January 11

Awful day. Satan has been sitting on my left shoulder the entire day. I wanted and needed to prepare my Celestial Marriage lesson but at the last moment the Service Center invited us to the all day training. Would have politely turned them down, but they had paid for our lunch at the Holiday Inn which is $65F. I just can not waste that kind of money. I sat in the training disgruntled that I was not working on my work and even when the information should have/could have blessed my life, I missed it. Scott thought it was a great day; a great example of the importance of our personal responsibility to learn and feel the Spirit.

We left at 2:30 when the training became an employees only thing.  I was hoping to begin my lesson study, but could not.  I was powerless with out the aid of the Holy Ghost.  Could not study.  Could not write.  

At about 5 p.m. we decided to attend the 6 o'clock session.  Ahhhhh.  Much better.  Nice to go someplace where Satan can not come.

As we were walking out of the temple parking lot, I noticed Sister Taro who is a part time translator in the Service Center sitting on the wall by the guard's station. We were really slow getting out of the temple, because I did not want to leave the peace I had found there. It was 8:15. It seemed strange that she would still be sitting there, so we walked over to talk. I felt impressed to asked her if we could take her home. Notice that I did not say, "Do you need a ride home." which is what I would normally say. I am sure had I said that she would have told us no. By asking her if we could take her home it was easier for her to say yes.  

As we walked to our flat she told me that she had rushed out of the temple because her daughter was supposed to pick her up and she was afraid she would not wait long. She had sat there waiting for for over 35 minutes.  She had called her daughter but kept getting the 'this call is being diverted' message.  

It was a tender mercy to be with her as we listened as she told us about making a goal of getting to Utah to attend conference and to hear the Tabernacle Choir sing in person by the time she turned 70. She was delighted to tell us that she had made the trip and accomplished her goal in 2009 just before her 70th birthday. She gave me chills with her recitation about how great is was to be in the presence of the living Prophet and to feel the spirit that attends General Conference. She said that it was the experience of a lifetime--the best experience of her lifetime. She had attended every session and was thrilled to sit on the front row of the first balcony which she felt was the best seat in the house.  

When she found that she and her son who went with here would have to stay three extra days, she asked the hotel man if there was room for them to stay those three days and then asked how much it would cost her. The hotelier told her there was room, and that it would be free. One can never get ahead of the Lord.  She did a good thing in attending conference and He blessed her twice.

The 30 minute ride out and back was a wonderful continuation of the spirit we had felt in the temple.  A tender mercy.