A Great Week at Temple Square

It has definitely been a great week here at Temple Square. Sister Fogg is a runner so I've been able to run in the Canyon nearby in the mornings instead of running back and forth in a park. It's probably about at three mile run and we run by a river with mountain water in it and we're surrounded by the mountains (more like big hills, I guess)--a nice relief from the Temple Square bubble.

 

Guess who said "hi" this week at West Gate? Elder Oaks. Sister Fogg and I were sitting in there and he walked by with his grandchildren and his wife and he told them to wave "hi" to the missionaries (us). It was quite exciting. I waved back.

 

We've met some really wonderful people on the Square this past week. We took around a couple from Canada and they were here on vacation and left their four boys at home. We took them around and "experienced" Temple Square with them. They are very family oriented and have strong faith in Jesus Christ so It was wonderful to be able to talk with them and to be able to feel that about them. The last place we took them was to God's Plan for His Family, which is a video presentation that moves from room to room and you see the good and hard experiences of a family and how the Gospel of Jesus Christ really helps them. It is a powerful presentation and the Spirit is always there. As we were going through, the wife started to tear up and I could also tell that the husband was feeling the spirit too. After the presentation he told us that it helped him to realize how they had gotten away from having God in their home and how much he wanted to have that again. It made me so happy to hear that Temple Square left them with a desire to have a stronger relationship with Heavenly Father. They also referred for missionaries which made me even more happier. I love this work.

 

I've been learning a lot from Sister Fogg. One of her strengths is definitely charity--she loves people. When we're at West Gate she is always outside talking to people and trying to help them. It's great how we're given companions that help us develop Christ-like attributes. She is a wonderful example to me.

 

We heard from Luana by email this week. She is in Portugal and the missionaries have contacted her and brought her a Book of Mormon in Portuguese. She was taught in a member's home and had a powerful experience with prayer. She is also attending a baptism this week and has been invited to pray about being baptized herself. Miracles. I can't believe the missionaries in Portugal contacted her so fast.

 

Nicole should be baptized and married by now, but we haven't heard back from her yet. I think she is quite busy. Hopefully we hear from her this week.

 

One of the things that I've been learning on the Square lately is how important love and charity is. It makes all the difference in a tour. If people can tell that you care about them and have a true desire to help them, then they are more receptive. It doesn't really matter too much what you say to them, but if they can feel the Spirit that is where the true learning takes place.