Tongan Update, October 7, 2007 General Conference and the Temple

Tonga Update, 07 October 2007,

Nuku'alofa Temple Open House

Today is Sunday. This morning we pulled ourselves out of bed at 4:00 a.m. and drove 20 minutes to the Liahona Ward to watch General Conference. It was being shown in English in only two wards on the island so we went to the one where the other senior missionaries where attending. By the way, we watched the Saturday Conference on Sunday. Sunday’s Conference will be held on Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. It’s interesting that we can be 5500 miles away and still sustain the new officers of the Church at the same time as everybody else in the world. John went for a walk during the rest hymn. It was interesting to him as he walked from room to room to hear some people singing in English and others in Tongan. The chapel was full with Tongans singing in Tongan. It was magical to him that we all had the ability to hear messages in languages that could be understood. When a speaker mentioned Tonga in their talk, the people perked up and looked at each other with excitement.

One of the senior couples, the Embleys, invited us over to their place for a “real palangi” breakfast afterwards. (A “palangi” is any person of European descent—that’s us!) There was bacon and eggs, pancakes, watermelon, bananas, and fresh orange juice—much better than our usual cereal with different tasting, unrefrigerated milk that comes from a rectangular box. Monday morning we got up again early to be at the chapel in Liahona by 5:00 a.m. to listen to Sunday's session. John listened to the first session then he and President McMurray left to go to Ha'apai.

This was the first official week of the Nuku’alofa Temple Open House. (Last week was for VIPs like the King, Prime Minister, the Noblemen, etc.)

We’ve had the opportunity to act as hosts for a couple of hours each day. If the people need English tour guides, we are available. Our job also is to check on the Sister Missionaries who are stationed outside the Temple where guests are asked to fill out information cards.

What an amazing place the temple is! As people come through the front doors into the lobby, they are in awe—the vaulted ceilings, the elegance of the wood from Africa, the beauty of the stonework from China.

The alters are surrounded with a pearl-like facing, and the crystal chanticleers are incredible.

As in all temples, the best is used for the House of the Lord.

As we walk through the Temple with our guests, we express four main ideas:

1. The temple is the most sacred place on earth for members of our Church

2. What we learn in the temple gives meaning and direction to our lives

3. Family ties are made eternal in the temple

4. Temple worship focuses our lives on Jesus Christ

When we go into the Celestial Room, there is no talking. The room speaks for itself.

The guests are given two or three minutes to just meditate and feel the spirit. Some people are weeping as they leave the Celestial Room.

It has been a humbling experience! We are so thankful that we are in Tonga at this time! This picture hangs in the hallway just before people left the temple

At this point the temple tour was finished. While standing near the picture and father came carrying his little child. The child look at the picture, smile, and they waived goodbye.

Our Mission President, Lynn McMurray, and his family are doing amazing things in Tonga. President McMurray can speak the language better than the Tongans. He is a great communicator, and the people listen. Everyone knows how much he loves the gospel, and how he has a story to illustrate any point. The missionaries respect him and are trying to “lift the bar” as far as working harder, obeying the rules, etc. Sister McMurray is an angel. She is fixing meals twice a day for the twelve Sister Missionaries that are helping at the Temple, and she speaks at many different occasions, in Tongan I might add (with the help of a few notes).

The kids, with their blond hair, really stick out in a crowd of dark-haired Tongans. They are singing and accompanying choirs on the piano as the Tongans are preparing for the Cultural Day to celebrate the Dedication of the Temple on November 3.

The missionaries are helping the McMurray children learn their testimonies in Tongan. The McMurray family continue to be a wonderful family even down here in Tonga!!

Elder Thompson and I are trying to do our little part! We’re hanging in there and keeping very busy.

Love to you all (‘Ofa ‘atu),

Diane and John