27 Apr
A Special Calling
Last weekend while I was in San Antonio taking pictures of Mrs. Lemonade getting her make up done (see a peek of her gorgeous face here), I noticed I had a missed call from a number I didn’t recognize. Since Jenna Cole Photography became official with the tax man these calls have become a daily occurrence, and I grumbled and thought about putting it off. But this wasn’t a call from a sales person, no no no, quite the opposite. It was a call from my favorite place in the whole, wide world. The temple!
I dialed in to my voicemail and heard a warm voice on the other end. “Hello Sister* B_________** this is Sister _______ from the temple. We ask that you call us back to schedule a meeting with the temple president.”
I immediately called That Husband and told him about the phone call. My heart was pounding, and it was a really strange and unique moment for us as husband and wife. We both knew that the other knew what this call was likely about, but it’s as though we didn’t want to say it out loud. Did we even dare to hope?
When we arrived at the temple on Saturday morning we were dressed in our Sunday best, and still hadn’t openly discussed what we both suspected was about to happen. It was just too special, too great an honor to expect. (The other day, I cried in the shower thinking about it; it just means that much to me.) We waited patiently for the temple President to get out of his meeting, distracting ourselves by taking about my sisters upcoming wedding.
Meeting with the temple President is a very special privilege. There are 129 operating temples around the world, and the Church has something like 13 million members worldwide. Being one of the 129 called up*** out of millions is an honor reserved for the most faithful of men. Temple Presidents are humble, spiritual servants of the Lord volunteering their time to do what we as members consider to be a very great work. I wish I had a picture of the temple President to show you, for he is the epitome of a man who could put anyone at ease. He is jolly and warm like your favorite grandpa, and I loved him from the moment I shook his hand.
He ushered us into his office, and asked if we had already been told by our bishop why we were meeting with him. We indicated that we knew nothing, and he smiled and said the words we had been expecting (of course, only expecting deep within our heart of hearts, never daring to breathe the thought out loud, even to one another). “Brother and Sister B, would you be willing to serve as ordinance workers at the temple?”
I’ll discuss exactly what his words mean in a moment, but I wanted to spend a few sentences trying to convey what an honor this calling is. In the LDS Church, the temple is considered to be literally the House of the Lord. I felt privileged, grateful, and humbled when I was extended a recommend just to enter and participate in the ordinances. Now I will be entering each week to assist others as they come to participate in the ordinances found therein. It is a very special thing indeed, and I am humbled at the thought that I would be considered worthy to participate in such a manner.
We will begin training for our new calling on May 30th (we wanted to start sooner, but I’m having surgery on the 12th), and we will serve every Saturday from 11:30-5:00 pm. Those of you reading who aren’t members of the Church are probably wondering what we will do when we are there. As you may know, we don’t discuss in detail what goes on in the temple outside of the temple, but you can read my previous posts about baptism, endowment, and sealing, all of which are ordinances which occur inside. Our service will not only include assisting others as they participate in these ordinances, but also leading and guiding participants around the temple as they move from one place to another.****
We won’t be paid for our time. We serve because we believe in this work. I believe that this is not just a church, it is the Church of Jesus Christ. Visiting the temple, and returning again and again provides us with the information we need to live in the presence of God once again, and I love the opportunity to spend time in His House.
Most of all, I am grateful for this calling because it feels like a big warm hug from my Father in Heaven. Because I believe that these callings come from men inspired by God, it’s as if the Lord himself drew me near and said “Jenna, I approve of the way you are living your life. Come serve in my House, drink in my Spirit, and enjoy the opportunity to deepen your appreciation for and understanding of the Temple. I know you are working hard to live a life that will enable to live with me in my Kingdom once again someday and this is the way you should be living.”
I want to remain worthy of this opportunity to serve in the temple for the rest of my life. I love this Gospel, and I know it is the truth. I hope I never forget the way I feel right now.
*In the Church we call each other Sister, and Brother. Sister Andersen, Brother Smith, Sister Jones, Brother Callahan.
**the Church calls me by my husbands name, even though technically my name is still Andersen
*** We don’t aim for positions in the Church by studying, going to school, or even asking for them. We use the term “called” to describe how the process works, since you are asked by a Church leader who has been inspired by the Holy Ghost to ask you to serve in that position.
****The temple is not like a great cathedral inside, it is made up of many different rooms. You can see some video of what it looks like inside here.
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Jenna, that’s wonderful! I am a longtime lurker but felt moved to post to congratulate you!
One question, though. Is this going to affect your business? Being in the wedding photography trade, aren’t Saturdays pretty crucial? Not a criticism, merely curious as to how you’re planning on balancing those two aspects of your life!
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Jenna Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
We are free to take off as many days as we need, or to change to a Friday or something if for some reason I start having weddings all of the time. We can only serve there as long as we don’t have kids, so hopefully we won’t be in the position for more than a year and a half or so, because I’m so baby hungry!
Right now I only have a few weddings booked, so it’s likely not going to be a problem. This schedule is actually good for my portrait shoots because I only like to do them in the morning or evening, and now clients have no choice but to do so because I’m not available in the middle of the day!
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Katherine (a.k.a. Sparkles) Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Why can you only serve there so long as you don’t have children?
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Jenna Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I assume that it is a dependability thing, but I’m not sure. Remember LDS families usually have many children, and so it would be tough to schedule a shift where both parents could be gone on a weekly basis without putting a financial burden on the parents because of babysitting fees, or worry about having someone canceling because of a sick child or other familial responsibilities. That Husband and I don’t have to worry about those type of things.
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Congratulations, Jenna, I’m happy for you.
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2Congratulations! It is clear that this means a lot to you.
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3Congratulations!! I briefly considered trying it when I was newly married, but I still haven’t managed to stay reverent through my OWN sessions at the temple, let alone anyone elses:)
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4Wow Jenna. This sounds exciting! It seems like a great honor for anyone. But it is also a great testament to your faith and maturity since you and TH are so young and are being called to be leaders. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
I use the phrase “so young” lightly….since I’m just a year older.
)
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5Congratulations - I don’t really understand the depth of the meaning of this, but I realize it is extremely special, and very very important to you, so I say well done for living your life in a way that pleases the lord? (I’m a Unitarian. This kind of stuff doesn’t come up for me. But congratulations is what you say to people when they win a prize or something, and this clearly isn’t like that, so I don’t really know what is appropriate.)
I’m so glad Anna asked her question - I was wondering that too! I suppose enough weddings start later in the day that you will be okay though. Don’t you not work on Sundays?
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Jenna Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I don’t work on Sundays, so this does limit my availability a bit more, but I don’t like shooting in the middle of the day anyways so this doesn’t affect my family/e-shoot/bridals, etc. When I have a wedding I just have to let them know and they will give us the time off (we always work together). It’s very flexible and they are so kind.
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Wow - I guessed that only ‘older’ folk got called to be temple workers. That is just so cool. I wish I would get that calling! Even for just a couple of hours a week! Then what would I do with my kiddos…maybe Grandma would move in or something. Anyway, that is awesome - what a unique experience to look back on. Also, though you may not serve side-by-side a lot of the time, what a great strenghtening force for your marriage.
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7Jenna, congratulations — it is wonderful news and I can only imagine how fulfilling it will feel for you!
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8Congratulations! That sounds pretty exciting!
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9Congratulations, Jenna. I’m very happy for you two, it’s always a wonderful feeling to know that you are on the right path.
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10What a blessing. That is wonderful!
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11Congrats Jenna…that’s very cool. I was a temple worker here in Provo for almost two years, and it was by far the best calling I’ve ever had. The old people in the temple are the coolest ever, and it really helped me to better understand what the temple is all about.
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12How wonderful, Jenna. Some of the best evenings for us in our early marriage were spent at the temple as Colin was called to be an ordinance worker (veil). I’ll never forget meeting the temple president in Seattle and hearing the blessing he gave to Colin. Absolutely amazing. And we LOVED the older people we met there. SO CUTE and so kind. I know that you’re looking to have kiddos right away, but I hope you relish in this time that you’re sans kids since you won’t have this opportunity once they come. Enjoy the wonderful blessing that this is! XOXO
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13Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.
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14Congratulations!!
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15yay! that will be amazing. but i’m not going to lie. i still think that being in the nursery is still best calling ever.
but really, in all seriousness, i’m excited for you two. you will be so blessed and what a great way to spend your saturdays. elder bednar’s talk from conference a few weeks ago comes to mind. you are both going to learn so much and be better prepared for any callings that come your way after this. that’s pretty cool.
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16Congrats! Like some I don’t really understand but I can see the importance and the excitement in the meaning of this service to you! I am really happy for you and TH.
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17Mazel tov!
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18Woah. This sounds really, really cool. Like, woah. I think you did a fine job of communicating how special this calling is.
Many hearty congratulations!
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19Wow, congratulations!
You really make it apparent that you try in every aspect of your life to serve god and be a good person.
I myself am not religious, but I’m very happy to learn that your faith and what you do with it is helping you to live a fulfilling and rich life! Again, congrats!!
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20Congrats Jenna! I grew up Catholic but I love learning about the different aspects of Christianity and other religions that I’m not familiar with. It’s one of the reasons I love reading your blog!
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21yayaaya *gives you an “EXCELLENT JOB” sticker*
enjoy it!!!!
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22Congratulations! That is an incredible honor- for someone so young it’s even more impressive that you were called. I’ve heard many former temple workers talk about how many wonderful experiences they had while serving.
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23Jenna,
In all honesty I’m a little jealous!! I wish I could have the opportunity to work in the temple everday. The spirit there is always so strong and welcoming. I know that my two little babies will keep from the job for a long time..since we plan on about 10 kids. My grandparents were workers in the Seattle temple and in the Columbia River Temple for years and have enjoyed it. My grandma is unfortunate now though to have too much pain to do some of the work they do so they aren’t working there right now, but their stories have always impressed me. I’m sure you’ll just love being a temple worker!! I’m so excited for you guys!! It’ll make your relationship just that much stronger..
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Tanne Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Are you serious about having 10 kids?
Does anyone else agree that it’s egotistical and irresponsible to have that many children? Even if you can support that many kids financially it’s overpopulating an already overpopulated earth. SCARY!
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Ashley Mar Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Last time I checked it was my decision on whether or not I wanted to have that many children. And I do believe that we can only help others by having this many children. I don’t plan on bearing that many children myself, but as many as I think my body can physically handle. If we end up adopting some children from other countries I would really enjoy that as well. Why does my decision on how many children I want affect you?
I believe that God gave me the opportunity to have babies for a reason and I should get to have as many children as I see fit for our family. My husband and I agree that we are supposed to bring beautiful babies into this world and raise them wisely.
I don’t understand how you think this is egotistical and irresponsible…I see this as giving another spirit from heaven an opportunity to have time on this earth and share their goals and values with everyone else.
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MrsW Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Also, note that issues with overpopulation are mostly localized and have more to do with lack of infrastructure for adequate food distribution or for adequate food production. The resources of this world are not even close to being tapped out, even if there is a massive overdependence on fossil fuels in the civilized world.
And please don’t tell me I’m believing a myth, I’m very well aware of just as much support to back up my position as yours.
I think it’s awesome to want to have that many children, good for you, Ashley! Mr W wants 8, but I’ve talked him down to 6. No discussion yet on biological vs. adoption, though. I especially admire families who grow large through adoption. There are so many children waiting for families — it is just a shame that the process is so difficult and expensive.
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Ashley Mar Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Mrs. W thanks for your thoughts. It helps to know that someone thinks the same way I do. I know we aren’t close to overpopulation…and I hate that people say that. There is so much land that can still be used in this country.
I love the adoption thought as well because it does help so many children to get their lives in order of how they should have been from the beginning but can’t be because of the lack of finances.
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What a blessing Jenna
I am so happy for you.
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25Each word of this post is swollen with your happiness. I’m happy from just reading it.
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26Congratulations Jenna, that’s wonderful. Do you think anyone from your ward reads your blog? Only because I think if they did, it would lead them to decisions to give you such an important calling because you are so great at explaining and demonstrating your faith! Saturdays are going to be so wonderful for for you now, getting to go to your favorite place! I hope you will share with us what you can of your experiences.
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27You sound so incredibly happy! Congratulations and enjoy your special time with your church and your husband.
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28Jenna - I may not be a member of your church but you did an excellent job of describing what an honor this is for you and TH. What an amazing experience this will be for you - and I know you will be a blessing to so many at the temple. Congrats!!
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29Oh how exciting!
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30it sounds so important to you and i’m so happy that you are so happy!!!!
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