DO THE ' HOKEY POKEY '

' THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT '

Medbor and Heidi Chavez and their daughter Bella were sealed in the temple last week. As we gathered outside after the sealing, Bishop Miller, gesturing toward the Chavez's and the many members of the ward who came to support them, asked me if I knew the last 5 words in the song 'Hokey Pokey'. It took me a moment and then it dawned on me what he was getting at. The sealing ordinance in the temple, and the love and brotherhood that it instills in us, is 'what it's all about'. Seeing Medbor and Heidi and Bella kneeling at the alter today to be sealed for time and all eternity confirmed that truth to Robyn and I. 

We had the privilege of teaching the temple preparation classes to Medbor and Heidi a few months ago and were able to be with them as they received their endowments. That was a wonderful day. But today was the icing on the cake. 

The capacity of the sealing room was 49. I think every seat was taken. The ward family was there to support and celebrate this special day with them.

TEMPLE PREPARATION CLASS VISITORS

Gabriel & Lulu Gonzalez, President & Sister Miller, Rita & Roberto Jeronimo

We were thrilled to have President and Sister Miller visit our ward and attend our class on Sunday. President Miller is a counselor in the Kansas City Temple presidency and his wife is an assistant matron. They shared their unique perspectives with all of us on the importance of making and keeping temple covenants. It was truly a blessing to have them attend our class and share their testimonies of the temple. Sister Miller was inspired to share the experience of a couple who were recently sealed in the temple after struggling for years to finally live the Word of Wisdom. This experience softened some hearts. The Spirit was very strong as these wonderful members committed to each other and the Millers that they would also make the changes necessary in their lives to be worthy of the blessings of the temple. We hope we can be with them in the temple before we leave.

DINNER AND FAMILY HOME EVENING

Gabriel and Lulu Gonzalez invited us over for dinner this week and asked that we prepare a family home evening lesson. Gabriel is a chef at Arrowhead Stadium and Lulu works at a restaurant. As you can imagine, the food was to die for. Afterwards, Robyn presented a wonderful lesson on the purpose of the temple for the children along with a great object lesson.

Isabella

Giovanni 

FAMILY HISTORY AND TEMPLE ORDINANCES

Javier Silvan with the temple cards for his grandparents.

On Sunday, we helped Javier enter the information for his grandparents into FamilySearch. Then on Tuesday, he went to the temple with the ward youth where he was able to baptize and confirm his son and daughter for their great grandparents. What a spiritually emotional week for he and his family. :-)

Dó há Ethié

We visited with Aubrey Black and her family last week. She is the great granddaughter of Chief Sitting Bull of the Lokata tribe. Sitting Bull united the Lakota and defeated General Custer at the battle of the Little Big Horn. Her Indian name is Dó há Ethié, which loosely translated means 'Diamond in the Sky'. Aubrey joined the church in Oklahoma a few years ago before moving to Kansas with her family.

She told us that there is a seat reserved in the Lakota tribal council for the eldest male descendant of Sitting Bull. That seat is to honor Sitting Bull who was the last great warrior chief of the Lakota. Currently that seat is vacant. When her 4 year old son reaches the age of 7, he will go to live on the reservation with his grandfather for 10 years, where he will be taught what it means to be a leader of his people. He will then take his seat at the tribal council.