Sometimes, perhaps families could split in attending the temple, taking turns babysitting for the kids--but also doing some trips together. We've done that when funds were short (and at the time we had an 8 hour drive one way to the temple.) I know a lot of folks that want to be selective in what they want to do. But maybe we need to encourage them to think of those pieces of paper not as "names" but as the individuals who need the ordinances done. Maybe that would make it more personal. And certainly, we gain blessings ourselves when we got for others. Karen In a message dated 4/3/2009 6:34:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time, mscscott28@yahoo.com writes: So far the Detroit Temple has been very helpful with my family file names for sealings. They are involved with some type of program from the Temple Department to help complete the family files of the patrons. I understand that there are two other temples involved in this program as well. As I have mentioned earlier on the list, we are allowed to give the temple our family file cards. The only limitation is that there be 25 women and 5 male endowments per family each month. We can give them our baptisms, confirmations, initiatories, and sealings without problem. I have been happy to have help with completing the sealings in my family file. The temple office appreciates a stack of sealings (child to parents sealings and marriage sealings) whenever I give it to them. I wish other temples had this policy on helping families with their family files. It is a wonderful blessing to those of us with large submissions. The paradox is that a convert usually has a small number of family members to help with a large family file. The person whose family has been in the Church for generations often has a large number of family members but struggle to find information to submit. I know that for a long time the temples have been wanting patrons to increase the number of endowments because endowments are necessary to move to the next step (sealing to parents ordinance). A lot of members do not understand how valuable they are to the temple and to the Lord's work. It was only a few years ago that the First Presidency released a letter asking members to attend the temple more often and give up some of their leisure activities as necessary. This counsel is still in effect. Another challenge for the members may be the economy. It costs money for gas and babysitters. Some people are struggling just to pay the mortgage and buy food. There has been a strong emphasis in our stake this year to attend the temple and also to pay our tithing. Mary Scott Northville Ward Westland Michigan Stake Please send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000003)