Day 44: I Love to See the Temple

I have placed myself in a "corner of responsibility" where I can't talk to anyone because I must start and finish a paper tonight!  Although, I haven't gotten around to banning myself from the Internet yet.  I will have to do that after I tell you all about my day today...


Earlier this week, McKenna (a girl in my study abroad group) had asked if anyone wanted to go to the temple.  There was a group planning to go Saturday but since I already have BIG plans that day, I wanted to go another day of the week.  Luckily so did she!  I haven't spent much time with her and so I thought it would be a good chance to get to know her as well.  We attempted to go yesterday but weren't able to make an appointment until today.  The following is a story of how I got there:


After class we tried to find directions to the temple.  It's the London England temple but that's deceiving because it is NOT actually in London.  Matt, who has been there before, was gone.  Nick let us use his phone and we only got the answering machine each time.  Alvaro, the Centre manager, wasn't home to ask.  There were no directions on the traffic website online.  FINALLY a tender mercy- I found the YSA Ward website that had directions to the temple.


We traveled by tube and then had to buy tickets for a train.  We stood in a long line which ended up being the wrong one and then found the right line to buy tickets.  We JUST missed the train by like two minutes and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one.  We rode the train for almost an hour and then hired a taxi to take us to the temple.  A car pulled up that we assumed was our taxi, we got in and the driver asked "To the racetrack?"  We said, "We're actually going to the London temple.  Do you need the address?"  He then said, "Are either of you Sam?"  Uh oh.  Embarrassing.  That wasn't our taxi... ours came up right after though and with slightly pink cheeks we got out of the other car and into the right one.


Finally, after all the transportation difficulties, we saw a steeple ahead of us in the distance.  We had arrived!  It was raining (as always, but I really love it) and so there were fogs and clouds in the sky that the steeple rose above.  When I am traveling (like in New York, Nauvoo, Tonga, and Washington D.C.), there is no happier sight to me than the shining angel Moroni that rises above everything else.  We arrived at the baptistry only a half hour later than we expected and were able to get in with the youth group that was there.

(picture of the London England temple taken after the rain and fog had cleared)

I have never met nicer temple workers!  They were all genuinely interested in why we were there and how we were enjoying our trip in London.  I don't think they knew that we've done baptisms for the dead many times before because they explained everything we needed to do and where we needed to go in great detail and with a lot of kindness.  Even though I already knew, I was very grateful for their concern.  I spoke with a woman who has a daughter who lives in Utah and hasn't seen her since she got married.  She has three granddaughters there that she's never seen in real life.  She isn't able to travel to Utah to see them because her husband is handicapped and can't be left and her daughter can't fly out to see her because none of them have the money to travel here.  She told me all of this with a very cheery attitude and was very positive by saying things like, "Thank goodness for Skype!"  It made me much more grateful for the access I have to my family and for my wonderful opportunity to travel.


When we got out of the temple, the sun was shining and so we walked around the grounds.  They are so BEAUTIFUL!  That probably doesn't mean much to anyone reading this because temple grounds are always beautiful and I use that word to describe many things.  But the grounds truly fit the area they were in.  They were very green with giant ponds all around.  

It was wonderful to feel that spiritual boost and have that experience!  Most of the time I don't even realize I need that extra strength from the Spirit until I get it and then I think, "How was I functioning without this before?!"  It makes me want to go to the temple when I get home just so I can appreciate the ease and accessibility I am blessed with by living so close to so many.  


It took a lot of confusion, £19.30, and 7 hours but it was absolutely worth spending my day going to the temple.