Dublin Ward Origins

     It has been interesting to visit some of the older stalwart members of the church - many of whom are interconnected as fine stable families have intermarried.  At least five times we have been told of their  grandfather, who was a baptist church deacon in the early 1900s.  On his deathbed, he apparently had a dream or a vision where he saw two young men come over the fields.  He called together his family and told them about it.  He told them that some young missionaries would come, traveling in twos as they did in times of old.  He made them promise that when they came, they would welcome them, listen to them and do what they said, as they would speak the truth.  They tell that not long after that, two elders did indeed come; they listened, and many of the families were baptized.  They tell proudly that the first Sunday school was held in their grandmother's home.  They still live on the land that has been in their family for more than a century.

     A young black woman in our ward has a similar conversion story recently.  She told me that she had an experience similar to Joseph Smith's when she was asking which church she should join.  She had been searching for the true church for a long time, and had attended many with various friends.  She thought the true church should have the authority from God to baptize, but most said it didn't matter.      One night she had a dream that three young men in white shirts would come to her door.  They would bring her a special book and that she could believe the things that they taught her.  Not long after, three young elders did come.  Instead of coming with just one companion as is usual, this day they came as a threesome.  She studied the information they shared about the restoration of the Priesthood authority and  the other principles of the gospel, and she joined the church.  She is waiting for her husband to come too, so they can go to the temple together.  He is trying to stop smoking so he can also be baptized.

     We were able to go to the temple in Atlanta yesterday with some of our newly activated friends.  We have missed our frequent visits.  The temple is two and a half hours away, and is not in our mission district.  Atlanta has terrible traffic we think, but the temple is located in a lovely area, not far from Bryant and Rebecca Castleton's. At least we saw the sign for Alpharetta just before we got to the temple turn off.  The property is small - not a lot of lawn or grounds, but it has a beautiful wooded area surrounding it.  The temple itself seemed small to me, but it seats 48.  Doug says that is like the Draper Temple.  We didn't get very good pictures- our camera battery was dying, but I wanted to post a few so you can see some of the people we have come to love and respect.

This is Maria and Ed.  It was their first time at the temple.  They have been so excited to go.  He didn't have a suit and Doug had this extra one.  It looks good on him I think, and Doug was eager to share it.  It was his brand new missionary suit, but somehow it was much too big.  We didn't have time to take it back - we didn't discover the mistake until in the mission home, so we brought it with us, hoping someone would need it, and they did!

The woman on the right is Sister Fordham our Relief Society President, and the one on the left is Melinda a mom with three children who is never too busy to help someone in need.  One elderly sister told us Melinda was her lifeline - takes her shopping, helps her clean.  Otherwise she would have no way of getting around.  She is always available to help new people get acquainted too, so we depend on her too.