Temple Clean

Missions are full of miracles. Some are large. Some are small. We have been teaching some of the daily Accelerated Job Search classes.  Ed, a non-member, took our workshop and is now in this advanced class. After the last class Sister Olson asked if he would be comfortable giving the closing prayer.  Pause.  “ I will after the next class.” He came. He prayed. It was well done! Our boss, Steve, was amazed and said “He never prayed when I asked.”  It’s all in the timing.

Our little children take praying largely for granted. They see the example daily. They practice daily... Adults outside the church usually do not really know how, and especially how to pray publicly. It can be very scary. This was Ed's first time. For him, it is a miracle in communication. Prayer will never be completely the same.  We are grateful!

Maybe this is a miracle (or not -?).   Either way, it is an interesting observation.

President Larry Gelwix is our Mission President. He was an excellent former rugby coach, and learned two things (of many) that are very apparent in his leadership style: love the missionaries and set the standards high for excellence in all things... Obedience is needful for every advancement and victory.

His wife is equally matched with him in these things.

Our missionaries have been given guidelines for all areas of their lives, and one of these is in the cleanliness of their apartments.  Sister Gelwix spear headed this area...They were truly doing their 'best' to be excellent  – truly. Yet, some time ago when the Senior Missionaries checked, there was much to be desired (like dust on the window sills that you could write a message in! ...'' Who saw that?")

 "How clean is clean?" They wondered.

“Ahhh ...Yes. They are young. How do we explain excellence to them - in cleaning???” The term was coined, (by Sister Williams, our mission housing coordinator) ...“TEMPLE CLEAN”. Then they did the “ahhhh... we are closer to understanding!”    All of this is in the Gelwix spirit of love, obedience and excellence.

Sister Olson recently heard of missionaries in another mission that think it is okay to leave dishes in the sink – forever for weeks - and do not have apartment checks... High, clear, standards (in that area) seem to be missing. In the Gelwix mission style – there is a standard and obedience is expected.

Missionaries in the CFM are blessed to be held to these high standards in all areas. The goals or guidelines filter down from the top and through to everyone. These standards – applied to all things- should be a life time practice that will make them great – and fit for an eternal Kingdom. After all, 'cleanliness is next to godliness'.

The standard is to be ...” TEMPLE CLEAN” … in everything we do!  We can be.

This is the check-list the missionaries have. I thought you might be curious. The apartment checks are spontaneous, random and unannounced! There may be a few things my grandkids will have to work on before they go on missions!