Massillon Temple Trip
submitted by Sister Dawn Varner
Under the direction of Bishop Fowler, our ward has committed to “Prepare to get to the temple with S.P.E.E.D.” (Spiritually, Physically, and Emotionally Every Day). The youth of our ward took that challenge seriously and decided to plan a bus trip to the Palmyra Temple. The youth themselves did most of the details and organizing. Before the trip, two YM/YW activity nights were spent helping the youth access and print out temple cards to take to the temple. Adults were also invited to help fill the bus seats, bringing their own names for temple work.
Then, at 7:30 a.m. on the frigid morning of February 26, 25 youth and 27 adults boarded a bus for a five-hour road trip to Palmyra.
Our first stop was the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center, where we learned about the Palmyra area, watched a film, and examined copies of the Book of Mormon in languages we didn’t even know existed! From there, we rode a short distance to the Palmyra Temple. Some of the adults went to an endowment session. The youth and remaining adults were divided into two groups. One group did baptisms while the other group toured the Joseph Smith Log Cabin. These groups then switched, so all the youth had a chance to do baptisms and visit the cabin.
Afterward, we rode to the nearby Stake Center, where we feasted on pizza!
Our time at the temple yielded 135 proxy baptisms and 15 proxy endowments. We arrived back at the Massillon meetinghouse by midnight – tired but wonderfully fulfilled.
Akron Ohio Stake News 