Our First Trip to the Seattle Temple

Each month Senior Missionary couples are able to make the trip from our mission area into the Federal Way Mission and attend the Seattle Temple, so last Friday  Elder Walker and I set out with the trusty GPS, "Carmin," to do just that! We had the money ready for the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge and everything under control and then Carmin led us off the main road, to what purpose we knew not! But, being the naive, trusting people that we are, we followed obediently, saying things to each other like, "It says there is some delay ahead, perhaps there is an accident and she is taking us around it!" "This must be a detour! These Washington roads wind around so--you can tell the Mormons didn't settle this area!" etc.
We saw a notification about the Kingston Ferry up ahead. We still didn't know that meant we were taking the ferry! But we were in a line of cars pulling up to a booth with no where else to go!

The fee was $11.80, not too bad for a boat ride, we decided. I wondered at first if we had to leave our car parked there and take public transportation the rest of the way...but it became obvious that we were going on with our car and the 8 or so lines of other cars that were parked there. When we looked surprised at where we ended up the lady said, "Yeah, GPS's don't usually tell you that there is a ferry at the end. When you get off just take  I-5 and you'll get to Bellevue."

Well, the ferry ride was great--only about 25 minutes long, and then the harrowing adventure began! There were so many twists and turns and lane changes and road changes and everyone jumping in the almost too small space in front of us and lanes merging from the right into our lane as another lane merged into theirs--that means three lanes merging into one--and the exit just seconds ahead on the right! We were so uptight and nerve wracked, so certain of looming extinction--except that we were missionaries--so white knuckled and tooth-clenched--especially when Carmin was a little too fast or too slow so that we made a wrong lane change and ended up downtown looking for the escape route that would take us back into the insanity, that when we arrived at the beautiful serene temple we said, "Never again, no matter what, will we ever take I-5 through Seattle!"

 The temple experience was worth it all! It is a spot of Heaven in the midst of madness! So beautiful and serene. Such a perfect reminder of the Lord's way instead of the world's way!

We were invited to be the witness couple, which was a very sweet experience.

The Seattle Temple is the most reverent temple we have ever visited. Everyone was very quiet and led with inviting gestures instead of speech wherever possible. It was so calming and healing! (I wish everyone could see the difference in reverence when we remember we are there to visit with our Heavenly Father and not with each other.) 

They seem to have  learned that a warm smile and handclasp can communicate our regard for each other. (Reverence is stressed here in the chapel also. The Bishopric is always on the stand sitting reverently, smiling, rather than speaking, at least 10 minutes before Sacrament Mtg. Because it is taught and exemplified, people are not expecting the back-slapping friendliness we so often show in our chapels.)

We felt strengthened from the session and enjoyed eating dinner in the cafeteria downstairs. There people did speak to each other in friendliness but were still reverent!     It just didn't get noisy!

This bottom picture is of Dad doing his unconscious whistling (that I love) while he waits for me. The only time I didn't appreciate it (the whistling) was when he whistled once when I was saying prayers! I think that is proof his mind had wandered!

You might wonder how we got home. We drove south to Tacoma and around the long way. It was still very difficult because it was 5 o'clock traffic, but less nightmarish because we had been there before and knew what to expect. Oh, for the roads of home--or even of Utah where the streets make sense!

We love you all! Every day we meet more sweet and interesting people and feel more like we are able to contribute. If this weren't so long already I would tell you some experiences, but I will save those for another time.

Lots of love! Elder and Sister Walker