Today I am grateful for the temple. Though I miss the days when going to the temple was less of a production that didn't require a long drive (about 5 or 6 hours) and an overnight stay. I miss being able to go the temple often, like more than once every couple of months. I do admit that when we lived in Utah and had 6 temples all within about an hour from our home we didn't realize how lucky we were. I kick myself that I didn't go more often and take full advantage of that great opportunity.
Our ward has a family temple trip once every quarter. Our stake has a stake temple trip every month, but our ward really pushes and promotes the family temple trip once a quarter. They provide babysitting at the stake center next door to the temple and a lunch is also provided following the 11:00 session. It is always nice to have a chance to attend the temple. I hadn't been since November when my nephew went through in Arizona in preparation for his mission.
Every time I go to the temple in Bismarck I think of the very first time that Scott and I ever went there. We had arranged for our children to stay with Scott's brother Roy and his wife. We left Rapid City a little later than we had hoped and were driving in the middle of the night. Most of the drive between Rapid City and Bismarck is pretty much in the middle of no where. You would be pretty much out of luck if you broke down somewhere along the way. Just outside of Mandan North Dakota, which is about 8 miles from Bismarck, our car made a not so good noise. Scott was asleep and I was driving. I immediately woke him and we pulled off at the nearest exit which just so happened to be right there. There also happened to be a gas station right off the exit. It was about 1:00 in the morning, but the gas station was open. The car was still drivable, but something obviously was broken and it made an awful sound. It just so happened that there was a hotel nearby so we got a good night's rest and the next morning drove our car very slowly to the next exit where we could take it to a garage to have it looked at. It turns out the transmission went out along with the clutch. My brother in law, who owns a body shop, had to drive all the way from Rapid City to rescue us in Bismarck. We could not afford to have it fixed in Bismarck so Roy hauled it home for us.
You might be thinking poor us. Not so. We were very fortunate for one thing that we broke down where we did. Of all the miles of nothingness, we made it nearly to our destination and were not stranded in the middle of no where. Not only this, but my sister in law Terri contacted a member of the church in the Bismmarck area and they arranged for us to be picked up at the mechanics shop and they drove us to the temple. We were able to get a session in and then he picked us up and took us to the airport where we rented a car so we could have our own transportation. We got an extra night stay in Bismarck before Roy could come rescue us. It was still a pain that our car broke down, but it turned out okay. I recognize how blessed we were that things happened the way they did and I am so grateful that we were watched over that day.
Our ward has a family temple trip once every quarter. Our stake has a stake temple trip every month, but our ward really pushes and promotes the family temple trip once a quarter. They provide babysitting at the stake center next door to the temple and a lunch is also provided following the 11:00 session. It is always nice to have a chance to attend the temple. I hadn't been since November when my nephew went through in Arizona in preparation for his mission.
Every time I go to the temple in Bismarck I think of the very first time that Scott and I ever went there. We had arranged for our children to stay with Scott's brother Roy and his wife. We left Rapid City a little later than we had hoped and were driving in the middle of the night. Most of the drive between Rapid City and Bismarck is pretty much in the middle of no where. You would be pretty much out of luck if you broke down somewhere along the way. Just outside of Mandan North Dakota, which is about 8 miles from Bismarck, our car made a not so good noise. Scott was asleep and I was driving. I immediately woke him and we pulled off at the nearest exit which just so happened to be right there. There also happened to be a gas station right off the exit. It was about 1:00 in the morning, but the gas station was open. The car was still drivable, but something obviously was broken and it made an awful sound. It just so happened that there was a hotel nearby so we got a good night's rest and the next morning drove our car very slowly to the next exit where we could take it to a garage to have it looked at. It turns out the transmission went out along with the clutch. My brother in law, who owns a body shop, had to drive all the way from Rapid City to rescue us in Bismarck. We could not afford to have it fixed in Bismarck so Roy hauled it home for us.
You might be thinking poor us. Not so. We were very fortunate for one thing that we broke down where we did. Of all the miles of nothingness, we made it nearly to our destination and were not stranded in the middle of no where. Not only this, but my sister in law Terri contacted a member of the church in the Bismmarck area and they arranged for us to be picked up at the mechanics shop and they drove us to the temple. We were able to get a session in and then he picked us up and took us to the airport where we rented a car so we could have our own transportation. We got an extra night stay in Bismarck before Roy could come rescue us. It was still a pain that our car broke down, but it turned out okay. I recognize how blessed we were that things happened the way they did and I am so grateful that we were watched over that day.
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6 people have something to say:
That's great that you were still able to attend the temple after your car stopped working. It would have been really frustrating to get that close, then not make it! What a positive outlook you had on the entire experience! :)
That is a great story. Can you imagine if it had made that scary sound out on the empty prairie? And, how great that you were still able to do a session.
Our first trip to the Bismark Temple went something like this: Loaded the car and waited for Nathan to get home from work early. He didn't get home early, so we headed out at around 7pm. Decided to stop for MickyD's in Sturgis, where I noticed that i had left my wallet (and Temple Recommend) at home. Headed home. The end. We didn't go back until last summer!
suzanne: it was nice to make it ther after all!
wendy: That is my worst fear, forgetting the recommend. I always check one last time as we are pulling out of the driveway to make sure I have it. I actually forgot it one time when we were going to Arizona for my Brother in law's wedding. Bishop Applonie took care of me though and I was still able to make it.
wow! glad you made it fine.
I don't know if I've ever seen a picture of teh Bismarck temple, very pretty.
Hello, I was seaching for something and this blog was a returned hit, so I will ask you a question that's been bugging me. Why is Alliance, Nebraska in the Rapid City Stake and also the Bismarck Temple District. It appears to be a 9hr or so drive. At least 5 other temples are closer. Seems like Alliance and the other two NE branches near it should be in the Cheyenne, WY Stake. I should say, the reason I'm asking is that I thinking of applying for job that might take me to Alliance. It's cool that you have babysitting in Bismark. I livein the middle of nowhere OK and with little youth, getting to the temple with kids is challenging.
Michael in Oklahoma
Hi Michael- You asked some really tough questions which I really don't know the answer to. Our stake is huge and covers a large area. I've been to Alliance before when my husband had a stake calling. I know it is a lot to ask of the members in those areas that live closer to other temples to ask them to attend the Bismark temple. Especially since it is not exactly a straight shot drive. I do know the blessings of attending the temple and that the Lord recognizes when we do make those extra efforts to follow the counsel given to us by our leaders. They do keep track of temple attendance and where you are from, that is one way they know where there is a need for a temple. With the new recommends this will be easier to track. I know I didn't really answer any of your questions. I just really don't know the answers. Good luck with your move and new job.
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