The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple generally closes in February for two weeks for its semi-annual major cleaning. This year, it’s closed for six weeks instead. They are replacing the main elevator. It’s the original elevator, so it’s been there since the temple opened in 1945. It had become hard to find replacement parts. The elevator definitely needed to be replaced. Because the Idaho Falls Temple is closed, I went to the Rexburg Idaho Temple last Friday, and I found myself on the other side of a potential temple complaint.
We Went to Do Sealings
Generally, when the Idaho Falls Temple is closed for cleanings, my family will go to the Rexburg Temple and do an endowment session. Because I had several couples who needed sealed and some children who needed sealed to their parents, I decided to schedule a sealing session. The last time I did sealings in Rexburg was when the Idaho Falls Temple was closed for the remodel, so probably around ten years ago. My mom went with me to do sealings on Friday. We showed up early, and the lady handed us a small file folder to put our family file names in.
As I looked at the paper attached to the folder, I remembered someone mentioning a few weeks ago that Rexburg was limiting how many family file names each patron could do. We could do two couples. That’s it. Really? I’d anticipated doing probably around 15 names, maybe even a little more. One time in Idaho Falls, we were able to get 56 sealings (a combination of couples and children) done during one sealing session, and we were only allowed to do two this time. It hardly felt worth the drive from Idaho Falls. Yes, that was a negative attitude, especially because I knew that it was worth the trip for those whose work was being done.
Internal Thoughts
I’ve mentioned before that I really don’t like when temple patrons say something along the lines of, “But that’s not how they do it on Thursday mornings” or “But the Mount Timpanogas Temple lets us…” Yet, I found myself on the other side of the issue this time. I wanted to complain. I’ll admit it. I almost complained. Yet, I didn’t want to be a hypocrite, complaining when things weren’t going the way I’d like them to go. I did, though, begin to see things a little better from the other side of the issue. I’d planned this temple visit, assuming a specific outcome, and when that outcome didn’t happen, I was disappointed. I’m sure that’s how many of those complaining patrons felt as well.
Trying to See Things From the Other Side
I’ve spent time as a sealing coordinator. While most people are respectful, you are always going to get people who complain. Some policies at the temple come from the general temple department in Salt Lake. Others come from that temple’s temple president. Some things are specific to that temple shift. Others are decisions made by the specific person in charge, such as the person who is the sealing coordinator. It appeared this was a decision made by that specific temple president. Complaining to the sealing coordinator would not change that policy. While I’m sure the lady would have been respectful and as kind as possible to me if I’d complained, I’m also sure that I would have made her day more difficult. My complaining wouldn’t have resolved anything.
Not Too Happy at the Time
When we first got into the sealing session, there were three other people, but we were the only people who had brought temple file names. A couple showed up a bit late with some names as well, but that still didn’t fill the time. The sealer ended up bringing out temple file names to fill the rest of the time. I’d actually expected that once we got done with the cards we had presented to the sealer, he’d ask if we had more work that we wanted done. Then we’d be able to do at least a few of the other family ordinances.
I’ll be honest. Even at this point, I was feeling a bit annoyed. I had several cards in my pocket. I was ready to do the temple work for other family members, and yet the sealer was pulling out temple file names. My family members’ work should take priority over those people’s work. At least that’s what I was feeling.
Accepting It
I’m not sure why the Rexburg Temple limits patrons to only a few temple file names. Maybe, they’ve found this is the best way to ensure that all attendees get at least some of their family names completed. Maybe, there’s a huge backlog of temple file sealings that need to be completed, and this ensures that those people’s work gets done as well. There could be several reasons why this is that temple’s policy.
I am trying to accept that there is likely a good reason behind this policy. It likely works well for them. I’ll admit it. I’m just being stubborn. I want things to happen the way that makes the most sense to me. The irony? That’s likely the same way many of those complainers feel as they voice their annoyances to me about how we do things differently than how they normally do them. I guess I’m getting a taste of how things feel from the other side.
