A House of the Lord in Layton Utah

I started this post way back in, if I remember right, late June or early July after the Layton Temple dedication and the beginning of my work there as a temple worker. And now I am watching General Conference on the morning of October 4th, 2024. While watching and listening to the beautiful music (shout-out to Brother Eich, who I just saw singing ☺), and realized I should finish this post! I got started, but distracted. 

The following is what I wrote back then:

I traded my very first shift at the newly dedicated Layton Utah Temple so I could go to Lyman Lake Recreational Camp to be with Joshua after his first AP camp experience. I think it was the right choice.

I also hoped for some kind of impossible miracle to get back for Bill Brown's wedding at 2 PM, and there just was no way to do that. I wanted to be there to support my friend after his disappointing and difficult divorce, but I am sure he is just fine without me!

I am recording something because we, as temple ordinance workers, apparently received a charge from our temple president, President Jay Bangerter, to:

1. Write your feelings and impressions about last Sunday's temple dedication
2. Write your feelings and impressions about your first day as an ordinance worker in the Layton temple

I can't do the second charge yet. But, I can try to find some time to do the first. Of course, I plan to modify that a bit, as actual writing causes great should/back pain. Typing does also cause some pain, but not as much.

Looking at my blog, I wonder if this is the right place to record such things. It is more for news and photos, not baring my soul. If there is something particularly sacred, it probably doesn't fit here, so I need a place to put it! Also, I realized that I am again very, very behind. No Northern California trip info; no finishing of those videos I've been doing. I should probably type up something daily!

But, back to charge #1!

At risk of revealing too much about my personal shortcomings (and thus boring possible readers), I still feel I should say that I was happy to see Gideon and Regan in the celestial room for the dedication. They were invited by her parents. (Robert is a temple recorder.) Although happy, I, suffering from a bit of FOMO ("fear of missing out"), realized that I would probably never get a chance to be in the celestial room for a temple dedication, and may never even be in a temple for a dedication again.

That made me a little sad. I don't know why I feel the need to be ... "special", so to speak. We can be fantastic celestial beings without such experiences. But, I think some of it is simply that I know that I am just not special in any way: average intelligence, motivation, faithfulness, desire, ambition, hard work ... I am just pretty average and don't feel particularly celestial most of the time.

But, I realized something important. Even though I would have liked the opportunity to be in the celestial room for a dedication, I definitely wouldn't trade it for the opportunity to participate in so many in our meetinghouse, with the ability to watch the proceedings in the celestial room, live! I am so grateful to part of many dedications. I did get to go to the Manti Temple's rededication around 1985 -- not in the celestial room, but in the temple -- and that was an amazing experience. I am very, very blessed, in numerous and meaningful ways, and I need to stop wishing I was somehow special.

Years ago my dream was to be a temple sealer. I thought it would be really neat to use the priesthood authority that way, and it seemed that it would make me feel special! Wouldn't it be great to do family weddings, where the family knew the sealer? And yet, now, as I'm a little older, I realize that few, if any, of our extended family at least would reach out to me to do a sealing for a wedding. Why would they? Even Gideon and Regan would have been sealed by her grandfather, who was an emeritus general authority. And that is appropriate and wonderful. Do I really need to step in? If I become a sealer, then that is great. If I don't, that is great. I can't look to such things as having anything to do with my worth.

Interesting! I think it stands on its own, although I think I had a testimony to share and maybe a few more notes.

Now, I have served a few times in the House of the Lord. What a blessing! I have had moments of confusion and embarrassment. I've made a couple of mistakes that caused some problems, one of which could have caused a major issue. And I've seen and heard of mistakes of others that also caused varying degrees of embarrassment and confusion. But, I always come away feeling strengthened and grateful for the opportunity to serve. And I am learning to be a better servant.

Finally on to Charge #2! My first shift, which I did on a trade, was serving in the baptistry. I didn't know if there was any official protocol to observe or anything, but I knew enough to put the red check next to completed ordinances, and help move people around. It was very enjoyable. 

The biggest problem was that the font's water filter apparently had a problem and we were counseled to stop baptisms early because of the very cloudy water. It was probably safe, but we stopped. In fact, Brother and Sister Eich (yes, as mentioned above!) came in after we shut the font down, and we did just a few confirmations.

Earlier, my cousin, Jared Perry, came in to the baptistry and baptized and confirmed his son, Tanner, for a few names. That brought great joy! I saw fellow stake brothers Scott Van Kampan and Ed Wilson, and ward member Christine Haruch, on their shifts there. (Oh, how I wish I knew what to do the get Aaron Haruch back as an active, participating friend! I miss him!) I also saw Shoni Frost, and former ward members Greg and Dana Smith. And, I saw temple recorder and father of my daughter-in-law, Robert Simmons, that evening, which is always a pleasure.

I have seen many, many others I know since then -- more than I would be able to put here, especially since I have worked the recommend desk for a month (including the day Jaron and Tana Janson had their adopted son, Leo, sealed to them).  I am also getting to know some of my fellow servants on my shift, which is enjoyable. Brother and Sister Tietjen serve with me, and Brother Porter joined recently, too. Brother Higgins and Brother Tew both worked with Andrew in the Bountiful Temple, and ask about Andrew. Our temple has a strong community feeling with it, as I seem to see people I know and love every time I am there.  

The Layton Temple is closed today for general conference and will be closed for a few weeks. The last few weeks they even had me officiate in own endowment sessions, which made me nervous but which I have enjoyed immensely. I am so very grateful to learn how to do all these varying assignments, and feel the joy and peace they bring. I truly feel we are serving brothers and sisters on both sides of the veil. 

I will add here that the biggest error I made so far happened during my first time officiating, as I for the first time was bringing a young man through the veil for his first time, receiving his endowment. For some reason it never occurred to me (probably because I was concentrating on everything else so much) that own endowments would have a little ordinance paper/card, just like those we do work for that are on the other side of the veil. There was some confusion with the new name because of that. Afterwards, I kept cussing myself out with "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! ... ". I felt so dumb. But, it all worked out, and I think the young man even had a good experience. I sure hope so! And, even after that, I felt peaceful and grateful for the opportunity to serve.

So, I think my assignment to record my thoughts is belatedly complete!

Last night, I went to a mission reunion. It filled me with awe. I love those people. We also picked up Christy's piano and brought it here, and will be moving it into our home soon, as Allen Gilbert and Cormick Campbell are coming over in a few minutes to help. I should post about that, just to remember! But, that is all I will put here!