Let's Back Up to Before the Graduations -

During the month of April, Neil and I worked as tour guides during for the open house of the new Ft. Lauderdale Temple for our church. It was a great experience to be able to tell visitors about both the physical and spiritual aspects of the building. The open house lasted a few weeks, and then the Temple was closed to the general public and dedicated before officially being opened to members of our church.

We found out a few days before the temple’s dedication on May 4th that we would be able to attend the dedicatory ceremony inside the temple itself instead of having to watch a live broadcast of the dedication via satellite in our church meeting house. Fantastic!

Such an event is so rare, sacred, and special that we flew Adrienne home a week before her graduation so that she could attend with us. She was finished with classes and was just killing time before her graduation ceremony. When we made our original plans to drive to North Carolina for the graduation festivities, little did we know that she would be a passenger in the car with us driving to her own graduation.

The weekend of the dedication began with a cultural celebration on Saturday night. It was so fabulous sitting just a few yards away from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of our church. (He is dreamy-handsome. I have to admit I had a Donny moment when he walked out on stage. Luckily, the occasion was one of clapping and cheering because when I laid eyes on him, I screamed!) I mean, look at this man. Gorgeous inside and out. But I digress…

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The cultural celebration was a way to showcase the different cultures and aspects of our southern Florida heritage, climate, and customs to the visiting church officials. It was grand.

Nothing could compare to the events of the next morning, however, when we sat together as a family inside the temple to listen to the dedicatory talks and prayers. We were fortunate enough to be seated in the temple’s chapel. On his way in and on his way out, President Uchtdorf poked his head in and greeted us and welcomed us to the temple. It was beyond description.

I am not one to remember specific details about things, but I do remember how things make me feel. There are no words to describe the feelings of that day. I do remember the remark he made about the special role of women in the church. His words rang loud and clear to me and my girls. As women in the church we have a voice, we are equal to men, and anything other than that is noise and distraction. So what if we aren’t involved in certain meetings? Who needs or wants one more responsibility in this life?

Back to the temple dedication. It was a fabulous memory made.

Now that the temple has been dedicated, Neil and I have the honor of being ordinance workers inside the temple twice a month. (It’s a sure sign of empty-nesthood when you are called to be a temple worker. Just sayin’.)

(Had to show you just one more. I know, right????!!!)

Let’s Back Up to Before the Graduations

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