Temples and Timelines

Hi Again on this blog! 

I appreciate the posts from Mary and Jared.  Also I know Dad was working on an email about family councils.  I don’t know if Dad read my previous post, but I’m glad he and I are thinking some of the same thoughts.

We are so grateful for the blessings of the temple.  Dad and I went on Valentine’s Day and did initiatory.  With the family names I had, I could clearly feel gratitude from them.  I felt they were close by.  We are so fortunate to have this Star Valley Temple so close.

 

From the Open House, this was a backdrop in the Welcome Center

President Nelson often speaks about staying on the covenant path.  I’m trying to learn more about this.  I appreciate any insights from any of you of how I can better do this.  I feel profoundly grateful for the strength of temple covenants that extend to our posterity. 

I think of Marion Robinson’s recent passing, which refreshed my memory about my sister, Linda’s, passing.  Her funeral filled the stake center too.  She was only 32 years old.  Bryce was 6 weeks old.   I was also reminded of Brian Bradshaw’s passing, which was the first funeral experience for some of you.  The viewing and funeral of Marion was James’ first experience.  He had never been to a viewing before.  Or at least he didn’t remember Brian’s. And although I know it is so very different, the deaths of Buddy and Copper, I think helped prepare James for the experience with Marion.

 What a comfort for all of us, like it is for Vera Lyn and DeeAnne, to know of the sealing promises of the temple ordinances.  We only have to say, “see you later” and not good-bye.  Dad says that in Dutch, the word for good-bye is never used because it’s so final.  That’s why it’s generally, “tot ziens” which means “until seen later”.

I shared in an email already, something else I learned from Marion and DeeAnne is their motto, “no empty chairs”.   Temple covenants make that possible.

As John shared this thought from a talk by President Eyring about that too:  “In many of our homes, there are the words ‘Our Family Can Be Together Forever.’ There is a gravestone near my home of a mother and grandmother. She and her husband were sealed in the temple of God to each other and to their posterity for time and all eternity. The inscription on the gravestone reads, “Please, no empty chairs.” She asked for that inscription because she knew that whether the family will be together depends on the choices each family member makes. The word “please” is there because neither God nor she can compel another to choose happiness. And there is Satan, who wants misery, not happiness, in families in this life and in the next.”

Another thing on my mind, maybe precipitated by Marion’s passing, but also by Grandpa’s recent surgery is caring for aging parents.

Some information I learned recently in one of my classes discusses how longevity is increasing and adults today are far more likely to have living grandparents than in previous generations.

This picture with Grandma and Grandpa and Esther was taken the day she left for her mission.  Grandma and Grandpa have been blessed with good health.  They are still very capable in many ways.  Hopefully when Grandpa gets his other cataract surgery done, he’ll be able to get his driver’s license renewed.  He has driven some even without it, which is a little scary. 

One of the motivations to move to Star Valley was to be nearer to all of you.  Since then some have moved farther away.  But maybe some of them will come back eventually closer?  Another motivation was to be near Grandma and Grandpa to assist them.  Dad has certainly spent many, many, many hours helping.  James and I help too.  I don’t know what will happen in the future, but we try to live each day helpful and aware. 

Dad and I never want to be a burden to any of our children.  We have been discussing more about our future and making better attempts at completing our will.  We hope to have that done soon, at least in its simplest form.  When we get our thoughts more clearly outlined we will share them with all of you.  Maybe a good time will be at our reunion in the summer.

 

We appreciate the wonderful children and grandchildren all of you are.  We feel all of you honor your parents very well and that you will be blessed for your kindness to us.

We love you.

Mom and Dad

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/our-perfect-example?lang=eng