Well, my dear brothers and sisters, it has now been some three plus months since we were together for Mom's funeral, and I have been feeling a strong urge to try to start something that will help to keep the ties strong that bound us together when Mom & Dad were with us.

PLEASE DON'T FAINT!

I know, this has been too long coming, but it is here and I'm gonna do it!

Marene & I are in a motel in Nauvoo, IL and have just had one of the sweetest experiences of my life. We finally got to be in a temple endowment session in this beautiful re-creation of the temple wherein, on January 22nd 1846 Chester Snyder received his temple endowment (The first in our family's line).

It's something that I have wanted to be able to do ever since the temple's rebuilding was announced. We have been here three times and we've never been able to get a time when the temple was open when we were able to be here. Finally!

I know that it is not the same as doing his work for him, but that's not necessary. He is the one who started it all for us.

I have often wondered, since I realized that the significance of that date, what it must have been like in those dark hard days of January, struggling to get the temple finished, and struggling at the same time to get ready to leave it all behind in the hands of enemies sworn to destroy it all. Was he one of those whose work was completed in the wee hours of the morning when the temple was open around the clock?

Being here has been like being able to hold his hand, and to feel a little closer to my great - great grandpa.. This really does turn the hearts of the children to their fathers.

September 7th 2013