I love my job. There are many benefits to the job I have. Being a sports fan I get to watch all of BYU Sports for free and actually got paid for it. I get out of the house. I get to pick my hours for the most part. I meet famous BYU/LDS people. There are just so many perks. Today though was one of my favorite days of work in the two years that I've worked for the Events Staff.
Today about 15,000 people gathered in the Marriot Center to watch the dedication of the Draper Temple. I was amazed how reverent it was even before the dedication began. The doors opened at 3:00, the dedication didn't begin until 4:30.
Of course many people were there right at 3:00. The students would be chatting and pretty much be acting like students up until the point they walked into room (not room but the arena, where you watch I didn't want to say the Marriot Center because that includes the concourse where you enter but you know what I'm talking about). There was such a reverent feeling, they had beautiful music playing, pictures of the temple showing on the jumbtron it was such a peaceful feeling. There were a few reminders by a Stake President over the pulpet that The Brethren wants this building to feel like an extension of the temple so please whisper etc.. but overall I couldn't' get over how quiet and reverent it was.
Listening to the speakers during the dedication I felt the spirit so strongly. I thought of how I felt while walking through the Open House of the temple. I thought of all the sacrifices made to build this temple and the other 128 temples on the earth today. I thought of how wonderful it is that the work is growing so much that we need so many temples. Lou and I couldn't get over the fact while driving home from the Draper Temple that we could see the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and the Jordan River Temple from the Draper Temple. That there could be three temples in such close proximity to each other. Plus, Mount. Timpanogos less than 2o minutes away and the Salt Lake Temple about 20 minutes away.
All day I felt so strongly how the Church is true. In Sunday school we had a lesson on Missionary Work it made me reflect back to my mission and the people I was blessed to meet and how hard the mission was but easy at the same time because it is the Lord's work.
So while listening to the dedication thinking about how I felt in Church I just had this overwhelming feeling of gratitude toward the Lord for my testimony of the Gospel.
The last couple of weeks I have felt the Spirit so strongly and tonight all my feelings all came together. During the Hosanna Shouts and the singing of The Spirit of God I could help but get tears in my eyes (well I cried).
I love the Lord. I love the Church. I love that every aspect of my life is blessed because of my membership in His Church.
I love that I got to feel all these feelings while at work as an Event Staff member at BYU.
6 comments:
Wow! That is such a special experience you had. Thanks for sharing that!
sounds awesome!I always love the temple dedications too. Glad you were able to attend and help.
And, Kira is just such a beautiful girl! That picture below is so sweet and shows her growing up so much! Love you and her!
You are lucky to have the job you have! I think it's perfect for you.
Just awesome! Thanks for sharing that. I miss BYU sometimes and the awesome folks around there. I remember many reverent, spiritual times in that arena! Amazing!
This is such a beautiful record of the feelings you felt that day, Diana. I am annoyed with myself that I didn't come right home from the dedication and write down in my journal or on my blog. I felt the same way you did (in our Stake Center) that it was a peaceful feeling and so powerful at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
I miss BYU, too, and sometimes wish I lived closer and could participate in such events. What a beautiful experience you described! I love those times when I feel the Spirit so strongly and the strength of my testimony grows. Can't wait for Conference this weekend!
Thanks for sharing.
Post a Comment