Living Under the Bubble!

5 May 2018 

We have now lived in Salt Lake City for a month.   It surely is a different world, maybe not in a good way for non-believers but for this transplanted now deeply-rooted LDS girl,  it is spectacularly wonderful and different.  I have heard many say that "we" in the Church live in a bubble.    I used to take offense to that but that is no longer the case because "they" are right.   There is this marvelous and welcomed bubble that hoovers over the Church Headquarters and Temple Square

in downtown Salt Lake City.  

Those that are negatively judging the bubble say it is a place where we are shielded and protected from all realities.   Those outside of the bubble claim we are foolish, naive, and in a state of denial about the world around us.   They have surmised we would not know how to take care of ourselves outside of this protective bubble.  They imply that the bubble makes us ignorant or unaware.    That could be true..... but I have found "The Bubble"  to have the most delightful and redeeming characteristics!  

Living in the Bubble in Salt Lake City is a pretty terrific life!   Everywhere I go I am reminded of the Prophet Joseph Smith....

It reminds me of the debt of gratitude I owe him for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth.   We frequent the Joseph Smith Memorial Building weekly.   There's not a time goes by that when I walk past one of these stately monuments that in my heart I don't say, "Thank you for your valor and courage".  

There are some days that I clearly feel the watchful eye of President Brigham Young and many other prophets that have walked the courtyards that we now have the privilege of strolling through.  Their watchful eyes and grandeur are still present.    Every Sunday we meet in the Empire Room in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and I marvel at the workmanship that it took to create such beauty. 

I love living in the Bubble!   Every Sunday morning (since our Sacrament Service begins at 1pm) we have been walking over to the Tabernacle on Temple Square to hear the broadcast of  Music and the Spoken Word live.    We listen to the Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra on Temple Square blend their talents in to a heavenly harmony that is hard to describe.   

I had a choice experience one Sunday morning while at the Tabernacle listening to the choir practice before the performance.   You see all sorts of visitors from all over the world on these mornings.  An Hispanic middle aged woman and her friend were sitting behind us.   I felt a tap on my shoulder.   In her best English (it was pretty good English) she said to me, "You have a most beautiful Church here!"  I replied, "Thank you.  It is magnificent, isn't it?"   Our conversation then began.   She and many others were there that morning from Florida attending a convention of some sort.   They were visiting Temple Square on their last day.   She loved Salt Lake City.   She was leaving bright and early Monday morning.   I asked if she had a Book of Mormon.  She had no idea what that was.   I knew I needed to find a Book of Mormon for her.   One of the concert missionary-ushers told me where I could find a Book of Mormon.   I was on the hunt and was determined to find one for my new found friend.    I didn't even know her name!  I could only find a Book of Mormon in English but there was some extra Spanish Pass-along cards and a Spanish Family Proclamation.   I grabbed it all and ran to get back to my seat before the performance began.   I gave it to her and told her if she would call the number on the Pass-along card that she could get a book in Spanish.   She agreed.   As the performance ended and we said our Good-byes she handed me her Music and the Spoken Word program which had her name, address, and phone number on it.     Her name was Georgina.  The next week I took her name back to Temple Square to give it to the missionaries in hopes that they will follow up on my new found friend Georgina.   I'll never know what happens with Georgina but I hope that while she was in "The Bubble" for that day she felt something different from the world.  

We begin each day/work with a devotional at 7:30am.   How many work places do you know that begins with a spiritual thought and prayer?  (With exception to those of my friends that work in the Temple).    As we walk to the Church Office Building we see thousands of people doing the same thing... dashing about to get to their own assignments.  One sister likened it to the Spirit World where she imagined everyone was scurrying to and fro to do the Lord's work.  Everyone seemingly having the same goal.... to do your part in building the Kingdom of God.    This is exactly what living under the bubble in Salt Lake City is like.  I love the Bubble!  And I love my new friends, Sister MacDonald from Lethbridge (left) and Sister Bushman (center) from Arizona that I "scurry about" with each day on the 28th floor in the Interpretation Dept.

The Bubble does not only exist in Salt Lake City on Temple Square.    It surrounds our Temples, our Chapels, and it should embrace our homes.   I pray that my grandchildren can feel that "bubble protection" in their homes.   I pray that their homes will be a sanctuary from the world.   It is my prayer that those sweet children can feel love from family and friends (from either side of the veil) each day as they cross the Bubble's threshold.   

There is an excitement in the air as President Russell M. Nelson's invitation to live a "higher" standard, a "better life" has brought  new changes into the Church.   Not unlike the ancient followers of Jesus' time, the adults of the Church are asked to live a higher law, a more perfect law of "ministering" just as we were this past month.   This time the youth are included in that invitation.   Old programs, that have served everyone well, are now being improved upon and the standard will be lifted.   I recall when the Young Women's Personal Progress Program was introduced and it was obvious that our Young Women were going to leap forward with this new program.   And here we again..... on the edge of the platform, toed to the line many ready to utter the words, "Mother (Father) may I...take one giant leap forward"!   There will be many that will stay toed to that line waiting to see what happens when we let go of the familiar and protecting hand of Home/Visiting Teaching, YW Personal Progress Program, and the Boy Scouts program.  President Nelson has give us all a hardy, "Yes, you may".    Many will have to go back to the "line" and hold out your hand to help others take that leap.  May we all be prepared to do that.

With all these changes comes a multitude of work for our interpreters.   ALL the changes and new training videos need to be interpreted into new languages so that the gospel is elevated in all countries.   The new Ministering Videos have been interpreted into 50 languages thus far.   All of this was done within a month of the Prophet's announcement.  I think the hustle and bustle of the Church Office Building has also enlarged due to the Lord's urgency of going forward with this higher law.  

All this takes place under The Bubble where there doesn't seem to be so many "bubble bursters"!  I love living under The Bubble!