Remembering Alfred

I made my trip to the Temple a day early this week as I am going to try and go to the singles institute class tomorrow night.  We had a bit of a water problem at the LBH and needed to get it taken care of so we could actually wash dishes so I delayed my departure a bit.  We have this automated system for adding the correct amount of detergent and sanitizer to the water and it went haywire.  When they installed it they didn't put in a secondary shut off valve to the system.  They primary shutoff in the sanitizer failed and so we had a steady stream of sanitized water.  That can get expensive.  In order to stop the flow we had to shut off all the water to the sink.  That can hang things up a bit in a kitchen.  Anyhow, got it taken care of and made it down a little too late to catch a session and still make it to Costco.  That being the case I decided to do sealings. 

When your a single guy in the temple alone and go to do sealings, chances are you will be proxy for sons to be sealed to their parents.  That I was.  While there I watched the sealer and I thought about Grandpa Alfred.  I thought about his love to serve in the Temple.  He was a sealer and I guess if there is anything I would aspire to it would be to be like Grandpa Al.  I have loved his love for the Temple for as long as I can remember.  There was a day long after he had passed when I was visiting Grandma Vi and I found a drawer full of his old journals.  I opened one, it was a missionary journal, and I read several entries that talked about his work in the temple.  I was moved and I wanted to be found serving just like him. 

So I watched this sealer tonight, Brother Ence.  As I watched him I thought about Grandpa Al and I found joy in that.  I wondered what Grandpa might share with those serving, thought about him giving instruction to a couple as he performed their sealing.  It brought joy to my heart to ponder on that for a time.  I will ever be grateful for the examples of those who have gone before and hope that I can live so that my example will give my children and grandchildren the desire to do what is right.  Grateful for this night and for the sweet memories of Grandpa Alfred.