Aarhus Stake Young Adult Temple Trip

A few weeks ago Sister Parker and I were teaching our Institute class about vicarious baptisms for the dead.  As part of the lesson we began planning for a trip to the Copenhagen Denmark Temple to participate in performing this important temple work.  

In 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul endeavors to prove the doctrine of the resurrection, and says in verse 29, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?"

President Spencer W. Kimball expressed, “Most members of the Church are aware of our intense interest in the missionary work preparing missionaries to carry the good news of the restoration to  people everywhere. I feel the same sense of urgency about temple work for the dead as I do about the missionary work for the living, since they are basically one and the same.”

In D&C 128:22-23, the prophet Joseph Smith expressed his joy in the saving work for the dead:

 22- Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

 23- Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

We met our young adults at the Aarhus chapel and traveled in a van to the ferry, and then to Copenhagen and the temple.

These are the paintings inside the temple baptistry.  These pictures are found on the church's website.

 Elders Wright and Clawson, Joachim, Daniella,Ana, E. & S. Parker, Anne Sofie, Julie, Catrine, Jannie, Benedicte

After performing baptisms for the dead, we had pizza and sodas at Tutto Bello Italiano, which is next to the mission office and a favorite of all the young missionaries. We then went to the Vor Frue Kirke (Our Lady's Church) which is the cathedral of Copenhagen and the National Cathedral of Denmark.  It was originally built in 1187 and after a number of fires was rebuilt to the current church in 1829.

Vor Frue Kirke (Our Lady's Church) 

The front pediment is decorated with bronzes of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The interior is likewise decorated with the twelve apostles (one in front of each of the piers of the central nave), the Risen Christ displaying the wounds in his body (in a niche above the altar) all in Italian carrara marble.  All of these sculptures were completed in Rome by the famous Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen.

After our walk to downtown Copenhagen and to the Vor Frue Kirke, we walked to the "Lakes."  These are man-made lakes by the Copenhagen senior missionary apartments.

Elder Parker, Jannie, Benedicte, Joachim, Catrine, Julie, Daniella, Ana

Wonderful trip to the temple!  This was Ana's (next to Elder Parker) first time, so that made it extra special for all of us.  She has been a member less than a year, and had prepared the names of her two grandfathers, whose baptisms and confirmations were done this day.