Temple moments: Small miracles
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Looking back on the past few remarkable years when the number of temples increased by more than a third, many small miracles paved the way for such a singular success. One such event occurred at the Columbia River Washington Temple.
Just a few short hours before the open house, which began on Oct. 27, 2001, the day began dark and chilly with a strong wind blowing. More foreboding than the weather, however, was the sad fact that the landscaping was far from finished. Although trees and some of the larger shrubs were in place, the beds that were to hold pansies were still just patches of dirt.
One of the local members, Mariann Watson, felt a keen desire to help. After talking the previous evening to the temple construction missionaries Reed and Phyllis Petersen, she resolved to get involved. She arrived early the next morning and began helping the landscapers. One of them confided to her that if they were to finish, many more people would be needed to help. So she went home and began to phone members to come immediately to the temple site, and to bring wheelbarrows.
Within a short time a small army of volunteers gathered, lined up almost shoulder to shoulder, facing the strong wind.
Landscapers and volunteers worked side by side as they transplanted hundreds of pansies. The landscapers couldn't help but notice the cheerful hearts of the members, who were not being paid, and were out in unpleasant weather, but felt it was a privilege to participate in the completion of the temple.
The last flowers were planted and the old pots removed about 30 minutes before the arrival of the first visitors. By that time, the weather had greatly improved and the temple was beautifully arrayed in flowers.
— Harriet Sutherland
