Marrying your mother. I have told most of this story already, so I'll just tell you about that day. I had driven up to Soda Springs, Idaho the day before. Grandpa drove us from there to Idaho Falls in his camper. I think there had been some car trouble with the vehicle that he had planned to take. Mom and I sat in the back trying hard to remember that we were not married yet.
The following morning we went to the Idaho Falls temple. The wedding was delayed because the Temple had a power outage--on a perfectly clear day. Mother was worried that the car trouble and the power outage all amounted to signs that we weren't supposed to get married. I wasn't having any of that foolish talk, but prayed silently that the Lord would get the power back so that we could proceed.
The Idaho Falls Temple has a very large sealing room that is used when large families come for weddings. We were married in that room, up what seemed to me to be several flights of stairs. Years later, Emily and Andrew would be married in the exact same room.
Aunt Katherine told me later that as the sealer prepared to begin the ceremony she felt a powerful presence enter the room. The Spirit told her that it was our brother (your uncle) Matthew. She had been visited by Matthew previously at times when she needed help/comfort.
My father was asked to say an opening prayer. In the prayer he promised that the Holy Spirit of Promise would Seal our marriage. A temple sealing is not complete until the Holy Ghost performs this function.
I know there was a family meal in Idaho Falls, but I have no memory of that. The reception in Soda Springs was the most lavish affair I have ever seen--carried out under a basketball standard. The room was beautifully decorated in red and white. Mother's wedding dress was wonderful, and she was the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. Some kind of strawberry dessert was being served.
Everyone who knew Grandpa and/or Grandma Brown came. Every man in town shook my hand and warned me what he would do if I ever.... Jodi was the town sweetheart. I think that had a lot to do with her train accident. The whole town had fasted and prayed for her recovery. So, I was bound be the strongest threats the town could concoct.
David B Height of the Quorum of the Twelve was at the Stake Center for some business or other and was invited to come to the reception, which he did. I couldn't begin to remember who all was there. I remember that your Uncle Sam was my best man.
At the end of the reception, which seemed to last forever, we were shoed on our way. I didn't feel comfortable leaving with so much that needed to be cleaned up. But we started off on our honeymoon, driving as far as Preston, Idaho, that night.
As lavish as the reception was, the most positive moment came in the temple when the words and promises of the wedding ceremony were pronounced upon us. It is painful for me to kneel these days, but I love to participate in temple sealings and hear the promises spoken again.
Following Emily's temple wedding, the sealer invited us to stand together and look into the mirrors of that room. I told Emily that if she would look carefully, she would see Mom and I just a row or two of reflexions back.
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