M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E
Not a Dry Eye, but a Deluge
of Reader Responses: Hearts and Souls Meet at the Temple
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
Sacramento Temple Dedication: More Than Meets the Eye. Text by Maurine Proctor, Photography by Scot Facer Proctor
I am writing to relate a special experience my family had at the Sacramento Temple Dedication on the 3rd of September and the birth of our daughter Nichole Renee that same day. Our church leaders and members of the temple staff asked that we share this with you. Our hope is that it might bring happiness to others and encourage members to attend the temple and experience the blessings the Lord has in store for them.
Sometimes in life, things go exactly as planned and sometimes things go nothing as planned. On some occasions it depends on your faith and perspective as to which way you see those events.
I grew up in Stockton, California, and was fortunate to be raised in an LDS family. They instilled in me a desire to live righteously and prepare to go to the temple when I was of age. Some of the temples I attended were the Oakland Temple in my youth, the Provo Temple while in the MTC, and the Guatemala City Temple, where I was sealed to my wife. I have always loved the temples and the spirit of closeness to my Father in Heaven I have felt there. So I was excited to watch the events unfold that have led to the building and dedication of the Sacramento Temple.
As the time for the dedication drew near, however, it looked as though we were not going to be able to participate. We had fallen behind in our tithing and my wife was completing her last trimester of pregnancy. Her due date was September 9th and she had experienced a lot of difficulties with her health.
It was in this state that we found ourselves when our bishop asked us to see him. He expressed his desire to see us take part in the activities and ceremonies planned. I don’t think it was so much what he said as it was the spirit which his words carried that had the effect it did on my soul that day. From that time forth I knew in my heart and soul that my family needed to be at the temple for the dedication and the visit of the prophet. Doors were opened to us to accomplish this and great blessings were poured out upon us, although at the time I did not know how great.
In the last week of the temple open house we were able to go through with my mother (who came from out of state), my brother and his family, and my sister and her family. My bishop from when I was a young man was there as well, after a change in his assignment at the last minute. His presence there meant the world to my mother, who had been going through some difficult times. My brother, who has been inactive in the church since his youth, was there with his wife and son. That was a great blessing for me, and the answer to many prayers. My sister was also there with her husband as interior ushers. Her prayers for us were answered as well.
The week of the dedication came quickly, and my sister and her husband provided us a place to stay near them in Sutter Creek, southeast of Sacramento. On the day of the dedication we were invited to view the cornerstone ceremony since my sister would be singing in the choir for that event. My wife sat behind us to rest herself during the ceremony. She was at an elevated spot were she would be able to see it take place.
The choir began to sing and as the prophet came into view my wife says that the baby jumped within her and she contacted to the point of it bending her over where she sat. My brother-in-law saw her from where we were standing and new she was having a strong contraction. She had the distinct impression that the baby felt the presence of the prophet. She continued to rest up until the 11:30 session in which we were to participate along with my grandmother, my sister’s family, and my daughter. My wife had several more contractions, but thought that if she just rested they would go away.
They did not go away.
As the session began, her legs started to shake and several ushers assisted us in moving her to a secondary location were we could still view the session and make her more comfortable. About 15 minutes into the session all were impressed that we needed to get her to the hospital or she was going to deliver at the temple. I think all of the security personnel that day knew who we were as I drove my van unobstructed the wrong way through security up to the side of the temple.
A nurse that was present there along with others assisted us in finding the hospital, and by the fourth dedication session Nichole Renee was born. Things did not go as we had planned, but I believe there was a different plan that day not our own. All who helped us that day, from family to temple staff to the medical team at the hospital, were God’s answer to our prayers. We couldn’t have asked for more.
The Lord rewards those who seek him. His temples are given to us to bless our families. Not a birthday will go by for Nichole that we won’t be reminded of that special day and our responsibility to stay temple worthy. This experience has made our family stronger. Miracles small and great have come to all who have participated in these things.
The temple will continue to bless the lives of members and nonmembers through out this entire region. Prepare now to attend the temple and return often. Allow the great blessings of that holy place to radiate in your lives. In the temple, eternity and exaltation come into view and families and the love between them is magnified.
It is my sincere hope in sharing these things that others might gain a desire to come to the house of the Lord. The Lord lives and has great blessings in store for all who would prepare themselves to come to his holy temples.
Michael Crowley
Anderson, California.
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Thanks for the fantastic coverage of the Sacramento Temple youth celebration and temple dedication. I love your personal, salt-of-the- earth approach in reporting, and the photos are fantastic. I had the honor of working with the youth in our stake throughout the summer, rehearsing the music for the celebration. When it came right down to the Big Weekend, however, I was in Utah taking part in another very special "temple" dedication — the birth of a new granddaughter. I would have loved to have been at the cultural celebration and dedication, of course, but your in-depth articles helped me feel that I actually was there.
Marianne McKnight
Auburn Stake
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Thank you, Brother and Sister Proctor, for your wonderful coverage of the celebration and the events leading up to the dedication of the temple. The pictures were breathtaking and the beautiful way you shared your experience made us feel we were there and feeling the Spirit as well.
My daughter, Shawn Borup, was taking pictures literally right beside you, Brother Proctor, at the "More Precious Than Gold" celebration. When I told her about you and Meridian, she said she was so excited to tell me that she was right on your shoulder, literally, trying to capture the same angles. She said: "I knew he was someone special because of his great spirit and wonderful smile."
Her son, Spencer, (my grandson) was the principal actor lead in the play who had a wonderful voice, and we are very proud of him. Because he is the home teaching companion of Brother Kieth Merrill, Brother Merrill eliminated himself from choosing this lead role. That's the kind of integrity he possesses. My daughter is also one of the three Relief Society presidents who was honored to serve the General Authorities and their wives that special luncheon.
She spent many hours on her hands and knees completing the landscaping when the cry for help came. Every event leading to the opening of the temple has been such a blessing in our family's lives and I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful way you shared your spirit in your coverage.
I quickly got Shawn signed up to receive Meridian, and she loves it already!
Barbara J. Bindrup
Las Vegas, Nevada
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I just want to thank you so much for your wonderful articles and pictures about all the temple dedications. I can feel the spirit of the temples and the people there through your descriptive words and fabulous photos, and so enjoy them. I printed and kept all of your material on the Ghana and Nigeria temples and was overwhelmed with the spirit they conveyed. Our temples are a wonder to the world, and your coverage of their dedications (and the celebrations beforehand) help us to be there. Thank you, thank you.
Claire Helmers
Alberta, Canada
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Thank you so much for your wonderful coverage of the Sacramento Temple open house and dedication. The open house, celebration and dedication have been center stage in my family’s lives for the past several months. My three daughters were all in the celebration. What a marvelous event we witnesses as we watched 5,000 Latter-day Saint youth perform for the Lord’s prophet, President Hinckley. The spirit that was in the Arco Arena was awesome. The youth were amazing.
And then to follow that up by sitting in the Sacramento Temple with my wife and daughters for the 9 a.m. dedication session was truly a blessing.
Thank you for your most excellent coverage of the events surrounding the beautiful Sacramento Temple. This has been a summer that will never be forgotten!
Jeff Jones
Anderson California Stake
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Thank you so much for your article "The Dawning of a New Day in Sacramento." I'm going to send the link to some of my friends that we brought to the open house. (The temple as a missionary tool is an incredible story in itself — Mosiah 8:18!) What a beautiful journey to be able to share with them. I'm excited to search the archives and look for more photo essays on the other temples.
I also love the light of the rising sun. But one of my favorite things about the landscape of this temple is the fountain at night. Inside you saw the incredible chandeliers, well, the fountain turns into its own crystal chandelier each night. The lights intensify every droplet of water. The symbolism and imagery of light and dark and of living water bursting forth is incredible. After the magnificent experience of leading people on tours all day during the open house, I didn't expect to become awestruck once again. But it happened during the first time we brought a group down around the bend of the portico from the Mormon Center and up to the fountain late in the night. It was brilliant. I hadn't seen the fountain at night.
I was similarly surprised at the changes the light affected in the rooms of the temple, especially the celestial room during different times of day. It's great to have a temple with windows in practically every room! Each evening — for about 45 seconds —the setting sun turns a thin strip of the windows from yellow green to fiery red and orange-all those colors bounce off the chandelier all over the room.
Angie Bassett
Antelope, California
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Just had to let you know how delighted we were to view your wonderful story today about the Sacramento Temple celebration. We are serving as senior missionaries here in Virginia, but have been very interested in this presentation ever since our oldest granddaughter, Savannah, called from Sacramento around the first of June to tell us that she had auditioned for a part in the pageant. We were also recipients of subsequent phone calls, as she was chosen to be one of the eight principals and also going to be able to participate in the dance festival with her brother and her friends.
It's been an exciting summer for her and her family as the time got closer and rehearsals continued. They were even able to fly out here to visit us for a week the first part of August and while here, Savannah sang all of the music for us, and we read the script and she explained the story to us. Well, we thought that was as much as we were going to be able to experience, until we opened up Meridian today and there was your great story.
Our Savannah is the beautiful redhead in the cover picture (dancing with her very best friend) and then played the part of Elizabeth in the period costume... the one with the rollers in her hair and the cameraman filming her. She is an outstanding nearly 16-year-old, a kind and good person, excellent student, quite a talented singer, and as you can tell, we are very proud of her. We are grateful for the wonderful spiritual experiences she had through her participation in the show.
And thank you so much for doing this article. We felt like you did it just for us!
Elder and Sister Argyle
From Ohio, serving a CES Mission in
Charlottesville, Virginia
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Your brilliant, exciting articles and pictures of the Sacramento Temple celebration and dedication are almost as good as the real thing. My husband and I were there for the performance as well as the dedication. We came home inspired and full of the Spirit of the Lord because of what we saw and experienced.
Thank you for the great essays you write about temples of the Lord and for the amazing and soul touching pictures. I feel I have visited through your eyes far more than I have had the privilege of attending in person.
We don’t know you personally, but feel a kinship with you and your family. The Gospel is true; God lives and loves us all.
Marian and Bob Vance
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Thank you so much for all the coverage of the Sacramento Temple. You are taking those of us who live 130 miles away or farther into the heart of the temple and ceremonies even though we have had to experience it all from afar. God bless you.
Sue Reuser
Orland, California
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I am so in awe of your beautiful temple coverage. It holds special meaning to me as well. I went on a pilgrimage to get there from southern California (Simi Valley) by myself with MS, fibromyalgia and diabetes. I am a single adult member. My health not good, but I wanted so badly to breathe the air of the prophet close up and witness the dedication of my first temple, perhaps my last chance. It was its only story on how much it has meant to me to get a temple recommend, my endowments and have the opportunity to see my first dedication ceremony of a House of the Lord.
I faced every sad adversity to prevent me from being there and in most incidences any one of them would have stopped me, but the spirit of God was within me and I did everything I had to, to make this dream come true for myself. I lost my wallet with my ID, credit card and temple recommend just two days before, while attending a dear sister’s funeral 300 miles north of my home, and my car broke down.
I had a ticket for the Elk Grove Stake Center viewing for the 4th session. I had to get it signed, a new recommend, which meant several miracle stops with my stake president and bishop, finding them to assist me, and to the DMV for a new driver’s license, rent a car, drive 7 hours, and find a place to stay and all in one day. Saying a prayer continuously throughout the day, I accomplished it all.
I made it in time to see the gala event at 6 p.m. on Saturday, and then drove to see the temple shortly thereafter. I shared my A&W root beer with the security guard and a few fruit and grain bars as we talked. He had been sitting guard over the temple since 3 p.m. without food and only water, so we shared stories of the events we were experiencing. He told me where to stay and where the Deseret Bookstore and temple clothing could be bought locally. It was nice to talk to someone.
I found a hotel not far from the temple and looked out my window to see the angel Moroni lighting the sky all night. Next morning I drove up to the temple and just asked if I would be allowed to see the temple, and explained my pilgrimage. Without expecting anything more than to drive around and leave to wait for 4 p.m. in Elk Grove (about 45 minutes away), I was told to park and was hustled into the 1:30 session in the temple. I had the chance to witness both the third and fourth sessions in the temple, by merely asking to be allowed to drive up and see the temple. The Lord wanted me there, I figure. I can barley put into words how I felt and what transpired in my life September 3rd, 2006. But I know it will dwell in my heart forever, and your coverage will help keep those visions alive for as long as I live. I forgot my camera, but knowing we wouldn't be allowed to have one there, I am so grateful for your coverage, of which I am saving every article and picture for my own enjoyment and my journal.
I too am drawn to the Angel Moroni in each temple, silly but I talk to him, and hold his presence as the beacon to all that's beautiful in my life. Your pictures reflect that in my heart too. The Sacramento temple is beautiful, and I hope those who can work in it do just what the prophet said — "wear it out."
I love our prophet, to the very core of my being. I was so honored to have the privilege to see him, to sign "I love you" as he drove off to the airport. A cherished moment forever and well worth the journey I took upon myself. Thank you for allowing me to savor it in the light it was presented and not in the only report from the local news media.
I stayed one more night, went to the Deseret Bookstore and got a few mementos on Monday. It was the talk of everyone in the store of their experiences in and out of the temple, including some who actually got to meet the Prophet and some who worked with him and it was a real treat to be there for that too.
You both are truly God's light in the world as well. I love Meridian and share it with so many friends, members and nonmembers alike. I love the advertisers and the many special gifts I have found and bought from your sponsors. This truly is a place where Latter-day Saints gather!
I hope to see you at the next event. Will you attend conference in October? I would love to meet you both one day.
I don’t know why I was inspired to write this, but I just wanted to share with you my experience and let you know how much I appreciate all your efforts in bringing the best of the LDS life to us. Humbly, thank you.
Cherie Lynnae Whitaker
Simi Valley, California
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The company I work for did the stone work, fountain and stone paving on this temple. Many of us were privileged to go to Sacramento and visit on the first day of the open house. We all struggled to get just the right angles to show off our work. I especially like the wings that go into the front door portico and the big silver doors. The inside is just as fantastic. We all hate the cement flower pots. (They were supposed to be stone.) Thank you for the wonderful photo essay. I will share this link with them.
This was our fifth or sixth temple. (Alabama, Nauvoo, Snowflake, Newport Beach, Sacramento and one or more that we can’t remember now.) We are also doing the Church History Library and stone renovation of the Tabernacle. Come see those when they are done. We won industry awards for Nauvoo and hope to win another for this one.
This does not exceed how privileged we feel when working on these structures. Several of us who are LDS used this experience to teach a few of our coworkers about the gospel. Thanks for showing our work off to such an advantage.
Christine Ricks
Salt Lake City, Utah
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You have done such an incredible job on the Sacramento Temple dedication coverage. The articles and the pictures are absolutely beautiful and you capture such great details —fantastic! You have certainly brought back wonderful feelings in my soul over the past few days. Thank you so much — it makes it so easy to share with our family and friends that live so far away. What a wonderful experience and tremendous blessing to now live so close to the House of the Lord! Thank you again — for helping us preserve and be able to re-live this wonderful experience!
Desirae Callaway
Folsom California
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Thank you, Brother Proctor, for sharing your photo essay of the beautiful Sacramento Temple with Meridian readers. We all absolutely loved it!
Melissa Cox
Mesa Arizona
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What a beautiful expression you have. Thank you for taking me there to see the light unfold onto the temple.
Jennifer Larson
Mesa, Arizona
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I wanted to send you a note to thank you for the wonderful articles about the Sacramento Temple. I have lived in the Sacramento area since I was one year old. I have watched the Church grow throughout my life here. I am so thankful that we now have a temple here in our midst. We are truly blessed of the Lord. Your articles have all been wonderful. I have been a subscriber of Meridian for several years and I appreciate all that you do. My heart has been uplifted again from reading the articles the past few days. It has been a great blessing for you to share your gifts and talents with us.
Dee Ann Buys
Rocklin, California
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Thank you for this beautiful trip you've allowed me to take to this latest temple dedication, even though I live 2000 miles away. I love these photo essays so much.
Melanie Ferguson
Baytown, Texas near Houston
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I was there. Three of my children performed. All three sang and two danced. Your article was a beautiful explanation of what took place. As was said in the article, there is no way to get the full measure of what really took place without being there. Testimonies were born and renewed, deeper understanding of the Gospel happened at the core, commitments were made in the hearts of youth and adults alike. There was miracle after miracle that took place for this to come together. I am so grateful to have been a part of it in a small way.
My kids will never be the same, nor will I. Thank you so much for putting together the story and pictures. I was inspired and it brought back all the feelings and emotions I had that whole weekend.
Jennifer Blackburn
Sacramento, California
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Although I've never lived there, I've been following your stories on the Sacramento Temple. I was named for my grandfather, Mark W. Cram, who was a bishop there and the first president of the Sacramento Stake. I'm sure that he's been following the whole affair from the other side (and pushing as much as he can).
Mark W. Jarvis
Phoenix, Arizona
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Although my sister sang in the Celestial Room during the dedication, I don't know any of the youth in this article. HOWEVER, the spirit of the youth came through so strong that I was almost overcome. Tears came to my eyes and my soul was enlarged. Please, as the Lord continues to direct that new temples are constructed and the Prophet has encouraged such celebrations to be a part of each temple dedication, do your best to bring us into the circle. We, too, are believers and such articles bring us closer to Our Father and His special young people. Thank you for this great experience.
Bryan Elkins**** **** **** ****
Kudos for Kapp Perry
Steven Kapp Perry did a great job with Maurine on this new weekly broadcast. It's a very important message to get out, and it was a well-done delivery. Thank you.
Barry Hansen
Orem, Utah
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http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/060912choir.html
How wonderful is that —a chance to REHEARSE with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? I would love that opportunity too!
Tammy VanCleve
Gilbert, Arizona
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I just found Meridian Magazine online, thanks to a family member. Boy, did I need the article “Dogs in the Dark”! I am a new relief society president, and have had some very disheartening “mean” encounters from active church members. Thanks, Brother Staheli, for putting some great advice and life lessons into this article.
Name withheld**
This re reminded me of an instance in my life. I was about 10 months pregnant and alone, except for my children. I awoke in the dark of night and saw a male person in my room. The shape of this person reminded me of someone I had seen in the neighborhood. I said "Go home," and he did. I do not know what he intended. I had nothing of value, except my children. Nevertheless, this experience frightened me so much that I had labor pains from the next day on until the birth of my child. I am sure that the person did not know what he had caused, and that he believed I was not afraid.
I have had similar experiences since then, and have always been able to use this tactic. I will try to use it when confronted verbally instead of physically after reading your article.
Oris Morgan**** **** **** ****
Wonderful and timely article.
Gave me chills of happiness.
At this moment, I am having a very unique and wonderful experience. My husband, not a member of the Church but supportive of me, lost his devoted father, and a wonderful aunt and uncle around 5-6 years ago. Last week, on a whim, I asked him for all the information he had on them. He surprised me by bringing out his own pedigree chart, including me and my family.
He had written everything down in longhand. A few days later, on the suggestion of my angelic daughter-in-law in Texas, I hesitatingly asked my husband, if he'd mind my grandson baptizing his father. We've talked about such things before; but he's always said, "once you're baptized (as a baby), you're done: you don't need to *do* it again."
Well, this time he looked me in the eye for a very long minute, kind of grinned, and said "Knock yourself out." Wow. What a thrill. Then I got brave, and contacted my husband's cousin, the daughter of his dear aunt and uncle. I asked her if she would mind giving me some additional information about her parents, then got even braver, asking if she would give us permission to not only baptize them, but have them sealed by proxy, for an eternal marriage, thus opening the door to becoming an eternal family.
I sent her [the link for] www.mormon.org and asked her to check it out, letting me know if anything made her feel uneasy. She emailed back within a day, and in bold lettering shocked me by saying, "Yes, I give you permission. I know my mother and father have agency and can choose, that they will be happy to know we love them and care so much for their well being. I also feel this is no threat to my own personal beliefs." Wow again.
So tomorrow, Thursday, Sept 14, my husband's aunt and uncle will first, be baptized by my grandson and granddaughter, then united for eternity by my precious son and daughter-in-law in Texas. Aunt Lilly and Uncle Martin will now become members of the true, pure, and living gospel.
In getting my grandchildren ready to do the baptisms. I wrote everything I could about Aunt Lillie and Uncle Martin, so by the time the baptisms take place, they will know these people well. My sweet little granddaughter said she knows she will feel the presence of Aunt Lilly, and I'm sure she will.
I plan to do the same for "dad" when my husband's sweet elderly mother eventually passes away. What a wonderful adventure. What amazing miracles happen when you take that first step.
name withheld by request
Florida
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http://www.ldsmag.com/backstagegraffiti/060913butterflies.html
Butterflies in the Archives, by Marvin Payne
This is one of the most disjointed, diverse, and totally funny articles you have written. Keep it up.
Thank you for keeping a diary. I wish I had. I've seen a few wooly worms become flutterbys also.
Andre Mostert
Champaign, Illinois
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In Memoriam
What a beautiful article. This anniversary hit me harder than all the others so far, except for the actual event. The sorrow is palpable: deep into the marrow of my bones. The obvious but inexplicable evil interwoven with so many stories of the ultimate of sacrifice and brotherly love; a contradiction that jerks me between horror and profound awe — awe and gratitude in the face of those who actually personified "Greater love than this…" There are no words. Not even thoughts or expressions that can capture what consumes the hearts of many of us.
My eldest son fought in the first Gulf War and my father was a Marine; so I have special interest in the military side of this continuing earthly drama.
On 9-11 I found out my 12-year-old son's school was doing absolutely nothing to commemorate the day. I was told the school leaders did not want the kids to "obsess" on the topic. I will be writing a letter to the paper and to the Principal.
Marilynn
Springfield, Missouri
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Thank you for this article. It was perfect for helping to remember 9-11 and to know that there are good men out there doing something. Keep writing.
Peggy Bidwell
Camas Valley, Oregon
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Thank you for your article. You did a good job personalizing your experience during that difficult time during the attacks. I appreciate what you have shared and your perspective.
Vicky Rafn
Oregon
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Phrases I remember hearing over 30 years ago at BYU are mainstays of my "cleaning." Have I mastered them? Not all but in the repeating and passing them down to my children, the benefits are certainly visible.
Thank you for the refresher course.
Looking forward to the next article and set of principles.
Naomi Harper**** **** **** ****
Beautiful City
Through the Camera Lens: A Compensation for Their Tears — The Dedication of the Nauvoo Temple. Text by Maurine Jensen Proctor, Photography by Scot Facer Proctor
Thank you for your photo essay of the Nauvoo temple.
My family visited there over the Labor Day weekend. My husband of now three years and his son had been there 13 years ago.
My daughter and I had never been to Nauvoo. I knew before going that I had a strong testimony but after having been in Nauvoo learning of church history, my testimony is so much stronger to the truthfulness of the gospel. I feel truly blessed to have had so "many" confirmations of that while we were there.
Thank you for your website and especially for your photos.
Gwen Mangelson
Rogersville, Missouri
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