Solomon and Lara were sealed for time and all eternity on June 6, 2009 in the Salt Lake Temple! (story below)
Let me tell you their story. They and their families are both life long members of the church having grown up in Nigeria. Solomon is a return missionary and has been going to school in engineering at BYU. He left to go home to Nigeria after the semester to marry his sweetheart Lara at the end of April. The Nigerian government
does not sanction temple marriages, so a couple must marry civilly before being sealed. The closest temple to where they live in Nigeria is about 12-14 hours away and is very dangerous country to drive in. When Solomon was traveling to the temple not too long ago he was robbed at gun point. They chose to wait to ber sealed here in Salt Lake upon their return for Solomon to continue his schooling. Lara was able to have all her paperwork miraculously completed and approved in record time for her to travel here with her husband. They are now attending our BYU 17th Young Married Student stake. Upon their arrival into their ward and our stake they started the process of getting clearance to be sealed without having to wait a year due to their unique circumstances. All was approved by the first presidency and on May
30th, I had the privilege to accompany Lara (she had not been previously endowed) when she received her temple blessings in the Provo Temple. The following Saturday, June 6th when the above pics were taken, was the day Solomon and Lara were sealed. It was such a tender experience to witness this sweet couple as they were sealed for time and all eternity!! The only ones in attendance (in a rather large sealing room) was Andrew and myself, Solomon's mission president and wife, another couple having served in his mission, and a close friend Dennis also from Nigeria going to school in Salt Lake. The other friends were outside to greet us all as we came from the sealing. After Solomon and Lara were sealed and stood for everyone to congratulate them - Lara came to me and hugged me so tight and I her as we shed tears together! This cute couple without family, ward members or lots of friends from Nigeria humbly kneeling to become a 'forever family'!! (It was such a tender and humbling experience to be a part of this couple's special day)
PS - their full names in their native tonque (which is really rather beautiful)has been simplified in English!!
Let me tell you their story. They and their families are both life long members of the church having grown up in Nigeria. Solomon is a return missionary and has been going to school in engineering at BYU. He left to go home to Nigeria after the semester to marry his sweetheart Lara at the end of April. The Nigerian government does not sanction temple marriages, so a couple must marry civilly before being sealed. The closest temple to where they live in Nigeria is about 12-14 hours away and is very dangerous country to drive in. When Solomon was traveling to the temple not too long ago he was robbed at gun point. They chose to wait to ber sealed here in Salt Lake upon their return for Solomon to continue his schooling. Lara was able to have all her paperwork miraculously completed and approved in record time for her to travel here with her husband. They are now attending our BYU 17th Young Married Student stake. Upon their arrival into their ward and our stake they started the process of getting clearance to be sealed without having to wait a year due to their unique circumstances. All was approved by the first presidency and on May
30th, I had the privilege to accompany Lara (she had not been previously endowed) when she received her temple blessings in the Provo Temple. The following Saturday, June 6th when the above pics were taken, was the day Solomon and Lara were sealed. It was such a tender experience to witness this sweet couple as they were sealed for time and all eternity!! The only ones in attendance (in a rather large sealing room) was Andrew and myself, Solomon's mission president and wife, another couple having served in his mission, and a close friend Dennis also from Nigeria going to school in Salt Lake. The other friends were outside to greet us all as we came from the sealing. After Solomon and Lara were sealed and stood for everyone to congratulate them - Lara came to me and hugged me so tight and I her as we shed tears together! This cute couple without family, ward members or lots of friends from Nigeria humbly kneeling to become a 'forever family'!! (It was such a tender and humbling experience to be a part of this couple's special day)
PS - their full names in their native tonque (which is really rather beautiful)has been simplified in English!!
1 comment:
What a great story! It brought a tear to my eye, of course it did!!
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