The FIRST Week

September 24, 2017

     I would like to report we have officially lived through our first week here in the London Temple. This may not sound miraculous to you, our family, but I feel so blessed that I am still not in there wandering around looking for an exit from our work yesterday. It is a miracle.

     This beautiful London Temple is very big! Don't ask me yet any details on size, the year built, etc. Just take my word on it that it feels oh so big to this gal who has been totally at home in our dear, darling temple in Snowflake, AZ. I can hardly think of that beautiful little sacred spot on the hill in Snowflake without tearing up.

     On our first day this week, we were given the grand tour. I will always remember walking into that beautiful celestial room and catching my breath. Such a room! Little did I know how much time I would spend in it this week. And that is because in all my frantic efforts to report to my assigned station, I rip open a door and boom!- that beautiful room appears before my eyes. I have been late to preparation meeting all week after dressing in the women's area. I just wish they could move that meeting to the celestial room because that is where I seem to end up.

    This temple has two main staircases (I Think....). One goes to preparation meeting; one to the celestial room. On my travels, I have opened closet doors and almost got a black eye when I try to rush into them. I have been in the laundry, tiptoed through the kitchen and then out the cafeteria door, spent time in the children's nursery; walked past the front desk and tried to act very busy on my way to an important spot. Well, do you get the picture? I believe my most embarrassing moment came when I pranced into the men's toilet. Thanks to a kind sister who yelled at me, the door did not shut completely. Oh my.....

     And the men's toilet reminds me of another subject. Notice I called it a toilet, not a bathroom. That's because these people use toilet rooms. Or loos. (sp?) Sister George is an English sister who is serving here. She announced to me this week that if she hears the word "cute" from one more American's mouth she will proceed to......(she didn't finish the sentence). So, my girls, do you see what I am up against?? I think most things in the world are so very cute. Not any more.... for 18 months I have to up my game. She prefers "lovely" or "quite lovely". I'm on it. So for the first while in my blog posts I shall proceed to teach you all proper English words I have acquired. The lesson this week is as follows:

jolly good - Way to go!
pop socks - knee highs that sisters rent in the temple
jacket potatoes - baked potatoes served daily in the temple cafeteria
tick - a checkmark
rota - a schedule that I faithfully try to follow

May the Lord attend you this week,
Sister Seaman - aka Grandma and Mom

Taking Offense

     Over the years I have preached about not getting offended or being critical of church leaders or anyone else for that matter.  Believe it or not I had two occasions this week to become offended. 
     As you know from Sister Seaman's report above, the London Temple is a large temple and has many hall ways and stairs and doors in odd places which can cause a new person some interesting dilemmas. So yesterday (Saturday), was a very busy day.  Lots of stuff happening all through the temple.  I had just finished one assignment and was trying to find my way to the next assignment.  I became lost and found myself in a strange room with a few people in it, just standing around.  A small baldheaded Englishman (temple worker) stopped me and ask what I was doing.  I said I was lost.  He proceeded to tell me, in front of everyone, that I was not to come into that room when the door was shut (most of the doors are shut) and that I should leave immediately, which I did.  With my tail between my legs.  Ouch! 
     The second incident happened a few minutes later.  I had completed my assignment and had returned to the place I was assigned to.  There was not a soul in the room.  I went in and sat down on a bench to wait for somebody to show up and tell me what to do.  After a few seconds, a small baldheaded Welshman, and in an English language I had a hard time understanding, told me that I was not suppose to be in the room and to remove myself immediately. Which I did.  Only to see two other men enter and sit down on the bench, talking to the man that had expelled me.
     At this point, I am ready to go home.  I don't.  But as you may guess, I am still smarting over it.  In the 24 hours that have passed since, I have cooled off.  I have decided that it may be that I am considered a "know-it-all" American and should put in my place. I think they consider us uncouth and "bulls-in-the-china-closet."  I am now determined to show them differently. 
     I will eventually learn my way around the temple and I will eventually begin to read people's minds (ha ha).  Eb Lewis, my father-in-law, used to tell us not to be critical of church leaders, especially around the dinner table, as it would give your children the excuse they needed to become inactive.  He said that it was the first step to apostasy. I believe him.  I will not be critical of the men that offended me.  (We choose to be offended anyway.)  I will take correction and try to be as humble as I can. 
     I have not told you these incidents to show how good I am, for I am not, but only to show that anything, anywhere, can get us if we are not careful.  Back to work tomorrow and it will be a great day in England.

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman