Around 12:30pm Tuesday 21 November I started my car, backed out of my parking space and headed off to Kirtland. The plan was to arrive that afternoon and then that evening attend the ecumenical community Thanksgiving service at the Kirtland Temple and then drive back home.
While that may have been the plan, in the end that is not what happened. Rather I was invited by part of the Kirtland Temple family to stay for Thanksgiving, and I accepted this offer.
On Wednesday I worked a bit on my exegesis paper, visited, and watched the construction of the nearly completed new Spiritual Formation and Visitors center. On Thursday I went on a nice long walk in the woods with one of the Senior Guides. It was wonderful and peaceful. In ways I wish I had a camera as it was so beautiful and at several points I wish I could capture a portion of the wonder that I saw. That afternoon we gathered together with several of those here in Kirtland and shared in a meal of Thanksgiving.
So that brings us today. I should be home by now should I not? Or at least on my way back home to my 18 year old cat who is surely wondering where her boy is. Yet, that is not the case, and I will not be making that journey until at least tomorrow evening.
Why? Well it is simple. Wednesday night I was given the opportunity to stay a few extra days and share the portion of the Sacred Story that is expressed by the Kirtland Temple to those who come to visit. So today, I must dust off my brain and share an interpretation of history. Hopefully those who visit this day will be kind and forgiving as I give my rusty interpretation of this sacred space and those who gathered together and out of poverty built an amazing structure of education, worship, and order. I know that I am honored to have this opportunity and I hope that I will not disappoint anyone to much.
(I also hope that my orange feline will forgive me for being gone so long)
Peach be with you,
— Lyle II