Multiple Blessings Found In Serving A Temple Mission

Apr 2009 Issue

By Pam Ellis
Dorothy Graff Winder says that serving in the temple just might be a “genetic thing” with her. She tells of her great-grandfather, Dudley Leavitt, from Bunkerville, NV, who encouraged his 16-year old daughter, Betsy, (Dorothy’s grandmother) to get her temple recommend so that she might accompany him to the St. George Temple. Grandma Betsy went on to serve as an ordinance worker for over ten years at the St. George Temple, as did Dorothy’s parents, Elmer and EmmaRene Graff.

So it came naturally that Dorothy and her husband, Paul Winder, married in the St. George Temple in 1959, would attend the temple regularly throughout their marriage. Upon Paul’s release from the Stake Presidency of the Central Stake in 1994, they became ordinance workers at the Las Vegas Temple.

In January of 2006 they put in their application to serve a mission and were excited about seeing where the Lord would call them. With Paul’s strength lying in teaching, they thought maybe they would be called to a Church Education mission or even a proselyting mission. They were surprised to be called to serve as missionaries in the Washington D.C. Temple—one of only two temples in the US to use missionaries; the other being Nauvoo.

The Winders reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo where they had the thrill of the MTC experience: listening to and learning from General Authorities, standing in a sea of elders and sisters prepared to be dispatched to points around the world to preach the gospel and singing “Called to Serve.” Sister Winder recalls, “It is something you never forget.” They spent one week at the MTC being trained as missionaries and the next week received training at the Provo and Salt Lake Temple, then they were off on their cross country road trip to their new home for the next 12 months.

Those twelve months created life-long bonds of friendship with other senior missionary couples as well as local ordinance workers, patrons, the temple presidency and matrons. It increased their love for and resolve to continue their temple work. It provided many precious memories—visits to historic places; service in their Ward, their “Celestial Bubble,” made up entirely of senior missionary couples; daily thank you notes, goodies, or invitations to dinner they found on their door; the stories of temple miracles; and the medical blessings available through the priesthood.

The Winders discovered that senior couples serve missions in spite of health concerns—and they are blessed for it. More dramatic is their realization that in serving the Lord, He poured out blessings upon them.
Sister Winder adds, “and my companion was awesome!”

Now members of the Sunrise Stake, Paul and Dorothy Winder are currently serving as ordinance workers at the Las Vegas Temple.