A Day Trip to the Los Angeles Temple with Arno and Subsequent Chinese Session and Experiences

A quick, one day temple trip with Arno!

We didn't get out until later than we thought because we weren't ready at the time that we wanted to go to the temple. But, ultimately, we made it. Helen was going to meet us for a session but we got there right as the session she needed to go to was starting so that didn't work out.

As we got ready for the session, we were having trouble getting our temple outfit ready. But, fortunately for us, the officiator of the session waited for us to start. The session that waited for us was an all chinese session. So they were very gracious to us. We wore headphones and everything.

It was interesting, because I tried to signal to Sarah that we didn't have to stand in the prayer circle today, but she didn't get my signal, and we went to stand in the prayer circle which was really cool. There were only a few times during the prayer that I had to supress my giggles at the words that I was trying to copy that were all Chinese.

Sarah and I enjoyed time in the Celestial Room, and hopefully, started a tradition of reading a Psalm every time we go to the temple.

I have to tell you of an experience I had as I was staring up at the Christus in the Los Angeles Temple Vistor Center. We had gotten a front row seat as we had asked the missionaries to play the dialogue that Christ says that is recorded. As I was staring into his eyes, saw the wounds in his hands and side,  I saw him descending from Heaven, really talking to me and calling me by name. He was majestic and lovely. He was loving and I could hear the words that were being said, being spoken directly to me. I imagined myself as one of the children that came to Christ to feel of his presence in the Book of Mormon. I felt his spirit descend upon me and it was very emotional. I thank God for his transcendent spirit and I weep in his presence.

Two nice things is that Arno treated us to our gas, and lunch and dinner on the way down and the way back up. We stopped at Tommy's Burgers, a childhood dream. And we ate at Denny's on the way back up.

Also, on the way down, the Arizona Saints Chorale had sent me recordings of their Spring 2025 concert A Child's Prayer and told me that they missed me. We listened to the recordings as we were driving to the temple and I was so impressed.