Elder and Sister Eubank's 50th Anniversary

Elder and Sister Mark Eubank's 50th wedding anniversary was on Friday, November 19.  With so many things going on at the VC they were unable to break away and go to dinner with us (we postponed it until Monday).  So Donna arranged a surprise visit by all the missionaries.  We gathered outside their apartment  at 9:30 pm and helped them celebrate with a cake and lots of hugs!

VIP's begin arriving for Temple Rededication

Thursday evening we learned that President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring, and Elder Quentin L. Cook arrived.  Earlier Elder William Walker, Executive Director of the Temple Department, and Brother Thomas Coburn, Managing Director of the Temple Department, both came to the VC.

On Friday President Monson and President Eyring attended the Polynesian Cultural Center and our BYUH grandson, Kody Cook, ran into President Eyring and shook hands with President Monson.

David Hanneman

In 1960, before the Palomar Stake was organized, the District held a Samoan Luau fund-raiser (taalolo) at the recently constructed meetinghouse in Vista.  A Polynesian group from Orange County was contacted to help us and one of the men who helped us was David Hanneman.  I later met David when I was called as Regional Representative (1977) and assigned to the Anaheim Region.  He was, I believe, on the High Council working with the missionary program.

 He now lives in Laie and has been here for many years, and is a member of the Laie 3rd ward, the ward we attend on Sunday.  When we first attended the ward there was David Hanneman and as he greeted us he recognized me and reminded me of our relationship in the Anaheim Region, and said he had a letter from me in his file at home.  (The next week he brought the letter to church to remind me.)

He served as president of the Laie Temple, as a patriarch, and is still the historian for the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Of all those we've met in Laie, David Hanneman stands head and shoulders above all the rest -- a true disciple of Christ.  One day, when I grow up, I hope to be more like him.

Bob and Cynthia Hendershot finish the VC "mission"

Bob and Cynthia Hendershot, our dear friends from Escondido (now Highland, Utah) finished their four-week mission covering for us at the VC and doing double-duty by helping at the Open House every day.  Their mission at Temple Square prepared them for helping us out and they were absolutely wonderful.  Everyone at the VC instantly fell in love with them.  They accepted the invitation to come without hesitation, even though their new home was still under construction and the final inspection would not be scheduled until their last days in Hawaii.  They attended our Monday morning training meeting and the sisters sang Aloha Oe to them in parting.  In the second picture the sisters are holding up a "Temple Handkerchief" that Sister Brown's mother had made and sent as a gift to all the missionaries, for use during the Dedication next Sunday.

Open House comes to a close

Saturday, November 13, closed the Open House with 4,920 guests, bringing the total tos 43,034.  We ended the 20-day Open House with 163 referrals and thousands of very favorable comments.

One of my favorite experiences happened today around 2:00 pm when Kevin and Lita Acdal came from the Big Island with their daughter, Chantel Hidaro, Chantel's two daughters (11 and 13) an aunt and a family friend.  Bishop Wilkes, bishop of the Honokaa ward had called me earlier in the week and explained that Chantel had terminal cancer and the family was hoping we could accommodate her with a tour of the temple.  Chantel's husband had been killed in an auto accident in 2004.  I was able to give them a personal tour and we spent almost an hour in the temple.  As we left the temple the friend (a lady in here 50's) grasped my hands in hers, pressed them to her forehead, and said she would never forget her feelings inside the temple as long as she lived.  She described it as having "chicken skin" all over her body.

Bishop Wilkes reported afterwards that the next day Chantel was back at church, and said all she wanted to do was go back to the temple.  So, the bishop processed a temple recommend card so she could attend the dedication this coming Sunday.

I had performed the sealing of Kevin and Lita in the Kona Temple five years ago, and Kevin told the bishop how surprised he was that President McArthur was so warm and friendly since his recollection was that I was a "stern" temple president.  I guess I let my guard down...will have to be more careful to protect my reputation.

Temple Open House Celebrates Veteran's Day with 6,000 guests

Busiest day of the Open House was Thursday, November 11th, Veteran's Day, with about 6,000 visitors.  For about two hours we had a line, four-wide, down to the lower parking lot, about 150 to 200 feet long. 

Temple Open House Overwhelming

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual demands.  The Open House takes every ounce of energy - and then some.  We start at 7:15 in the morning and most days don't wrap things up until late in the evening.  But it's worth it.  Here's the view of the Open House "campus" we see from our apartment.

As of Saturday, November 6th,  25,000 guests had visited the Open House, with 5,000 that day.  We've also had almost 100 referrals for the missionaries. 

     Donna's assignment has focused on our "Special Needs" tent where folks in wheelchairs or those who are unable to walk up and down 50+ stairs begin their tour, (they use an elevator to go up and down the three levels of the temple).  Included in the picture is Lisa Bahen Ellis and Lorrie Porter.  Lisa grew up in Escondido (she's severall years younger than we are) and is married to Dean Ellis.  Dean is our "boss" and is chairman of the Ushering Committee.  Dean, Don and Merlin Waite, share in the overall duties orchestrating 200 +/- volunteers every day.  Lorrie (just sitting in the chair for the picture) is one of four coordinators of the Special Needs tent and is handles the evening shift every night.

     This picture was in the LDS Meridian internet magazine and shows Don pointing to the Special Needs tent while assigning Volunteers to their duty stations.