Twin Falls Temple Open House

Yesterday was our stake's first assignment at the Twin Falls Temple Open House. Brad and I were tour guides from 8am until 1pm. We arrived at the temple a little before 7am for a devotional and some last minute instruction from Elder Nielsen and members of the temple committee. It was so exciting (and a little nerve wracking, I don't mind saying!). Brad and I were there mainly to guide Spanish speaking tours, but due to a severe shortage of Spanish speakers we were given a couple of English speaking tours instead.

As we were getting ready to leave one of the ushers grabbed us and asked us if we could stay and guide an extra tour for one small Hispanic family. We gladly accepted and proceeded to take them through the temple. The family consisted of the father, mother, and a little 4 year old girl. They were such a wonderful family. The mother had taken two days off work, just so she could come see what the temple was about. She begged her husband to take her and he consented. Brad did a beautiful job of presenting the tour in Spanish, and I got to take the little girl by the hand and show her all the paintings of Jesus and the beautiful flowers and chandeliers in the temple. She was an absolute doll -- and spoke impeccable English, which was a blessing for me! After the tour, Brad asked the gentleman how he enjoyed the temple. He simply replied, "It was really peaceful there. I forgot about all my problems." Brad told him that feeling peace and a respite from the things of the world was one of the blessings and promises of temple attendance. We were so thankful to have had the opportunity to share a little peace with such a beautiful family. They filled out a comment card, so I hope they'll pursue the gospel.

Our friends, Garald and Lori Bair, were also leading tours yesterday morning so we rode together (and their sweet daughter Nikelle babysat our kids all day). In their first tour they had a large number of visitors including one man who looked very serious and unapproachable. Lori related that she felt the spirit pushing her to strike up a conversation with him as they walked from place to place on the tour. She was reluctant because of his demeanor, but decided to follow the spirit, so she asked him where he was from, to which he replied he was from Chicago. He is an architect (or maybe studying to be an architect) and had recently become fascinated with temples (both ancient and modern). Through his studies he came across the mention of a temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, so he hopped in his car and drove there to see it for himself. You can imagine his disappointment when he arrived, only to discover that he couldn't enter the House of the Lord. He petitioned everyone he could think of, but kept getting the same reply, that no one without a recommend could enter the building. Then, one of the workers mentioned that although the Nauvoo temple was not available to him, there was another temple that was not dedicated yet, and tours were underway. So he excitedly got in his car and drove for 3 1/2 days and finally arrived in Twin Falls, Idaho on the morning of July 24, 2008. He said he just felt 'compelled' to get here. He was there for one of the first tours of the morning. After that tour he asked Sister Bair if there was any way that he could be allowed to go on just one more tour. She excitedly told him that he could stay all day and go on as many tours as he wanted!! We left around 1pm, but other friends of ours who were there later in the day told us that he went on several more tours, at least one of which was a private tour guided by a counselor in our Stake Presidency (President Loren West, an amazing, loving, wonderful man). My visiting teaching companion was an usher in the temple, and she related to me this morning that she saw him come through with President West, and by the look on his face she could tell that he was contemplating more than just the architecture.

These are just a couple of simple experiences that happened yesterday in the temple that have so strengthened my testimony of the importance of sharing the temple with the entire earth. As Brother Bair said on the ride home, "I'm sure the Lord is so pleased to see His children flocking to His house and gathering in such great numbers. For so many it may be the first time they have ever felt the spirit." We are so lucky to be included in this unique opportunity to share the gospel.