Right--Right?

I should have sent you a copy of what I sent to my President. She read some of it, but not all of it, I think and then emailed me back. If she had read all of it, she would have realized that I told her that it wasn't how long you fast, really, but it was the spirit in which you fast and what you are fasting for. She wrote me back and told me that it didn't really matter how long you fasted, if you were fasting for the right thing in the right way the Lord would accept your fast. We are both right--right? Sometimes, I wish I could be a little more back downish, but I felt like she was attacking my beliefs and she was questioning my upbringing. In fact I labeled the email as "mel's upbringing."

The children are off to school. Howard is going to take Mikaela out to lunch while I go to a funeral at the church. I was just going to take her with and let her play in one of the classrooms, as I didn't think that it would be a really long funeral. Howard doesn't think that I should take her, and volunteered to watch her. I decided that would be a really fun thing for the both of them. They don't get the opportunity to do things together like the other children have had.

It's too bad that you and Dad and Howard and I couldn't take a week off in February. Howard found some really cheap tickets to Ireland for $99 to $124 dollars one way. That would mean that we could go to Ireland for $200/person. Wouldn't that be fun? It would be dang cold though!  I think that we should hold out for some place warm, like Italy.

Siovhan should be getting her Driver's license really soon, but she hasn't taken Driver's Ed. yet. All she has to do is find some time that she can take it, and book the course. She hasn't even made the call. She does still need a lot of practice on parking. She is like I was at that age: no depth perception. Cars hung up on other cars keep coming to my mind. What a hard thing to teach!  I never thought that I would ever get the parallel parking thing down. Now I have to park that way all the time.. It is a good thing that we practiced in that huge boat of a station wagon. It makes it seem easy to park the mini-van.

I love you!  I hope that you are having a good week.
Melanie

Upset

I have the Young Women's president upset with me because in our house we fast for two meals or twenty-four hours. She showed me the Young Women's hand book tonight and it doesn't state what the duration of the fast is. I don't really care, but I don't want her to think that I am totally off my rocker either. I sent her an email with some of the church's guidelines. I can't wait until tomorrow night when she has more proof that I am wrong. I have to decide that I will not let it affect me. It doesn't say in the Ensign what the duration of the fast should be. She told me that it was an ancient law that I was living. Oh well--what else can I do. I seem to stir up trouble in every presidency that I am in. The last time I stuck to my guns, because I  fed my children the sacrament, I almost chased several families out of the church. Now they all give their children the sacrament, but at that time they wouldn't even reconsider it.
What a life.
Melanie

To Sister Andersson From Leonard

Dear Sister Andersson:

                        Happy Birthday!

I want to take this time to wish you a very happy birthday. By the time you get this letter, it will be over with but I want you to know that I am wishing you not only a happy birthday, but also, a prosperous year to come.

This morning we had a lesson in church  about missionary work. I could not be grateful enough for the opportunity I had to serve in Denmark and meet people as yourself and your family. I will, forever, be indebted to your spirituality and your kindness, not to just Durfee and me, but all the missionaries that you and your family have helped.

I hope all is going well and that your family is doing fine. We are doing okay. We will be getting our twenty first grand child this next March. I t is going to be a little girl. I am not sure I like knowing what I am going to get. It was always fun to see the surprize on people's faces when it was announc3d what gender the child was. Now we get a phone call.

Myrna and I are still working at the temple on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. We used to work on Friday afternoons until I started to teach again. I only teach ing in the morning for three hours and then I have a preparation period. We have to be at the temple on Friday by 2:00 pm and we work till about 9:30. ON Saturdays we work from 8:30 till about 5:30. Just a month ago they call ed me to be the Coordinator over our shift. That means that I have to do all the schedualing of the brotheren and the various parts they will do. I have to assign people to the baptisry and the initiatory areas. This calling will last for about two years.

Myrna is teaching in the primary and I am the stake second counselor, over scouting. I have been involved with scouting, this time, for about seventeen years. This is my last year in teaching school. There are too many thing I want to do before it is too late. Myrna is still writing for the news paper and tending grand children every Wednesday and Thursday. Hoefully, this summer will bring to end some of the work.

I recieved an EMail from Elsa and in it she sent an item about how we need to take time to enjoy others. I am converted to that fact. We took a little trip with Todd, oursecond son, his family and Myrn's dad. Then we took her dad to Boston, for just over a week. That is where Melanie, our oldest daughter and family, lives. We had a good time each time. Kirsten is still in Texas and will be there for a couple more years. Her husband is in dental school. I wish he would hurry I need a filling. Just kidding.

AnnMarie

AnnMarie called this afternoon, Sunday, and she was sustained and set apart as first counselor (the education counselor) in the ward Relief Society Presidency today. She scolded Brandon for not calling her into his office before this morning. Otherwise, she would have invited us to attend her setting apart. It didn't happen that way and Brandon hadn't even thought about her wanting us there. She said he had known for a week that the call was to be extended to her. Anyway, she is now the first counselor. Melanie, you have been there and done that, right? (She is glad she is not the homemaking counselor, since she doesn't think she is very creative or crafty. I think, of course, that she is creative.)

Lots of love, M

Danish Letters

7/2/02

Dear Myrna and Trauntwein

A long time has past. We are all doing fine incl. my mother. She is doing as fine as expected. I usually tell her when I hear from you and she always says. Be sure to say halo from me too. So that I have done now.

Here they have rearranged our wards. Closed down a few to be specific. We get about 50 and thereof about 20 active, most elderly people. We are now going to meet at Maglegårds Alle. The new chapel which was build 1965-66, until our new chapel is build. It is OK. There is more room and it will take us the same time to get there. It takes us about an hour to get to church. They have not started to build yet. We have been meeting in the chapel on Kretavej, Amager. The Temple is still scheduled to the summer 2003. I have been told that they only plan the dedication meetings so that the members in the tempel district can attend so if you want to be there why don't you try and write the missionpres. And see if you can get a ticket there. You must know him Trountwein; you probably were in the mission at the same time as he was. 

I love this time a year when everything is fresh green, and everything's grow. The weekend before last we went on a ride up along the cost to Elsinore and Gilleleje and it was just beautiful. I become more and more thankful that I live in this beautiful country. I love to get your stories even I do not always answer the mails I hope that you are all doing well. By the way I copied the picture you send me, so that mother also got

one. She was very happy about it. 

8/25/00

Dear Else and family:

It was good to get your E-mail. It is always good to hear from you. I was happy to hear that your mom was doing better. As soon as I finish this letter I will be writing her one. 

You were talking about the two statues that brother Smith has made and is bringing them to Denmark. At the last general conference they had a 150 year celebration at the BYU. We had to pay to go but then they served us some American style Danish food. Myrna and I went to it and it was very interesting. One of the key speakers was the first Danish Stake President and then became the Mission President and is again a Stake President. He gave a very good talk, his wife also talked.

During the meeting a Brother Smith ( who was a returned Danish Missionary) told us about the two statues that he had made and he was 

taking them to Denmark for the Rebildfesten and one was going down in the harbor near the Little Mermaid. He showed us miniature models of the statues. He told us that they were modeled after his great-grandmother who left Denmark as a young girl. From journals and pictures he sculpted the statues.

I hope the family reunion went well.  Did the kids come from Sweden? We have a family reunion in the first week of August. It is  just for our own family. My brother and sisters have their own reunions. My Brother and his wife are going to Tasmania on a mission in July. It is a tiny island of the tip of Australia. They are excited. My sister-in- law is from Perth, Australia. They will be gone for 18 months.

Congratulations bedstemor og bedstefar. How many great grand children does your mother have? We have seventeen and two ninths grand children.

My oldest daughter lives in Boston (which is clear on the other side of America). She and her children will be flying out here this next week end. They will be here for three weeks. It has been some tome since they were here. We flew to Boston twice last year and spent time with them. She has two girls and two boys.

I am happy to hear that you and Erling are coming to America. If there is any thing that I can do to help you please let me know. If you want to stay with us and tour places in Utah you will be more than welcome. We are  centrally located. We are only one hour and twenty minutes from Salt Lake. My oldest son lives just north of Salt Lake and he would be delighted to have you stay with them,  if you think we are too far away. My sister lives in Salt Lake and she lives by herself and she would be delighted to have you stay with her. Let me know what you want to do in Utah and we will help you in any way we can. You can use our home as your base, we are centrally located, that is if you want to. When do you think you will come over here?

It sounds like it will be a while before they will dedicate the temple. What happened with the villa, were they able to tear it down? We have a temple in Utah that is a remodeled tabernacle or Stake House.

My dad’s grand father and grand mother came from Danmark and his mother was born in Danmark. On my mothers side her grand mother came from Danmark.

I will be closing for now. Hope you will have a happy day.

3-31-02

Dear Elsa and Family:

I want to thank you for the joke and the update on the temple. It is always good to hear from you and how things are going. As I am sitting here writing this letter, I am wondering how your mom and my second mom is doing. 

I was just reading one of the letters you sent before, about Easter time. I am so grateful that Jesus did for us what he did. In Sunday School today the teacher showed a video on what happened to Jesus in the last days of his mortal ministry. It was a good film and had such a good message. It made you want to cry. Some did and the rest of us just had big lumps in our throats.

We are all doing good. Julie is going to get married on August 2 in the Manti Temple. Her future husband is from Idaho and he served a mission in South America. He is a real nice guy and he will be a good addition to our family. In the next couple of months we will have two more grandchildren. They are both boys. One is our son Eric’s and the other is our youngest son David’s. We will then have twenty one grand children.

We are still working at the Manti Temple on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. We used to work both afternoon shifts, however on the first of November the school superintendent ask me if I would help them out and come back and teach half a day till the end of this school year. I told him I would have to talk it over with Myrna and if she did not have problem with it I would then call the Temple President and ask him if I could switch from an afternoon shift to a night shift. I told him that if the Temple President said that he would rather I stay on the afternoon shift then I would not be teaching school because I was not going to give up the temple work. After talking to President Goeslund and he told me he did not see that is would create a problem so I made the shift and now I teach half a day at the high school. I teach one World History and have a preparation period and then I teach two U.S. History classes.

12/20/00

Dear Myrna und Trauntwein

Thanks for your Christmas greeting and Myrna's letter about Pres. Kimbell. I was going to send Christmasgreetings, now that I had most of my friend on E-mail, but I still didn't get aroun to it, but I do hope that you had a nice Christmas and that you will have a nice year 2001. Trauntwein do you remember br and ses Dressøe. He is now 102 years old. I just got to think that he has been living in 3 diferent hundreds years and two different milleniums. How about that.

I do not remember, I am getting old, did I tell you, that the temple in Denmark probably will not be finished the first 2 years. All the permissions has now been given, but first they have to drow the tempel , the interior and then they will start to build, but that will not happen before there isn't any chance of frost, that will be in April, the last part of April. But we are still looking forward to get a tempel.

We had a nice Christmas. Christmas eve all our 5 children were home, with 3 in laws and one grandchild. Then we also had 3 missionarie, and we have a tradition for Ritas two sons coming around later in the evening. 1st day og Christmas we were all going to mother to have "Julefrokost". We all brougt something to eat. All my sister and brothers were there with in laws and children, so that was quite a group, but is was fun. My mother also always tell me to tell you halo, when I write you. She is doing fine, but her hands shake too much to be able to write, so that one can read it. But she is always happy when I give her a greeting from you.

Love Else & Erling

8/11/00

Dear Trauntwein

I regret to say that we have postponed our trip once more. We were looking forward to seeing you and all our friends, but I must say I have had a little nagging feeling, so when we could not get the tickets we had planed

on, all seats sold out, and they would cost us almost the double price of what we first were told to get some other,we would not have much pocket money left. Then I was also told yesterday that they had kept my mother at the hospital, when se was in "dialyse" and had oprated her one tou off because of an infection,you know the toe gets black, I am going to see her on my way home from work. We are now planning on going about the 15th of april to the midle of may, So we wil still have the joy of looking forward for another 8 month, and now that Erling has work again, we should be able to save some more money. I saw my mother and she was doing fine, and was happy.

Love Else

8/22/00

Dear Trauntvein

Thanks for your mail. It is so nice to hear from you, that is a very neat thing about www you hear a lot more from your friends, even if it is sometimes just short notes.

My mother is doing fine now, but she has a big hole, where they have taken her toe. I do not know why, but they haven't sewn it together. But she is feeling fine, and is happy. I called her and told her I got your mail. She told me she got your letter last Friday she also gets Ensign every month, she didn't know why she started to get them, but it is very nice. I get them after her, so I thank you too. Mother would like to write you, but her hands

are shaking so much, you wouldn't be able to read it. She tells me to be sure and thank you both for the magazine and for your letter. It made her real happy. That was for my English. No it doesn't bother me to write

English, I just write as I go along, but I thought it might bother you as a teacher to see me manhandle the English language. 

Så nu for dit danske.

Det er interessant at høre at Joseph Smiths oldebørn begynder at blive døbt i kirken og får udført deres endowments. De er ikke kommet i gang med at bygge templet her endnu. Der går nogle rygter, men vi får ikke rigtig noget at vide, hvilket jeg synes er forkert, fordi det net op skaber grobund for rygter som måske ikke er rigtige. Jeg glæder mig til at komme til USA, jeg har lovet mig selv at denne gang skal jeg i Templet derovre. Sidste gang jeg var der, kom jeg til Gunnison den dag, de lukkede templet, for rengøring. Typisk, jeg er altid heldig. De havde også lige slutte The Pagent. Nu ved jeg godt at det er for tidligt, til at se det, det kunne jeg ellers også godt tænke mig. Jacob synes det var rigtig godt at se "The Legasy". Arne har lige fået en datter, det er mors 16 barnebarn og så har hun 1 oldebarn. Det er hun meget stolt af. Rita er meget sød til at hjælpe mor. Hun er den eneste af os børn her i Kbh som har bil og så er hun også på pension. Men det er rart at vide. Line er også flink til at hjælpe hende. Line er min yngste datter, og hun besøger mormor mindst en gang om ugen. Da farmor døde fandt hun ud af at hendes bedsteforældre ikke levede evigt og hun lovede sig selv at hun ville besøge mormor en gang om ugen og det har hun stor set gjort siden. Jacob og Daniel plejede at være flinke til at besøge hende og hjælpe hende, men det er de ikke så flinke til mere, men nu bor de heller ikke i København. Jeg er nu heller ikke for flink til at besøge hende. Man kan godt mærke at man bliver ældre. Men jeg har det da heldigvis godt. Hils Myrna, jeg mindes hende tit med glæde for de dage jeg boede hos jer. Hun er lige efter mit hoved.

Kærlig hilsen 

Jonna

2/15/00

I do not think you shall fly mandarin airlines, when you come, but at least they didn't have to swim. 

 <> Else

2/10/00

Dear Leonard

Thanks for your mails, yes I did get your first mail, I have just been very slow to answer. The family is doing fine. My mother is OK again. There was a while that I thought we wouldn't have her for long, she kind a gave up I think, but she is fine again, as fine as she can get. She went to a place to see if she was fit for a nursing home, which she wanted but I guess she found out, that she wasn,t that old and disabled. They are trying to find her an apartment down by the ground, but that is very hard. She can't take the stairs to the second floor anymore. She doesn't know how she will live when the time for the dedication come, or she would have offered you to stay with her. I think she will still want that if she is able to have you and then I think you should stay with her, but under any other circumstance you are welcome to stay with us, and we will be happy to have you. There still isn't a time set for the dedication. They haven't even started on the building yet. Brother Madsen who is in charge of the building isn't even in Denmark at this time. Do not count on it being this summer, because it will not be. I might be like it was yesterday I was baptized, but I am going to be a grandmother in march, I feel like it was yesterday I am just a little bigger, my mothers size, a little slower, more forgetful as the song goes "the old gray mare she ain't what she use to be." We are happy thou, filing fine. I will let mom see your mail, and if you call her, she isn't home Monday, Wednesday and Friday before 4 in the afternoon. Those days she is in the hospital.

Love to your wife too

Else

6/16/00

Lige en kort hilsen for at fortælle hvordan det går her. Der er planlagt en del aktiviteter i forbindelse med 150 års dagen for de første missionærers ankomst til danmark. der vil blive afholdt specielle nadvermøder. En af afpostlene, jeg må med skam erkende at jeg ikke kan huske hans navn vil tale ved et specielt møde i København Stav og et i Århus Stav, og så vil han også være årets gæstetaler ved Rebildfesten i år. Der vil være en afsløring af en statue ved rebildfesten og en på Langelinie, ved Amerikakajen. Der vil også være medlemmer klædt ud, som mennesker der levede i Kbh for 100 år siden og de vil få en sejltur i en gammel skonnert, man har lejet. I løbet af sept vil der også blive vistet show over kirkens udvikling og aktiviteter i Danmark gennem de 150 år, henholdsvis i København og Århus. Man havde håbet det kunne falde sammen med indvielsen af templet, men sådan skulle det ikke være. Jeg ved ikke hvordan det går med tempelbyggeriet, d. v. s. jeg ved det ikke er kommet igang endnu. Vi bliver ikke informeret om hvad der sker. Jeg har bare hørt, at meget af problemerne stammer fra, at man han fundet ud af at fundamentet til kirken smuldrer og skal forstærkes og det vil fordyre templet betydeligt.

Det går eller fint, vi har rigtig dansk sommervejr. Blæst og regn og indimellem sol. Mor har det meget bedre for tiden, så hendes humør er også bedre, og hun er også i stand til at komme i kirke næsten hver søndag. På næste søndag skal vi have familyreunion. Mors søskende børn og børnebørn og oldebørn. Jeg er forøvrigt blevet bedstemor for første gang, til en lille dreng der har fået navnet Gabriel. Han blev velsignet i søndags. Jakob har det fint, han er lige blevet færdig i militæret. Han ønsker at komme med i Siriuspatruljen, en enhed som patruljerer på Grønland. Han skal søge ind til september, så han har blot fået sig et midlertidigt job som kok i Magasin på Kongens NyTorv. Jeg må hellere slutte, men det var lidt for dit danske, så du kommer lidt i træning til du kommer her over.

Erling og jeg planlægger at komme en tur til USA, Utha og vi vil gerne en tur til Seatlle. Vel Erling vil gerne se så meget som muligt. Nu får vi se.

De kærligste hilsner Jonna

Do Not Weep

I found this old favorite of mine. This is the one I think of at funerals.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glint in snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft star that shines at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.

My soul has found that better place

I live there through my Savior’s grace.

My memory dances in your mind

And if you look there you will find

I live in all the joy of being

I am the song I used to sing.

Do not stand at my grave and moan

I am not there, I have gone home.

Author unknown

Copenhagen Denmark Temple

Dear Copenhagen Denmark Temple Mailing List subscribers:

As of September 1, 2001, demolition of the Villa, the old mission office located on the site of the Copenhagen, Denmark Temple, is finally underway.  A complaint and other obstacles delayed commencement of the project, but the issues are resolved and construction has begun.  Follow the link below to view photographs of the demolition.

COPENHAGEN DENMARK TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION GALLERY:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/

Grandma's House

Kirsten Trauntvein

A.P. English

This Old House

Never-ending are the stories, love, and efficient ways of Grandma that show their continual presence all around this sweet abode, so justly called “Grandma’s.”  The sun beats down on her old cared-for house.  Only the cracked worn surface of the black asphalt carport tells of the house’s actual age, otherwise forgotten.  Feelings, impossible to duplicate, are set free while the familiar sights, sounds, and scents reach out to welcome me.

Almost everyone has memories of grandma’s house, whether they’re pleasant or bitter.  The atmosphere, which is always impossible to duplicate anywhere else, surrounds and comforts the soul.  My grandma’s house is like this.

The house, covered with gleaming green-white siding and a big tin awning, is the center of Grandma’s many stories about her life.  Two porch swings silently wait, lacking the pressure of mother and child sitting upon it as they gently sway to the sweet tunes of a lullaby.  Soft, silky flowers alongside and in front of the house, humbly wait to be picked and given as gifts to mother.  Small, round pebbles are now gathered to replace the green soft carpet of grass that once beautified the landscape.  Children once ran through the grass, as they headed for the brown wooden door, placed neatly between the two porch swings.  Stories of Grandma’s days seem tangible to the human touch.

Laughter peals out from the solid, rectangular perimeter of the house.  Reaching out, I grasp the cold brass door handle, its unexpected coldness reacting with the warmth of my own fingers.  Swinging the door wide open, I enter into the familiar surroundings.  Grandma’s and Grandpa’s smiles adorn their cherished faces which are etched with age and kindness.  Crow’s feet appear at the edges of their twinkling eyes.  Hugs and kisses are readily given and accepted.  The smell of a well-prepared meal lingers in the air as we start to settle down while Grandma and Mom continue on to the kitchen.  Turning down the volume of the World Series being broadcasted on T.V., Grandpa sits in his white, leather reclining chair.  The calming voices of my dad and Grandpa talking about cars allows me to quietly survey the room, as I have done many times before.  Selecting the large orange floral-print couch, I sit, sinking into its surrounding warmth.  More laughter comes from the kitchen as Grandma tells Mom more of her life’s stories.  Behind the large couch, the sun’s rays are emitted though a large glass window.  Each ray gently finds and caresses something in the heavenly room.

No dust is seen on the surfaces in this room.  Efficiency, on Grandma’s part, is present.  Plastic, silk and real house plants are strategically placed around the room, still allowing for more decor.  Grandma’s collection of fake elephants in all shapes, sizes, and varieties are cluttered onto shelves that are separated from each other.  The plush brown-gold flecked carpet feels as soft as baby rabbit’s fur.  It’s cleanliness defying anything that tries to mar it.  Dirt and uncleanliness do not have a welcome place in this environment.  In the kitchen, Grandma stands over her boiling, aromatic pot of witch’s brew - she calls it spaghetti sauce.  The tantalizing aroma of the meal’s last minute preparations tease my nose.  Grandma’s Cordon Bleu cooking, like her cleaning, never lacks for anything.  Time doesn’t seem to matter.  Everything has its place, thus casting a sense of near perfection over the entire house.

As the day closes and the moon casts a rosy glow over the old house, another memory is placed in a file marked “Grandma’s.”  The old house has survived yet another day of unforgettable feelings and memories which will again be impossible to recapture.  The stories, competency, and love of Grandma will still forever reign, through cherished memories of Grandma’s old but beloved house.                

The Original Manti Temple Dedicatory Prayer

Manti Utah Temple

Dedicatory Prayer
Dedicated 21–23 May 1888
by Lorenzo Snow

Almighty and Eternal Father, Creator of heaven and earth, and all that they contain, Thou who art the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of all living; to Thee, Thy believing children here present bring our offering and beseech Thee to grant Thy listening ear while we dedicate this Temple unto Thy most holy name.
We realize our weakness, our utter feebleness and inability to advance the interests and honor of Thy name upon the earth, except Thou dost guide us by Thy Holy Spirit; therefore, we humble ourselves in Thy presence, and earnestly entreat Thee to forgive us our sins and all vanity and unworthiness which Thy purity and perfection have discovered in any one of us, inasmuch as we are truly penitent therefore, and ready to forgive those who trespass against us.
We praise and adore Thee for having restored to earth again the fulness of the Everlasting Gospel, wherein Thou didst break the silence of ages by speaking to Thy servant Joseph Smith, while yet in the days of his youth, and by Thy presence and Thine own voice didst declare unto Him Thy well Beloved Son, our Savior, in whose name alone immortality and eternal life can be obtained; and Thou didst teach, discipline and empower Him to bring forth thy glorious latter-day work—the dispensation of the fullness of times.
With the record of the Prophet Mormon, Thou didst entrust him with the Urim and Thummim, by which the unlettered youth was enabled to translate the language in which it was engraven though long since lost to the human family, and thereby revealed the origin, prosperity and downfall of the mighty nations that inhabited this hemisphere for more than twenty-five centuries of time, and also informing us that the pure gospel of a crucified and risen Redeemer had been delivered to, and His Church established among them.
We praise Thy name for revealing this knowledge which the wisdom of the world was unable to discover. Also that Thou didst authorize Thy servant Joseph to baptize for the remission of sins, by sending John the Baptist to ordain Joseph to that power; giving him also a promise that this ministry should abide in the earth until the sons of Levi shall again offer unto Thee, O Lord, an offering in righteousness.
In the plentitude of Thine everlasting love Thou didst also send Thine Apostles Peter, James and John, who conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and apostleship, which enabled the Prophet Joseph to organize Thy Church and set in order all its appointments, offices and ordinances with its gifts and blessings, as in the former dispensations.
Everlasting praise to Thy Holy name for sending line upon line and precept upon precept, and continuing to reveal the abundance of peace and truth by sending Moses to confer the spirit with power to gather the House of Israel, and Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, that the whole earth might not be smitten with a curse.
When these manifestations of Thine unfathomable love to Thy Saints stirred up the envious hate of the ungodly to bloody persecution, imprisonment of Thy servants, and finally to extermination from the State of their chosen homes, Thine own right hand brought deliverance to Thy Saints, and gave them a happy respite while they built the beautiful Nauvoo. But there the wrath of the ungodly waxed furious again while Thou didst fill Thy servant Joseph with revelations of Thy will for the upbuilding of Zion and the exaltation of the righteous until nothing could subdue their insatible fury but the life-blood of Joseph and Hyrum and the expulsion of Thy people from the nation; yet Thy loving kindness failed not, and the heart of the savage Indians was moved to give us a kindly welcome.
We glorify Thy great and Holy name, Almighty Father, for these communications of intelligence and power to man in the flesh again, and that the Spirit, forseeing the hatred of the wicked that would be aroused by the developments thereof, moved Thy servant Joseph to seal all these keys of power and intelligence which he had received upon the heads of his brethren the Apostles, with commandment that they should build up Thy kingdom and establish its righteousness in the earth till Thy Son, our Savior, shall come.
Thy people being under a sense of these weighty obligations, and being driven out from among men, it seemed proper to Thee to make Thy servant Brigham mighty in wisdom and strength to lead Thy people in safety, and after a year and a half's journey in the desert among savage tribes, Thou didst give us rest in these valleys of the Rocky Mountains. In all these tribulations Thine ear heard and Thine own arm brought answers of deliverance to the supplications of Thine afflicted children. Nor wast thou weary of their necessities and entreaties, but didst soften the rigor of unfriendly elements, and didst cause the clouds to scatter refreshing showers, the hills to yield their treasures of snow, and springs of living water to come forth from the dry and parched ground. The labor of the husbandman has been crowned with plenty for man and beast, and much wherewith to bless the stranger. The everlasting hills have yielded their rich treasures of iron, lead, silver, and gold, while lightning and steam have contributed to gather Thy sons from afar and Thy daughters from the ends of the earth in swiftest ships, and without disaster.
How can we declare the multitude of all Thy mercies which Thou hast shown to Thy dependent, covenant children who have put their trust in Thee, for time would fail to mention the threatening famine by reason of the cricket, the locust and the grasshopper, when Thou didst send the gulls that swallowed them up, and the lives of Thy people were saved; or the earthquakes which have engulfed islands, provinces and cities, with the multitudes of their inhabitants, while Thy people have dwelt safely in this volcanic region, unharmed and undisturbed thereby; neither is the din of war heard in all our borders.
We praise Thy Holy name for all the mighty work Thou didst enable Thy chief apostle, Brigham, to perform; that he was moved to build and to appoint Temples according to Thy holy commandment in various cities of the land, and to designate that one should occupy this delightful spot. Since it has pleased Thee to take him to Thyself, Thine other chief apostle, John Taylor, was inspired and with his brethren did lay the foundations of this House, and with the free-will offerings of Thy Saints had reared it nearly to completion when his precious life was cut short by cruel persecution. We who are spared and are permitted to come together now dedicate this Temple unto Thee. We most earnestly pray that Thou wilt accept of this our offerings in the all-prevailing name of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
We dedicate the ground and the hill on which it stands, that the same may be holy unto the Lord our God; that its steps, its terraces, its trees and shrubbery, with all its adornments and its approaches may be the pathways of the just to the House of the Lord, the Temple of our God. Let the foundation of this House be made permanent and never be moved from its place. May the stones and the cement of which the buildings is composed become compact and strong as if it were one solid rock.
We consecrate the basement of the lower story, which is in likeness of the home of the dead, with its baptismal font, for the service of the living and the dead, with its steps, the oxen on which the font rests, its seats, its rooms for changes, with all its doors and windows, their hangings and fastenings, the furniture and all that appertains to it. May the fountain which supplies it continue a living spring that shall never fail, and the stream become as a river of life to Thy believing penitent children; that they who shall be buried therein may effectually die unto sin, and in coming forth may as certainly arise to lives of righteousness and faith, the spirit bearing witness of the blood of Christ which cleanseth from all sin; and when the ordinance is performed for the dead, that they may realize its efficacy as if they had received it themselves while in the flesh, and be judged in like manner.
We dedicate and consecrate unto Thee and the service of Thy Saints, the lower and upper main courts, with all other apartments in this building which are sheltered by its roof, according to the various uses for which they have been designed, with their stands, their altars, their desks, the stairs by which they are reached, their doors and windows, their hangings and fastenings, together with floors, partitions, ceilings, finishings, furnishings and ornamentations, also all apparatus and fixtures for ventilating, warming, lighting and seating the same, whether they are for public worship, administering in the holy sacraments and ordinances of this Holy Temple or for private prayer and secret devotion; also all rooms that are used for study and learning words of wisdom from the best books, or by lectures and the experience of righteous and learned men able to teach the will and ways of the Lord, all these we dedicate unto Thee that all may be most holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.
Wilt Thou accept and bless these sacred altars which have been erected by the offerings of Thy devoted Saints? And when Thy people shall approach Thee in Thine own appointed way, then do Thou hearken and hear their supplications; grant them deliverance from their adversaries; succor them in their temptations; give them knowledge of the ancestry of their generations that they may go forth in the holiness and power of Thine ordinances and as saviors on Mt. Zion redeem the generations of their dead and bring many sons and daughters unto Thee in Thy kingdom.
When Thy sons and daughters shall desire to plight their faith with each other unto Thee in a covenant of everlasting life and shall obtain admittance here in Thy holy courts, then O Lord, be pleased to accept their offerings; sanctify them, that they may be clean from all unrighteousness; clothe Thy servants with the habiliments of the Priesthood, and here at the shrine of Thy love seal them Thine by Thy Holy Spirit of promise until the day of their redemption, the resurrection of their bodies, as purchased by the blood of Christ Thy Son. May this holy Temple be to them as one of the gates of heaven, opening into the straight and narrow path that leads to endless lives and eternal dominion.
We dedicate the stands in the eastern portion of the building for the occupancy and ministration of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood, which has the keys of all spiritual blessings, is of the order of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and holds the power of endless lives.
We also consecrate the stands in the west of the building for the occupancy and ministration of the Aaronic Priesthood, which is an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood and holds the keys of temporal blessings.
We beseech Thee, our Heavenly Father, to inspire Thy ministering servants who shall instruct Thy people from these stands, that they may rightly divide the words of truth and give to each member of Thine household his portion of meat in due season, that from the treasures of Thy store house the riches of eternal life may exalt Thy children to a knowledge of Thyself.
May he who shall preside over the ministrations in this holy Temple, and all who labor with him, be greatly blessed with the understanding of Thy perfect law and all the applications thereof to the conditions of Thy people. When any difficult matter shall require his consideration, may the voice of Thy Holy Spirit give to him the revelations of Thy will, that all the ministrations of this Thy House and all the ordinances performed may be sanctioned in heaven, Thy holy habitation.
We dedicate to Thee the records which are and shall be kept of all the ordinances administered here in this Temple. May the recorders who shall have the care and labor of making and keeping them be abundantly blessed with wisdom and knowledge, that the same may be truthfully and faithfully kept and be found worthy of all acceptation, that Thy people may be righteously judged according to all that shall be written therein. We earnestly pray that they may be preserved most holy unto Thee from all violence and desecration, until they shall have accomplished the full object and purpose of their creation.
O Lord God of our fathers, of the prophets, and of Thy people, we beseech Thee accept the dedication of this Temple, with all that appertains to it, including the foundation and the towers thereof, unto Thyself.
May this delightful location be known as a holy hill of Zion, among Thy people. Graciously be pleased to place Thy name upon this House. Let the power of Thy Spirit be felt by all who shall enter within its portals. Give Thine angels charge concerning it, that it shall never be possessed by Thine enemies, neither be defiled by the wicked and ungoldly, nor even be injured by any destructive elements, but grant that it may stand and endure as a monument of the obedience and love of Thy people, and to the honor of Thy holy name for ages yet to come in holiness to the Lord.
We praise Thee for Thy goodness in enabling Thy servants to translate and send abroad the fulness of Thy Gospel as contained in the Book of Mormon into so many languages of the various nations of the earth; do Thou bless the humble efforts of Thy faithful servants in all the various peoples and tongues among whom it has penetrated that they may bear a faithful testimony of the truth that has sprung out of the ground, and of the righteousness that has looked down from heaven.
Have Thou mercy upon Judah and Jerusalem; hasten the going forth of this sacred record to the Hebrews of all nations; raise up men and means to carry the glad tidings of Thy returning favor to that afflicted people. Wilt Thou hear and answer the prayers of Thy servants and turn away the barrenness of their land? Make it very fertile as in days of old; turn the hearts of the exiles to Thy promises made to their fathers, and let the land of Jerusalem become inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein, that they may rebuild their city and temple, that the glory of the later house may be greater than that of the former house.
We render thanks and praise to Thy holy name for the measure of Thy Spirit sent forth among the scattered remnants of the seed of Joseph; that they are pleased and comforted at hearing of the record of their fathers; that, where they have opportunity, they incline to the arts of peace and self support. O, may the power of the Gospel, through obedience, enable them to be relieved from the terrible curse which is upon them, break forth into the light of Zion, and obtain a fulfillment of the promises made unto their fathers.
We beseech Thee, let Thy peculiar blessings rest upon Thy servants, the Twelve Apostles, according to the arduous and important labor and presidency which have developed upon them by the death of Thy servant, President John Taylor. Wilt Thou strengthen Thy servant who is called to preside over them and the Church with continual inspiration of the Holy Spirit; preserve him in health, accept the labors of his life and fill him with the spirit and power of his holy apostleship. May the apostles be united in the bond of perfectness with each other and prevail with Thee for abundance and richness of Thy word, to dispense to Thy people. Preserve them from the hands of their enemies until they shall accomplish their work. Give them power to send Thy Gospel to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples, to gather Thine elect from all lands, to build up Thy Zion and establish Thy righteousness in the earth, and to attain to the power of their calling and apostleship in the flesh.
O Lord, bless the Patriarchs whom Thou hast appointed in the land of Zion. May they have power to seal blessings upon Thy people by inspiration, as did the ancient fathers, that their blessings may be fulfilled upon the heads of their descendants and of Thy people.
Bless the Seventies with their Presidency, to magnify their calling in all lands where their lots may be cast, or where they may be appointed to labor, that Thine Elders may praise Thee and all the ends of the earth hear of the salvation of our God.
Bless those who preside over the various missions in all the earth, that they may dispense the Gospel by all proper means within their reach, by writing, by publishing, by sending Thine Elders to all places where the word of God may have free course and be glorified by the obedience of the honest in heart.
Endow Thou Thy servants, the High Priests, with all the gifts and qualifications of their holy calling.
We pray Thee to bless the Stakes of Zion which Thou hast established. May their Presidents, Counselors, High Councils, with the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders and all that constitute the authorities of Thy Church, abide in the revelation of Thy Will, that Zion may lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes in all righteousness.
Enable the Bishops and High Councils to decree justice and judgments in equity and truth, that the Wards and Stakes of Zion may be built up in holiness, that we may be Thy people and Thou be our God. Bless with them the Priests, Teachers and Deacons, the standing ministry to Thy Church, that they may be vigilant to put away iniquity from Thy Church, that Thou mayest bestow upon Thy people the fulness of Thy favor, Thine everlasting love.
We pray for Thy blessing upon the Relief Societies, the Young Ladies' and Young Men's Associations, the Sabbath Schools, and the Primaries, with all those who are appointed to superintend and preside over them; that they may be abundantly blessed in relieving the sufferings of the destitute and sorrowful, arresting the wayward, and inspiring them with love for pure intelligence, and educating them in the way of life and faith, that our youth may find Thee early, and the aged be established in Thy righteousness forever.
We dedicate ourselves, with our wives, our children, our houses and lands, our flocks and herds, our gardens and vineyards, with all that we are and have, unto Thee, the Lord our God, for time and for all eternity, and for the accomplishment of the work which Thou hast given us to do.
Heavenly Father, Thou hast seen the labors of Thy Saints in the building of this House. Their motives and their exertions are all known to Thee. The hearts of the children of men and every thought thereof are open to Thy sight. Thy people have sought to do Thy will in rearing and adorning this great structure. They have contributed freely of the means which Thou hast given them for its erection, and the hands of the committee and of the superintendent and assistant superintendent have been strengthened and their hearts been gladdened thereby. Even the children of Thy people have shown delight in helping to purchase the curtains, the carpets and the furniture of this House. We this day present it to Thee, O Lord our God, as the fruit of the tithings and free will offerings of Thy people. Accept this, we beseech Thee, and let Thy choice blessings rest down upon every man, woman and child who has contributed to the building and adorning of this Temple. Bless them with increased faith and with all the blessings of heaven and earth in due season; that in heavenly gifts, in their basket and in their store, in their children, in their flocks and in their herds, in their fruits of the earth, and in the conveniences and comforts of life, they may abound and ever increase. If there are any of Thy people, O Father, who have not had the means to assist in this work, but have felt in their hearts to sustain it and to say that they gave not because they had not, but would gladly give if they had, let these same blessings rest down upon them also, and condescend to accept the desires of their hearts as free-will offerings unto Thee. Show favor unto all who have helped to forward this work by good wishes, good words or good deeds. Remember Thou and bless, we entreat Thee, the committee, and the architect and superintendent, and his assistant superintendent, and all the workmen and their foremen in every department who have labored in preparing the ground upon which the House stands, or the materials of which it is composed, or in constructing and bringing it to completion. Reward them, we ask Thee, for their faithfulness and diligence, and grant that the recollection of their labors may be a source of pleasure to them and their children after them.
O Lord God, who dwellest in the heaven of heavens, look down from Thy holy habitation, we beseech Thee, in great mercy and tender compassion upon Thy Zion which Thou hast founded. We turn to Thee with all our hearts for that help and succor which Thou alone canst give. We are beset with peril. We are surrounded with danger. The powers of evil are aroused against us. The foes of Thy Zion are numerous and mighty, while Thy people are but few and feeble. Floods of falsehood, slander and unjust accusations sweep over the land, concerning Thy Saints. By these means many of our fellow-citizens have been poisoned against us. They have urged the enactment of laws to ensnare us, to confiscate the property which we have constructed unto Thee, and to overflow the plan of salvation which Thou hast revealed to us. Through the delusion of lies and the binding effect of prejudice, our fellow-citizens would deny us our rights, would consign us to prison, would wrest from us our property, would threaten us with utter destruction.
Holy Father, Thou knowest how false are the accusations against us. We appeal to Thee for deliverance. Turn aside the wrath of man. Break the bands which encircle us. Destroy the traps which are spread for our feet. Let the light of eternal truth shine upon us and illumine our pathway. Vindicate us by Thy power, and let not the wicked aspersions of our enemies prevail. Show to the world, especially to our nation, the true character of Thy people. Enlighten the minds of the officers of our government, soften their hearts, and give them power to check all spirit of persecution and disposition to justify oppression and approve of unjust judgments. Help them to comprehend the true principles of liberty and to enforce the same for the benefit of all people throughout the land. Open their eyes to see the wrongs that are being committed against Thy people. Awaken them to a sense of justice. Give to the Chief Executive, to his cabinet and to the Congress and the courts of our nation, the firmness, courage and comprehension of justice necessary to maintain just and righteous government in the land, that all the people may rejoice.
Restrain and control the words and acts of preachers, lecturers and writers who endeavor to create anger and hostility against They people. Take from all such the power to blind the eyes of the nation by misrepresentation and falsehood, or to inflame the people to sanction acts of anger against the innocent.
As Thou hast in the past overruled the violence of mobs and the cruelty of the wicked for the glory of Thy name and the salvation of Thy people, we ask Thee, Righteous Father, to so control this present persecution that Thy purposes may be accomplished in the redemption of Thy Zion. Be with and sustain Thy people in their afflictions. In their imprisonments, in their exile, in the unjust confiscation of their property and in the endurance of all the wrongs to which they are subjected, give them grace and patience and fortitude. May no murmuring at Thy providences ever escape their lips. Reveal to Thy people the salvation which awaits us.
O God, before Thee in this Thy Holy House, do we this day confess our sins. We acknowledge our shortcomings and imperfections. We are full of faults and errors. We accept the afflictions which we are now enduring as being permitted by Thee to make us more worthy of our high calling. We humbly pray Thee to forgive us. Blot out our transgressions, that they shall not appear against us any more. Condescend to let Thy favor and the light of Thy countenance rest upon us. Make known Thy will more and more plainly unto all Thy Saints. Uphold us in all righteousness as the people whom Thou hast chosen. Suffer us not to be put to shame; but show the inhabitants of the earth the truth of our testimony concerning Thee and Thy work.
Now, Holy Father, we ask Thee in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, to hear and answer this our prayer. We entreat Thee to accept this dedication of this House. Sanctify it and make it holy. The ordinances performed therein by Thy servants and handmaids, may they be in Thy sight as though performed by Thyself.
And to Thy name be the honor and glory and praise for ever and ever, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Amen.



N. B. Lundwall, Temples of the Most High: Collector's Edition (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1996) 103–112.

Olena Elizabeth Rostron Blackham, Leonard's Aunt, Died in 1996

Published: Thursday, Oct. 3 1996 12:00 a.m. MDT in the Desert News.

Our loving mother and grandmother, Olena Elizabeth Rostron Blackham, 88, of Orem, died Oct. 2, 1996, at her home in Orem from cancer.

She was born March 18, 1908, a daughter of James Farnsworth and Marie Nielsen Rostron in Clear Creek, Carbon County, Utah. She married John Rostron Blackham January 19, 1925 in Malad, Idaho. He died May 21, 1965.She was a member of the United Mine Workers Auxiliary. She was an active member of the LDS church serving in all organizations of the church and as a visiting teacher for many years.

Survivors include four sons and two daughters, Jack R. (Elna) Blackham, Doyle Lee Blackham, Virden J. Blackham, all of Orem; Lamar Vincent "Bud" Blackham, Spanish Fork; Betty M. Butterfield, Payson; Olena E. (Francis) Simmons, Orem; son-in-law, Laurence R. Potts, Magna. She is also survived by two sisters, Cora Beth Evans, Orem; Marie Bench, Murray; two sisters-in-law, Elenor Blackham, Orem; Anna Nielson, Ferron, Utah; 30 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter, Urilda Jean Potts, one grandson, one great-grandson, mother and father, two brothers and three sisters.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 5, 1996, at 1 p.m. in the Vermont 1st Ward Chapel, 400 No. 400 East in Orem. Friends may call Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State St. in Orem and also Saturday from 12 noon to 12:45 at the ward chapel. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery.