An Awe-inspiring Experience

Finally, I am able to sit down and blog my wonderful experience with our Twin Falls Temple dedication. They had such a grand write-up in the Church News about it, I hope that you can all read that. I still can't believe it sometimes that it is over, but we are so grateful to have our temple completed, dedicated, and up and running.

On the morning of the dedication, Dale, Collette, and I went in to the stake center to view the cornerstone dedication via satellite that Bonneville was taping for the 14 stake area. We went about an hour early to secure a good seat and as we sat there listening to the feed of hymns playing along with a prepared video of our temple inside and out, I grew more anxious and scared as time when on. I watched the procedures very carefully, especially the music part, so that I would know just what to do when our time came. When we saw President Monson come into the celestial room, I was overwhelmed, knowing that we would personally witness this in just a few hours. The music, talks, and dedicatory prayer were so inspirational. And of course the highlight was the Hosanna Shout. I was pretty nervous when the session was over and reminded to Dale that I would like a blessing. He asked a friend, Gordon Ford, a counselor in the Stake Presidency, to help and Gordon invited us all to go to the stake offices. Our stake president and his other counselor, also very good friends, arrived there shortly after. Within minutes, the entire stake presidency, along with Dale, participated in the blessing. My stake president, Paul Tateoka, gave me an incredible blessing of comfort and peace. He then blessed Collette. I was calm and felt I could do the task before me with faith and trust in the Lord's guidance.

We warmed up and rehearsed in the stake center at 3:30 and then walked over to the temple. We were instructed to be there 30 minutes prior to the start. It was amazing to be in the temple and to walk right up to the celestial room. Dale was able to be in the celestial room and sit by me close to the organ. I programed all the stops for the organ as we practiced earlier in the week and began to play prelude. My fingers were a bit shaky at first, but I settled down pretty quickly. I was nervous still, but my stomach wasn't as upset, even with the camera close by. Ten minutes before the start, I could hear it turn and zoom in on me a couple of times. I really wasn't told at anytime during the whole training and rehearsal process just when to start or stop the music. I took my cue from the morning session I watched, so when the people stood up in the celestial room and the brethren walked in and then everyone sat down again, that's when the organ music stopped. It was electrifying when the people stood up and the prophet and those with him walked into the room. I could not see them because my music books were too tall and I didn't want to mess up the notes by looking away! I could feet the spirit so strong. I ended the prelude and began to arrange for the first hymn. I heard President Neilson, who was sitting by Dale, whisper to me after a few very silent moments..."Sister Clark, you have about 4 more minutes..." The brethren were early this time, so I put my prelude book up and played another song or two. I was a little embarrassed, but I hoped those viewing it would think it was "technical difficulties". The second little glitch came during the first song when I tried to play on the upper register for the softer parts and it blared out louder than the intended softer sound, but only those close to the organ may have noticed. I felt the impression to stay on the bottom keyboard after it happened again on the next song and not worry about the top one. I was a little frustrated and to be honest, I probably didn't get everything I could out of the experience and what was said because of my worrying about technical things. Didn't I get a blessing and shouldn't everything be working perfectly? It came to me that even though things didn't go as smoothly as I was hoping, what I did was acceptable to the Lord and everyone there. Talking to people afterwards, they didn't notice a thing. I didn't play wrong notes that I was aware of and the choir was so wonderful. I remembered also that it sounded so much louder to me with the external speakers right below me, so it turned out okay. I was so grateful to be in the celestial room and to play the organ. It was inspiring to be in the presence of the prophet, he looked very tired to me, but it was the 4th session of a very long day. His daughter was with him as Sister Monson was ill. She told of how Sister Monson washed and packed everything for Pres. Monson so he could go. The dedicatory prayer was so awesome, I am glad I can reread and study it again. I stood and did the Hosanna Shout and then hurried to get on the organ for the song. I think we rattled the chandelier! During the closing song, there were many quiet sobs heard, the spirit was so strong. I was very touched and overwhelmed. I loved the experience now that I can reflect back and see things for what they were, not for how I perceived them at the time. Thank you for all your support, I definitely know I was given much "outside" help to do what I did.

Going now to the temple is such a unique experience because of all that I was involved with as it became a reality. Giving tours, taking friends through, practicing and then playing in the celestial room, it all makes it feel so much like "my" temple. I looked in the corner of the celestial room after our first session where the organ was and will probably always look there and remember the humbling experience I had and thank my Heavenly Father for the talents he has blessed me with.