BLOG 51, SEP 25-OCT 1, 2023
BERN SWITZERLAND TEMPLE TRIP & SIGHT SEEING
Tuesday morning, we took a
lovely drive to Bern Switzerland for a two-and-a-half-day trip to the temple.
We were given permission to travel the 3.5 hours to this temple by our mission
president, since it’s slightly outside of our mission boundary.
We were so grateful for
this amazing opportunity to attend the temple and to be in the very temple where
my parents served in 2003, shortly after their mission in Lyon France.
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| Bern Switzerland Temple September 2023 |
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| Bern Switzerland Temple - My parents, Elder and Sister Wood and the Pierre Brender's daughter and new spouse sometime in 2003-2004. |
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| Bern Switzerland Temple - 20 years later after my parents |
At the time we arrived it
was too early to go to the distribution center and check in to temple housing,
so we visited Old Town in Bern.
Old Town is a beautiful,
quaint village founded in 1192, built on a narrow hill bordered on three sides
by the river Aare, its compact layout has remained essentially unchanged since
its construction during the twelfth to the fifteenth century, which acted like
a natural fortress.
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| Bern Switzerland Aerial View of Old Town |
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| Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Berne Old Town |
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| Bern Old Town Square |
Bern Minster (Münster) Cathedral
This cathedral is a Swiss reformed cathedral, built in the Gothic style. Construction started in 1421, but the tower (100.6 m) was constructed in 1893. This was, at the time, the tallest cathedral in Switzerland and a cultural property of national significance.
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| Bern Minster Cathedral started construction in 1421. |
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| Organ |
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| Steve said the chairs were not comfortable. |
This clock tower first started out as a fortified guard tower, then a prison and lookout and fire observation tower, and finally a clock tower. After the devastating fire of 1405, the structure was rebuilt and given a new identity, known as the Zytglogge (Clock Tower).
Right before the clock strikes on the hour, the one-of-a-kind performance happens, where mechanical figures, including a parade of bears, a jester, a golden rooster and Chronos, dances around briefly, and the golden man on top, chimes the bell for each hour. It is run by medieval clockwork mechanisms and has thick stone walls and massive wooden beams. We never went inside, but it was fascinating to watch it happen from the outside, though it was much too short.
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| Moving Clock Tower (Zytglogge) just before each hour, in Old Town |
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| The figures on the right move around briefly and will draw crowds from all over the world to watch. |
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| The golden man rings the bell on the hour for every hour it is. |
Though we had seen this
temple once before in 1990, we have also seen photos of when my parents served
there 20 years ago. It was a beautiful sight for me.
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| Bern Switzerland Temple 2023, just as we entered the road, Steve stopped and knew I'd want a picture. He knows me well! |
Distribution Center
I was so grateful to have
the opportunity on the premises of the temple grounds, to go to the
Distribution Center for needed clothing items.
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| On the main floor is the Distribution Center and the other three floors are apartments, where my parents lived while on their mission. I was told they are beautiful and spacious. They no longer have missionaries who serve there, so couples who come for several months at a time to serve are able to stay there for free. |
Check in - Temple Patron Housing
It was finally time for
us to check in to the patron housing, which by the way is free! We were so
grateful for our stay for two nights. It was not the Ritz, but it worked
beautifully, with a community kitchen in the basement for all the patrons
staying in the patron housing.
I'm amazed I never took
photos, but it was very small, but sufficient with two small twin beds, small
closet, and lockers and small shower, sink and toilet.
While putting our items
in the kitchen, Steve took a quick stroll around the temple. On his way back,
he ran into our dear friends, Jean Michel and Béatrice Gaillard, who were
longtime friends of my parents from my parent’s mission in Lyon, but they now live
in Dijon, France (which is part of our mission). He called me to come out to
see who he ran into.
Many years ago, they came to
the states to visit my parents and us, more than once. They are such good and
faithful people, whom we have grown to love. They also came to Paris to visit
us during our mission there.
They live in Dijon,
France, which is in our mission, and I had just sent them a text earlier letting
them know we would love to visit them since we only have 6 months left. They
had not yet seen that text yet.
We had a lovely visit
with them and then we fixed and ate our dinner.
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| Jean Michel and Béatrice Gaillard |
Wednesday temple
On Wednesday we started
with a beautiful sealing session (in French) and then an endowment session that
was in German, while wearing our headsets for translation into English. It was
beautiful, inspiring and peaceful. How we love the temple. As I went through
the veil, the sister presenting me, was speaking German, the man receiving me
spoke in French and I was speaking in English. It all worked and was so
glorious.
When my parents served in
this temple 20 years ago, my father had memorized all necessary ordinances in 5
languages and my mother learned them in 4 languages. I couldn’t help but think
of them fondly throughout our time in the temple.
They had served
faithfully and loved their time in the Bern temple. We had also been shown
where my parents lived at the time of their service. We were told that they
were very beautiful and comfortable apartments above the Distribution Center.
Wednesday Visit Bern Bear Park
After our Wednesday temple experience, we left for the Bern Bear Park. We had visited this spot once before, 33 ½ years ago when I was 5 months pregnant with Austin, while Steve and I traveled to Europe, also visiting the temple, though sadly the temple was closed for cleaning at the time.
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| Bern Bear Park |
We also went down to the river and then up back over the bridge and little into Old Town again. There was a shop who made cellos we walked into.
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| View from up above the Bear Park - looking into Old Town |
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| We rode an open glass elevator to the water area. |
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| Old Town just off of Bear Park |
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| Cello Luthier |
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| Taken from the bridge near the Bern Bear Park |
Thursday second temple day
Thursday, we started with
a beautiful experience doing initiatory ordinances. One of the names of a woman
I went through for, was born about 1130 from Alsace, France. Her name is
Clementia de B. I have never done temple work for someone born that long ago. I
believe she was truly rejoicing. I only wish I could have done the rest of her ordinances.
Following, we did another
endowment session, which was in French this time, but we still listened in
English, to make sure we understood the beautiful revisions.
We were grateful that our session was with the Jean Michel and Béatrice Gaillard and enjoyed a lovely visit with them afterwards. They are such tender and kind people, who are faithful in every way.
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| We had just finished a session together and were saying our goodbyes to the Gaillards. They are the most kind, tender and loving people. |
Jean Michel and Béatrice shared a story
of my parents in Lyon
They shared with me how they first met my parents, something
that I either didn’t remember or did not know. While my parents were serving in
Lyon, near the last 6 months of my parent’s mission, my dad had been called as
a Branch President of the Chalon Branch (1 ½ hours away), which we know very well
and love. This is where the Gaillards went to church and then became friends with our parents. Later they moved to Dijon, which was part of the
stake at the time, but not now. Our dear friend, Pierre Brenders, the first
Stake President in Lyon, also dear friends with my parents, is who called my
dad. It was a bit of history from a part of this mission, we loved
knowing, since that branch has been a small and struggling branch for a long
time, but it’s still standing.
Return
to Lyon
Having already packed all
our bags into our car before our temple time, after our temple sessions we came
to the patron kitchen to eat our meals and then completely pack our remaining
food to head back to Lyon.
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| Patron Housing kitchen, just one side, with a large counter in the center and the same set up on the other side. |
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| Eating area in the kitchen. |
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| Brother and Sister Demolderer from the Frankfurt Area Office. He's French, she's American and between the two of them, they speak 3 languages fluently. They were delightful to visit with. |
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| The Swiss Alps mountains on our way driving home. |
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| Thoune Lake in Alstadt |
CONFERENCE WEEKEND – BEST TIME OF THE
YEAR!
The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints look forward to this time twice a year, more than almost anything else, where we receive inspired direction and guidance from our prophets and apostles and other church leaders. It is broadcast throughout the world in 94 languages, and in 175 countries and territories.
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| Tabernacle choir during conference |
Every day I listen to
several talks from the previous conference on my EarPods. It seems that no
matter how often I listen to each of the conference talks, their lessons are always
current and helpful for whatever is going on in my life and mission, or that of
our family. Our lives are always growing and going through varied challenges, and
the blessings and insights are always so pertinent.
Brief Notes –
- “They of the last wagon” – needing to recognize those who quietly go about doing so much good with no or little recognition. What can I also do to recognize those who are lonely, who need my love?
- Covenants are the shape of God’s embrace.
- Be more valiant and not lukewarm.
- Recognize those who love and serve their neighbors and collaborate with others to serve and be more compassionate.
- Personal blessings are brought from paying our tithes.
- Prayer and tithing are not transactional, they are personal.
- Judge Less – Love More.
- You will never be happier than you are grateful.
- Overcome the world by trusting God.
- President Ballard’s beautiful testimony honoring the Prophet Joseph Smith, all by heart, as his sight is rapidly fading.
- Christ invites us to walk with Him.
- The importance of our using the full name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with purposefulness, will strengthen us and our devotion to Him.
- Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal.
- Choose the Lord to help us solve our problems.
- Strive to always have the Spirit of the Holy Ghost with us.
- ...- (Chinese morse code for, I love you)!
- THINK CELESTIAL
LOCKED OUT OF OUR APARTMENT WITH MISSIONARIES
FOR DINNER, GENERAL CONFERENCE AND ALL IS WELL
Because we are 8 hours
different from Utah, our conference sessions are very delayed and if we are
strong, we can stay up till midnight to watch the last Sunday session, in which
new temples are usually announced.
This Sunday, we had
invited 4 missionary sisters for dinner and to watch conference afterwards. Sisters
Blake, Miner, Ferrari and Stewart were with us for an eventful time and mishap,
but all went well in the end. We enjoyed these sisters so much and the beautiful
spirit they brought with them.
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| Sisters Ferrari, Miner, Stewart and Blake in the back |
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| Sisters Miner and Blake |
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| Sisters Ferrari and Stewart |
How in the world did this happen! The norm for
us is as soon as our guest arrives, we go to the landing of our apartment
building, and take photos of our guests (the light is better). When leaving, we
ALWAYS bring at least one set of our keys with us. As soon as we had taken all
the photos, we were about ready to go back to our apartment to start eating.
Everything was being kept warm in the oven or cool in the fridge, but one pot
was heating on low on the stove. Steve then looked at me with a bit of
franticness and told me we had no keys to get back into our apartment as it
always locks when we leave. We all quickly began to start calling anyone who
might be near the office where there is an extra set, just for this very reason.
Only the Office Elders and the Office Senior couples have access to the office.
The sisters found one set
of missionaries (office Elders) who started to leave quickly where they were and
then finally Elder McNevin returned our call after a while, and he met up with
the Elders who were already in the office. Elder McNevin was handed the keys and on his electric scooter, ran it over
to us, which was only a 5-7 minute ride. In 45 minutes, we were finally back
in our apartment and amazingly, the plum sauce on the stove had not burned
and everything else was fine.
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| Elder Mike McNevin saved the day with bringing an extra set of keys to open our door. |
CHILDREN/GRAND CHILDREN/FAMILY MOMENTS
Birthdays this week
Ellie Packer –
12th birthday, such a sweet, kind and thoughtful girl. We love you
Ellie and are so grateful for the love you bring to others and that you are
enjoying Young Women.
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| Ellie Packer - 12 Birthday |
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| Jacob Packer's 15th Birthday |
Sister Maliyah Duckworth missionary emails
thoughts
“The flight to San
José was actually so fun!! Sister Tew and I were on the flight with 28 other
missionaries from the mtc, headed to our mission, and we were 2 of 5 sisters
haha! It was honestly so cool being on a flight with so many missionaries
though. Most of us had seats in the same area of the plane so we got to play
gofish with some of the elders haha. A good distraction for the nerves.
I spoke in church on my
first Sunday here!! nice to have that out of the way. We got asked the night
before, but being at the historic sites made that last minuet talk/testimony
okay because all I had to do was introduce myself, talk about the lessons
learned in liberty jail, share some scriptures, and I was done!! first talk I
didn't have to write down word for word hahaha.
I've been reaffirmed again and again since being here, that God knows what He's doing! I am doing His work, He won't let me fail and He won't let me do it alone. He's been by side during all my lonely moments, all my sad moments, all my hard moments, and all my good moments! I've felt Him use me, I've seen His hand every day, and have already noticed myself saying things while teaching in times when I had no idea what to say! "I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..." (alma 26:12) I know this last year of my mission won't be easy, but I can do all things through Christ!! I know I'm gonna miss this, so I'm trying to just soak up every moment, be present, learn what God is trying to teach me in any and every situation, and share about the joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone I can!”
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| Sister Lewis, Maliyah, Sister and President Larsen for the California San José Mission. |
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| Sister Lewis and Maliyah - new companions in San José |
Elder Kyson Duckworth - missionary emails thoughts
“This week we've been
teaching a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and forgiveness too. Not
sure if there was a purpose behind it or if it was just by chance, but we have.
And I found this quote through a friend about forgiveness that I really like
and want to share with you here;
"My favorite
definition of Forgiveness is Giving up all hope for a better past."
You might have had to
read that a couple of times to understand it like I had to, but even though it’s
so short it’s so profound. A great majority of people tend to linger on the
things that have happened in the past. I know I have before.
One of the ways I like to
think about the Atonement is having the opportunity to completely forget about
what's happened in the past and strive for a better future. Christ gives us the
chance to take our sorrows/burdens and turn them into hope and joy for a better
future. As Elder Dale G. Renlund put it...
"God cares a lot
more about who we are and who we are becoming than about who we once
were."
I know that the power of
the Atonement is real. Christ suffered it so he could feel your individual pain
and know how to help you with exactness all along your path of life. When you
turn to his atonement with faith in Him, He will bring peace to your life and
hope for a better future.”
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| Brazilian dogs, who I guess sleep a lot! |
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| Missionaries who love to eat! |
GOSPEL STUDY REVIEW
Book of Mormon
- Our faith is crucial in these latter days.
- There is strength in the gospel when like-minded members stand strong together, lifting and comforting one another in their faith and commitment to Christ and the gospel, and helping to lift others along the way.
- How do we stand strong together? We follow the prophet, unite in faith and prayer, and be vigilant in teaching our children.
- We will be filled with joy when we keep a continual repentant heart.
- Make a record of our faithful experiences.
- Know our Savior, Jesus Christ on a daily basis and be His light to others.
- Prosperity, kept in check, is fine, as long as we keep focused on the Savior and helping others and avoid pride and other areas of dissension.
- Do not fear to testify of Jesus Christ.
Come Follow Me
- We are an heir to the blessings promised to Abraham.
- We’ve been given great blessings through the Abrahamic covenant.
- The redemption of Christ is an eternal act that has been in place and in effect before the actual Atonement ever took place. Thus it is an eternal and continuous Atonement.
- Qualities of the fruits of the Sirit are goal markers for how I am doing, such as…Love . Joy . Peace . Long Suffering . Gentleness . Goodness . Faith . Meekness . Temperance.
- Truths are taught when we are in caught up by the Holy Ghost – this happens when we least expect it and revelations and truths come to us through the Holy Ghost in a peaceful and beautiful declaration.
- We act in faith because of our trust in Him.
- There is a mutually obligated covenant to help others as Christ helps us.
- We are all “one” in Christ. That does not mean that we are all the same, but that we are unified in Christ.
- Some believed there was not a need for a Savior, but Paul taught the true doctrine of Jesus Christ and that the Law of Moses was a preparatory law to usher in the Savior and a higher law. We will not be saved by obedience to the law alone, but by the grace of the Savior.
- Paul was faithful during all of his hardships.
Conclusion:
We are extremely grateful and blessed for this weekend of General Conference. All the inspired talks, the beautiful and uplifting music and the spirit felt will sustain us for the next 6 months, as we continue to review and study what was shared. We missed President Nelson and Elder Holland physical presence there, while both were recovering with health issues. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of them. We pray that you are feeling the Lord’s love and direction in your life.
With all our love,
Elder et Sœur
Packer Grandpère et Mémé
801-336-6153
(Steve’s)
801-564-1332
(Renée’s)
Address below: Please include the name and address as stated.
Les Missionaires – PACKERS
59 rue Bossuet
69006 Lyon FRANCE
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