Your friends say to keep in touch,
But you know you won't.
Your teachers say come back and see them,
But you know you won't.
Maybe one day it won't matter,
But right now, it hurt a little.
In 2019, about a year after Seth left for his mission, I decided that one way to focus my attention outward in service to others, rather than inward, missing Seth and grieving the empty nest, was to serve in the temple. Before I had a chance to act on this, a message was read in sacrament meeting explaining that they needed additional workers in the Jordan River Temple (our temple district up in Sandy).
"Well perfect timing," I thought. I arranged for the needed interviews, and in just a few weeks, was set apart as an ordinance worker at Jordan River. Our shift coordinator began every preparation meeting by greeting us with "Welcome to the best day of the week!"
She was absolutely right.
I served every Friday afternoon for a year and a half, until March of 2020, when the world (and the temple) shut down in response to a life-threatening global pandemic. Dare I say all of us experienced some degree of trauma as we lived through what would become the single, most defining event of our lifetimes. Yet with all its horror, despair, grief, sadness, and loss, COVID invited us to rise higher in our humanity. Our response as a people was nothing short of heroic, and indeed, a bit of "good" shed slivers of light in the profound darkness.
One sliver for me was the opportunity to serve in the Jordan River Temple through the phases of its reopening, post-pandemic. It was pure joy of to welcome small groups of family members, accompanying loved ones as they received their own temple ordinances. It was so quiet in the giant Jordan River Temple during that time. The Spirit radiated the Savior's grace as we all experienced God's healing power made manifest.
About the time we made it to Phase 4, the temple fully reopened and functional, my family moved to Bluffdale. Temple workers are required to serve in their assigned temple district, and Bluffdale was part of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple district.
I did not want to go. I did not want to change temples.
At all.
I'm sure there are lots of people who love change and embrace it wholeheartedly. I am not one of those people. I was so happy serving in the Jordan River Temple. I knew people there, I knew how the temple functioned, and I was trained on all the posts. Friday was, indeed, the best day of the week! It was so sad for me to leave.
When they insisted I move, the bishop of our ward expedited the process for me, and I only missed one week between serving at Jordan River and serving at my "new" temple, Oquirrh Mountain. It didn't take long for me to settle in there and feel perfectly at home. There were differences, yes. I missed the size and busyness of Jordan River. Oquirrh is tiny in comparison, and there is much more "down time" for workers. I missed serving as the chapel assistant, welcoming the company to the sessions and instructing them how and when to move to the endowment room. (Only brothers do this at Oquirrh Mountain.)
But I also had new opportunities that I hadn't had at Jordan River, including serving in the baptistry and on the sealing floor, and this past year as Endowment Coordinator. I grew to love that little temple; it became my own. And the lovely people who work there became my "Saturday afternoon friends."
About a year ago, I sat in our preparation meeting one such Saturday afternoon, next to my friend Tess. As our temple matron began her remarks, she informed us that she would be sharing the final decisions regarding the reorganization of temple districts when the new Taylorsville and Tooele Temples open. Tess lives practically across the street from the Oquirrh Mountain Temple; there wasn't a doubt she and Corby would stay there. She turned to me and whispered, "Do you think you could be transferred?" I had no idea.
Sister Sahm read the names of the stakes that would eventually move to the Taylorsville and Tooele temples. Then she said, "....and the following stakes will be transferred to the Jordan River Temple: Bluffdale and Bluffdale South."
Stunned, I spoke quietly to Tess: "I'm leaving. I'm going back to Jordan River."
It felt surreal. Like one of those "full-circle" moments. Fortunately, I had a full year to process this information and prepare for the change. Last Saturday, April 20th was my last day serving as an ordinance worker in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I had spent the previous couple of weeks training a new Endowment Coordinator, so this final day I got to work a normal line assignment, taking me to numerous posts all around the temple, saying goodbye to the many people I would no longer see. And of course I wasn't the only one saying goodbye; there were many quiet, heartfelt glances; sad eyes; and gentle hugs. I was especially grateful for one last opportunity that day to serve in the baptistry; that is the post I'll miss the most.
Those of us moving to Jordan River have the month of May off. We aren't allowed to begin serving at Jordan until the Taylorsville Temple is dedicated June 2nd. My first day at Jordan River will be Friday, June 7th. And yes, I'm excited! I'm stoked to be returning to my original temple, where I was trained, where I first administered the ordinances. I look forward to reuniting with a handful of people I remember and who are still serving on the Friday afternoon shift.
But the flip side has left me with a few tears welling behind my eyes. Farewell, my "Saturday afternoon friends!"
Maybe one day it won't matter,
But right now, it hurt a little.
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