Sometimes Laundry Is The Best Temple Service

Dear Kids,

Your dad and I got to go to the Rome, Italy Temple on the FIRST day it was open. What a historic day for the church and for us as a family. When we got there on Tuesday morning, it was nice and early. The first endowment session was at 9am and was already full of reservations, but we were told to come as early as we could and then they would see what work they could have us do.

Well, it was VERY apparent after about 20 minutes that the temple staff was completely overwhelmed. There were so many people coming to do work (good problem to have) but they didn't have enough temple workers in order to keep up with the demand. The matron, Sister Pacini ended up coming into the chapel and saying, "We could REALLY use some help in the laundry room. Will you sisters consider helping?". We (I and the other ladies I was with) had previously told her that we would do ANYTHING they needed, so we jumped at the chance.

We headed down the laundry room and they were in a frenzy trying to keep up with the washing, folding, ironing, delivering and making new packets. They ended up having to go to the distribution center to get new things to keep up with the demand of people coming to do temple service. I ended up in the laundry room for 5+ hours. I was helping with washing, picking us bins, folding, delivering to the baptistry, ironing, hanging things up, delivering to the clothing room, taking things to the sealing rooms, going here and there and everywhere that they needed help or any errands run.

Let me tell you what... it was the BEST temple service I have given in a long time. It was where the most need was, and my soul was completely filled when we left. Plus, I really got the "backstage tour". So much to see and experience behind the scenes! When we ended up leaving, the laundry manager just thanked us over and over, "You were the angels I needed." Your dad ended up sitting in some sealings, going to the baptistry, and being in the celestial room for a while. He had a profound experience when he sat in the celestial room. When he sat down he had a brief but really powerful experience. He said, "I could feel all the souls of this land for the last 2,000 years crying from the dust and praising the Lord that there is finally a temple of God on this ancient ground." He said it was such a powerful spiritual vision and he burst into tears.

The matron, Sister Pacini, shared a story with us as well. She said, "We had some friends from England come and visit us here. They are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ, but they wanted to come and support us in our new calling. They spent a whole day going through the temple open house and on the grounds. Then the next day we went to St. Peter's Basilica by the Vatican. When we finished I asked her what she thought and she said, 'The Basilica was amazing and beautiful... but I didn't feel the 'hug'".

That is exactly it. The Temple leaves you with a heavenly hug EVERY TIME. No matter what service you do there, no matter what time you give, much or little, you leave with "the hug".

I'm SO GRATEFUL that we were able to go and be there on that sacred ground on that sacred day. And I tell you what! If your dad and I are ever called to serve a temple mission, or any mission in a foreign land, the best place to learn the language is in the laundry room! By the time we were finished I was starting to get some Italian!

I love you,

Your Mom