Don't Miss the Majesty

 08/08/2025

10 August 2025 Courtesy Jonathan Hughes

Temple View Ward Anchorage Alaska

Sacrament Meeting Talk

Elder Farrell Badger

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

I am Patrick Roundy, Elder & Sister Badger’s son-in-law. My family and I are here enjoying the big state of Alaska. We have had this vacation scheduled for quite some time. Unfortunately, Elder and Sister Badger had to make a rather sudden unexpected departure before we arrived. Bishop Christian agreed to let them share their testimonies by proxy in this format for which they are most grateful. So today, I am speaking for Elder Badger, my father-in-law.

Brothers and Sisters,

Everything can change in two weeks. A (Stage 4, inoperable, incurable) pancreatic cancer diagnosis does that to you. We just could not leave without expressing our testimonies and love for you.

What a wonderful experience it has been to share nearly two years here with you. Your testimonies, your faith, your life experiences, your dinners and everything about you has made an indelible imprint on us.

In a coming day, I hope to kneel before the Savior with each of you. We will feel his love and bring comfort to our souls. I have had experiences in life where I have felt that love. It is real. I have no doubt who he is.

How grateful I am, especially at this point in life, to know and understand the Great Plan of Happiness created by Our Father. We know why we are here and where we are going. We are most grateful for covenants made in the temple. I don’t know how many times Sister Badger and I have relied on our sealing which bonds us for eternity to keep our focus on things that are eternal rather than getting lost in worldly paths. It is probably the greatest blessing we have received. I marvel at its simplicity. I marvel at a Father who can put together a plan that fits all of his children. I marvel at his ability to keep track of all of us at a very personal level. Sister Badger has probably told you some of the tender mercies and miracles which we have experienced. We have been surrounded by his love. Much of it has come through your ministering. I will tell you one.

We had contacted President Ledesma to break the news to him. I was looking for a blessing. He is the new mission president and has been traveling all over Alaska in that effort. This day, a Saturday, he just happened to be in Anchorage and received my text. He was headed to the temple that evening. We met in the Visitor’s Center. Because he didn’t have any oil, we headed to the temple where we ended up in the President’s office with Pres. Newman. With both dressed in white, I received the desired blessing. Sister Badger received a blessing from Pres. Newman. Our dear Relief Society President, Emily was with us which provided great support to Sister Badger. To bring that together at the right time and the right place is a miracle. It was not a coincidence or an afterthought. God is in the details of our lives. That experience is just one of many.

Now I have no fear of being on the other side. I am not real crazy about getting there. I have never been there or seen into that realm; we have friends who have. I have felt the presence and had silent communication with those who have gone before. I had a friend who had recently passed come into Sacrament Meeting. I was a member of the Bishopric. He came around and stood above and behind my left shoulder. I could feel and understand his every thought. It was a joyful experience for him and brought me to tears. Although he was not there later, the feeling stayed with me for three days.

So do I know we are in this plan of our Father for eternity? YES! He loves us. Stay the course. Make and keep sacred covenants. One of the dear members of this ward, who we all know and love, gave me a great complement by text. He said, “I am happy to be your friend and call you an Alaska Saint…Hurrah for Israel my brother, Hurrah!!!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

10 August 2025 Courtesy Jonathan Hughes

August 8, 2025

Temple View Ward Anchorage Alaska

Sacrament Meeting Talk

Sister Catherine Anna Badger

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am Rachel Marie Roundy, a beloved daughter of Elder & Sister Badger. I have been asked by my mother to read her talk.

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Elder Badger and I had the privilege of being Temple Construction Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints working on the Anchorage Alaska Temple. We toured the site, took pictures including monthly rendering updates, cropped and labeled them, visited with the workers, sent weekly reports to SLC, arranged Cookie Day every Wednesday with the local stakes, spoke in church, ran a Visitors’ Center, and hosted groups after hours. Meeting so many wonderful people was the highlight of our mission. We grew especially close to the other senior missionaries and hope to continue that friendship after our mission.

We have witnessed so many divine interventions, blessings, miracles, and tender mercies. The Temple is a House of God. Heavenly Father inspired President Nelson to build a temple right next to the existing one here in Anchorage, so the saints here did not have to travel 1,300 to 1,400 miles to attend the nearest temple while it was being renovated or rebuilt. President Hobbs shared with us the direction he was given from our Heavenly Father when he was called as the Temple President. He shared this again the last evening I was at the temple as an ordinance worker as they said goodbye to us Tuesday evening in our preparation meeting. Heavenly Father directed him to, “Open my temple.” A short while later the endowment session was shortened and three additional daily sessions were added along with other ordinances. He was told to, “Tell my children I love them” which has personally given me so much comfort. He also shared that three years ago there were 300 ordinance workers, now there are 787. Working as a temple ordinance worker has been one of the highlights of my mission. It was a good balance to the other work we did. I loved my association with all the wonderful, dedicated, Christ-like people I worked with. We would also attend as patrons on Thursday evenings and loved that association as well. There is a peace, calm, and optimism I feel only in the temple that rights my world.

Our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson in the October 2024 General Conference gave a landmark talk entitled, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again. He said, “My dear brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord!

Please listen to this promise of Jesus Christ to you: “I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”

There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you. His incomprehensible suffering in Gethsemane and on Calvary was for you! His infinite Atonement is for you!

Jesus Christ took upon Himself your sins, your pains, your heartaches, and your infirmities. You do not have to bear them alone! He will forgive you as you repent. He will bless you with what you need. He will heal your wounded soul. As you yoke yourself to Him, your burdens will feel lighter. If you will make and keep covenants to follow Jesus Christ, you will find that the painful moments of your life are temporary. Your afflictions will be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ.”"

I feel I have witnessed some of that majesty. I will tell you just a few of the tender mercies and miracles we have witnessed while on our mission.

The house we lived in was on Sue’s Way and it backed the current Anchorage Alaska Temple. It was the closest house to the Angel Moroni, looked at the celestial room windows, and also had an excellent view of the new temple being built. The Lord knew we needed a home so our large family could come visit and it even had a gas stove. We were often able to walk to and from the Visitors’ Center,  temple, and site. We had wonderful neighbors. We truly couldn’t have been in a more perfect location. I don’t believe this was by coincidence. Elder Shultz, in charge of mission housing, when he told us about the home said three times it was divine intervention. We had just spoken with the landlord a few weeks earlier (July 18) expressing our gratitude and told her we prayed we could live in their home our entire mission.

Another miracle occurred On Friday, January 10, 2025 workers completed the final ICF exterior wall concrete pour on the NW side of the temple. An aerial picture was taken on Saturday. (It can be seen online at Churchof JesusChristTemples.org) On Sunday morning, January 12 around 2:30 a.m. the Rabbit Creek Pedestrian Bridge casing and roof blew down onto the freeway about two blocks from the temple. Thankfully no one was injured. Brayton Drive is a one-way road, so we didn’t see it until we drove back down the freeway on our way home from church. I’m sure some of you here recall winds reached 132 mph. Fences were blown over, trees in the neighborhood were snapped off, and our Visitors’ Center trailer was blown 5 ft. over and off its supports. Westland and the site manager worked that afternoon to clean up the blown around debris, some two blocks away. Work on the temple proceeded Monday morning without interruption. We experienced countless other miracles, but I’ll share with you one last one.

The winter before last Anchorage Alaska had 110” of snow. It was a winter wonderland, but of course, doing any construction in that condition would be very difficult. This in the northern most temple in the world. They get so much snow up here in Anchorage that it often has to be hauled off in side-dump semi-trailers. This past year the project manager at Westland, Josh Foote, asked us to pray for a mild winter. We invited others to pray along with us and the Lord delivered with only 4.6” of snow this last winter. The Lord cares about His temples and their ability to bless and sanctify our lives. He hears and answers prayers. There are so many more tender mercies and miracles I wish I had the time to share with you but let me finish by bearing my testimony.

I believe Heavenly father is the master choreographer and is involved in the details of our lives. He has a plan for each of us and loves us more than we can comprehend. My prayer is that when we see this beautiful temple we are reminded of the love our Heavenly Father and Savior have for us and we will feel peace, joy, and hope there. Everything in the temple teaches us about our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement. The greatest miracle of all is that He lives! The covenants we make in the temple bind us to our loved ones here and on the other side of veil. I’m so grateful to be sealed to my husband and our family, especially at this time. I feel so blessed to have been able to serve in the Anchorage Alaska Temple and serve as a missionary in the Anchorage Alaska Mission. Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God. He translated the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. Remember the council from our current 100 yr. old prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial”. I love you all and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.