Temple Service
Written by daughter, June Draper Sivers
Daddy started "working" at the temple during the depression. He was out of work and needed to provide for his wife and child (Lou Jean). Uncle Jesse had a job and was willing to share, but didn't believe in handouts, so he told Daddy if he would go to the Salt Lake Temple and do temple work (initiatory and the endowment were done together in those days) for the family names that had been found, he would give him $1 per day. Daddy went a lot and accomplished much more than earn $1. It taught me a great lesson about the welfare program. He always said that no matter how many times he went to the temple, and heard the same things over and over, he always learned something.
When the Ogden Temple was about ready to open in about 1971, Daddy was still working at the railroad. He usually got off work at 4PM. He was called to work in the Baptistery two days a week. He arranged to get off work at 3:30 those two days and went directly to the temple until he retired. Mom was called to work too, but I don't think quite at the same time. Soon after though. They were both there to help usher people at the dedication.
Daddy and Mom always considered it a privilege to work there. It was usually a 3 year calling, but they both worked until their deaths, only being released after they were gone, a period of 20 years for Mom and 22 years for Daddy.
Most of the experiences they had they said were too sacred to talk about. I have learned that when you talk about sacred things they become commonplace and you lose the sacred feeling that you have when you first have the experience. In the tape they did share a few experiences as far as language would allow them to share. The usual way of describing the feeling was "That really made our day". However, I will tell you of some of them.
After Daddy retired, he and Mom became regular temple workers, rather than just in the Baptistery. The first time Daddy was to officiate in a session, I arranged with Lou Jean to be there. The look on his face as he saw us come into the session was one of those moments in your life you don't talk about much.
Mom told of a 2-3 year old boy coming to be sealed to his parents. As the adults were having their recommends stamped, he felt bad that he didn't have a recommend. Of course he didn't need one, but instead of trying to explain, the temple worked brought out a blank recommend, put his name on it and stamped it for him. Another experience was of a family being sealed and the 4 year old girl asking the Assistant Matron, "Where's Jesus?" The Asst. Matron was astonished at the question, but answered, "I don't know where He is right now, as I have been looking for Him too. When He comes again, I will tell Him you were looking for Him."
There was an elderly woman who had cancer and was not expected to live much longer. She wanted her endowments and wanted to be sealed to her sons. Most temples were not equipped to handle the situation, but the Ogden Temple was a working temple and could do what was needed. She came in the back of a station wagon on a mattress. Mom was the supervisor of the Bride's Room at the time and was able to assist her through the temple. When they were all in the Sealing room, her 4 big strapping sons and their mother kneeling around the alter being sealed together brought tears to everyone's eyes. After all was done, she had to have some orange juice and crackers and then was put back in the station wagon much happier than when she had come.
A man Daddy grew up with in Clearfield was very ill and was brought to the temple on a stretcher to have his endowments. He had never married, but wanted to do his own work. He was assisted to accomplish what was needed, and was so happy. He died 2 weeks later.
There was a woman who came who was in a wheelchair and on oxygen. They did not have the portable oxygen they have now, and she could only be off the oxygen for 5 minutes. The temple workers organized the initiatory part of the session so they could do what was necessary in the allotted 5 minutes. The woman could then complete the endowment session and was delighted to be able to do her own work.
Daddy spoke up to tell of the experience he had as the shift Supervisor. It was his job to go through the temple after everyone else was gone to make sure all were out and to turn out the lights. He said, "As I walked those halls, I was never afraid, but I knew I was not alone. I knew who's house it was, and it was wonderful."
Daddy never had any "high" positions in the church, but was the shift supervisor. He found it very interesting to be the supervisor over the former bishops and stake presidents. He did a really good job and was given a commendation letter by one of the temple presidency when he was released as a supervisor.
After Mom had her stroke, she had difficulty actively participating in the sessions, but could sit on a chair at the top of the elevator and welcome those coming upstairs for a session. She had a wonderful smile and her eyes sparkled, especially when she saw her children or grandchildren coming to the temple. I was able to be in a few sessions where she was the temple worker in the session and saw that look of welcome. She still sits up front in the chapel and especially welcomes me whenever I go to the temple even now.
As Daddy got older, part of his job was working at the recommend desk to check the recommends as people come in. He had such a welcoming look on his face. He loved welcoming people to the temple and took his job very seriously.
Mom told me that one day while she was sitting in the chapel waiting for the session to gather, Mum (Your father's Mother) appeared to her. Mum told Mom that she knew the gospel was true but could not do her own work. She asked Mom to make sure her work was done after she died. Mom expected to hear that Mum had died that day, but she didn't. However, one day during that time, as I came home from teaching school and took tea up to Mum, she told me she had been with my mother and had a lovely visit. She sometimes came out with "odd" comments, and I didn't pay much attention. After she was gone and Mom told me of the experience she had, we considered it was the same day. Needless to say, her work is done.
No comments:
Post a Comment