Temple Moments: A powerful influence
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Joined by the effort to erect a House of the Lord, volunteers and workers have developed remarkable friendships at the construction sites of the Church's many temples built over the past few years. These friendships often have left a powerful influence upon the lives of the workers.
Such is the case with Michael Funk, a painter who worked at the Colonia Juarez Mexico Temple in 1997-98, and who is now working on the Monterrey Mexico Temple. He and his wife, Michelle, are members of the Murray Utah 32nd Ward, Murray Utah Parkway Stake.
In Colonia Juarez, Brother Funk and other workers became close friends with local members helping with the temple effort. The members reached out to the workers and included them in their social and spiritual community.
"Nowhere could you go and find so many people working to help build a temple," Brother Funk said. "I have seen young — very young — and the old — very old — raking and moving rocks, laying sod, moving dirt to perfection and with no pay in return but giving thanks to their Heavenly Father."
He said that at first he wasn't happy about going to Mexico, but later came to feel that "the people here have made what could have been just a job a blessing in my life."
"When I came here, I thought I was doing OK as a person, as a priesthood holder, knowing that I had things I needed to work on, but not really knowing how to get where I wanted to be. But thanks to the people of Colonia Juarez, I know where I am going and what I need to do to get there."
After returning home from the project, Brother Funk, who has always been an active member, and other workers made a deeper commitment to the gospel.
"I can answer the question: 'What the celestial kingdom is like?' " he said. "I know what it is like. I have been there. I have been to Colonia Juarez, Mexico."
— Courtesy Debra R. Spilsbury
