CONFERENCE WEEK-END~FAITHFULLY FOLLOWING OUR SAVIOR

Dear Loved Ones,

Wasn't General Conference just wonderful? We heard so many great & inspiring talks and felt the spirit so strongly. We were especially pleased to hear so many comments on service, missionary work, family history, and temples. It made us feel especially pleased to be serving a mission at such an important time. We were a bit shocked to hear the historical Provo Tabernacle becoming the second Provo Temple - but, what a fantastic blessing for everyone there.

We certainly enjoy our service at the Columbia River Temple. Above is a postcard we picked up at the bookstore. If you look closely, you should be able to see the Savior etched in the left main walls below the spire, and he is carrying a lost sheep. There are other sheep found throughout the picture, even in the clouds. The artist did an amazing job. He commented as follows: "As depicted in this drawing, the Shepherd's fold recognize their master & faithfully follow him to the temple. Christ is the Shepherd; his sheepfold is the Church Of Jesus Christ (see John 10). Members of his fold should hear and recognize their master's voice & diligently seek Him in His house, as often as occasion permits. As we attend the temple, we learn more richly & deeply the purpose of life & the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ."

We were pleased to hear the call go out from Conference to the youth, to become involved in seeking after their kindred dead ( genealogy via Family Search/Youth) What an inspired invitation. This will result in more names coming to the temples & many more youth coming to do the baptismal work for the names they find. As you know, we are the Baptistry Directors for this temple, on Friday nights. A week ago we had a ward bring 35 youth at one time, & they did marvelously well, by doing 20 names each, & being so reverent while they waited their turn to do baptisms & confirmations. This last Friday, a Young Single Adult branch of 18 members came & did almost all of the work themselves, both as ordinance performers and proxies. We also had a father & son drop in to do the work for a few of their family names, as a father/son activity - what a wonderful experience for them. When temples are close, it is easy to fit it with other groups and do this kind of activity. We expect that, with this new effort being asked of the youth, we will see a HUGE increase in demand for baptismal sessions. Already, this summer, the local youth asked for & received permission to come do special sessions each weekday morning - how inspired of them to ask, & what a blessing to them and their families. NOW, with the new call to all youth to become more involved, we expect numbers to multiply many times over. We're expecting that hours will need to be expanded at the temple, here, & that we will go from 11 shifts per week, to 15 - just watch...

Well, that is enough for now. Isn't life wonderful, & our opportunities for service, endless? That's how we see it from this corner of the world. We are pretty sure it is that way where you are, also.

We Love You & Pray For You,
Mom and Dad/Ma-key & Poppa
Elder & Sister Penhallegon