I Love to See the Temple

I love to see the temple.
I'm going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit.
To listen and to pray.

The last ten days have been overflowing with events of eternal significance. We lost a dear friend, rejoiced at the temple sealing of Jared and Julie, reconnected with many Fredericton friends at their wedding reception, and welcomed and said farewell to the largest group of missionaries ever. This primary song seems to tie everything together.

I love the temple and have for as long as I can remember. We grew up in the shadow of the Manti temple and were sealed there 42 years ago this month. We were blessed to serve as temple workers before we came on our mission.

We received word that the funeral for our dear friend and fellow temple worker, Sister Helen Dahl, was held just the day before the temple sealing we have waited to attend for nearly a year. Our beautiful "Dahl" was such an example of feeling the Spirit, listening and praying. She is surely hard at work on the other side.

For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I'll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

The Halifax Temple was certainly a place of love and beauty for these young missionaries. Many had just arrived and nearly as many were headed home. All received great counsel here about the sacred duties that lie ahead for them. There are no words to describe the sacred experience of attending a session overflowing with these beloved young friends. 

This was our senior conference in July. We also had a wonderful temple session together for those of us who are the young-at-heart missionaries. We also had training and shared ideas and lots of good food and fun. 

I love to see the temple,
I'll go inside someday.
I'll cov'nant with my Father;
I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I've learned this truth:
A fam'ly is forever.

Jared & Julie Hunt chose to wait nearly a year after their engagement to be sealed for time and eternity. How blessed we were to sit beside them during the temple session and then witness their sealing. We learned earlier that our son Lucas served in the Belgium Brussels Mission with Sister Bush, daughter of a couple from Fredericton. Brother Bush serves in the temple presidency here and was their sealer.

The newlyweds and the oldlyweds.

The happy couple with her saintly parents, Anne-Marie and Jean-Marie Goguen. They have been so supportive and worked tirelessly to make this a day to remember always.

Bonus temple blessing: The best man and the maid of honor, Ben and Marni Ray,  joined them at the temple to do some sacred work for themselves and their family.

Here are the missionaries the night before they headed for home. This Canada Halifax Mission family is forever too.

We send our love to you, our family and friends, who are also forever in our hearts.

Elder & Sister Hendrickson