{Vancouver Youth Celebratation}

This last weekend my family did something so special that we will never forget. It first started last Saturday night attending the "Youth Temple Celebration" program. The Vancouver temple district consists of 13 stakes that the youth joined together and put on what I think was one of the most beautiful live programs I have ever attended. President Thomas S. Monson along with Dieter F. Uchtdorf and D. Todd Christofferson and other area authorities attended as well. It was a night I will always remember along with my family.

Jon's sister Kristen was one of the youth councilors helping out and Jon's two cousins were in the the program. Also Jon's Aunt & Uncle had a special part at the end as well.

I cried from the beginning to the end. It was so beautifully put on and you could feel such a strong tangible spirit there. President Monson said a few things at the beginning and decided to changed the opening song to "O CANADA" Canada's National Anthem. I sang along and was surprised I knew so many of the words probably because I have a Canadian Husband who sings it every once in a while. President Monson had this darling little Canadian pin that blinked and was so bright in the dark. His wife told him that he better not turn it on but he didn't' listen. He turned it on several times.

Pres. Monson loves the Canadian people and it showed that night. As he expressed his lovely words I could not help but echo in my heart how excited I was for the Vancouver people to finally have a temple. This temple means so much to these people and for myself. That night I realized how lucky I am to have always lived so close to a temple. I thought about how many times I have attended the temple where I didn't plan on going until that evening. Either because I felt like it or felt an urgency to receive divine inspiration for a particular decision I needed to figure out, or just needed some extra love from above. The people in Vancouver were not able to do that. They had to plan at least a 10 hour day to attend the temple where as for me I could attend the temple and return in 3 hours or less.

Watching the Youth that night I couldn't help but think about the testimony they received while practicing and performing this wonderful grand program. I also can't help but think that they each youth at some point in all of this made a self commitment that they wanted to go to the temple one day and be married there for time and all eternity. I truly believe that the Vancouver Youth are stronger members of the church because of this celebration. In one the last Temple Dedication session last Sunday Pres. Monson said, "Shame on the leaders who do not provide experiences like the one we watched last night" I thought about that statement for a long time after. I have always had a strong love for the Youth. Since the moment I graduate from High School I started working with the Youth. I haven't had a lot of callings that didn't involve the youth. They are special and wonderful children who deserve our time, talents, and love.

The beginning of the program they had large tarps that stood up as Mountains and hills. They blue tarps waving up and down representing water with daises all over and bald eagles on sticks flying all around. It was a stunning beginning that brought tears to my eyes as you really appreciated the beauty of the British Columbia. The program was about the church growth in Vancouver starting with the Indians to the present members today. At the end they had a song "One by One" I believe that brought again many tears to my eyes as I watched the first member family of Vancouver walk across the stage again through the present. All the songs were original songs written for this program.At the very end they had a beautiful replica tarp tent of the Vancouver Temple that all the modern day youth stood facing it. It was such a powerful spiritual moment. Serious if you have time to watch it on YouTube You should take the time cause it was stunning and incredible.

Here is another link to the finale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBvlpvpG75M

The next day on Sunday was the Temple dedication. There were 3 sessions. We attended the first one at the Stake Center and the 3rd one at the Temple. Yes you heard that right we got tickets to go inside Temple thanks to Jon's wonderful Uncle who is a Stake President here in the Vancouver Stake. He and his wife were fortunate to watch it live in the Celestial Room, but I will not complain since I watched it from the Baptistery Room. The dedication was beautiful of course.

Today is Saturday and we were able to do one last Temple thing and that was to go through the Temple and watch Jon's sister go through for her very first time. She is going on a mission to the Manchester England. This was the real reason why we came up to Vancouver, but talk about perfect timing with everything else. As I was going through it I have to say it seriously is what I think the most beautiful modern temple that I have ever seen. The Temple Interior Desinger was one of my teachers and I remember him telling our class about all the details that went into the Navoo Temple, but I have to say this was stunning and very unique to Bristsh Columbia. The garden room reflected the mountains of Vancouver with the most beauiful bold colors I have ever seen in a temple with strong royal blues and fog sitting low in the mountains with elk all around. I was excited being there and admiring the architecturual beauty all the way down to the beautiful modern textiles. It truely is my favorite temple other then the Salt Lake Temple, that has so much wonderful heritage and it is also where I was married and my parents sealed and where I went for my very first time. I love the Vancouver Temple and am excited that I will be able to go to the temple now when I am on Vacation or "Holiday" as my fellow South African families say.

This week was such a spiritual uplift for my family and me. It couldn't have come at a better time in our lives as we close a chapter in our book and start a new one as we move across the United States to Long Island, NY. All is well with us. After hearing the talk " The Tender Mercies of the Lord" by Elder Bednar my eyes have been more open and being able to recognize more of my blessing and those wonderful tender mercies from the Lord. I know that he loves each and everyone of us. I know it. It's something I don't just teach It's something that I know. I am so grateful for my testimony, my membership and more importantly to be able to hold a current temple recommend. I pray that I will always remember how I am feeling and this testimony will only grow stronger as I live.

I will post many pictures much later as I will download them and edit in NY. I miss my mac : (