Temple Chandeliers

Last week we hung crystals on five chandeliers in the sealing rooms and pass through.  It was a wonderful experience for everyone who was involved.  Our mission president's wife, Sister Anderson, helped me find people to come help.  She enlisted the help of some of her sister missionaries so we could have people from all through the temple district to help us.

Monday our crew leaders came to help us set up the rooms.  The men moved heavy boxes of crystals from the job trailers into the temple.  We set up tables and wrapped ladder feet with socks for the carpet.  Shannon Shepherd and Regan Hall had come from Utah representing Swarovski to help us with the installation.  They are sisters.  Their mom started their business and they all work in it together. 

It only took us two or three hours to get everything set up, so we all went to lunch afterwards. 

Tuesday started the actual work on the chandeliers.  We had two shifts everyday-8:00-noon and 1:00-5:00.  We had a variety of people helping us:  some of the sister missionaries who had helped me get the names, some who were newly baptized or who had been inactive and were wanting to come back, plus I found that most of the stake president's wives in our temple district came and some of the men as well.  I had a lot of names and it seemed the list just kept getting longer.  I just decided that it would all work out no matter what and there were some people who didn't show up, so we worked with those who came.

Mark had two scaffolding set up in the pass through area because there are two chandeliers in that room.  That really helped, but oh boy it was really high!  I did actually climb up there and work for a while.  I sat next to a woman who had been recently baptized and was just learning about the gospel.  It was fun explaining some things to her as we all talked.  I was grateful I could sit, it made it a lot more comfortable working. 

The chandeliers were designed especially for our temple and Florida.  They are unique and the design will not be found anywhere else.  There are thousands and thousands of crystals hung on each chandelier.  The final results are magnificent!  It took us both Tuesday and Wednesday to finish the five chandeliers. 

The crystals come from Austria.  They are machine cut precisely to the correct dimensions.  When the light shines on them, you can see the colors of the rainbow throughout the chandelier!  What a glorious sight!  Only the best for our temple!

We always met with everyone first in the trailer, where Mark or I would talk to them about the rules.  We sometimes read a scripture and always had a prayer with the group before we started.  Everyone had to wear white socks working on the white carpet, or foot covers.  It was nice for them because we took them through the front door and then to the back where we were working, so they got to see a bit more than just the area where we worked.  It is so beautiful!  Everyone loved it

The carpet cutters were there as well.  It's amazing to watch them work.  First they draw out the design with a permanent magic marker, using a stencil.  Then they take what looks like electric shears and cut the design.  They worked most of the time we were there in the Celestial Room.  The design runs through most of the room, so it was a big job!

Part of this experience was just getting to know the people who came.  It was a pleasure to work with each and every one.  One of the men who came is from Tasmania.  He served his mission here.  There were people who were a bit rough around the edges, but who love the gospel.  The former mission president's wife flew out from Salt Lake to help us. They were still serving when the groundbreaking happened but were released about a week afterwards. What a reunion that was!  She knew everyone!

We finished Wednesday by wrapping all of the chandeliers and sconces with plastic to protect them from dust.  The carpet shavers are still working.  We got all our trash out and just cleaned everything up.  It was deeply satisfying to close each door to the finished chandeliers, seeing the results of everyone's hard work.

This experience has been a joy for me.