Miracles and Temples

Dear Friends and Family,

Kitty writing this week. It's been a pretty uneventful week since the windstorm. After we secured the trailer last Monday, Farrell brought my computer stuff over so we could work from home. We still attend meetings and take pictures, but we do our reports and Zoom calls while watching the temple progress out our family room window. 

I really enjoyed attending the existing Anchorage Alaska Temple Tuesday evening. Since the Visitors' Center was closed Farrell arranged to meet those dropping off cookies for Cookie Day in the parking lot outside the trailer. Then I drove over to the temple myself instead of leaving then dropping the car off at the trailer. Serving in the temple is one of the highlights of the week. It is often challenging, but everyone there is so kind, loving, and Christlike. 

Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple dedicated 2023.

We did have a large group of "visitors" to our home Thursday evening. Sister Holli Card arranged for the youth from our Temple View ward to come over after they did proxy baptisms at the House of the Lord. She also made delicious homemade frosted pumpkin whole wheat sweet rolls. They received permission to use Brother & Sister Spencer's back gate to walk from the temple parking lot, through their yard, and down three houses to where we live. I felt bad as many had wet hair and it was very cold outside. I can't explain why some didn't wear warm coats. It's an Alaska thing, I guess. There were 30 here including youth and leaders. We showed them an inspiring short video clip about the personal experience of the Sikehema's and the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. It's only 8 1/2 minutes long and I highly recommend it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kf4gAMDOvk

Salt Lake Temple reconstruction.

Farrell talked about Joseph Smith and his prayer at the dedication of the Kirkland Temple in 1836. We think Farrell's great great and great grandfather were in Kirkland at that time. The LDS church just reacquired the Kirkland Temple last year. So many miracles happened there.

Then he quoted Brigham Young speaking of the Salt Lake Temple, "I want to see the temple built in a manner that it will endure through the millennium." It's being rebuilt right now to accomplish just that goal. We're excited to be able to attend the open house after our mission here is finished. 

Temple to footbridge 1/3 mile.

There are so many miracles associated with the building of these temples. We experienced a miracle last weekend. The last exterior cement pour of the Styrofoam Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF's) on the temple was on Friday. The storm started Sunday around 11 a.m. and took the roof and chain link fence off the footbridge that spanned the freeway about 1/3 of a mile away. A one way road and the freeway run right by the temple. The construction fence was knocked down, and debris thrown around, but the temple was not damaged and the work continued uninterrupted. We feel very blessed. The Lord knows us all personally and is eager to bless our lives as we actively seek a relationship with him through prayer, studying the scriptures, aligning our lives with His teachings, showing gratitude, and having faith in His promises. Seek the Lord and expect miracles. "There is a glorious miracle awaiting every soul who is prepared to change." Spencer W. Kimball

We went over to the site yesterday to take more pictures since it's safer with no cranes flying steel around and steelworkers grinding or welding with sparks going all over. It's fun to see the progress and feel the Spirit in that sacred space. The ground is dry with ice patches around, but little snow. That is truly another miracle. You can follow the progress at: https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/anchorage-alaska-temple/photographs/

11 January 2025 Courtesy Jonathan Hughes

18 January 2025 Courtesy Jim Hughes

We enjoyed another game night last night at the Swenson's. They invented the game Alaska Alaska that we gave all our children for Christmas. We often play it at their monthly game night. We enjoy delicious finger food and delightful conversations. After a week at home it was a nice change.

Alvin Smith and others gave uplifting talks at church today. We had a great Sunday School lesson by Brother Light on The First Vision. We always have good class participation. Elder & Sister Kraut were at game night last night and attended our ward today. They are the CES missionaries and over three stakes. They teach institute, substitute for seminary, and visit young single adults and encourage them.

We're looking forward to the presidential inauguration tomorrow. We think the new supports for our trailer arrived and hopefully they can get it set back on the supports, leveled, check out the plumbing, and operating again. We live in exciting times. Have a great week. #ThinkCelestial

Love, Elder & Sister Badger