Example of Endurance
I have been reading the lessons of King Benjamin the past few days. There is so much for me to learn from his message. I think we can all learn. Even if we have heard it before.
Anyway, I was finishing up chapter 2, when I was taken back to the temple on Tuesday night. It was a pretty normal weekday evening at the temple. We were very short handed. Even our normal shift coordinator was out sick. On my way to the temple, I struggled with the idea of turning around and going home, but I knew where I needed to be. I think I turned around twice before I finally committed myself to going.
I am so glad that I did. I needed to be instructed.
Informational: There are two session rooms at the Oquirrih Mountain Temple. They are designed to accommodate 25 brothers and 25 sisters. We can add chairs to add an addition 10 if we need to. The way an endowment session is set up, you can expect to be there about 90 minutes not counting visiting and changing.
That being said, the 7:15 session was presented with a group of 75 patrons. There was no way we could put them all in one session. The 6:30 session was in progress. So our substitute coordinator decided to split the session. He started the 7:15 with 35 patrons and started an extra session at 7:40 for the remaining patrons. We had to wait for the 6:15 group to advance to the next instruction room.
Since we now had two sessions going at odd times, there was not a place to put the 8:00 session. We explained that to the patrons and they were OK with it. The challenge we ran into was that we had 74 patrons show up for the 8:00 session. We had to split again. We could not start the first group until about 8:20 and the second half at 9:00. They all endured well, patrons and workers.
So, what does this have to do with Benjamin? As I read of Benjamin, trembling as he stood before his people. He knew is mortal life was close to an end. I was reminded of one particular patron on Tuesday night. He and his young wife could not have been more than 25 years of age. His hair was combed, but unkempt. His jaw was covered in a scraggy beard that needed to be trimmed. I wondered if the plastic tubes from the oxygen take caused the scraggy unkempt look going for him. He shuffled into the chapel before the session. His wife looked tired, but peaceful as he hung on her arm for stability. The dark circles under eyes told me she had not slept well in a very long time, yet they were in the temple with their ward.
When the group was told we would have to divide the session and may be there later than normal, he had to be forced to join the earlier session. He did not feel he needed any special treatment. It was his Bishop that finally convinced him to move.
I had the opportunity to help this brother perform ordinances for his ancestors around 9:50 that night. By this time, he was struggling to stand. As I took his hand, it was as if he were reaching out for assistance, strength to stand, and the hope that he would be lifted up. He trembled and faltered. It was then that I realized my part in the ordinance was that of the Savior, his Savior, the Savior of his deceased ancestor. His whole body trembled as he reached out for the saving grace that would bring him into the presence of his God, King, Brother, and Father.
I was instructed. Life took on a different perspective. They were still around when I finished my duties. His wife stood against the wall, waiting anxiously for her companion to exit the locker room. I stopped and shared my thanks for the lesson he had been instrumental in teaching me that evening.
As I exited the temple, there were three brothers carrying this noble man, who could no long stand on his own strength, yet he had endured as lowered him into his car. Like King Benjamin, not letting the frailties of mortality stop him, he endured to the end.
So can I. So should we.
Anyway, I was finishing up chapter 2, when I was taken back to the temple on Tuesday night. It was a pretty normal weekday evening at the temple. We were very short handed. Even our normal shift coordinator was out sick. On my way to the temple, I struggled with the idea of turning around and going home, but I knew where I needed to be. I think I turned around twice before I finally committed myself to going.
I am so glad that I did. I needed to be instructed.
Informational: There are two session rooms at the Oquirrih Mountain Temple. They are designed to accommodate 25 brothers and 25 sisters. We can add chairs to add an addition 10 if we need to. The way an endowment session is set up, you can expect to be there about 90 minutes not counting visiting and changing.
That being said, the 7:15 session was presented with a group of 75 patrons. There was no way we could put them all in one session. The 6:30 session was in progress. So our substitute coordinator decided to split the session. He started the 7:15 with 35 patrons and started an extra session at 7:40 for the remaining patrons. We had to wait for the 6:15 group to advance to the next instruction room.
Since we now had two sessions going at odd times, there was not a place to put the 8:00 session. We explained that to the patrons and they were OK with it. The challenge we ran into was that we had 74 patrons show up for the 8:00 session. We had to split again. We could not start the first group until about 8:20 and the second half at 9:00. They all endured well, patrons and workers.
So, what does this have to do with Benjamin? As I read of Benjamin, trembling as he stood before his people. He knew is mortal life was close to an end. I was reminded of one particular patron on Tuesday night. He and his young wife could not have been more than 25 years of age. His hair was combed, but unkempt. His jaw was covered in a scraggy beard that needed to be trimmed. I wondered if the plastic tubes from the oxygen take caused the scraggy unkempt look going for him. He shuffled into the chapel before the session. His wife looked tired, but peaceful as he hung on her arm for stability. The dark circles under eyes told me she had not slept well in a very long time, yet they were in the temple with their ward.
When the group was told we would have to divide the session and may be there later than normal, he had to be forced to join the earlier session. He did not feel he needed any special treatment. It was his Bishop that finally convinced him to move.
I had the opportunity to help this brother perform ordinances for his ancestors around 9:50 that night. By this time, he was struggling to stand. As I took his hand, it was as if he were reaching out for assistance, strength to stand, and the hope that he would be lifted up. He trembled and faltered. It was then that I realized my part in the ordinance was that of the Savior, his Savior, the Savior of his deceased ancestor. His whole body trembled as he reached out for the saving grace that would bring him into the presence of his God, King, Brother, and Father.
I was instructed. Life took on a different perspective. They were still around when I finished my duties. His wife stood against the wall, waiting anxiously for her companion to exit the locker room. I stopped and shared my thanks for the lesson he had been instrumental in teaching me that evening.
As I exited the temple, there were three brothers carrying this noble man, who could no long stand on his own strength, yet he had endured as lowered him into his car. Like King Benjamin, not letting the frailties of mortality stop him, he endured to the end.
So can I. So should we.
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