https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-a ... les-202156Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is occasionally asked why Latter-day Saints don’t experience the types of miracles that defined the early days of the Restoration.
The Apostle’s reply is always the same: “We do!”
He then goes on to compare the trials of the pioneers who suffered on their treks west, to a person getting an appointment to do some temple work.
Presumably the operating of that temple for those three days had already been prior to any decision to close it? So it should just have been business as usual until the Friday night at which point it would close, just like it does at other times.The miraculous power of the “fire of the covenant” was recently evident in North America when, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, government officials in a large jurisdiction announced that religious organizations should suspend all public gatherings in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The announcement included a three-day warning that all such religious operations should cease by day’s end on Friday, Nov. 13.
Because the temples had been closed for a period of time earlier in the year, temple patrons and leaders in the affected jurisdiction were disappointed that ordinance work would again be halted.
“Temple leaders and workers in one temple prayed earnestly for direction, counseled together and sought inspiration from heaven,” said Elder Bednar.
Soon the answers came.
The decision was made to keep the temple open around the clock on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to accommodate as many patrons as possible. The doors of the temple would remain open, and the lights would not be turned off until midnight on Friday, Nov. 13.
The tasks that needed to be completed seemed overwhelming. Patrons needed to be contacted to confirm existing appointments and reschedule appointments affected by the changes. Temple workers schedules had to be evaluated and extended. Cleaning efforts needed to be arranged and modified.
“The work began,” said Elder Bednar “Phone calls were made. E-mails were sent. Text messages were delivered and answered. Volunteers were requested, and they responded by the dozens. The temple doors opened early Wednesday morning, and the lights were not turned off until midnight on Friday.”
It's not like the people waiting for the symbolic rituals were in a rush. Perhaps had they closed the temple faster they would have helped reduce the spread of Covid-19? With all the efforts of the medical personnel around the globe, Bednar picked a temple conducting normal symbolic ritual operations for 3 days as an example of a latter day miracle akin to the pioneer treks.To illustrate the “remarkable experiences” that occurred in that temple, Elder Bednar shared quotes from eight individuals who were involved, first-hand, in that unprecedented temple effort.
Said one person:
“Office clerks and secretaries spent countless hours calling patrons affected by the closure to see if they would like to reschedule their appointments. Every time I walked by their desks they were on the phone. When they hung up, they would have smiles on their faces as they filled the schedule with new appointments for ordinances to be performed throughout the night. I have never seen such dedication as these sisters worked so hard to accommodate patrons in the work of the Lord.”
And from another:
“Serving in the temple during the middle of the night, as the Nauvoo pioneers of old, was one of those treasured once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
“Our entire shift was in awe of the light that showed in the eyes of the patrons that came and their gratitude — and touched by the sacrifice and the privilege it was for us as workers to serve them in this way.”
The bar for what constitutes a miracle just plummeted even further...Miracles occurred when the temple secretary and a patron were able to schedule an appointment — in an almost completely filled schedule — at the precise time that the patron could come to the temple.