Stripling Warriors' Mom: Recollections from the other side of Veil

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Newest Temple in the Salt Lake Valley Dedication

The outside halls of the temple to welcome patrons beginning, Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Another beautiful temple to bless the South Salt Lake Valley

A City set on a hill cannot be hid

Statue Moroni atop Oquirrh Mountain Temple

I stand all amazed with the love Jesus offers me. Again and again, my cup is filled to overflowing as I contemplate the most wonderful of blessings of my eternal family. The dedication was beautiful. I was so pleased to be there at son, Hank's stake building in Orem. Some of his older children attended with us. During the one of the talks given, I was reminded from one of the comments of the sealing of my children to me when they were just 4, 3, and 2 months old. Hank remembered. He looked over at me and tears came to our eyes as we recalled that beautiful day, even though he was only four at the time. I have such gratitude in my heart that the gospel came so early in their childhood and I was able to teach them from such an early age and the rest were born in the covenant.

He now stands as a bishop in Israel. How could I have ever known that forty-five years ago the day he was born just yesterday? He marked his birthday on Saturday, and today would have been my own mother's 91st birthday as well.

So, today I celebrate several things. The sealing ordinances that bind us together as a forever family, a son's birthday, and the blessings of my own mother's influence in my life. The dedication of the temple brought me to contemplate the many temple blessings besides dedications I have witnessed over the last forty years.

The first dedication I attended was the Provo Temple, 1972
2. Then the re-dedication of the Mesa Temple, 1976
3. The Mt. Timpanogos Temple, 1996
4. The Nauvoo Temple, 2002
5. The Palmyra Temple, 2003
6. The Draper Temple, 2009
7. And now the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, 2009. I think that covers it.

Oh, I just remembered to add the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. I have a very strong witness that I attended the original dedication from the other side of the veil before I was born.

Power to Act in God's Name

I believe and know very strongly that, " A man, young or old never stands taller than when he is doing his priesthood duties or responsibilities. Be it station as a Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Elder, High Priest, Home teacher, priesthood holder husband, father, son or grandfather, Bishop, or Prophet of God. He has a mantle about him that emanates and gives him the authority to act in God's name, and uses it in righteousness. It is a blessing to him and his family. To this I know that he raises the bar in doing his duty to God and his fellow man.”

" I stand in awe of the goodness that pervades within that soul who honors and lives up to his priesthood calling with a pure heart. It is evident to me and cannot be hidden. I believe that quality shines in their countenances and His image is radiated in their face's.

Insights by Anna 11.22.09

Touch of The Master's Hand

And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
" It was battered and scarred,
Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch