'Best Investment We Ever Made'

Our Family Travels to the Salt Lake Temple

Written by Marilyn Janice Craft Fox

Shortly after we were baptized, we began making plans to go to the temple to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity. Bill had only been in the insurance business less than a year, and not having a paid vacation being self-employed, we decided to fly out and back in a week rather than drive and take three weeks for the trip. We took every cent we had in the world to make the trip which Bill calls our “eternal investment” ...and he’s always quick to add--the best investment we ever made.

On June 8, 1965 we flew by United Airlines to Chicago, Denver and into Salt Lake. We marveled at the pioneers making that long journey on foot that we did in less than a day. Billy and Susie did very well flying and were Jr Stewardess and Jr Pilot. The Salt Lake Valley was so beautiful as we came down out of the sky to land. Bob and Marian Vance, friends of Boyd Lee, met us at the airport and loaned us their car for the week just as we were signing up for a Hertz rental car for the week. We stayed at Covey’s Motel and were surprised to open one of our suitcases and find it was not ours. The

airlines quickly straightened it out and delivered our suitcase. We walked around Temple Square that evening and were impressed with the beautiful flowers and shrubs.

We arose early on June 9 to go to the temple for our endowments and sealing. Serge and Betty Benson, formerly of the Silver Spring Ward met us with open arms that sunny morning at the temple gate. Jack and Barb Kotyk, our first contact with the church and were baptized with us, of the Capitol Ward--also of the Washington DC Stake--met us also. Billy and Susie were whisked off to the nursery.

Apostle Howard W. Hunter sealed us as a family unit forever. He had just returned from South America and we didn’t know that he was going to do our sealing. But sweet Sister Dorothy Lee had made all the arrangements. At the appropriate moment he breezed into the sealing room. He was a beautiful man with a tremendous spirit and glow. He gave us such a wonderful talk and it was all very moving. Words cannot adequately express the feelings the power of the priesthood join us together eternally. Tears streamed down our faces as we savored every moment of the experience. The children were brought into the room, and looked like angels all dressed in white. Their little eyes just bugged out to look at us and all around the room, but they never said a word. Billy and Susie knelt at the altar and were sealed to us forever and our other children born to us would be born in the covenant. Thus, sealed to us. This was one of the most special days in our life and one that we’ll never, ever forget.

After our day at the temple, we went to Deseret Bookstore and bought about a dozen books with the savings we made on not having to rent a car. We went to the Genealogical Society and also toured the Beehive House which was very lovely and interesting. That evening we went to the Nessens in Bountiful and Jack Kotyk fixed us a delicious chicken barbecue. Saw a beautiful sunset on the Great Salt Lake, and drove part way up the mountain behind Nessens to see all the beautiful lights of the valley sparkling at night.

The next day we went to the temple, to the Primary Childrens Hospital and the Relief Society Headquarters. Took kids swimming at the motel and then the Vances took us out for a Chinese dinner and to the Tabernacle Choir practice. Met Richard P. Conte and saw Alexander Schriener, the organist, also met the organ tuner who took us

through the pipes of the huge tabernacle organ and to the blower.

Saturday, we drove to Brigham Young University at Provo. What a gorgeous campus.

We took a picture of Billy and Susie in front of the ‘Y’ on the mountain and hoped and dreamed that one day they might return there for their education. We picked up Elder Carl Williams, who baptized us, and he stayed with us over the weekend.

Sunday, we got up early and went to the Tabernacle to hear the choir practice from 7-8:30 am before going on the air for the radio/TV broadcast of The Spoken Word with Richard L. Evans. The organ selection was “Oh Perfect Love” which was so appropriate to our having just been sealed--and that it was played at our wedding in the Montrose Presbyterian church. The rest of the music was just beautiful. We met Richard L. Evans after the broadcast and then took a tour of Temple Square. After dinner, we drove up to Logan UT to Serge Benson’s home. Logan is also a lovely town with another beautiful temple. We attended a sacrament meeting at the University Ward.

Monday, we spent time in the temple and were sealed by proxy for Milton and

Mary Catherine Strohm Fox, Bill’s grandparents. Tuesday, Serge took us up the canyon to Bear Lake at about 10,000 feet. It was a beautiful hour ride up to the top where there was still snow and spring was just beginning. Never smelled such clean, clear, crisp air. We toured the Utah State University campus and then drove back to Salt Lake City. Spent the evening with Gary and Sue Palmer of Granger Ward and son of one of our building missionaries in Silver Spring, MD. He is 27 years old and bishop of his ward. They took us to Immigration Canyon and to This is The Place Monument. Also up Little Cottonwood Canyon to where Church records are buried in tunnels under 600 feet of granite. Went to the top of the mountains where there was a ski resort--plenty of snow still there and very cold at 11,000 feet. Clouds covered some of the peaks reminding us of pictures of the Alps. Gary told us of a temple worker in his ward who had been at a meeting in the Salt Lake Temple with President Hugh B. Brown told them how sacred the temple and their work is. To impress this fact, he told them that recently--he couldn’t say when or who was there--that Christ had appeared in the Salt Lake Temple. Being with the Palmers really capped the climax for our whole wonderful week.

Wednesday morning, we had breakfast with Joan Spencer’s folks, the Blackhurst and got a few more books at the bookstore. We flew on a whisper jet to Chicago which was quite bumpy, and then on to Baltimore on a smooth larger jet. Found everything fine at home.

Our week couldn’t have been more perfect, and it was certainly worth the effort and expense to be sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple.