My Uncle & The New LDS Rexburg Temple

Some may be aware that my uncle temple president for the new Rexburg Temple. Well, I just got an email from him about his new calling. It offered a little insight into the huge undertaking of opening a new temple...so I thought I'd share. Additionally, I would've freaked out if I was a scheduled bride at this temple the first week it was opening...wonder how that panned out for many of them. What a small world we live in though. While my uncle (a state away) was just mingling with the new prophet at the temple...that same prophet lives within walking distance of my house!! We've very blessed here!

"Dear Christensen Family,

We are sorry for the delay in sending a Family Update. We have decided that opening a new temple offers just as many challenges as operating a mission. It took many hours to call the 1200 temple workers . Then were involved in training them in a variety of positions. We were involved with the open house where we invited over 200,000 friends and members through the temple. The dedication services were complicated when President Hinckley passed away just a few days before the scheduled date. The dedication was placed back a week, which required us to reschedule many of the patrons. The marriages where the most effected. It was an honor to have President Monson come for the dedication. It was his first official activity after being set apart as our new Prophet. The patrons have come to the temple in large numbers. Located next to BYU-I gives us the chance to welcome many students to the temple, especially in the baptistery. We open the baptistery at 6:00 a.m. and close it at 10:00 p.m., with the youth occupying the area for those many hours. We may have the busiest baptistery in the entire Church. We have been pleased with the many marriages scheduled for the temple. Last weekend we performed nearly 40 of them. Everything went well. One mother fainted. We think she finally realized that she had a new son-in-law. We hope that many of you will plan a trip to Rexburg in the next two years. Please call ahead to let us know that you will be in the area so that we can host you. It would be a blessing to see you again.....

Love, Val & RuthAnn"