Facebook Post

My post for the past two weeks centered on the dedication of the Bentonville Temple.  How grateful we are to be able to attend in the Ft. Smith Stake Center and be a part of this sweet dedication!  It was simply the best--as temple dedications always are.  There were two youth speakers who came from families who have been in Arkansas/Missouri area for a long time.  They spoke of those distant relatives who accepted the gospel and stayed and built a temple here.  Both of them were serious and powerful talks.  A current Relief Society president spoke about her travel to the Ogden Temple from South Carolina over 50 years ago to be sealed to her husband and children and the years of living here and having temples coming closer and closer until today---How these Saints have yearned for this day and how their ancestors were important to having this day happen.  There was certainly rejoicing in the heavens for all of those who have lived in Arkansas, southern Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma.

And can I say that I am firmly an Elder Bednar "groupie"  He is amazing!  His talk was magnificent and his prayer was beautiful and perfect for the people of this region.  He knows them well and loves them fully.  He lived here with his family for twenty years and they love him, too.  The young sister missionaries attended the morning session as well and said that he and Sister Bednar both gave different talks in the morning. His remarks in our session was so perfect--I can't imagine him saying anything else that what he did (and the sisters did say that they loved the afternoon talk just a bit better.)

Photos from last Monday when we attended the fireside in Bentonville---

 

A picture taken by President Crockett of the Spanish Branch
I am buying a copy of this to take home with us to Syracuse.
This will always be a special place to us.

The actual post on Facebook---

"Joy!! That is the word for today and for the past two weeks of our service as missionaries. Words and even photos can not express the great joy I feel as we continue to be in Arkansas as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Today was one of those treasured moments never to be forgotten with the dedication of the Bentonville Arkansas Temple. For those not of my faith, these Houses of the Lord (or Temples) are places where we make additional promises--we call them covenants with God and Jesus Christ. Like baptisms, they create a covenant connection between Them and us and lead us toward Them while we are on this mortal life. It is also the place where we are sealed together as couples and families for time and all eternity. This work is also done in proxy (or in behalf of) for all of Heavenly Father's children who have ever lived on this earth.

While we all could not be in the temple itself, we were able to watch and participate in the dedication over streaming services from the temple to our Church buildings within the temple district. Elder Bednar offered the dedication prayer and he and his wife and others offered beautiful talks.

This day was historic for the Church as well as three temple were dedicated today--one in Brazil; Moses Lake, Washington; and Bentonville.

In addition, we drove to the highest mountain in Arkansas-Mt. Magazine; we attended a football game you might have heard about--BYU-Arkansas; we bowled; we taught; we supported the young missionaries!

Our lives are simple and JOYFUL! We are so grateful to be here!

And happy birthday to our son, Benjamin! He is also a source of joy for us in ways only children can be. We love you, Ben! Keep fighting and working hard."