We spent a nice day at the Temple on Tuesday with the group that left yesterday. Three of them had lost their parents and we had the privilege of doing endowments for them (the temple had previously done the baptisms and initiatories for them) and then having their parents sealed and then having the three missionaries sealed to their parents. We also did endowments for one of the grandparents and also great grandparents. It was a very special and meaningful day. This was the first time any of these elders and sisters had been in a sealing room and had this experience. So many of these missionaries lose their parents at a young age. It is usually aids that takes them.

One of the elders lost his mom who was also a member of the church and then his stepfather abandoned he and his 11 yr. old brother. They ended up living with an aunt, but she forbid them to go to church so he was 26 yrs. old by the time he was able to serve. He told me that he was happier now than he had ever been in his whole life and was so grateful to be going on a mission.