February  12, 2014

     We became comfortable in our process of preparation for a mission.  Jim is acquainted with one of the members of the medical team that deals with the paperwork, and he had not even seen the papers for two or three weeks after we submitted them.  Friends told us that because the April General Conference took place in the middle of our application process, that would take longer.

     One of the changes that had taken place since my retirement was that I became a worker in the Temple.  I had not been able to attend the Temple regularly while working, but making a commitment to be a worker when we were sending in mission papers seemed a little crazy to me.  Still, Jim had been a worker for a couple of years, and had waited patiently until I could join him.  I was set apart on February 7, 2014 and began my training on February 12, 2014.

     In the Temple, things need to be done with exactness.  The Lord doesn't want the Temple Workers to put their own spin on things.  As a result, there is a lot of memorization.  That was EXTREMELY intimidating to me.  I have never been good at memorization.  I struggled a lot, but had wonderful Sisters who patiently helped me.  Even the patrons were patient and kind.

     It didn't take long until I found that my service in the Temple was the one day I felt peace.  It is a beautiful place and the people there are special.  I didn't feel that my time was better spent in anything else I could do.  I could feel like I was home.