Hamilton Temple Trip

On December 30, 2014, we went to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.  We left early hoping to make the 11:00 AM session.  We were almost there when the GPS lost satellite connection and the next thing we knew we were headed back to Auckland.  After we got turned around we drove back toward the temple.  When we arrived at the Hamilton Temple, Susan realized that she did not have her temple recommend and would be unable to enter without special permission.

Prior to coming to the temple, Gary had done some family history research and had brought the family names so we could do special ordinance work for our family at the temple.  The temple placed a phone call to a member of the Area Presidency to verify that Susan had a temple recommend so she could go in.   The person Susan did the proxy work for was a sister to Gary's grandfather.  Over 25 years ago we thought we had done her temple work, but we hadn't.  We know now without a doubt that this great aunt of Gary's was delighted to have her temple work done.  She is now on the path to be sealed to her family.

pacificareamission.blogspot.com

pacificareamission.blogspot.com

After the temple session we went across the street to visit the mission president,  Charles Rudd.  President Rudd is the son of Elder Glen Rudd.  For those in our ward, President Rudd's wife is Bryant Lancaster's sister.  We had a delightful visit.

Gary, Susan, Sister Rudd, and President Rudd

After our visit with the Rudd's we drove to the Hamilton Gardens and enjoyed all the flora and trees.  Our favorite was the English Garden.

After our stroll through the gardens we put "Home" as our destination in the GPS.  The satellite connection was lost again in the same location as before, but we ignored it and followed the signs back to "Auckland".  We did make one stop at Pokeno on the way for an ice cream.  This place is the stop for everyone who returns from the temple.  When the young missionaries stop there,  we have been told that they get much more than the standard double ice cream scoop.

"When we have conscientiously done all we can to locate records of our anestors, the Lord will direct our attention to obscure records in unlikely places where ancestral information has been preserved."  David B. Haight, Personal Temple Worship, General Conference, April, 1993.