March of the Apostles and other nice Neighbors

We just got in from the Patio where we were watching a major front come it to the valley. It was something to see it as it came from over the Lake across the airport and into Salt Lake City. The Temperature in Salt Lake Valley is suppose to drop from the 90s today to the low 60s tomorrow with snow in the mountains. This is Utah, if you don't like the weather just wait a while and it will change.

We were in the Tunnel system the other day walking from lunch in the Church Office Building Cafeteria back to The Joseph Smith Building when we came across the "March of the Apostles".
The Elders where going back to their offices in the Church Administration Building from their weekly Meeting in the Temple through the tunnel. There were four of them riding in a cart, Elders Packer, Ballard and Wirthin. Elders Holland, Oaks, Perry, Cook and Scott were walking in front. They went by so fast with their security that we could not see all of them. Mom was able to step in and shake the hand of Elder Oaks. It is nice to see all of the Apostles in some other setting than sitting up front at General Conference.

We are working in the Tabernacle on Sunday this transfer. Music and the Spoken Word is moving back to the Tabernacle next week from the Conference Center now that the heavy tourist season is over. Mom is excited to be assigned to the building when the Broadcast is going on.

We were walking down the hill the other morning to start our working day when we ran into Orrin Hatch and his wife. We had a short talk with him he is worried that the Bad Guys may get control of the Senate this next election. We told him that we lived in Zions Summit on the 8th floor and found out that they live on the 7th floor just under us. It is a small world.

Baptism and Bad Guys

It is hard to believe but we have had a Baptism. Damian our friend was Baptised a member of the Church last night the 23rd of August. Mom and I were there along with some of our Missionary friends, the Ownbys.

We met Damian while we were working at the Legacy Theater. We were visiting with the guests while we were waiting to start the movie. Damian told us that he had just arrived from Arizona, that he did now why he came to Utah. He said that he thought that he had come here for a special reason. He was looking for a place to stay and needed a job. I told him some about the Church and invited him to see the film "Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration". We met him at the exit of the movie to see what he thought of the film. He said that he felt like Joseph Smith in some ways. We gave him a "Book of Mormon" and the number for the Church employment office.

We thought that would be the end of the story as we were not able to get his phone number or place of residence. He had no phone and was looking for some where to stay. Several days passed and we were at the South Gate greeting guests, when who should walk by but Damian taking a short cut though the Square. We had a nice visit. He was still looking for a job but had found some where to stay for the short time. I told him to read 3rd Nephi 11 and Moroni in the Book of Mormon that we had given him. He still did not have a real address or phone number. More time passed when he appeared again as we were working at the Tabernacle. He said that he now had a Cell Phone and had had some part time jobs in construction and was living at a Hostel. I got his phone Number and and address and sent it to the Referral Center for the full time Missionaries to contact him. Several days later he came back looking for us. He said that he had some good interviews for a job with some call backs scheduled. I asked him if the Missionaries had been in touch with him. He said that he was disappointed because he had not yet heard from them. I took his Phone Number and Name to President Leech and asked him to contact the Mission Leaders in person. Damian Then came looking for us again with the news that he had a job and that he had the lessons and was committed to be baptised. Very few of the Missionaries on the Square get to see a Baptism because the referrals are sent to the full time missionaries in other missions or countries.

Mom was working at the at the East Desk of the South Visitors Center when a Man came in with no shoes on. He said that the Church was the cause of all his troubles that they had taken away his wife and kids. He then told Mom that if he did not get help that he would have to rob or kill someone. Mom then called security and he ran away. Security was able to catch him and escort him off the square. We found out that he then went to Welfare Square and made the same threats. He was then arrested and taken to Jail. Mom did such a job in being able to stay calm and call security. She was really upset after the event. The mission leaders said they did not remember anything that bad before.

Merry Christmas, Here comes the bride and bats in the belfrey

We were to the temple yesterday when we noticed some ladders near the trees on the east side of the Conference Center, where we walk to the to the temple each day. We found out, by talking to the workman there, that it was time to start putting up the Christmas lights. The base of each tree was marked by different color flags to show what color of lights were on the tree. Some how seeing Christmas lights on the trees in August didn't really put us in the Christmas spirit. It takes five months to put the lights up and two months to take them down. The special feeling of being on the Square on Christmas time does take some effort.

Today is the eighth of August 2008 or 08/08/08. Three infinity signs if turned on their sides. Well this did not escape the notice of prospective Brides. The Temple was totally overwhelmed with Weddings. There was hardly any room for pictures of the Wedding groups. The outside of the Temple, the fenced in area where pictures are to be taken was a mass of white dresses.
We were preparing to end our shift, 9:00 pm, at the west gate of Temple Square when some maintenance people came by and told us to come and see one of the secrets of the square "bats in the belfry" we went over by the Assembly Hall to watch as the bats emerged from the top of the building they came out by the side of the stained glass window under the moulding, a lot of them. I was not able to get a good picture of the bats but you can see where they came out.

We did Temple session in the morning and ran in to some of our friends from our mission in Nauvoo. They are working as Temple Workers in the Salt lake Temple. We had a good visit with them. There is going to be a Nauvoo Temple Reunion here on September the eighth, our anniversary. Should be great fun.

We had a unusual demonstration outside of the Square yesterday two stupid girls from PETA where taking a shower to protest the amount of water it takes to produce a pound of meat and also the fact that cows produce a large amount of Greenhouse gas. I guess the solution to the world's problems would to stop giving water to animals or some how figuring out to stop them from passing gas.

life on the Square

I am having a great time on Temple Square. I did get to play a hymn on the Tabernacle Organ, after a recital. Not all organists would meet my request to touch it. After he said to come up , I put my hands on the keyboard and he put on a registration. I even played two keyboards. He said "I have a hymn book if you want to play". I was so nervous, that I said "I don't need one, I am too nervous". So I played by ear "How Gentle God's Command." It may never happen again, but there was the right organist, the right place and the right time. One of God's tender mercies happened and I fulfilled a life long dream.

We have so many neat experiences here. It is fantastic to meet all the sisters. We were asked to give a short talk in Zone Conference last week. Dad told the story of our ancestor Ezra T Clark. The mission Pres then asked for the information about Ezra T Clarks son dying in Palestine and the Church being able to build the Jerusalem Center because they found his grave. Quite a story.

One of the sister missionaries, came to me after and said Ezra T Clark was also her ancestor. I guess we are distantly related. The sisters are so neat and easy to get to know. They have such a knowledge of the gospel and say it so well. When they are busy, we as Senior Missionaries get to answer peoples questions. A Jewish lady talked to me today and asked me how they thought about Jews. We had a long conversation, I hope she was pleased with what I told her. Just one example that happens allot on Temple Square.

I enjoy choir and Dad tolerates it. We sang last Sunday. I am trying to remember all the things I was taught in Ward Choir. We went to a fantastic concert Saturday night. Dad tolerated it but some of the high sounds and an uncomfortable chair made it so we left after two 2 hours. If it would have been shorter it would have been more fantastic. They were all young artists and Marvin Goldstein played the piano as a soloist and accompanist. Unbelievable, there was a thirteen year old concert pianist I am sure will be famous some day. He played for long minutes without any music. The other artist were so accomplished and had beautiful voices. Too bad it was so long.

We went to two other concerts last week. The family of Bastains was 6 people who played piano and they were so unique and talented. We get to do so many things because we are close to every thing being on Temple Square

Pioneer Day on the Square

We had a great 24th of July on Temple Square. We went to a Sunrise service at 7:00 am in the Tabernacle It was just great. Elder Tingey the President of the first Quourm of the 70 was the speaker.
The Parade Started at 9:00 am. We were at the very first of the Event. Cody's Band from Kearns High School marched in the Parade. Cody is on the outside second row from the back.

Elder and Sister Glad Watching the Parade.

Some of the Clowns getting ready to march.

We think that Elder Parry lives in our building. We see him lots of times on his morning walks. he was enjoying the floats

This was my favarote float. It was a bunch of Seagulls barbequeing Crickets.

The Pirates of the Carribaen were also there.

The Sister Missionaries were really enjoying the Parade.

All of the Family came over to the house to swim and eat. We had reserved the Garden Room so we would all fit. Grandma and I watched the fireworks from our balcony.

Saturday the 26th the Osmonds and the Choir had a special Pioneer Day Concert in the Conference Center. We are going tonight.

Special things on the Square.

1. A tourist said that Grandpa looked like Andy Rooney.

2. A tourist said that Grandpa looked like Mit Rommey. (I like the second one better).

3. A lady ask Grandpa if He was the Elder Glad who served his mission in Richmond Va. She then told Garndpa about his saying that he was going to name his first Son Yallbe Glad and Second Son Yuntsbe Glad. She was a Member of the Power family that I knew 49 Years ago on my mission.

4. Had a great conversation with a tall black man from the Sudan. He told me that the UN took some of his People out of the war several years ago and that he and 200 others were sent to Salt Lake City. He told me about the effort that the church has made in his country and the lack of help that had come from other Christan religions. He has joined the church and is wondering what he can do the introduce the church to his people in the Sudan when he returns in December. He may be the only Member of the Church in his country. We talked for a long time about his opportunity to be the first one to bring the gospel to his country.

5. Grandma had been in 7th heaven. We work in the Tabernacle every Tuesday morning. There is a Organ Recital at noon. The man who played the Organ asked her to play it. She is still recovering from the thrill.

luau

The Mission had its annual Luau last night at the Spruces Camp Ground up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The reason it is called a Luau is because it is a chance for the Polynesian Sisters to share some of their culture. We had barbecued chicken and pork with all the fixings. Then some Watermelon and at last we had smores cooked over the campfire.

The sisters then danced some of their Traditional dances. We have Sisters from Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa and Tahiti. The dance program was completed the Sister from Nepal doing a traditional dance from her country. Her family sent her the costume. The event ended with a tug of war.

We had three Sisters ride up with us to the camp ground one from from Korea one from from Switzerland and one from Pennsylvania.

Mom took some more pictures of our apartment that she wanted to be posted.

Great Times

We are in Temple Square 6 days a week. It has been wonderful but really tiring.

We greet guests as they come in to the square at the South Gate, there is very little shade there, and I have to keep my suit on and be outside to talk to people as they come in. Mom sits in a air conditioned booth and handles the handouts and takes care of the phone. I brought two wool suits with me one black and one dark brown. So one of the things we have done is to buy me two light weight suits light grey and tan.

We take care of the Beehive house. We start the Tours by telling the story of the office and reception room. The dialog has to be varied so as to make the tours the Sister Missionaries ten minuets apart. This is great fun because some times we have to talk for fifteen to twenty minutes, when we have large groups as a Tour can not exceed twenty persons. Some times when it is slow we may just introduce our selves and send them on the Tour. Mom is doing pretty good now on telling some of the stories.

We take care of the Tabernacle. Greet the people as they come in and assist the Sisters on their presentations. They do a demonstration of the sound by dropping a pin up in the front and every one can hear it. We do a lot of mixing and talking about the church.

We help in the Family Search area. This gives Mom time to work with the New Family Search Program which is not yet available in Utah. The Temple Square Missionaries are given access to the program. We have found two names to do work for.

We are in charge of the Legacy Theater in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We open it up for the day. We then Start the movie after explaining to the people about it. The Movie starts every one and half hours so this can be a slow day.

We are in Charge of the North Visitors Center. Very busy time. We make sure that everything is working and the crowds are under control. There are two movies we start, Legacy and Testament. This is also a Theater that can show any of the movies plus the DVDs that the church has published.

We work at the West Gate where all of the Bus tours come. We make sure the Sisters with the right language skills are there to take the Tours. We also welcome people and help them by giving them Maps and Helping them under stand what they can see here.

The South Visitor Center is pretty easy as there is no Movie so we just try to keep things under control and answer questions.

We some times will be assigned for a week to Park City to work in the Family Tree Center there. The church has an Apartment there for the Senior Missionaries to stay in.

We will also we some times working at Welfare Square or the Humanitarian Center as there is Tours as both places.

We are busy, busy, busy. The Sister Missionaries are very special to work with there are 160 of them on the Square and they can speak 60 different languages. We have people from all over the World come here and it such a surprised to them to take on a tour in their native tongue.

We Come home at the end of the day and crash, but we love it. We get to share our Testimony often and answer questions about the church by people who really want to know.