Last Sunday the Draper Temple dedication was shown in our Stake Center. It was a wonderful occasion and brought back memories of the Jordan River Temple Dedication November 1981. The session that our ward was to attend was broadcast in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Curt, Bryce and I attend that one together and it was a choice experience.
Our stake was asked to provide a choir for the last dedication session. Another stake had dropped out and less than 5 weeks before the dedication and our stake formed a choir and started practicing, with Myron Ottley as the director. I was privileged to be a part of that special group of singers.
The men of the choir were able to sit in the Celestial Room with the altos outside the door on one side and the sopranos on the other. When we sang the sopranos and altos entered from either side. It was commented that our choir sounded like we had heavenly singers helping. It was a wonderful, glorious experience. We sang "The Morning Breaks," "The Lord's Prayer" and the Hosanna Anthem. (At our Stake Conference in January 1982 our stake temple dedication choir was asked to sing and we had special permission to sing the Hosanna Anthem. There was hardly a dry eye in the whole congregation and was hard to sing.)
President Spencer W. Kimball's health was not so he could be to all of the sessions, but he was to the last one. One of the Usher's told us sopranos that President Kimball would be come out of the door past us and for us to hold out our hands. He couldn't resist the chance to shake hands! So we were privileged to shake the hand of the Prophet. It was a once in lifetime experience for me.
These are some of the memories that came back to me at the Draper Temple Dedication. Clayne told me that he was thinking of me during their session they attended. I believe all of Utah viewed the last session at 4:30 p.m. in their Stake Centers, other than those that are in the Draper Temple District. Mike and Cathy are in that area and attended a session from a room inside the temple.
I'm writing this a week later. Bryce came to spend the weekend with us. He had been to a conference for his work in Springdale by Zion's National Park and they finished yesterday. We've really covered a lot of territory yesterday and today showing him the area and how it has changed. Curt just called me from the Temple Quary site, where they hiked this afternoon. Bryce was on his phone at the same time to a friend. I talked to Crystal today and she said that we could keep her dad here, that they have had him for years and now it is our turn. But I'm sure he won't stay past tomorrow morning so he get home for the mission homecoming of one of Skye's friends. Skye will be home from Spain in July. The past two years have really gone fast.
Thought for Today
Some former Temple Presidents were asked to describe some of the blessings that come to those who attend the temple. Here is just one quote.
"You get a perspective of your life that puts it in order for you. And the experience in the Temple is supportive of the LDS way of life. It gives you a backup, a reassurance that what you're doing is righteous.
