CCK Ward at Taipei Temple 2015
Waiting to serve in the Taipei temple 2015
Bishop Sempio and family
The planning for the 2015 Choa Chu Kang temple trip in mid-December began as early as January 2015 with support from the Bishopric, all of whom went. With the early planning, a total of 50, (including members, and a few non-member spouses) joined this temple trip. Owing to the large numbers, the patron housing was able to accommodate 22 members, while the rest stayed at hotels nearby.
Brother Gordon Foo meticulously scheduled ordinance sessions for every temple-attending youth and adult, and as a result, we were able to provide 69 proxies for initiatories, 80 for baptisms and confirmations, 52 for sealings, and 134 for endowment sessions over three days. Most of these ordinances were performed for family files of ward members. We were very well taken care of by the temple President and Matron – President and Sister Lu - and all ordinance workers in the temple. At a fireside on Wednesday afternoon, President and Sister Lu, and the previous temple president, Brother Philip He, spoke and gave us some very wise counsel.
Unlike previous temple trips, this time we focused on performing as many ordinances as possible, almost all day, from Tuesday to Thursday, and that was followed by a whole-day sightseeing trip on Friday. This saved valuable travel time which was put to good use in the temple. As a result, patrons were able to take time in the temple to feel and enjoy the spirit of temple worship, with no rush each day to leave and go for sightseeing trips in the afternoon.
Overall, it was a real spiritual experience for all who entered the House of the Lord, and indeed a special experience too for their non-member spouses.
The following are some thoughts shared by those who went:
Regene Cheong - 'Although I have been to the temple many times and have submitted relatives' names for temple ordinances, this is the first time that I was the proxy for my relatives. This round is for my auntie. My eyes were 'opened' as I saw my auntie when I was going through the initiatory for her. I saw her holding my uncle's hand but their radiance was different. My uncle had his temple ordinances completed a few years ago. Happiness was what I felt.
Regene Cheong Although I have been to the temple many times and have submitted relatives' names for temple ordinances, this is the first time that I was the proxy for my relatives. This round is for my auntie. My eyes were 'opened' as I saw my auntie when I was going through the initiatory for her. I saw her holding my uncle's hand but their radiance was different. My uncle had his temple ordinances completed a few years ago. Happiness was what I felt.My understanding also deepened this time when I was going through the endowment session with the new video. Although I still have some questions, many of them were answered through this session.'
My understanding also deepened this time when I was going through the endowment session with the new video. Although I still have some questions, many of them were answered through this session.'Helen Chan - “For the first time after a long while my husband agreed to join us on the Taiwan Temple trip. He and I were a bit apprehensive for different reasons. For him, he would be among church members. As for me, I would be leaving him alone while I attended the sessions. But all went well. He enjoyed the company and was never bored being alone. I am glad that I had followed the advice from Proverb 3:5 – ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.’ This trip has added another drop of oil into my lamp.”
Helen Chan For the first time after a long while my husband agreed to join us on the Taiwan Temple trip. He and I were a bit apprehensive for different reasons. For him, he would be among church members. As for me, I would be leaving him alone while I attended the sessions. But all went well. He enjoyed the company and was never bored being alone. I am glad that I had followed the advice from Proverb 3:5 – ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.’ This trip has added another drop of oil into my lamp.”Kenneth Lee - “It was a very special temple visit as I attended the temple with my brothers, Michael and John who would be moving on with their lives. Michael, who just returned from his mission, will be furthering his studies abroad, while John will be going for his National Service for two years. So we knew it would be a long while before we have another temple visit together.
Kenneth Lee It was a very special temple visit as I attended the temple with my brothers, Michael and John who would be moving on with their lives. Michael, who just returned from his mission, will be furthering his studies abroad, while John will be going for his National Service for two years. So we knew it would be a long while before we have another temple visit together.In addition, I felt immense peace and learnt much of god's plan for His children. I'm so grateful for temple.'
In addition, I felt immense peace and learnt much of god's plan for His children. I'm so grateful for temple.'Jaceline Lee - “The temple trip was meaningful for me because I had the opportunity to perform ordinances for my maternal grandparents by sealing them together and also to seal my uncle to them. Not only that, but this was one of the temple trips where I had no desire to get angry or upset although part of the itinerary had been disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances. Overall, it was a spiritual temple trip for me.”
Jaceline Lee he temple trip was meaningful for me because I had the opportunity to perform ordinances for my maternal grandparents by sealing them together and also to seal my uncle to them. Not only that, but this was one of the temple trips where I had no desire to get angry or upset although part of the itinerary had been disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances. Overall, it was a spiritual temple trip for me.”Kareen Sham - “Ward year-end temple trip is a ‘must’ to join! My children, Nicole and Myra, and I look forward to the temple trip as a ward each year. We enjoy the companionship of the members. The temple trip always strengthens us individually and our family as a whole. We are ever conscious of each other in our words and actions when we are together with the members. It helps us to be more Christlike. We look forward to 2016 year-end ward temple trip with anticipation!”
Kareen Sham Ward year-end temple trip is a ‘must’ to join! My children, Nicole and Myra, and I look forward to the temple trip as a ward each year. We enjoy the companionship of the members. The temple trip always strengthens us individually and our family as a whole. We are ever conscious of each other in our words and actions when we are together with the members. It helps us to be more Christlike. We look forward to 2016 year-end ward temple trip with anticipation!”Gordon and Lily Foo - “Going to the Lord’s House to do temple work has been a priority for many of us. It’s a marvelous feeling of togetherness to see our young and old members of the ward united in reverence, duty and anxiously engaged in doing the Lord’s work. There is joy and happiness in doing temple work. A temple is also a retreat from the rigors of life, a place of prayer and meditation. It provides us an opportunity to receive inner peace, inspiration, personal guidance, and even solutions to the problems faced in daily living.”
Gordon and Lily Foo “Going to the Lord’s House to do temple work has been a priority for many of us. It’s a marvelous feeling of togetherness to see our young and old members of the ward united in reverence, duty and anxiously engaged in doing the Lord’s work. There is joy and happiness in doing temple work. A temple is also a retreat from the rigors of life, a place of prayer and meditation. It provides us an opportunity to receive inner peace, inspiration, personal guidance, and even solutions to the problems faced in daily living.”Kelly Ang - “I feel really great going to the temple. Since it was the first time I didn’t know what to expect, but because I heard many temple stories, I was pretty excited. It was wonderful to perform ordinances for my ancestors. When I saw the ordinance cards from other church members, it made me want to do more family history. Some dates of the ancestors went back to a few hundred years AD. I was also glad that my dad was able get a peek of the temple. I don’t know if he felt the spirit but it truly was really a blessing that my family was able to visit the temple. This time was a bit rushed due to my family plans. However, the next temple visit, I know, will be better.”
Kelly Ang “I feel really great going to the temple. Since it was the first time I didn’t know what to expect, but because I heard many temple stories, I was pretty excited. It was wonderful to perform ordinances for my ancestors. When I saw the ordinance cards from other church members, it made me want to do more family history. Some dates of the ancestors went back to a few hundred years AD. I was also glad that my dad was able get a peek of the temple. I don’t know if he felt the spirit but it truly was really a blessing that my family was able to visit the temple. This time was a bit rushed due to my family plans. However, the next temple visit, I know, will be better.”Shirley Ang - “I am grateful that I could go to the temple. Since it was my first time, I was curious about what the temple would look like inside. It is indeed a beautiful place. Although it was kind of a rush, I am glad that I could do some ordinances. I remember the time when I did baptisms for the dead, I felt a sense of peace and it felt great. It made me realize that I can help the Lord in His work. I am thankful for the opportunity!”
Shirley Ang “I am grateful that I could go to the temple. Since it was my first time, I was curious about what the temple would look like inside. It is indeed a beautiful place. Although it was kind of a rush, I am glad that I could do some ordinances. I remember the time when I did baptisms for the dead, I felt a sense of peace and it felt great. It made me realize that I can help the Lord in His work. I am thankful for the opportunity!”Daniel Soh - “Our family decided to go with the ward to serve in the Taiwan Taipei Temple. Having just been there in June last year to be with our missionary daughter as she received her endowment, it was a feeling of returning home. As soon as I saw the Angel Moroni, an overwhelming feeling of peace wrapped around me like a warm blanket. We are grateful that the temple workers have made great efforts to help us perform each ordinance there. It was good to be able to do for those who cannot, and to see how much the Lord loves each child. This restored gospel truly shows us that all of God’s children can receive all the saving ordinances necessary for us to return back to his presence in the temple. I felt humbled to be able to help His children to receive these ordinances.”
Daniel Soh “Our family decided to go with the ward to serve in the Taiwan Taipei Temple. Having just been there in June last year to be with our missionary daughter as she received her endowment, it was a feeling of returning home. As soon as I saw the Angel Moroni, an overwhelming feeling of peace wrapped around me like a warm blanket. We are grateful that the temple workers have made great efforts to help us perform each ordinance there. It was good to be able to do for those who cannot, and to see how much the Lord loves each child. This restored gospel truly shows us that all of God’s children can receive all the saving ordinances necessary for us to return back to his presence in the temple. I felt humbled to be able to help His children to receive these ordinances.”Huang Bee Tai - “I have always believed it is a privilege and blessing to go to the temple. I know that my ancestors will be blessed when I see their temple work done, and I am blessed as well to learn humility in the temple.“
Huang Bee Tai “I have always believed it is a privilege and blessing to go to the temple. I know that my ancestors will be blessed when I see their temple work done, and I am blessed as well to learn humility in the temple.“Bishop Gremar Sempio - “It is the first time that my family and I joined a Ward temple trip and it’s our visit to Taipei Taiwan Temple. Likewise, it’s our first visit to Taipei City as a family. It’s the first time also for my two daughters; Abish and Ashley joined the youth and performed baptism ordinances inside the temple. I witnessed how happy they were while performing baptism ordinances on behalf of deceased persons. Even though they don’t really know the persons, I felt that they understood the importance of what they were doing, which was, to save souls. We have had wonderful and spiritual experiences from this temple trip. My family and I enjoyed the whole temple worship trip and will definitely join the next temple trip next year.”
Bishop Gremar Sempio It is the first time that my family and I joined a Ward temple trip and it’s our visit to Taipei Taiwan Temple. Likewise, it’s our first visit to Taipei City as a family. It’s the first time also for my two daughters; Abish and Ashley joined the youth and performed baptism ordinances inside the temple. I witnessed how happy they were while performing baptism ordinances on behalf of deceased persons. Even though they don’t really know the persons, I felt that they understood the importance of what they were doing, which was, to save souls. We have had wonderful and spiritual experiences from this temple trip. My family and I enjoyed the whole temple worship trip and will definitely join the next temple trip next year.”