Temple moments: Never say 'Nay'
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Temple workers throughout the world are instructed to help patrons whenever they can. In the Atlanta Georgia Temple, John B. Marler, sealing director, was serving in the baptistry one day where he was counseled, "Never say 'nay' — find a way."
That day began quietly with few ordinance workers available and no patrons in the baptistry when a man with heavy European features arrived with a thick stack of blue and pink family file slips. He asked to do the proxy baptisms for 360 members of his family. Despite the fact that there was hardly anyone to help with that large number of ordinances, Brother Marler remembered the counsel he'd received and reassured the brother that they could indeed do his baptisms.
Within a few minutes other patrons arrived in the baptistry, volunteering to help. A team was soon formed to help do this work.
As it progressed, Brother Marler noticed that the brother who brought in the names grimaced each time he served as proxy.
When the large project was completed, Brother Marler learned more about him.
— This was the first and only family history he had ever done for his family.
— He had been to then-Czechoslovakia three times to research his family's records for that day's work.
— He had driven almost 400 miles the day before to arrive at the Atlanta Georgia Temple.
— His back was so afflicted that he had received an injection in his spine for pain just before making the trip.
"I wondered to myself what would have happened if I had responded negatively," said Brother Marler. "I am thankful for the promptings of the Spirit. We are not always shown the end from the beginning unless we first obey the word of the Lord."
— Sandra M. Carroll, temple matron; and Deborah L. Kimball, assistant to the matron
