Week 28: A Holy Place and a Holy Holiday

It was a great week. It started off on Monday with good news from Ben (Elder Hadlock). A man he has been teaching for several months decided that he was ready to be baptized.  The man has been attending church and participating in activities for a couple of years. Ben has felt a special connection with him and seemed pretty excited about this turn of events.  We think the baptism took place this weekend. We are anxious to hear all about it in tomorrow's email. Thanks to all who have been praying for Elder Hadlock.

On Tuesday, we were able to be in the Seattle Temple with about 80 young Elders & Sisters and four other Senior Couples. The young missionaries get to attend the Temple just once a year here. Four zones went on Tuesday, four on Wednesday, and four on Thursday. It was a sweet experience to be in the Temple with these humble, pure, chosen young people. They were so grateful to be able to experience the temple again.

We were particularly impressed with their reverence. Picture a group of 90 or so people who are fairly acquainted with one another attending the temple together. Surely they would want to visit and share experiences. Not this group. Not a word spoken in the chapel. And afterwards as all were gathered in the Celestial Room, you could have heard a pin-drop. There wasn't even a whisper. These young missionaries set an example for us that we will never forget.

Sister Sandau (Bishop Sandau's niece)

We made the trip to the Temple again on Wednesday, but we were responsible for helping with lunch that day. Still a treat to be with them.

Two days out of the office made for plenty to do on Thursday and Friday -- but worth the trip to the Temple. Great way to start off the Easter week!
 On Thursday morning we got a surprise text from the Davis family saying they were going to be in Seattle for a night and hoping we could get together. Of course we were thrilled with the opportunity to see this sweet family whom we've grown to love.

We met up with them later that evening at the Rainforest Cafe that is in Tukwila (about 30 miles north of Tacoma). We had a delightful visit with them. So glad they invited us to join them.

We "celebrated" Easter Sunday by watching a recording of the Tabernacle Choir broadcast and several videos about Jesus on the lds.org website.

We highly recommend that all view the new video called "Because of Him" that can be seen on lds.org.

After church, we got together with two other couples (the Harwoods and Fillmores) for Easter dinner. Though we missed being with family, it was a beautiful day (and week) here in Tacoma.

We have certainly noticed that the more focused we are on spiritual things -- especially the message of Jesus Christ -- the happier we are. We know He lives! And because He lives, we will all be partakers of immortality. And because of His Atonement, we all have the opportunity to have an Eternal life if we will come unto Him, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. We are so thankful that God so loves the world that He would send His Only Begotten Son to save us. -- And that His Son, even Jesus Christ the Redeemer, would willingly do what He did. Greater love hath no man than this.