Sister Dalton and I have had the opportunity to teach several families the Temple Preparation lessons. These dear couples have brought mush joy and tender feelings to our hearts. The temple is what we are here for, to prepare as many as possible to enter those hallowed halls worthily and ready to sup at the table with our dear Savior. One such couple is the Kesse family from Asunafo. Solomon is a counselor in the Branch Presidency while Charity is the Relief Society secretary. They have two children, Ernest- 5 and Dede- 2. The Kesses were traditionally married 10 years ago and were baptized into the Church 2004. They, like most folks here, have not felt the need of the temple consecrations in their lives until recently. We approached them about coming to their home and sharing our testimonies of Family History work, the temple, and the blessings one welcomes into their live through these gifts. They readily welcomed us and we have a very special relationship with their family. We have laughed with them, baked cookies over their fire, eaten goat stew with Coco Yam, and cried with them as we have taught lessons of the temple.
During our last visit we appraised the wonderful Family History work Brother Kesse had completed for his ancestors, but noticed Charity’s work had not been completed. Sister Dalton began by setting with her one afternoon and filling out a 4 generation group sheet. Many of the names she did not know but her father was still alive and he could fill in some of the blanks. So off to a small village named Abrinian to find father for names and dates of deceased family members. It was a tender time for Charity, Sister Dalton and her father. Armed with names of family members, the Kesse’s could now prepare to go to the temple and preform baptisms with family files. In a review of the family’s files, we learned that Solomon and Charity had lost a son who was only nine months old to some type of illness. It happened some 8 years ago so no one knew of this family tragedy. It was a tender moment when we sat together around a small cook pot of stew. I noticed that Charity was sorrowful and so was Solomon as they spoke of the illness they never dreamed would take their sons life. Oh, how my heart ached for their earthly loss. It was at that very moment I felt prompted to stand and walk over to Charity seated on a small stool , and knelt down by her side and gazed upon her bowed head and softly speak those words of comfort that only come from the Holy Ghost whisperings. “Charity, you may ensure your precious son will be wrapped in your loving arms along with your whole family, it is Fathers promise and blessing afforded those who prepare to enter the sacred temple. Will you prepare to walk through the temple doors with your family and be sealed as a family forever? We will escort you and Solomon, Ernest and Dede to the House of the Lord and I promise you your son, Joseph, will be there and you will feel his presence by your side once again.” She raised her head and I witnessed a mothers tears flowing down her cheeks in the dusk of the evening light. “Yes, my elder, yes.”
We will take them to the Accra Temple in April for this most priceless, sacred and blessed moments offered earthly families. Oh how it will bind their little family and their loved ones who have welcomed little Joseph to the side of Father in Heaven. It is the hands of God reaching down from Heaven to hold his most treasured sons and daughters, forever.
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