Oakland Temple Dedication: A Few Notes

The temple dedication was terrific.  Church News noted that this was the first time when the speakers changed from session to session.  There were three dedication sessions.  I attended two and watched grand babies for the third.  Sister Juanita Davis spoke at the first session.  I was very touched knowing her.  Her husband passed away just wo months ago.  He had been a temple sealer and to this point performed all of our family sealings, marriages and Tony.  Her discourse was very touching.  President and Sister Walton also spoke.  He is the Oakland Temple President and was in our stake presidency in Saratoga Stake.  Again very touching.  Sister Walton used the hymn “More Holiness Give Me” as a pretext for the blessing of temple worship.  Elder Oaks gave the concluding discourse as well as the dedicatory prayer.

The second session was also very moving.  A young sister, Sister Barlow, talked of her ancestors.  This piqued my interest as they were part of the Martin Handcart Company.  Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton who is my great-great-great grandmother passed away on the trip.  It is assumed that this family took in the Ashton girls and kept an eye on them after William Ashton left the company and joined the military at Fort Laramie.  One of the Barlow children also joined the military in a temporary assignment at this time.   I have looked in Family Search to find the link without success.  She talked of hop.  Scott Hepworth talked of the temple is the best way to keep our eyes single to the glory of God.  Elder Kevin Pearson of the Seventy talk of light.  He said we should become a light, we should develop charity, we should seek the influence of the Holy Ghost and we should share our light with others.  Elder Bednar shared his experiences as a youth with the Oakland Temple.  He played on the hill s during construction.  He mentioned that the goal of baptism is to lead people to the temple so our sheaves not be wasted.  He mentioned we should participate in the gathering as the hen gathers her eggs by bringing people to the temple,  on both sides of the veil. 

I was blessed to be able to participate in these ceremonies, even though remotely.  Our stake center was an extension of the temple for this meeting.  We were all  able to participate and feel God’s spirit in abundance.