It's crazy that the temple dedication is in the rear view mirror. It went super well it was definitely one of the most impactful days of the church in France.
As well the youth spectacle was very memorable. They had each of the 13 stakes in the mission boundary do a "skit" of their region in France and it was interesting to see the differences in between each region. It was fun for me to see some old faces of members I hadn't seen in a while. Here are some notes a missionary in our district Elder Johnson took that I stole :)
Consecration du temple de Paris
Première session
Wife of the new temple president (in French)
-we have the privilege to be in the celestial room. It will be the most sacred place in France after this dedication.
-stay pure! Don't let anything get in the way of going to the temple!
New temple president (french)
-this temple was promised to us 40 years ago by president kimball. And here it is!
-everyone who helped in the construction of this temple were touched by its holiness.
-this isn't the end! Just the start!
-the stained glass was done and redone until it was perfect. This is the house of God.
Gerald Caussée (french)
-Think of the generations here watching. Some of you were the pioneers in your family!
-there are many missionaries here watching. Returned missionaries too. This wouldn't be possible without you.
-continue to see the temple with the wide eyes of a child. Don't let it become ordinary.
-there is not a better way to testify of our beliefs than by speaking of the temple
-the temple is literally the house of God. Literally! He resides there!
-in the temple, the veil between us and Christ is thin. We can learn of him so much better.
President Eyring (English translated to french)
-When we come to the temple, we feel three things strongly. The feeling of thankfulness, the gift of added light from the spirit, and we feel an increase of the love of God and Christ.
-part of the beautiful light comes from the beautiful construction of this temple, but most of it is because it is the house of God. It comes from the work that is being done. From the people who are working within.
-in the temple, we receive answers. Even answers to questions that we weren't wise enough to ask.
-the sacrament prayers have the instructions we need to be worthy to enter the temple.
Prayer
-we pray that when we perform ordinances in this house, it will be as if it was thee who performed them.
Deuxième session
Sœur lazaras (wife of the 1st councilor in new temple presidency) (french)
-can we imagine our God without love?! He gave us this earth. Our families. And this plan of hapiness! He has given us this temple.
-President Monson has said that it is in the temple that we receive heaven’s greatest blessings.
Pierre lazaras (1st councilor in temple presidency) (french)
-the chateau of Versailles has a "temple" that Marie Antoinette had built. The "temple of love." Now just a few hundreds of meters away is a real temple of love.
Paul V Johnson (translated)
-every temple built lessens the power of Satan on the earth and increases the power of godliness.
-have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Super-héros aren't real. But we can have real powers. We can have power given to us by God. The power to know. The power to resist temptation. The power to love. The power to forgive. The power to overcome hardships. The power to endure. These powers are available to us when we are worthy to enter the temple.
-the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland temple has many promises of power to people who strive to remain worthy to enter the temple.
-we have temples all over the earth now where we can be endowed from in high!!
-He told a story when he felt the power of the temple just after being endowed. He was a young missionary serving in Norway. His companion was also very young and neither had much experience or knew very much of the Language. They were visiting a family that was talking about the fall and the purpose of life. The families main focus however was to prove the missionaries wrong. He was able to call upon the knowledge he had from his endowment and teach and testify with power.
-the adversary doesn't want us to have this power from god though. When we follow Satan, we give him power. But when we follow God, he gives us power!
-how do we access this power of God? By making and keeping covenants.
-we have the power to remain worthy. And when we remain worthy, he gives us power!
Elder Larry Wilson (translated)
-Paris is the "city of lights." It is called that because it was one of the European cities to use gas street lamps. Today it is the city of logs because this temple is full of the light of Christ.
-the savior himself placed such importance on the temple during his life.
-on this day when we consecrate the Paris temple, may we all consecrate ourselves to becoming more holy.
Elder Andersen (french)
-president eyring said that he has seen lots of cultural celebrations. But there haven't been any better than that one!
Troisième session
Sœur Bertrand (wife of 2nd councilor of temple presidency) (french)
-We saw the living by sharing the gospel. We save the dead by going to the temple.
Frère Bertrand (2nd councilor) (french)
There is only one path to heaven! The temple!
Paul V Johnson (translated)
-as we accompanied people through the temple. Many nonmembers, they felt that this was a truly holy place.
-he told the background of both Adolph and Amalia (my great grandparents). How they met the church in Switzerland and both immigrated to Utah. The temple blessing were not available in Europe at the time.
-amalia said that she wanted to marry someone who had the same beliefs as her. Who placed the same importance on the gospel and someone who was worthy of the temple. She didn't care if he was dirt poor.
-they found each other in Utah and were married 102 years ago in the Logan temple.
-they were extremely poor, but they had each other, and they had the gospel.
-they had two sons, the first of which died when he was young. And then they had two girls. When speaking of the birth of their last girl (Winnie, my grandmother), amalia described it as a "terrible blow" that Winnie should be a girl. She then explained that out of gratitude to the savior for having been introduced to the gospel, they wanted to have at least six sons to be missionaries and spread the gospel to the nations.
-at that time they could not see all the blessings that they had been promised in the temple.
-now they have 381 direct descendants. 5 great great great grandchildren right now!
-80 missionaries! And 41 of those missionaries have come from Winnie's line. From that "disappointing" birth.
-in fact 2 of their great grandchildren are serving right now in France! (Scott and I)
-when we keep our covenants, we help others keep theirs! The decisions we make now will affect all our posterity.
-think of how many people their covenants that they made 102 years ago have affected! The blessings of the temple aren't just seen in 102 years. But in an eternity.
-everyone watching this is worthy! Now stay worthy!!
-no one can take the blessings of the temple from you. No one.
Andersen (french)
-It is not god who is silent. It is us who are def.
Eyring (translated)
-the temple can become your favorite place! Like a home
-we are all far from our home. Far from our father in heaven.
-but god promised there would be prophets and apostles to guide us, and that he would give us ordinances.
-we can return to our father. It is through the temple.
We had an exchange this week in Pau and it was awesome as well, we ate a lot of nems at à members house and went to another members birthday party 🎉It was a good time.
As well Elder McDaniel is getting transferred to Corsica! He was super excited when he got the call and I'm super happy for him. He is a great man. I will be staying in Bayonne and receiving Elder Amison. He is from England so I will be trying to get his accent :)
Passez une bonne semaine et à la prochaine
Elder Duffy
Notes from the mission nurse:
1. Focus on your breath
The breath is the simplest and most powerful way to stay present in every moment because the breath is always present! We can't breathe into the future or the past. There is always only one breath and it's happening right now.
By focusing your attention on your breath every day, you help your mind slow down and catch up with the present (2). Then you start to notice your surroundings and time seems to slow down. At that moment, the world is your oyster and you have full capacity to take action and create the life you want.
2. Let go of the past
So much of our time and energy is wasted on analyzing, re-living, or reminiscing the past. But it's over and done with, and we give our power away every time we step out of the present moment and attempt to resolve the past.
You might be in the middle of a meeting or important activity, but half of you is still on last week and the argument you had. This robs you of enjoying your life in the only moment that matters: this one.
Even if you wish you could change things from the past, you can't. And the only thing you can change is how you're living
right now. So let the past go and step fully into your power in this very moment. Live the life you want to live TODAY.
3. Set your goal and let it go
If we aren't avoiding the present moment by ruminating about the past, then we're surely obsessing over the future, thinking that this will help it come faster.
While we can't predict the future, it is beneficial to set an intention or a goal. But the key here is to set the goal, then let it go. Don't hold on too tightly to the way everything plays out. Keep your energy in the present moment and trust that the process is unfolding according to plan.
When you try to control and plan out every step along the way, you often get in the way of your own progress. You gotta go with the flow.
So set your goal, but keep all your energy here in the present moment so that you can effectively live out every single step along the way.
4. Remember to enjoy the journey
We often get so caught up with achieving something or becoming someone that we forget to enjoy the journey. And truthfully, the journey is the entire point!
There are just endless present moments to enjoy, unfolding infinitely.
So take the time to pause throughout your day, take a deep breath, let go of the past, set your sights on a possible goal, and then take your time walking every single step of the journey that lies ahead of you.
Love you! Sister Kemp
