Released after 60 years of devoted service in the Mesa Arizona Temple, Marguerite Payne said, "I have a strong testimony of temple work."

Photo by Jill Adair

The Mesa Arizona Temple was, in many ways, home to Marguerite Payne, 91, from 1946 to 2006 during which she was a temple worker. She and her late husband, Junius Lathair Payne, began serving on their wedding day.

So strong that she added, "I hate to give it up."

Diane Guinn, who worked in the temple with Sister Payne, said, "She was the most willing temple worker we had. She was willing to do anything."

Sister Payne, 91, began her work in the temple with her husband, Junius Lothair Payne, on their wedding day in January 1946. Marguerite and Junius had both served Spanish-speaking missions; so, they were asked to help with the Spanish sessions held one week of each month.

"It was a great experience," Sister Payne said.

The monthly work in the temple required the service of not only Marguerite and Junius, but of their children and extended family as well. Each month when the couple would leave their home in Virden, N.M., to travel to Mesa, family members would carry extra work and care for their seven children to make the travel possible.

Their daughter, Carolyn Butler, who now lives in Gilbert, Ariz., said, "I remember packing our little suitcases to go and stay with our aunts and uncles while they were gone.... Sometimes when we were little, it was hard (but),... I remember them telling us stories about the people that came and the wonderful experiences they had had. We were amazed what the people would give up to make it to the temple."

Sister Payne said the humility and dedication of the Latino saints motivated her and her husband to remain dedicated to their callings. It touched Sister Payne that they would come with little money and under poor conditions just to attend the temple.

"One family sold everything they had, including their refrigerator. They went home to an empty house," said Sister Payne.

In 1979, when the Paynes retired to Mesa, they began working in the temple twice a week. That service was interrupted only when they took four different leaves of absence to serve four missions together between the years of 1980 and 1989.

Yet, even as missionaries, temple work played a primary role in their lives. For one of their missions, they served in the Santiago Chile Temple and, for another, in the Mexico City temple. In Chile, they were there for the dedication of the temple and assisted with the first group of people to go to that temple. Also in Chile, Brother Payne was set apart as a sealer by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

When Brother Payne died 11 years ago, Sister Payne continued working, but only once a week.

Now that she has been released from the calling she had for more than half a century, she fills the void by working on her family history.

She explained, "I am working on my father's life story."

Of course, her temple service hasn't stopped.

"I still attend the temple at least once a week as a patron," she said.

Sister Payne's love for the temple and her testimony are also carried on in another way. Her example has inspired many to emulate her.

Sister Payne's daughter, Carolyn, began working in the temple in April 2005.

Of her mother, she said, "She's been a good example to me because there have been days when I haven't felt like going to the temple ... but I figure if my mom can do it, I can do it."