14 October 2010

I’m in the airport once again.

I’m flying to Phoenix again.

The last time I was in Arizona, I shot a wedding at the

Mesa Arizona Temple.

I witnessed the sealing and prepared

Myself for the exit of the couple.

As I stood outside the Temple, two

Men, large in stature rolled up on old restored modified

Bicycle.



It was hot outside, peaking 105 degrees.

They wore white beaters and wanted something.

They walked up the stairs and I centered myself in front of the Temple entrance.

This all happened so natural,

One of them spoke to me and said, “We are catholic, that doesn’t matter to

Us, we need a message, a blessing from God.”

“I’m sorry you can’t enter the temple, but I can help you out.

Wait, right here and I’ll go get someone that can give you a blessing.”

As I turned to go into the House of the Lord, everything seemed to move in

Slow motion, I noticed all these people staring at me as I turned away from the men.

One man had screwdrivers and other tools in his pocket, and a black grab with something inside.

I entered the Temple and approached the desk.


The windows were tinted and the desk clerk could see exactly who waited on the outside, for a message from God.

“Those men need someone who can give them a blessing.” I said.

He responded, “We don’t do that.”

I could not return outside to tell them we can’t do that.


“What should I tell them?” I asked.


“Sister, Let me scan your temple recommend, go do the hall all the way to the end, turn left, head all the way down that hall,

and left again, you’ll see a door, it reads: “Temple President”

So I headed there, in a fast pace manner, mind you my bride and groom are getting ready, primping, putting on the wedding
get up.


So I have two cameras around my neck, and I’m inside the Temple.


I felt as though I had so much authority.

I met the Temple President, told him the same exact story I told the nice guy at the front desk.

Both men were dressed in white shoes, socks, slacks, jackets, dress shirts, ties and hair. Okay the hair was silver of sorts.

The Temple President said, “We can’t go outside in our white clothes, we can’t give those men a blessing.”



I suggested then directing them to the Temple Visitors Center, which he agreed.


I was sorely confused, which means I do not know the proper temple protocol.


And when I write sorely, I mean, I just don’t hold the priesthood and I don’t own white ties and jackets, so this was all just new

to me and if this was new to me, then I am sure Anthony was going to think I was crazy.


The fast pace walking continued and I exited the temple. My bride and groom had yet to exit.

The two men were there, as I approached them, I felt embarrassed.


I didn’t know how to tell them, they came to the wrong place to get an answer from God.


“Hey, so no one here can give you a blessing.”

Anthony looked at me and replied: “ We need a message from God, we need a blessing, YOU GIVE IT TO US.”

“I don’t have the authority to act in God’s name.”


When those words came out of my mouth, the spirit reminded me that those men did not have the full restored knowledge

about authority and power and priesthood endowments.

He replied with something blurry like: “You came out of the Temple, you can do it.”

“You’re right, I can. Come over to the side away from the door, I’ll pay for you.”

Huddled in a small compartment on the exterior of the Temple,

we meet as I asked them for their names:

Anthony and ________. The second name only stayed in my mind long enough for me to pray over it to the Lord.


I asked Heavenly Father to bless the two of them that they would find perfection in Christ as they serve others.

I felt so grateful to pray with them and for them.


The power and authority that many people search for is simply pray, a two-way communication between God and us.


As I concluded the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, followed by Amen, I was received in some type of gangster related hug,

not so much a chest pound because im a girl, but it was a sincere hug, a warm embrace that connected us.

They returned to their low rider bikes and off into the basking desert heat.


I returned to my position as Head/Solo Photographer, when I saw through the tinted window, a tiny Philippine beauty.

My bride and groom were ready. Their sealing was pronounced and they awaited me to get ready.

I entered the Temple one last time and my convert said to me “You are still Sister Hansen!”

There are no words that suffice the way I felt to see one of my converts dressed in shades of white exited the Temple with her eternal companion.


I had spent many glorious weeks teaching her what I knew to be true and now I watched as she led by example and fulfilled the everlasting covenant.


Any time we live in light and truth, it come back to us, to usher us on and remind us what we know to be true.

I can’t wait to get back to the Desert.





1 comments:

Jiggs said...

One of the many reasons why I love you...