I AM SOOOO BEHIND!

I have at least 3  things I want to write about but that last week that the temple was open was CRAZY!  We'll write about that later.  And we have spent the last week in Cape Town!  Awesome!  But, first things first.  I've received a few emails from my sister Sam and she asked some questions that made it clear she was unclear about what we are doing....

"I'm surprised your ward is so distant from you.  I assumed they held church service at the temple and you'd attend there with the other missionaries you're working with.  So, set me straight on what you do in Africa."

So...this is for Sam and any others of our family and friends that may be a little confused about what we are doing in Africa.
 The main confusion I think is the difference between our Sunday church and temples.  We have 2 main kinds of buildings: Chapels and Temples.  Here is an article that describes our chapels. It was a bit long so I have edited it and left the main points that describe our chapels and bolded the paragraph that concerns chapels and temples.

What You Will Find When You Step Inside a Mormon Chapel

Meridian Magazine

Most first-time visitors to a Mormon church building comment on the number of rooms. Many expect to find one large interior space, such as in many other Christian denominations' buildings of worship. But meetinghouses for The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints are different from those used by many other religions. They include classrooms, offices, a font for baptisms, a kitchen, and in many cases a cultural hall with an indoor basketball court. Cultural halls in Mormon buildings usually also have a stage for dramatic and musical productions. And the basketball court doubles for a dance floor or dining area, among other uses.  This is all in addition to a large room that seats 200 to 300, called the chapel, used for Sunday worship services. The word “chapel” is also sometimes used by Mormons to describe the whole building or meetinghouse.  For Latter-day Saints, the church meetinghouse is a hub of religious and social life. The most important part of the week, though, is the hour-long sacrament meeting. This takes place on Sunday and is similar to other Christian worship services. Men, women, and younger members offer prayers and give sermons, hymns are sung, and the sacrament, similar to other traditions' communion, is administered. Members teach the principles taught by Jesus Christ.  Other meetings include classes for youths and adults and what Latter-day Saints call “Primary,” a time for lessons and singing for children 12 and younger.  In the children's Primary, for example, you will see seven-year-olds, or even younger children, give talks, read scripture, and pray in front of their peers. The songs taught and sung in Primary focus on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, on scriptural themes, and on simple ways children and others can put into practice what is preached.  A common misperception among those not of the Mormon faith is that only Latter-day Saints can enter their chapels. This is most likely based on a misunderstanding about temples and chapels. While temples, of which there are 140 (including existing ones and those announced or under construction) worldwide, are open only to members of the Church who are fully engaged in their faith, anyone can enter a Mormon chapel to visit or worship with their Latter-day Saint neighbors. There are more than 17,000 chapels throughout the world with a new one built, on average, each day.  (Nese: This is an old article.  There are now 155 operating temples.  184 including those under construction and announced.  So I'm assuming the number of chapels must be around 18,000 or more.)  “Our chapels are not all constructed with the same design features,” said Church apostle Elder L. Tom Perry in a worldwide conference. “However, each one centers on the mission of our Savior. They are buildings dedicated for the purpose of worshiping Him.” Our meetinghouses are used most days of the week for church services and activities. David and I go to church in Ennerdale which is about 40 to 45 minutes away.  The Area Office has assigned each of the missionary couples to a different ward, branch or cluster.   These are congregations of differing sizes...largest to smallest.  My friend Joette says she and her husband go to a "twig" in North Dakota...smaller than a branch!  Here in Africa they call them clusters.  The one in Ennerdale is a branch.  We meet in prefabricated portable buildings.  We Senior Missionaries are assigned to different units to be a support to the wards.  We are cautioned to not "take over"...(or be know it alls).  The church is still very young here and part of the growing is in the teaching and the leadership positions.  So we contribute...but don't speak all we know.  Sam asked if I have a visiting teaching route.  (Where sisters visit other sisters each month and leave an encouraging lesson and help in any way we can.)  The answer to that question is no.  We don't hold any callings in the ward.  I have been asked to play the piano in Sacrament Meeting because they don't have anyone else to play.  The same with Primary.  But those are in the way of assignments....not callings.  We actually have visited clusters where they don't have piano accompaniment and it's cool the way they do it. The chorister sings the first line of the song solo...and then says, "1,2,3..." and they all start singing. Temples are open usually 5 days a week, sometimes 6...but never on Sunday.    Temple attendance is restricted to  members of the church.  All members are encouraged to go or prepare to go to the temple.   From the Church's web site these are the requirements to go to the temple:

 In order to enter the temple, Church members must (1) be at least 12 years of age, (2) be a member for at least one year, and (3) have a current temple recommend. To obtain a recommend, a Church member has a special interview with his or her bishop or branch president and stake or district president before going to the temple. These Church leaders will ask questions to determine if the member has a testimony of the Church, keeps the commandments, supports Church leaders, obeys the Word of Wisdom, pays tithing, and is honest.

What Happens in Temples

In the temple we are taught, we make covenants, and we are promised blessings. We receive ordinances that enable us to live in the presence of God.

Endowment

One ordinance we receive in the temple is the endowment. The word endowment means “gift” or “bestowal.” As part of this ordinance, we are taught about the purpose of life, the mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. We gain a glimpse of what it will be like to live in His presence as we feel the peaceful atmosphere of the temple. 

Sealing

Another temple ordinance is the sealing ordinance, in which husbands and wives are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents in eternal families. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity. People sometimes also refer to this ordinance as “temple marriage” or “eternal marriage.”

Ordinances for the Deceased

In addition to receiving these ordinances for ourselves, we can receive them for our deceased ancestors. In this way, people who died without receiving essential ordinances such as baptism and confirmation, the endowment, and sealing have the opportunity to accept these ordinances.

I took this from the church's web site: lds.org  If you want to see some pictures of the inside of temples and learn a little more, go to the web site.  Then go to the Families and Individuals menu and select Temples.

The first time someone goes to the temple they go for their "own endowments".  After that whenever they go they go as proxy for one of their ancestors or someone else's ancestors.  But they also hear again the blessings, covenants and promises they made.  Anyway...we work in the temple here in Johannesburg to help administer these ordinances for those coming for the first time or subsequent times.  The work is a joy.  Those who come, especially here, come at great personal sacrifice.  One of our groups last week had a 40 hour bus trip...one way!  They often stay for three to five days, and so spend a full week visiting us again and again.  They are so happy to finally get to come.  Some may never get to come back because of the expense.  It has been a very sweet experience to be a part of something so important to them and their families.

This is getting way too long.  I hope I haven't lost you.  One thing on a personal note.  I remember helping with temple baptisms one time a few years ago.  I felt a strong impression of God's love for all of His children by virtue of proxy baptisms. MOST people who have lived on this planet have never heard of the Savior or His commandment to be baptized.  Are they all condemned because of this?  How is that just?  I remember reading Trinity by Leon Uris a number of years ago.  There was a family bereft because their little baby had died before it could be baptized so it was not allowed to be buried in the consecrated ground of the churchyard.  They were told that it was consigned to purgatory because no baptism had been performed.  There is no peace in this.  Nor justice or mercy.  The incredible blessing of being able to act as proxy for those who have gone before and not had the opportunity to hear the gospel or be baptized is such a testament to me of God's love for all of His children.  Therein is justice and mercy and love.  God is not arbitrary.  I love that....because I know He won't be arbitrary with me either.

So, I hope you understand a little bit better the difference between church meetings on Sunday and what we do in the Temple.  It's been good to try and explain it.  How'd I do????  Love to you.  N.