Temple Square--December, 2011

What a blessing it is to serve on Temple Square in December. This is what greeted us one morning as we came to work: I love this view of the Church Office Building. Sometimes men in hip boots are out in the water of the reflecting pool adjusting the lights. They have large machines that vacuum up the leaves and scrub the sidewalks.

We work on the northeast corner of the third floor of the Jospeh Smith Memorial Building. The Church and Family History Headquarters Mission Office is on the east side of the third floor.

This is the view from the window in our break room where we often eat our lunch.

Sister Sasine and other prepare a lovely snack table every day at 9:30 AM for the break.

There are many nativity scenes arranged in the flower beds throughout the plaza.

The lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is breath-taking!

View from the mezzanine showing more detail.

View of the JSMB chapel where we attend the weekly mission devotional on Monday morning.

Last Wednesday we were invited to an employee/missionary Christmas devotional on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building. Even at noon, the inversion kept the cold, smoggy air blocked in the Salt Lake Valley.

Temple Square lights at night showing the tree on the south side at the Brigham Young Monument.

Night view toward the north with the Relief Society Building and State Capitol in the background.

The Salt Lake Temple. Eternal families are the focus of all that we do.

We have had excellent students--full-time and church service missionaries this month. John taught a very capable young elder from West Jordan these past two weeks who will be a great asset to the mission. He came with only a basic five-generation sheet but has added and documented over 1000 more names. John is a skillful, patient teacher. He is also very sensitive and tender as he accompanies young elders to the temple for Go Forth Day. My students have had Mormon pioneer roots and what excitement we have shared as we found documentation to the family stories which have been passed down as well as additional information to enrich our understanding. My last student's ancestors sailed on the ship Brooklyn to California. Others were the family in the "last wagon" in the Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition. The stories of their forefathers are amazing. The lives and strength of the missionaries are every bit as notable for what they have been through and accomplish! We are so very grateful for the people, music, devotionals, and ambience we share in this corner of Zion where we serve.