[1] Next Friday, June 26th, is my last day on-shift at the temple. It will be a day of mixed feelings for me. I have dearly and deeply loved working in the temple as an ordinance worker. The Lord has taught and humbled and loved me in this calling. I have received personal revelation there. I have a beloved family of friends there with whom I share this extraordinary experience. I feel I 'come home' whenever I enter this House of the Lord. I know I will miss both the 'job' and the people. A few weeks ago when I was guiding for a marriage/sealing, I received a personal revelation through the Spirit that "it was all right to leave" temple service for now. Isn't it interesting, and wonderful, that the Lord knows us SO well that He knows and understands our thoughts and concerns? And that He is so sensitive to us regarding them. I now can leave with peace and with my heart full of all the good feelings and memories from my almost seven years at the Mount Timpanogas Temple.
[2] Our bishop has scheduled our mission "non-farewell" for this coming Sunday, June 28th. Kristina and Evelyn will play, on violin and piano, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," which fits right into the music commemorating the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith [June 27, 1844]. The music and the ward choir number, "Praise to the Man," will also follow this theme.
For several weeks prior to last week I had been concerned with what I should say in my talk. The bishop gave us President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's April 2009 General Conference talk, "The Way of the Disciple," as our guideline for our talks, and I'd read and re-read the talk, which is wonderful. I wanted to tie in principles of the gospel with our mission application experiences. But I couldn't seem to pull my thoughts together. Then one day as I was reading the Deseret News section of Mormon Times and I found a story told by Orson Scott Card that brought it all together for me. One hour at the computer and I had my talk, and with it such a comfortable and calm feeling about it. Answers to prayer come to us as we patiently wait upon the Lord, having brought to Him our concerns and our requests for His help. And, with each answer, more lessons in faith and humilty, respect and meekness. My cup runneth over . . . continually.
[3] Elder Hall is one of two young missionaries who are currently working in the ELM office. He is very hard-working, polite, helpful, willing and dedicated. He has provided us with information and answered all our questions quickly. Mission calls are always humbling, aren't they? Elder Hall wrote yesterday, telling us that they are now implementing a new Church financial system called iMOS that functions via the Internet and will transfer all financial transactions to Church Headquarters in SLC. [We've heard from friends in Florida that it is also being implemented there.] It will relieve the mission presidents of a lot of responsibility and free up more time for them to take care of mission responsibilities and their missionaries. It is a bit complicated, but the office elders are working hard to understand it so that they can teach us how to do it when we arrive. We are told we will get preliminary training on iMOS and other office procedures during the second week of training at the Provo MTC. Unwittingly, and with such youthful enthusiasm, Elder Hall concluded, adding more to our sense of REAL humilty with this calling, saying "We're excited to have you come to the mission! In just a month's time we'll be together trying to figure out the mission office. I pray that the Lord will bless you as you prepare to run the mission! Keep the faith." Keep the faith indeed! How would anyone do anything without FAITH?!
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