial meetinghouse to the temple with other volunteers

Outside the temple after our volunteer assignment

After our ushering assignment on Wednesday, I was able to go back through the open house with some of our children who had not yet had the opportunity.  It was rewarding to take Ben, Camila and Kari through the tour.  I had mentioned to Ben that he should dress up for this occasion.  He went out and bought a new shirt, pants and shoes for the open house.  Ben had remembered that he was sealed to us in this temple many years ago.  He also reported special feelings while in the Celestial Room.  I know that the spirit of this temple will be felt by all who have softened hearts.  I am excited to see the softening of Ben's heart as he has grown older.  He is certainly making progress.  Kari was also a wonderful help with Camila.  We took her through the tour in a wheel chair to make it easier for her.  She was carrying an Easter bunny that Beckie and her kids had given her earlier that day.  She loved it so much, that she would not leave it in the car.

In front of the Christus with Ben, Camila and Kari

Our souvenir photo from the open house.

That same night, Kari took me for a belated birthday dinner.  It was great to have one on one time with this special daughter who has grown so much in the past few years.

We were also blessed for Debbie to be accepted as an organist in the Jordan River Temple.  This has been a lifelong dream of hers.  After practicing on the organ for a week, she passed the audition and now is getting ready to serve once the temple is dedicated.  Between our shifts as ordinance workers, Debbie playing the organ and our normal temple visits, the temple will be a big part of our life.  No complaints from us.

Debbie auditioning with the person responsible for all volunteer organists in the temple

Sunday night after conference, we had our annual Easter Dinner with all of our children and grandchildren.   We prepare for days ahead of time for these activities. Debbie always puts her special touch into the activity.  This time she made paper carrots full of Easter candy for all of the grandchildren.  The photos below show some of the grandchildren with their carrot of candy.

Box of carrots made with love 

Ellie and Olivia

River's children

Aria and Paisley

Addie and Hudson

Camila with her sons, Caide and Isake and Pollyanna's kids, Aria and Paisley

Since Russell M. Nelson became our new President of the Church, we have been listening and studying all of his conference talks from the time he was called as an apostle in 1984.  We finished this marvelous journey on the Thursday before conference.  What a joy it has been to ponder his direction to us over the past 34 years.  We have learned to know him and love him even more.  We have both felt that our testimony of his role as a prophet has been strengthened through this process.  Two blogs ago, I shared some of my favorite quotes from the first 17 years.  I would now like to add some additional quotes that have been so meaningful in the past 17 years.

Inspirational quotes from some of the talks of President Russell M. Nelson:

• To set our house in an order pleasing to the Lord, we need to do it His way
• The only duration of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the human soul is forever
• Think of it: When a mother bears and cares for a child, she not only helps the earth answer the end of its creation, but she glorifies God!
• Peace can prevail only when that natural inclination to fight is superseded by self-determination to live on a loftier level
• One can think a prayer, especially when words would interfere
• And when your wife is sealed to you, her power and potential will increase yours
• If a family problem has not yielded to prayer and fasting, a mission might be considered
• This [celestial] rest is of such perfection and glory, that man has need of a preparation before he can according to the laws of that kingdom, enter it and enjoy its blessings.
• When sore trials come upon us, it's time to deepen our faith in God, to work hard, and to serve others.  Then He will heal our broken hearts.
• If couples contemplate often - - with each other in the temple -- sacred covenants will be better remembered and kept.
• Spiritual security will always depend upon how one lives, not whee one lives.
• Thus, when Jesus said "repent," He asked us to change -- to change our mind, knowledge, and spirit - - even our breath.
• Our ministry is to bless the lives of all who will learn and follow the "more excellent way" of the Lord.
• Do not try to control your children.  Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life.
• Celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other relationship.
• As we partake of the sacramental emblems worthily, we are further promised that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.  That is spiritual sustenance that cannot be obtained in any other way.
• "Real intent" means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.
• We live to die, and we die to live again.
• Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for Him.
• The attributes by which we will be judged one day are all spiritual.
• The desire to serve is a natural outcome of one's conversion, worthiness, and preparation.
• A strong human spirit with control over appetites of the flesh is master over emotions and passions and not a slave to them.  That kind of freedom is as vital to the spirit as oxygen is to the body! Freedom from self-slavery is true liberation!
• Keeping divine commandments brings blessings, every time! Breaking divine commandments brings a loss of blessings, every time!
• Senior leaders are constantly being tutored such that one day they are ready to sit in the highest councils.  They learn how to hear the voice of the Lord through the whisperings of the Spirit.
• When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, "What sign do I want to give to God?"
• No other work transcends that of righteous intentional parenting!
• Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God.
• We know that the culminating act of all creation was the creation of woman!
• Sisters, do you realize the breadth and scope of your influence when you speak those things that come to your heart and mind as directed by the Spirit?
• The Lord loves to do His own teaching in His holy house.
• Priesthood power can also calm the  minds and heal fractures in the hearts of those we love.
• joy is a gift for the faithful.  It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ.
• His Son, Jesus Christ gave his life for us.  All so that we could have access to godly power - -  power sufficient to deal witth the burdens, obstacles, and temptations of our day.

With all of this study, Debbie and I felt that we were prepared and anxious to hear the word of God from our new President Prophet in this conference.  Our hearts were right and our testimonies strong of his calling.  However, as general conference began, we had many more witnesses.  Each session was full of powerful thoughts and messages.  We started with the solemn assembly and felt the power of sustaining our new President and all of the apostles, including the two new apostles.  

Each of these were friends of our family in different ways.  Elder Ulisses Soares had been my boss for many years in Brazil and a close friend of the family.  Elder Gong had been the stake president who had called our son Sam as an Elders Quorum President and met with him on a monthly basis.  I had also had the privilege to be with Elder Gong in his apartment in Hong Kong.  Our joy was full as the conference just began.

Elders Soares and Gong

In the talks of Saturday morning, Elder Anderson had said "Don't be surprised if your personal views are not initially in line with the Prophets words.  These are moments of learning." (paraphrased from my notes).  That certainly prepared us for the remainder of conference.

Inspirational talks continued throughout the day and in the priesthood session, the revealed changes to the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums were shared.  We heard the words of the entire First Presidency, totally in harmony with the renewed focus of ministering through a combined priesthood quorum.

On Sunday morning, we heard from several leaders from around the world, including our dear friend Elder De Feo, who gave us our exit interview from our mission.  We love him and we certainly loved his message of love.  He practices what he preaches.  And then we heard from the complete First Presidency, once again in a coordinated effort to teach us of the power of the Holy Ghost, small and simple things and the principles of revelation.  As I listened to President Nelson teach us about revelation from his own experiences and by precept for us to apply in our lives, I was overcome by the Holy Ghost.  I knew that a prophet of God was speaking to us as a prophet of God.   I knew that he was the voice of the Lord to all people on earth.  As the session completed.  I just sat overcome with gratitude for a living prophet.  

We all need to receive our very specific witness of our prophet.   Debbie had received her witness during the solemn assembly, as she had the opportunity to raise her hand and sustain President Nelson as the President of our Church.  She had just finished reading the biography of President Nelson that we bought earlier in March.  I thought that I had received mine, but it came so powerfully during his talk, that I cannot deny it.  In President Nelson's words "Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true."  As he taught about revelation, I received revelation.

When we thought that are hearts were full and overflowing, we learned in the afternoon about the change from home teaching and visiting teaching to ministering.  Elder Holland's words expressed it well. "The most memorable moments of life are when we feel the rush of revelation.  I don't know how many more rushes we can handle this weekend."  And then at the end of the conference President Nelson announced 7 new temples, including one in India and in Russia.  One more rush of revelation.

Now what remains is to put into practice what we learned, especially the specific promptings that came to us during the conference.

Come to the House of the Lord

Our priorities in our service are to help our family and others to come to the temple and to enjoy the promised blessings from our Heavenly Father.  This past month has increased our hope as we continue to see so many members of the Church in the temples and as we begin preparing for the rededication of the Jordan River Temple.  This includes a call as officiators in the temple and participation in the open house.  We also continue to be amazed at the goodness of the many dedicated saints in our stake and ward. 

17 of our family on the opening day of the open house, March 17

Just after we finished our last blog, Debbie and I were called and set apart as ordinance workers in the Jordan River temple.  We will be serving on Wednesdays during the day and on every other Saturday evening.  We are humbled and excited for this opportunity to serve!

The same day my mother's computer started having problems.  Some of the drivers were not functioning correctly and it quickly surpassed my ability to resolve.  So she called on the experts, my childhood best friend, Boyd Tidwell.  He spent his career in technology and has been very helpful over the years in visiting my mother and helping her with technology needs.  We couldn't find anyone better at any price.  Of course, Boyd will not accept any type of repayment.  His feeling is that he has  been blessed with talents and he loves using them to serve others.  What a wonderful attitude!  After spending a full day of trying different solutions, even Boyd was stumped.  He was able to get the drivers corrected in a "safe mode" but was unable to get the computer back out of the safe mode.

Boyd Tidwell, working on my mother's computer

In the end she decided to buy a new computer and decided on a laptop.  This will give her additional ability to be "portable" and also to use two screens in her computer activities.  Since she spends much of her time on the computer, especially for family history work, this is a very worthwhile investment.  I was able to help her to load up her back up data and software to get her back into business.

My mother using the two screens on her new computer installations.

As my 65th birthday approached, my mother brought out her old journals and we were reminded that I came into this world early on February 25, at 12:44 am.

old journal and photo of baby Thomas and his family 65 years ago

My sweetheart always makes birthdays for all of us special with beautiful wrapped presents.

One of our children said that I was growing up as I received bluetooth headphones and speaker.  Presents were geared to facilitate my exercise efforts (headphones and jogging shorts) and our listening to conference talks in our old car that does not have USB support in the sound system.

On my birthday we had the special treat to listen to Elder Spender Condie give a fireside to our ward members about our new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.  Elder Condie had written a biography about Elder Nelson 15 years ago.  His insights were amazing and only served to strengthen our love and appreciation for our dear prophet.

Elder Condie sharing his thoughts from the pulpit

Notice of the fireside

After the fireside we enjoyed our weekly finance class with our family and then we celebrated my birthday with this beautiful Banana Cream pie prepared by my sweetheart.  As I mentioned in a discussion with others, I have officially "turned old".

Finance Class on Zoom with several of our children, including Sam in person in our home

Grandparents Day at the School

Retirement gives us opportunities to participate in family activities that otherwise are difficult to support.  This week we were able to participate in grandparent lunches with 5 of our grandchildren:

With 6 year old Jacob Digerness

With 11 year old Joshua Digerness

With almost 10 year old John Digerness

With 6 year old Tiancom Rueckert

Also with 10 year old Natalia Rueckert in the rear of this photo

We were also privileged to attend another fireside put on by our good friends Elder and Sister Stay who had returned from their mission in Europe the previous month.  This was an opportunity for them to share their amazing experiences working with the refugees in Europe.  This was shared with missionaries who had served with them previously.  We always love a missionary reunion.

Sister Stay sharing about their mission

This month's grandchild dates:

We loved having dates with five more of our grandchildren this month, four of these dates were within a few days.  We are finding these experiences to be super rewarding, as we get to know our grandchildren much better. This is the fruit of the promptings that Debbie received as we were returning from our mission.

We started with a movie with our granddaughter Nikki.  We watched The Greatest Showman, which we found very inspirational.  Nikki had already memorized most of the songs for this show.  We have only been to the movies twice since we came home, both were to see this movie.  We loved the messages of the show, but mostly we enjoyed the time with our granddaughter and meaningful discussions during our dinner together.

With our 13 year old granddaughter, Nicole Mills

Our next date was with 10 year old Cherish Garcia who wanted to go see Disney on Ice.  Once again we started with dinner and then enjoyed a magical evening together.  Cherish loves the Disney characters and was thoroughly engaged with the performance.  This was a major start with a granddaughter that we have had more limited association with in the past.  We loved it.

Together while waiting for the show to begin

Disney characters on the ice

Cherish dancing with the characters from "Frozen", her favorite.

Two days later we went to do baptisms for the dead with our 15 year old granddaughter, Katelyn Mills, in the Ogden Temple and lunch afterwards.  We were pleased with her choice of date.  Katelyn has a strong love of going to the temple and we loved sharing the experience with her.  That day the Ogden temple was really busy, so we were limited to two baptisms per person.  It still took two hours because of the back up of so many youth wanting to participate in baptisms.

With Katelyn in front of the Ogden temple

After dropping Katelyn home, we picked up Joshua and John Digerness who wanted a combined date at the Classic Fun Center, playing laser tag.  We had agreed that it would be whatever they wanted, so we changed our clothes and kept enjoying our grandchildren.  We played laser tag and a lot more, including the Blast Zone, bounce rooms, arcades, magic show and more.  By the end of the day, we were exhausted but happy.

Watching the magic show

John blaming in the Blast Zone

Joshua blasting in the Blast Zone

At dinner at Carl's Jr. afterwards

Other Grandparent opportunities:

We celebrated the 12th birthday for Kaisha Garcia and the 11th birthday for Isake Garcia (same day).  This was more  complicated to pull off, but we were able to get there the day after their birthday. 

Kaisha with her drawing book, an activity that she loves

We were able to represent our daughter, who was working, at our granddaughters New Beginnings night.  It was a joy to see the different young women, each who presented a Young Women's value and gave tribute to a women in their life.

Nikki Mills giving tribute to her mother

Katelyn Mills giving tribute to her Grandma Rueckert

We also had a nice visit from Jared and his family.  We were presented a piece of art painted by our 4 year old granddaughter, Ellie.  She has an amazing talent already.

Ellie with her painting

Painted by looking at a photo

We were also able to celebrate our daughter in law, Melanie's birthday.  As in any grandchild visit to our home, they have to enjoy our chair lift.  It brings great joy to each of them, even the older ones.

Ellie and Olivia together on the stair chair lift

Helping the Hippopotamus doll up the stairs

More temple experiences:

On March 3, we were once again able to do temple sealing with my brothers, their wives and my mother in the Salt Lake Temple.  What a privilege it is to do the work for our ancestors together as a family.  This night we were able to seal 7 couples together and over 40 children to their parents.  

We had a significant experience with a few of these names.  The day before, Debbie as able to do the work for a second wife of one of her great grandfathers and I was able to do the endowment for her father.  This grandfather had married Johanna Arnold and when she passed away, he married her younger sister.  On this day we were able to perform the sealing to the second wife , the sealing of her parents and the sealing of both of the daughters to their father.  Emotions were very high for Debbie and I as we were able to be proxy for the couples in these sealings.  This continues to be my favorite part of Family History and Temple work.

Families and couples that were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple

We signed up to help usher in the Temple open house for 4 different shifts.  The first two were before the official public open house and were canceled as they had overestimated their needs for VIP sessions.  The other two opportunities will be later in the month.  However, as Debbie was visiting teaching, she heard about a special open house invite for those in the neighborhood, so we took advantage to make our first visit to the remodeled Jordan River Temple on March 6.  It was a wonderful chance to go through the temple when the crowds were not so great and we were able to ponder and enjoy all of the details.  We also took advantage of the photo opportunity at the end of the tour, with  my mother.

We love this photo that is emailed to all open house visitors who take advantage

Later that week, we decided to go on our weekly temple visit to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and my mother decided to go with us.  Usually we need to arrive about 45 minutes before an endowment session to make sure we are able to get in, since each endowment session is always filled, even in the middle of the day.  This day, however, we came to the parking lot and found it empty.  We immediately realized that the temple had been closed for maintenance.  

As you can only do in Utah, we got back into the car and went to a different temple.  This time we visited the Draper Temple.  We had over an hour wait their, but it was well worth it.  As we have learned to wait inside the temple for opportunities to participate, it is a wonderful time to read and ponder scriptures or just to ponder.

My wife and mother in front of the Draper Temple

20th Wedding Anniversary:

The next Monday was our 20th wedding anniversary, March 12, 2018.  Since it was a Monday, we were not able to go to the temple.  Instead we stayed near downtown Salt Lake.   That way we could do our self-reliance class with the missionaries on Welfare Square on Tuesday morning and then do an endowment session in the Salt Lake Temple afterwards.  This completed an opportunity that we have had to do all temple ordinances in the Salt Lake Temple since our mission (baptisms, initiatory work, endowment session and temple sealing).  

In front of the Salt Lake Temple, celebrating 20 years of marriage

Once again the temple was quite full, with over a hundred patrons on our endowment session.  We were selected to be the witness couple, which was a special treat.  It has been quite awhile since we participated in a live temple session in this temple together.  We found it quite enriching and helped us to gain additional insights.  As we sat in the Celestial Room, Debbie commented that the beauty in that room surpasses the beauty that we had seen in any of the castles and cathedrals in Europe.  I agreed!

On Monday we spent the day on temple square and had a wonderful time.  We went to the Joseph Smith Memorial building and watched some of the new Meet the Mormon stories and were also able to watch a few 20 minute clips on the translation of the Book of Mormon in Harmony and in Fayette.  Each 20 minute show was followed by a 10 minute intermission and then the next would begin.  As we spent 2 hours together in this process, I pondered how blessed that I am to have such a wonderful wife who enjoys the gospel of Jesus Christ as much as I do.  We can spend hours enjoying and pondering the marvels of this gospel and of the Church of Jesus Christ.  This brings so much joy to us.

We also spent a few more hours at the Church History Museum and at the Visitor's Center.  Our Church has done an amazing job of presenting the doctrines of Christ and the history of our Church.  I believe that any that will come to these different locations and participate with an open heart, will feel the Holy Ghost testifying of the truth of this gospel.

Of course, we also have to eat, so we did enjoy a German lunch at Siegried's  downtown and some barbecued ribs for dinner.  We spent the evening at the Anniversary Inn in the special Victorian Room, which is my wife's favorite style.

German lunch of Wienerschnitze. red cabbage and ward potato salad and Hungarian Goulash

A full rack of ribs to share in our dinner

In our Victorian Anniversary Inn room

Our breakfast delivered to our door

That brings us to this last weekend.  We had planned for some time a special family activity for March 17.  We acquired reservations for the Temple Open House that was beginning that day and reserved the Condominium Clubhouse for a family game and movie activity.  This included inviting all of Camila's children to join us.  Without going into details, there were many moving parts to this activity.   We did get a call from Kari that morning early to get a ride home from her work, as her car had been towed while she was at work.  That was finally resolved happily, but it did add more complexity to the situation.  We let Kari use our car to resolve her situation and my mother was using her car to go to a funeral.

The open house reservations were for three different times.  At 10:15 am, we went with Camila's kids, and Kari's kids (while she was resolving the towed car).  River also brought his family at the same time.  Camila's kids had never been in a temple and didn't know much about it, so it was a learning experience.  They loved the statue of Jesus at the end and the photos in front of the back drop of the temple.  Hopefully that will help them to remember a few of the things that they felt during the tour.

Camila's kids around the statue of Christ

Our entire group around the stature

River's family joined us for the photo at the beginning of the blog.  The four kids also wanted their own photo in front of the temple.

Camila's kids and Kari's kids helped us set up the clubhouse for the activity and played some games at our home.  Jared and Beckie came early to the activity to attend a 1:30 open house visit with their families.  If we counted them all up, 25 of our family were able to participate in the Open House this day.  Hopefully others will have this opportunity in the next month.

Finally we had at least 34 at the game (upstairs) and movie (downstairs) activity and we served them snacks and pizza.  We had multiple tables of games going on, many watching the movie and others wandering.  In the end we were exhausted but it all worked out.  We are thankful to be able to create memories with our children and grandchildren.

Some of the games available for playing.

Eating Pizza at the end of the activity.

We cleaned up the clubhouse, returned Camila's kids to their homes and participated in the Saturday night session of Stake Conference for our stake.  We belong to a wonderful stake.  Participation in meetings is amazing.  The Saturday night session filled a large stake center including the cultural hall.

This morning we participated in Stake Conference which was broadcast into three different buildings to accommodate space for all.  We participated in the stake center with two different wards and again the cultural hall was completely filled.  The music was heavenly and the speakers were inspiring. 

I don't know if it is because the Jordan River Temple is in the midst of our Stake, but the quality and commitment of the members is overwhelming. There are so many people that serve outside of their normal ward callings.  We have 61 missionaries in the field and hundreds of temple workers.  As we are among these saints we feel a feeling of Zion.

The amazing choir from our Stake conference on the video screen in the cultural hall, singing "One by One", the song written by Elder David A. Bednar

As I pondered the words from our stake conference, I learned quite a few things for myself to change.  One that stuck to me is that we talk a lot about the promises that we make in our covenants with the Lord, but not enough pondering on the promises that The Lord gives to us in return.  I want to focus much more on the promised blessings.  Clearly we need to do our part to receive those blessings, but people are more inspired by blessings than commandments.  Personally, I strongly desire that the Spirit of the Lord always be with me, the promise we receive in the ordinance of the sacrament.  That inspires me and I am sure it would inspire anyone who is looking for peace and comfort.

I watched our grandchildren who know little about the Savior to love being near the statue of the Savior.  Those are the feelings that we need to nurture in each of us, so that we can receive the strength that comes when we "Come Unto Him".

There is often talk about people who leave the Church or fall to temptation.  That certainly is always a concern, but as we have attended temples throughout this state in the past few months, we find temples filled beyond capacity everywhere we go,  even in the middle of the day.  We are limited in the number of ordinances that can be performed so that all will have the opportunity to participate.

We will surely be blessed by the opening of the Jordan River Temple to meet some of this desire to participate in the temple.  However,  I rejoice in the goodness of the members of this Church and the large numbers of them who are so committed.  I testify that the Lord's Church  is moving forward and Zion is being established and in fact it is flourishing.