With each week of the Feather River open house, we will be sharing stories about those who experienced tender moments and miracles in their life through others' experiences with their own open houses. Here's one from Saratoga Springs.
"The Blind Tour"
I shadowed four members of the Blind Ward. They were from Bountiful and
Farmington. The blind wife was accompanied by her sighted husband. The other
sister was accompanied by the sighted daughter of the first couple. As they were
in the clothing area of the baptistry, the presenters finished their description of
the area. These wonderful visitors then asked the presenters to give a more vivid
description of what everyone else was seeing. The presenters described the
clothing area, stocked with white clothing, the picture of an ancient baptismal
service (Alma? In the waters of Mormon?). One of the sighted guides
perceptively pointed out to the two sisters that the person being baptized was a
woman. Then as they were ushered through the brothers' dressing room, one of
the blind sisters noted that gleefully she'd never again go into a brother's dressing
room!
As they walked through the dressing room, they asked for the colors of the
floor tiles and patterns on the wall. Then, after the presentation in the baptistry,
they asked many detailed questions about the color of the oxen, the colors of the
font tile and the room colors. They were especially excited to hear about the
patterns and colors of the stained-glass windows.
Next, they visited the brides' room. Excitedly, they knelt on all fours to feel
the patterns in the carpet while their sighted guides would describe what they
were feeling ("This is a flower that is yellow. This is the green stem and the leaf.").
They felt the texture of the frames of the mirrors and asked what the lights
looked like, and how many there were in the room.
They walked through the chapel and heard a description of each of the
paintings of the Savior. Next, they entered into an ordinance room. Again, after
the presenters finished their explanations, these two sisters asked for a detailed
description of the room - what was the color scheme, what was the color of the
alter, what did the lights in the room look like. They felt the texture of the seats
in the room.
The next tender experience occurred as they left the ordinance room. They
walked out to stained glass windows in the hall way. Excitedly, they stopped and
felt each section of the stained-glass window as their sighted companion
explained what they were feeling ("This is the water. It's blue. This is a green
reed. Here is a small orangish panel between the water and the reeds.). Their
excitement was palpable at being able to experience this part of the temple.
Inside the celestial room, they knelt again to feel the patterns in the carpet.
Their sighted partners helped them to touch the pillars in the Celestial Room, to
feel the patterns of the wood. They felt the patterns in the material in the
couches and other chairs.
The last station was just as tender. In the sealing room, the sighted husband
knelt on the floor near the alter and took his wife's hand to help her feel the
texture of the woodwork of the alter. Again, after the presenters had finished
their explanations, these two sisters asked for a description of the room - its
color, the size and make-up of the chandeliers, artwork in the ceiling and the
stained glass. It was a sweet, tender experience to see the temple through their "eyes!"
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