Over the Bridge and Through the Rain to the House of the Lord - We Go

*Buses loaded for the House of the Lord*

I love Elder Bednar’s counsel to refer to the temple, whenever possible, as the “House of the Lord.” I felt the significance of that distinction deeply this week as President Quinn and I loaded buses full of our missionaries over two days and traveled to the House of the Lord in Oakland, California, for a special Christmas endowment trip.

The experience reminded me of being loaded into the family station wagon and heading to Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve, with the warm, fuzzy anticipation of hot mashed potatoes served in Grandma’s green bowl, roast beef with green beans and gravy, cousins to hug, fun skits to perform, and simply being in the presence of Grandma and Grandpa, enjoying their laughter. In Grandma’s house, there were people to love and to be loved by.

*Alex our bus driver for all three years of temple trips*

Those same feelings of anticipation accompanied this journey to the House of the Lord. Thinking of it not just as the temple, but as His house, led me to wonder: Which halls has the Savior Himself walked? Has He touched each altar? This is His house! He has been here. What might I notice today in His house that will bring me closer to Him? What lessons of the Fall and the Redemption will I be reminded of? What feelings of love can I embrace?

*Holiness to the Lord - The House of the Lord*

And there was so much love during those two days. I will always carry in my heart the image of the celestial room lined wall to wall with young missionaries we love, standing shoulder to shoulder in white. Even now, it brings tears to my eyes to reflect on being in the House of the Lord with so many people to love and be loved by, just as my Grandma’s house was for me. Yes, I love the idea of the temple truly being the Lord’s House.

On the first day, as we traveled with the Pack Four Zones, rain was steady. On the second day, with the coastal zones, the rain was mixed with bursts of sunshine. Both days, we crowded together on the temple steps for photos after the endowment sessions, then boarded buses back to Church buildings for testimony meetings and Christmas dinners. Many missionaries bore beautiful testimonies of the Savior.

*The Pack Four Zones - Woodland, Fairfield, Vacaville, and Napa - Wednesday Dec. 17, 2025*

*The Coastal Zones - Eureka, Ukiah, Santa Rosa, and San Rafael - Thursday Dec. 18, 2025*

We enjoyed a catered dinner from Panda Express, distributed our Christmas gifts to each missionary, and handed out prizes for our “White Christmas” Bingo game. Cheers rang out when we revealed the mission t-shirts. The Lowes came and brought their Christmas chimes and helped us play a few Carols. It all came together to create two truly remarkable days.

*At the Napa Building setting up for the dinner*

*Playing the chimes with the Lowes! Thank you!*

*These missionaries put on their new t-shirts right away! Elders Largey, Arrington, Wisemand and Borland*

And the feeding of missionaries didn’t end there. We later welcomed the San Rafael and Santa Rosa Zones on Friday and Saturday for pizza and a Christmas movie. They wore their new t-shirts and we got some fun photos.