HOLINESS TO THE LORD

SO THIS WEEK I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS SIGN EACH TIME WE ENTER THE PALMYRA TEMPLE.
I have been blessed to be on some endowment sessions with several people receiving their endowments for the first time this week.  I have been blessed to visit with them before and after the sessions and they have taught me, because of their humility and enthusiasm, about the teachings they have received.  June 19, 2014: Today Elder Bushman & I arrived a little early to the temple.  There were some youth in the waiting room who were patiently waiting for their session in the baptistry to begin.  There was this beautiful little girl, about 12 years old, that smiled so kindly to everyone who arrived.  I watched her for awhile while I was awaiting my assignments for the day.   When I left I went over and hugged her and thanked her for her beautiful smile.  I told her to continue to smile in this life, that she has beautiful dimples, and she had made my day much brighter.  I wish I could protect her from the trials in this life that may dull that priceless sincerity I felt today.  I pray Heavenly Father will protect her always.  Her smiling at all us old temple workers will be a treasure I will keep close to this wounded heart for always.  I pray she had a lovely day in the Palmyra Temple today.   Elder Bushman was in the baptistry with this group and he said today was the first day this little girl had done proxy baptisms.  The Temple President always speaks to the group before they begin.  This young woman asked many questions.  Elder Bushman said that when she had finished the baptisms that she went over to her Father and gave him a hug.  She then went around the room to all that were volunteering and shook hands with them and thanked them.  "We are all God's children reaching to the sky".  I think of the song "The Prayer" by Andrea Bocelli....."lead us to a place, guide us with your grace, give us faith so we'll be safe".   

This is a new picture of The Savior that hangs in the Peter Whitmer Visitor's Center.

The first ordinance of The Gospel.

The new Stake President for OKC Stake is President Gray.  This is a picture of him with his wife Becky.  The counselors are Howard Roy Haralson and Darren Waltman.  By the time Elder Bushman and I return to OKC Stake these brothern will be well seasoned in their callings.  Our love and prayers are with each of them as they begin these new assignments.

I purchased this book after a lesson in Relief Society.  I have been pondering being a holy woman since we went to the Indian Longhouse in Victor NY.  This book gave me some good ideas to work on.

I asked Elder Bushman if he could suggest some things that he thinks I could improve on to become a more holier woman.  He said, "Don't ever buy any new clothes and wear the same thing day after day and soon it will make you a holey woman".

My mind saw me as a holy Jean!  No wonder this article of clothing is so popular among the teens...It's a good thing my parents spelled my name Gene after all..ha.  I'm thankful for Sister Nelson's ideas.  I am going to try and become a more holy woman and discard my holey items when necessary.  I'm so glad Elder Bushman is such a good teacher! 

I broke a tooth off a couple of days ago.  I am going to see Doctor Woodworth in Phelps NY to see what needs to be done to repair the damage I did.  I miss my son-in-law Mikie!  He is the best dentist ever.  I would rather ride all day in the car with Elder Bushman than worry about getting this tooth repaired.  Sister Woodworth served with me in the temple this morning and she said that Dr. Woodworth is her son and he is a very kind and gentle dentist.  I say bring on the gas!  So Dr. Woodworth is going to put in three rods into the root of this molar and  rebuild a tooth and a new crown will top it....several weeks from now this broken tooth will be repaired....should last till I get root rot...nice.  Some people wear their jewels on their hands and ears...I wear mine inside on my jaws they are called my pearly whites!  My skeleton jaw bone should be quite a piece of anatomy when this procedure is added to my works of Art!

Do you think there are pearls in your mouth?

Our oldest son Eric and his children are on vacation in NY this week.  They look like they have been having a good vacation.  They will be in Palmyra this Saturday...Hurrah...this Grandma Gene is so excited to visit with them.

The butterflies at The Sacred Grove liked my Grandchildren and they liked the butterflies.  

 

Cecily carried this butterfly through the Sacred Grove with her.

Finally, just before we left, Brandt was able to hold the butterfly by himself too...thank's to his sisters help!

We love Eric, Lauren, Cecily and Brandt!  Thank's for coming to visit us in Palmyra.

We got to visit with them for almost 8 hours and then they were off to Niagara Falls in Canada tonight...sob...so glad they visited us.  We got ice cream at The Chill and Grill.  The girls had to eat their ice cream in the sun as they weren't used to the wonderful chill in the air today.  Aren't they growing up to be beauties?  Brandt is awesome too.  Of course we love our Eric too!   We are blessed Grandparents.

I couldn't use the spa with the grandchildren...it is a storage room at the inn now...maybe someday.

I've been riding the stationary bike daily while Elder Bushman runs on the treadmill...boring...but necessary.

Brother Nordfelt(one of the temple missionaries) shared this story about the Temple in Montevideo, Uruquay. He said that most temples have fences around them more for decorative purposes - for example the Palmyra Temple does not have a fence around it at all. However in some countries like Uruquay where crime is rampant the fences keep out those who might do harm to the temple and most of them have a security building at the gate to keep out those not belonging there. One morning the security guard saw a young boy coming up the walk to the Temple gates. He kept his eye on him to see what he would do. He stepped inside of the Temple gates and then he stepped out and he continued to do this quite a few times. So the security guard decided to see what he was up to. He thought that the boy would run away when he would see him coming toward him. Instead the boy said "Mister you have got to come and see this." So the boy took his hand and took him outside the gate and then back inside the gate and said. "Don't you feel that?" And the guard said , "Feel what?" So the young boy took the guard by the hand again and stepped outside the Temple gates and then inside the Temple gates. This time he realized what the boy was talking about.

May we always feel the spirit of the temple when we go and not let it become common place.  I borrowed this story from Sister Bardo's blog.  

Enjoy this Summer Sabbath day.  May God's choicest blessings be with you now and always.