The Montreal Temple has experienced a bit of a challenge--so many people are coming to perform the work of their ancestors here that the temple has been crowded and patrons are waiting for periods of time to enter an endowment session.
The “challenge” however, has produced a blessing. Because of heavy use of the temple, it is being renovated and its capacity will be increased.
“More people have been coming now than ever before,” exclaims temple president Luc Salm. “Everybody is doing work for their own family names, so use the temple file infrequently for baptisms.”
It is a pleasant, temporary problem that will result in a larger, more efficient temple structure.
People like Ludovic Amyot are frequent patrons. “It’s a great chance to have the temple not far from my house, so I can go when I want and have the experience to feel the Holy Ghost,” says this 13-year-old. “Everytime I go to the temple, I feel happy. It’s a great moment.”
Another faithful Montreal Temple patron is 16-year-old Amanda Feth, an exceptional student in her school’s International Baccalaureate Programme, combines her studies with temple service. “I’m in my last year of school,” she explains, “in my IB program, I can choose what to explore. So I will do family history for my IB project.”
What sparked Amanda’s interest in the sacred research was a stake conference talk. 'Someone gave a talk,” recalls Amanda, “and the person told us about her family history work. Afterwards, I received my patriarchal blessing and it told me to remember my ancestors and I became more interested. I looked at the work my parents had already done and became even more interested.'
And with that spark, Amanda’s interest and efforts flourished. “We have temple trips every three months and I usually go. I have been there a dozen times. I think what I like is the feeling there. You don’t realize that time is passing by when we’re doing the work and I forget all my problems.”
Amanda’s faith and efforts have been rewarded. “One year ago, after my parents had already done a lot of research, I was going through our family history online and found some new names that went all the way to the 1600’s. Then I found someone in Chicago who was doing the same research. I don’t think it was a coincidence that my family tree linked with someone else and I got all these new names. My dad couldn’t find anyone else in his family to find new information, so I was surprised when all those new names appeared.”
Ludovic knows that he will not be able to visit the temple as often while the Montreal Temple is being renovated, but for him the time will not be wasted. “Of course, if I cannot go so often to the temple, I will do more research for my ancestry to have more names to go to the temple when it opens. I will be more prepared. I will miss some of the good experiences, but I can do some other work for my brothers and sisters.”
“I know the temple is the house of God,” says Ludovic. “Everytime I go to the temple, I can feel the testimony that it is the House of the Lord. I can feel that everything moves me to the temple; it is the work of God.”
'And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts.' (Doctrine and Covenants 127:4)
'One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.' (Psalms 27:4)