In considering my time at the Great Temple, I am reminded of the great theologian and Opry member Tom T. Hall who sings in Spokane Motel Blues, “I don’t know what I’m doing here, I should be someplace else.” I did not go there looking for a temple, I went chasing a girl. She is smart, and pretty, and chants with the chant-leaders. So it was in the hopes of going to lunch after services, rather than anything specific about the service that got me here to begin with.
Having having been blinded to my more grievous faults, this Sweet Lady agreed to marry me. The service was held at the temple and conducted by its abbot. The very chants sang at our wedding will be chanted today. A highlight of our weeks in the early days was to join several other couples after services for lunches that might last a couple of hours.
About the time Tallulah and the children of our friends were born the two hour lunches came to an end, but we continued attending the Temple. In a service at this place, conducted by the same abbot, our daughter was consecrated. There were more chants that day. The congregation promised to do all in its power to support her life in the spirit.
In the story of our family, the Great Temple plays an integral role. Our weeks and years are marked by the services, relationships, classes, and music that happen here. This story, which has included 1 dog, 2 schools,3 lost family members, 4 houses, 5 cars, and 6 jobs, is grounded by one spire. I don’t know how this happened because this was not part of my plan, although my plan did not extend beyond getting another date with the girl.
So, if all of this has come to pass despite me, it must be a sign of God’s grace. I literally don’t have the words to express my gratitude to the Great Temple for being a place for us to see that grace. If I were asked to make a gift based on what the Temple means to us, I would ask if you can take a post-dated check, or at least look for financing. It is another sign of grace that, when we make the best pledge we can, it has always been enough. For that and so much else, we are grateful to be here.