I Thought Missions were Supposed to Be a Sacrifice.....

REALLY?

We get to spend 21 months in the House of the Lord! 

I don't write much about the work we are doing here. 

We work in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Temple.

The work there is very sacred. 

For that reason it is not talked about much outside the temple.

 Although the temple is a beautiful building; 

the physical beauty doesn't even compare to the spiritual and eternal beauty that lies within.

Temples existed in Old Testament times. 

They existed in New Testament times.

They existed in Book of Mormon times

They exist in our times. 

And why not?

The temple is a place of learning.

I've heard it referred to as the Lord's University. 

The temple gives us a clearer understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

In fact, everything in the temple points toward Christ. 

Inside the temple we learn about the Lord's Plan of Happiness. 

Where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after this life is over. 

To me, one of the greatest things that happens in the temple is to be married

 for time and all eternity, instead of 'til death do you part. 

The temple is where we make covenants with our Father in Heaven. 

We receive promised blessings according to our faith and obedience.  

This is the Nauvoo Temple.

In this temple grandparents on both my mother's side and my father's side were sealed together for eternity. 

Words cannot describe how grateful we are to serve in the House of the Lord. 

We are so privileged to be able to help others receive those blessings of eternity. 

Our Father in Heaven loves each one of us. 

He knows us by name and carries us in the palm of His hand.

I am so blessed to be able to see His hand in all things in my life. 

I know He lives, as does His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ gave his mortal life to pay the price for us

 to return and live eternally with Him, His Father and our families.  

Sidney

Stepping Back in Time (or Catching Up)

 We were in Utah a couple of weeks ago. I am just now getting these pictures posted. This is of a day I went to downtown Salt Lake to have lunch with a dear friend from high school, Virlene Norton Hirschi. We had lunch at The Garden, a restaurant in the top of the Joseph Smith Building. The Joseph Smith Building used to be Hotel Utah, and has been remodeled into a fantastic building with restaurants, a small family history library, a beautiful lobby, etc. Lunch was so delightful that I forgot to take any pictures. These are the pictures I took earlier that day.


The Salt Lake Temple, this picture was taken from the window of
The Garden Restaurant.



This picture of the Salt Lake Temple was also taken from The Garden, just a different window.
There are some bridal parties on the sidewalk in front of the temple taking wedding pictures. This is where Laurence and I were married 24 1/2 years ago.

 

Another angle on the Salt Lake Temple. This is taken from the Observation Deck of the LDS Church office building. They do great tours there!



This miniature replication of the Salt Lake Temple is in the South Visitor's Center on Temple Square.
It was made by a company out of Toronto. It is amazing to look at. This was my first time to see it.



While I was there the gardens and gardeners were so busy! I know it will be OUTSTANDING the first weekend of April for General Conference. When I was 21, preparing to go on my mission to Ireland I met with the head gardener for the church; Peter Lassig. He invited me to work with him when I returned from my mission. I didn't ever take him up on that. It surely would have been an amazing experience.



 During the summer they do tours of the gardens on temple square and the area. I surely would like to go on one of those sometime!


The Utah State Capitol, this is also taken from the obseration deck of the
Church Office Building

The Wasatch Mountains from the Church Office Building.

From Bozeman to Salt Lake...

Today we finished the drive from Colstrip to Salt Lake.

We stayed last night in Bozeman and had the opportunity to see Dez (Bill's fiance), for a minute at her work on our way out of town. When we got to Rexburg we went out to lunch with my handsome nephew Kent. I wish I had taken pictures at lunch. ;( This is a picture of the Rexburg temple. Such a beautiful temple to our Lord.

CHRISTMAS.....

Saturday was our day at the temple in Billings.

I really like the nativity they have displayed there. It is so simple and elegant with a the focus on what is truly important. Jesus Christ. There is beautiful Christmas music playing. You can tell it is lit at night; but of course I didn't see it.
It was an overcast day, but that and the snow on the branches made for a pretty picture.

Vancouver BC Temple

"The temple was a place of learning for the Savior when He was on the earth; it was very much a part of His life. Temple blessings are available once again in our day."

James E. Faust

The Vancouver BC temple in Langley, BC, Canada was dedicated in May of 2010.

It is the 131st operating temple in the world.

Meledie took the day to take me to British Columbia to see the temple. We were unable to go in, because it was closed for cleaning.

But I was able to spend some fun time taking pictures.

The outside of the temple is branco siena granite from Brazil.
Gorgeous!

Someday, I'll go visit when it is open;

then I'll be able to go through these doors:)

A Great Day in Billings!

Yesterday was a totally delightful day! I had the opportunity to go to the Billings Montana Temple with my good friend Kit. It was not a trip that we had planned for a long time, in fact it just sort of happened. So glad it did!
After attending the temple we shared a luncheon in the cafeteria that was prepared by our stake relief society for the sisters in our stake. It was delicious! Thanks Sister Jones!!
I am so glad that Kit let me be a part of this day with her, it was wonderful! Thank You Kit!!

Seattle Fun Times Day 1 1/2 Seattle Temple

I Love the temple and I Love this statue. It has always sort of pulled at my heart strings. When Aisling was little I could see this as our family. I got to attend the temple with some of my favorite people!! Mom, Uncle John and Aunt HelenViv, dashing to get the car so no one had to walk very far..... (she's always dashing for someone!!) A day at the temple is only complete if it ends with a yummy meal. We had ours at Aunt Helen's favorite.... Golden Corral!! Here is Dave having his favorite..... dessert or should I say desserts??
What a wonderful day! This would be a slice of every kind of pie topped with about a quart of soft ice cream. I know Laurence will be jealous, he would have liked to have shared THIS experience with Dave!! (BTW Laurence, this followed a selection of each and every cookie!!) Now I know you're jealous!!

Laurence and the Billings Temple

Today was the first Saturday of the month. Laurence and I got to spend the day at the Billings Montana Temple.
If it just didn't mean that we have to get up so early in the morning to get there in time to work!:)