Madrid Spain Temple

 Monday, 19 September:

I left Copenhagen early this morning and flew one hour to Brussels. I had a one-hour layover in Brussels and then a two-hour flight to Madrid. Based on what I had read online about the requirement to fill out a COVID-19 vaccination form to gain entry into Spain, I complied with the guidance and upon arrival to Madrid I quickly found out none of it was necessary. The Spanish government needs to update its website.  I simply walked to baggage claim, grabbed my bag, and went to the taxi line. No inspections whatsoever. The taxi driver, however, asked me to put a mask on before entering the vehicle. After a quick 15-minute taxi ride I arrived at the Madrid Temple complex, which is much larger than the small, but intimate Copenhagen Temple complex. The Madrid Temple operates all day long Tuesday through Saturday.

I had a good reminder today. I read Boyd K. Packer's talk from the April 2000 General Conference entitled, "The Cloven Tongues of Fire." That was the first time General Conference was held in the massive, new, beautiful conference center. At the beginning of his talk Elder Packer said this: "Do you think it possible for those of us who are called upon to speak to draw attention away from this wonderful building long enough to focus on the purpose for which it was built? Perhaps it can be done with a parable: A merchant man seeking precious jewels found at last the perfect pearl. He had the finest craftsman carve a superb jewel box and line it with blue velvet. He put his pearl of great price on display so others could share his treasure. He watched as people came to see it. Soon he turned away in sorrow. It was the box they admired, not the pearl."

It was a good reminder for me not to get too caught up in taking pictures of a temple (I love a good picture for my temple calendars!), and to remember "the purpose for which it was built." Do I care more about the superb jewel box (the temple and temple grounds) or the pearl of great price (the teachings/covenants we make) inside? I care about both, but one must be careful not to place too much importance on the former at the expense of the latter.

Erected in 1999

The offices for the Madrid Spain Mission are located on the 4th floor of the temple housing building. I talked to a missionary from Hawaii, another from Sweden, and a few from Utah. One Elder, from Salt Lake City, after we chatted for a few minutes asked about my age. I told him I'm 43 years old. "Whoa," came the reply, "You're my Dad's age! I never would have guessed you're 43." What is age but a number. I'm a spring chicken in God's time. 

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History of the Church in Spain. My dear Mother served her mission in Spain from 1973-1975.

Translation: The first missionaries sent to Spain after the adoption of the Religious Liberty Law and the dedication of Spain for the preaching of the gospel (from left to right): Elder Clark Hinckley, and you can read the rest of the names. 😁 I met Clark Hinckley (President Hinckley's son) when Dad and I went to the Tijuana Temple. Brother Hinckley and his wife were president and matron of the temple at the time.

Translation: R. Raymond Barnes, first president of the Spain Mission. He served from 1970, the year Spain separated from the French Mission, until 1973.

The view from a few floors up on the other end of the temple housing building.

My favorite tree on the temple grounds.

If you ignore my reflection and a bit of dirt on the window, it's a great photo.

At about 8:30pm this evening the temple lights had not yet been turned on. I asked the brother at the temple housing office why the lights were not on. He called security to find out. The security brother said due to the war in Ukraine and the fact that Russia cut off gas supplies to much of Europe, the Spanish government recently issued a nation-wide decree telling people to conserve energy. For many establishments, including the temple, that means not having the lights on all night. The lights came on shortly after our chat, but the brother told me they would only be on until 10pm.

Tuesday, 20 September:

Today I participated in three proxy endowment sessions (investidura vicaria) and one sealing session (sellamientos). Despite the th th th th th th th th in the Spanish spoken in Spain (those of you who know Spanish know what I'm referring to), I very much enjoyed hearing and speaking a lot of Spanish again during these two days.

That's all, folks! Tomorrow I fly back to the United States. So, "adios" to my European friends, for now.