Temple Open House

I worked every day at the Temple Open House starting Friday after we got back from the Keys.  I worked from 1 pm to 6 pm because as I checked the schedule, that seemed to be where there was the greatest need for help.  I worked at the entrance near the welcome tents, welcoming people and showing them where to go.  It required keeping a close watch on the time because every five minutes we were taking people to a different tent, unless there were large groups of people.  Then we filled a tent before going on to the next one.

So many people helped from old to young.  The youth mainly helped with the booties putting on and taking off.

Being at the temple was so good for me.  I think I got my year’s supply of vitamin D.  Most of the time we had umbrellas.  The sun could really beat down on us and I got quite a lot of sun.  We were really grateful when a breeze came up and the temperature dropped, or the sun went behind the clouds.  Those were tender mercies indeed.

People trickled in throughout the week, getting heavier on the weekends.  There was one bus that came in from the Episcopalian church.  Everyone was so nice.  We fit them all into one tent and then their group was divided up for the tour. 

A group was outside the gate giving out anti-Mormon information.  One day I noticed one man holding a sign that said, “A different Jesus.”  I thought how is my Jesus different from yours?  I found out today that these people are paid protestors.  That their protesting is sponsored by some rich person who does this all over.  How sad to protest for money against something you know nothing about.  I was going to invite their group to come tour the temple.  I had my window down, but no one noticed me and there were people behind me wanting to leave.

On Friday- April 11th, we got a busload of people from Kisseemee.  I’m not sure if it was a stake or ward who had chartered the bus, but there were over 50 people.  The members had been invited to come and bring their friends, so there were members and non-members in the group.  We put them all in one tent and then they were divided from there.

When things were busier, it made the time go by faster.  I really enjoy being outside because I could talk to people and welcome them and get to know those who were working with me.  I got to see who came.  It was fun to interact with them and hug those I knew.  Inside you had to be quiet and there was no sitting.  I did get to sit once in a while, drink some water etc.  Weather-wise it could be uncomfortable at times, but still I preferred being outside rather than inside.  I became very familiar with the routine and was often asked to train new people when they came, particularly if they were taking my place.  It was called shadowing.   Even though my shift was from 1-6, the other shift came on at 5:00 and when they felt comfortable about what they were doing I was able to leave.  Nice.

I actually rolled my window down as I was leaving one evening and talked to the people doing the protesting.  I invited them to come see the temple.  You know what?  Some of them already had.  “It’s beautiful!” were the comments.  One man was here all the way from Nauvoo.  He has a view of the Nauvoo temple outside his window.  They were all nice enough.  “Come to Nauvoo,” he said, and I’ll take you to lunch.”  Right.  So you can tell me everything that’s wrong with my church?  I don’t think so.  I just want to sigh.  Were they not listening or feeling the Spirit inside?  Did they not see the pictures of Jesus everywhere?  I just don’t get it.

Wow! The second Saturday there were so many people who came through!  It was a really beautiful, hot day and I got pretty fried, but it was awesome to see so many people.  We had several youth and young adult groups; some who came down from Orlando and other places- groups of 50 or more each.  There was an expectation of around 7,000 to come through.  There was a family who had come from California.  I heard someone else say they had come four hours to be there.  I think there were over 4,000 that came that day.

I was near the entrance, and although I had an umbrella, it was no protection to my poor legs and feet.  There were few breaks, although I did take a couple, and no shade to stand in.  But it was fun to see and greet everyone.

Near the end of my shift, I had a couple ask me if there was any public transportation available near there.  I asked them if someone had dropped them off?  No, they had taken a cab.  I knew there was no way they would be able to get back to their motel, so I told them I was almost done and I would take them back myself.

It was a blessing for me because I got to visit with them and take them home and I knew pretty quickly where they were staying, as I was fairly familiar with the area.  They offered to pay for my gas, but I wouldn’t hear of it.  They had come from Payson, Utah for a cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Being members, they had decided to come see the temple while they were so close.  They were heading back to Utah on Sunday to reunite with their three kids.  

I got this beautiful experience in an email from Mary Ann Richards:

“On Friday, April 11, 2014, we had two families with autistic children. Each family was taken separately with only one family in the tour so we could attend to the needs of the children.   They were all members of the church so conducting the tour with all the explanations was not necessary and we could move at a much faster pace to help the children and their short attention spans.  Each family helped their child to enjoy the tour. The second family are members of the Ft. Lauderdale Ward and the little autistic boy is 6 years old.  They were on a previous tour but their son became so overwhelmed in the baptistry area, that they had to leave the temple and reschedule.  On this return  visit, the mother asked if we could bypass the baptistry area.  With special permission from Bro. Herrearo, one of the tour guide coordinators,  we altered the tour route for this family and had a special usher go with us.  The little boy, with guidance from his parents, was quite well behaved.  He loved the bright light in Instruction Room B and we explained to him before we entered the Celestial Room he would need to be very quiet.  When he stopped at the door of the Celestial Room he looked up and in a quiet voice said “WOW!”  One of our Father in Heaven’s special children recognized that he was in a very special place and in his own way, he may have known he was close to heaven.  I am sure all of the 1000s of people who have visited the Ft. Lauderdale Temple during the public open house and seen the Celestial Room for the first time felt the same thing that little boy felt, but they had to be silent as they thought “WOW!” When I heard that very small little “WOW!”, I was filled with a great reverence and respect for the sacred room we were preparing to enter.  How wonderful it is to have that little piece of Heaven here on the earth and to feel the joy we will have when we return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.”

I was so touched by her experience.  It made me cry.  She has given me permission to use it in the history.

Mark was gone for eight days to Hartford, then Salt Lake.  He made a trip to Idaho Falls and was able to spend time with his dad.  He got home Tuesday afternoon and came straight to the temple.  It was good to see his beloved face and so I told him.  I got a good kiss for that.

My friend, Holly Catania came to see the temple.  We became friends while I was involved in a Bunko group.  We got in with a smaller tour group, which was really nice and we had a wonderful tour guide who explained things very clearly and plainly.  Holly was very impressed with the temple.  We happened to meet up with Mark, so I introduced them.  She called the temple “exquisite.”  She is a realtor, so I knew she would appreciate the beauty of the temple.  I think she also appreciated having a greater knowledge of what we believe. 

We visited near the fountains for a while, then made arrangements to meet for lunch next week.  I’m so glad she came.

 There have been some challenges with people not showing up who signed up, but those of us who came did the best we could.  Some days it was so hot; I felt sweat sliding down my back.  Wednesday of the last week I wore protective clothing:  navy skirt, nylons (knee high) and shoes and a long sleeved shirt.  I didn’t want to be burned any more than I had been.  I felt so grateful when clouds rolled in and hid the sun and the wind came up.  It felt so good and it felt so good when I had an opportunity to sit in the welcome tents with the air conditioning blowing through me, able to sit down for a few minutes before standing outside once more to welcome people to the temple, and “enjoy your tour.”

I’m not complaining.  It's actually been quite fun and I have loved meeting people from the different stakes who have come to work.  We visited with people, and welcomed our visitors so hopefully they felt welcome and glad they came.

One day it just down-poured and we were told to go to our vehicles because of the lightning.  Many people just gathered underneath the tent near the parking lot, but I ran to my car.  It was nice to sit for a few minutes while the rain continued and I waited for it to slow, then stop before going back to work.  I listened to my old time radio station on Sirius.

Wednesday, I left from the temple, picked up a burger at Burger King and went to the Family History Center.  There was a gentleman waiting when I got there.  He’s a pretty regular customer.  I opened everything up then went out in the foyer to eat my burger.  Mark happened to be there with one of his potential eagle scouts going over some stuff for his project.

The man in the FHC stayed until around 7:45.  I asked if he’d had a chance to see the temple, and I gave him an invitation I had in my purse.  I wonder if he came.

 It rained like crazy on Thursday; very hard!  I thought I lost my keys but thankfully found them in a side pocket. 

An anti-Mormon family from Utah got into the temple and disrupted everything.  It seems this is something they do-travel to disrupt.  Sad.

I worked the rest of the week and both Mark and I worked on Saturday, staying until everything closed up.  It was close to nine.  There were huge groups that came in all day on Saturday and we were busy all day.  I did take a lunch break though and ran over to Panera for some soup and salad (and a carrot cake cupcake, yum!)

The most heartwarming thing that happened was two young men were waiting for their friend, a young woman, to show up for a tour.  She said she would come, but they waited and waited.  Finally just as the last tour was beginning, a cart came flying over with her and one of the guys in it.  She had finally come!  I was so relieved.  They had waited for her for over 1 1/2 hours.  It almost made me weep with gratitude for them.

This open house has meant so much to all of us as members!  Many of us invited our friends and family members to come and see what the temple is all about, to help them understand and hopefully to invite them to learn more.  We are so blessed to have this temple here and it has been an honor for me to have been a part of this wonderful open house.  When it was all said and done, I heard there were 45,000 people who came through during that three weeks.  I will get an accurate count for the history.

At the end of each tour, an exit tent was available with missionaries who answered any questions.  No one was allowed to proselyte, only answer questions.  People were encouraged to write their comments and impressions of the temple on comment cards.  We received 5,000 comment cards and 500 of those asked for the missionaries to teach them.  Awesome!

The Temple Open House was an amazing experience, but after three intense weeks we were all relieved to have it come to an end.

These photos are courtesy of my friend Margie Hathaway.  Thanks Margie!

Bishop Brown from the Fort Lauderdale Ward and Harrison Barrus 

President Fermin Acevedo, of the Mission Presidency.  He was in charge of the Exit tent.  He was one who helped me so much on the chandeliers on the temple and he also helped with the Cultural Celebration.  He's always so willing to serve!  What an awesome, humble man!

Fort Lauderdale Mission President and Sister Anderson.  They're awesome!

President and Sister Baugus.  I believe they were over the open house, then they were called to be the Temple President and Matron of the Fort Lauderdale Temple.

President and Sister Rincon served as tour guides.  He is in the Fort Lauderdale Stake Presidency.

Sister LeBaron and Sister Gordon served in the welcome tents.  They are also teaching our friends.

The sister missionaries served in each of the welcome tents, welcoming and showing the introductory video.