Wonderful Trip to the Columbia SC Temple

I had a great weekend. The Atlanta Temple closed for renovations on June 1st, and I have really missed being able to go and work there once a week. I have been trying to figure out how to get to the Columbia Temple, which is where my area has been assigned during the time Atlanta is closed. I had received a letter from the temple inviting me to consider coming as a worker, as well as other information. I have been trying to figure out details on how to make that happen.

A couple of weeks ago, I just decided that I was just going to go and quit trying to figure so much out. I sent an email to all the Relief Society sisters to let them exactly what my plans were and inviting anyone who wanted to ride along to let me know. Lynn Rajani, a good friend, emailed back and said she really wanted to go if she could work a couple of things out. She did and we went!

I took off from work a little early, filled up with gas, got a sandwich, packed the car, and picked Lynn up. We were on the road about 12:15. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive so we arrived at the temple about 3:30. Lynn had packed a cooler with fruit, salads, turkey meat, cheese, etc., so we ate a bite at the picnic table by the temple. Then I went on in while she took the car and found the motel where we had a reservation, got us checked in, and made some phone calls she needed to make. She is not a worker, so wanted to attend just one session that evening and one the next morning.

I was greeted with such warmth and love, it was wonderful! Temple workers are always special, and the workers in Columbia were even more so. I was set apart as a worker by President Turner, the 2nd counselor in the temple presidency. Then a worker took me on a tour of the temple. That didn't take long, as the temple is very small - smaller than most ward buildings even. It is, however, very beautiful, as you would expect with any temple. I next served as a patron in initiatory so I could see their procedures, and finally went on the 7:00 session so I could see how that worked. That meant I was able to complete all my family file initiatories and a family file endowment. My experience at the veil was overwhelming, probably because it had been so long since I had had the chance to do it.

Lynn had made it back to also attend the 7:00 session, and then we went to the hotel, stopping at Chickfilet on the way so I could a sandwich. We were both tired, so it didn't take us long to get ready for bed and turn the lights out!

I got up early the next morning - 4:45 - so I could shower and get back to the temple, dressed and ready for the 6:00 preparation meeting. Lynn dropped me off and went back to get a few more minutes of sleep before coming back to do her session. There was a good number of workers on the shift and I was impressed that many of them had driven as much as 2 1/2 hours to be there for that 6:00 meeting - and they do this once or twice a month! Sister Boyd, from my stake, was also there as a worker on that shift. Later in the morning I also the Dunfords, who plan to work the afternoon shift.

My first assignment was as a patron in sealings, so I was able to finish all my family file sealings. Then I was the 2nd follower on a session. By the time that finished, the shift was over. It went so quickly! And I enjoyed every minute of it. I knew I had missed being at the temple, but I didn't realize just how much! I look forward to doing this once a month. I am scheduled to work every 2nd week on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Fortunately, they are willing to work with those of us who come so far so we can change the times we come as we need to. I know there are already some conflicts for some of the weekends I am scheduled, but I will just switch to other weekends those months.

When we finished, we left temple, stopped for a good lunch, and then started home. We were home around 5:15. Since we split the hotel and gas, the cost wasn't too bad. Hopefully, someone will be able to go with me each month, more for the company than anything. Even so, I am already looking forward to going again on September 11th, alone or not!

I feel so excited about this opportunity. It will be more of a sacrifice than working in Atlanta, but I can already tell that it will be an experience that I will treasure.