48. Solemn Assembly, and my parents testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith
I'm putting this entry in as an extra today. I don't want any one entry to be too long, so you can read a shorter story at one time -- I don't know how readers feel about that ? It goes with the one today about the testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
I am including the testimonies of my parents, Ruth Allen Miles, and Orson Pratt Miles, both faithful saints during their lives. This first story was written by my mother Ruth.
The Solemn Assembly (Mother, Ruth, was at this Solemn Assembly.)
These stories are in the book of the lives of my ancestors.
Rededication: by Spencer W. Kimball
I think it most fitting that I finish my personal history with the most sacred and most inspiring experience of my life -- My attendance at the St. George Temple Solemn Assembly. Surely I will never be nearer heaven in this life than I was in 1976 when I was invited (because I was then working at the stake check out desk in the Temple) to attend this most sacred meeting, that was held at that time for all people who regularly worked, by special calling, in the Temple.
It was a beautiful spring morning. I arrived early but even so there was a long line ahead of me on the last walks to the Temple. We were to enter through the large east doors, which are never opened on any other occasion except on solemn assemblies. (And I am told will remain so until the Savior comes.) Be that as it may, going through these doors added, to me and I'm sure to all, to the quiet sacredness of the occasion. Even during the half hour or so of waiting outside the Temple, conversation was limited to the essentials and then that in quiet whispers.
Finally the doors were opened, both at once, and the two lines began moving slowly and solemnly forward. When inside we walked silently up the circular stairs to the top most room of the Temple. It is for the most part still unfinished, at least there is no covering of any kind on the floors. The elevated seats on both the east and the west which are labeled for the different Priesthood organizations are painted white trimmed with gold.
The audience quietly seated themselves in the body of the hall. On the south side was seated the choir humming very softly and then after all were seated they sang just as softly. They were as I said seated in the extreme south, but the music I heard came, it seemed, from the ceiling. The softest most beautiful harmony I've ever heard. I wondered then and I still wonder if what I heard that seemed to come from above me was due to unusual acoustics or if I actually heard heavenly voices which were permitted to join the choir. It doesn't matter which it was. It touched my soul so deeply that I've never thought of it since without a deep feeling, (I don't know how to describe it -- words are not adequate) of reverence, and a hope that sometime somewhere my voice may be one in such a group.
President Spencer W. Kimball, showing the microphone he used after surgery on his throat.
Soon President Kimball, the 12 apostles, and many other General Authorities, came in from the elevator on the north side, and solemnly and quietly took their places on the seats (elevated in tiers so that we could see each one). Then came President Kimball's greeting. He gave a sincere greeting to all there and then said something very much like, "And I want to give a special welcome to our hundreds of unseen guests whom God has permitted to be here today. I would mention the men who worked building this Temple -- those who made supreme sacrifices for the same -- many who have spent years as ordinance workers here and others who have faithfully come here to redeem their dead. Many many of them are here with us at this moment.
And last and most importantly I'm happy to tell you The Savior is with us today!" I have wondered if President Kimball actually saw these multitudes as he spoke (His eyes did glance upward and around, it seemed, above our heads) or if he was in such spiritual harmony that he just knew. It doesn't matter to me. I know he spoke the truth. That day in the Temple I felt my mother's presence near me and my thoughts turned to Pratt. Were they both permitted to be there for a few minutes that day?
The rest of the assembly I will not try to describe but again I'll say, I am so thankful for this opportunity. Surely I'll never be closer to heaven in this life. If this is indicative of what heaven is like, it's worth a lifetime of struggle to be worthy to enjoy such blessings hereafter. I know this with all my heart, might, mind and strength. "
Mother wrote her testimony later: (Before writing this she had spend some years in Panguitch caring for her oldest brother, Earl, who had dementia.)
"I intended to spend the rest of my life in the Temple. This I have done as much as I can. My walking isn't too good and I sometimes have to be taken in a car. I am now 85 years old.
I want you all to know, that I know the Gospel is true. I know, that I know, that I know it is true, and I know that my Heavenly Father, knows that I know it is true. That Joseph Smith Jr. is a true prophet of God to bring the dispensation, and that all the prophets since him were true prophets and leave you this testimony and do it with all the love of my heart for my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren or anyone who happens to read this. (This is the way she wrote it -- she underlined it herself.)
God bless you all. I love you all individually and collectively. Grandma Miles " (Ruth Allen Miles.)
This testimony was written by my father, Orson Pratt Miles:
"Now that Dad is older and almost seventy years old, (I believe this was hand written by him in about 1960--He always called himself "Dad" when he was talking about himself to us:)
I look back on life and see that it consists of a bundle of experiences, which are both good and evil mixed up together. And now I know for sure that only the good we do makes us happy and thankful, and the evil things give us sorrow and regrets. Now I know for sure that the Lord places us here to be tried and tested to see who we will serve. Happy is the man or woman who truly repents while in this life and lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and makes it the first thing in life.
I am thankful for my testimony of the Gospel above all else, for I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all who come into this world and through His name only can we be saved in the Kingdom of God. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and that through him the Gospel has been restored to this earth in its fullness in these last days, and this is the greatest blessing one can have while here upon this earth.
Orson Pratt Miles, St. George, Utah."
(This is handwritten by Pratt in a journal in possession of Paralee Miles Eckman, his oldest daughter)
I am including the testimonies of my parents, Ruth Allen Miles, and Orson Pratt Miles, both faithful saints during their lives. This first story was written by my mother Ruth.
The Solemn Assembly (Mother, Ruth, was at this Solemn Assembly.)
These stories are in the book of the lives of my ancestors.
Rededication: by Spencer W. Kimball
I think it most fitting that I finish my personal history with the most sacred and most inspiring experience of my life -- My attendance at the St. George Temple Solemn Assembly. Surely I will never be nearer heaven in this life than I was in 1976 when I was invited (because I was then working at the stake check out desk in the Temple) to attend this most sacred meeting, that was held at that time for all people who regularly worked, by special calling, in the Temple.
It was a beautiful spring morning. I arrived early but even so there was a long line ahead of me on the last walks to the Temple. We were to enter through the large east doors, which are never opened on any other occasion except on solemn assemblies. (And I am told will remain so until the Savior comes.) Be that as it may, going through these doors added, to me and I'm sure to all, to the quiet sacredness of the occasion. Even during the half hour or so of waiting outside the Temple, conversation was limited to the essentials and then that in quiet whispers.
Finally the doors were opened, both at once, and the two lines began moving slowly and solemnly forward. When inside we walked silently up the circular stairs to the top most room of the Temple. It is for the most part still unfinished, at least there is no covering of any kind on the floors. The elevated seats on both the east and the west which are labeled for the different Priesthood organizations are painted white trimmed with gold.
The audience quietly seated themselves in the body of the hall. On the south side was seated the choir humming very softly and then after all were seated they sang just as softly. They were as I said seated in the extreme south, but the music I heard came, it seemed, from the ceiling. The softest most beautiful harmony I've ever heard. I wondered then and I still wonder if what I heard that seemed to come from above me was due to unusual acoustics or if I actually heard heavenly voices which were permitted to join the choir. It doesn't matter which it was. It touched my soul so deeply that I've never thought of it since without a deep feeling, (I don't know how to describe it -- words are not adequate) of reverence, and a hope that sometime somewhere my voice may be one in such a group.
Soon President Kimball, the 12 apostles, and many other General Authorities, came in from the elevator on the north side, and solemnly and quietly took their places on the seats (elevated in tiers so that we could see each one). Then came President Kimball's greeting. He gave a sincere greeting to all there and then said something very much like, "And I want to give a special welcome to our hundreds of unseen guests whom God has permitted to be here today. I would mention the men who worked building this Temple -- those who made supreme sacrifices for the same -- many who have spent years as ordinance workers here and others who have faithfully come here to redeem their dead. Many many of them are here with us at this moment.
And last and most importantly I'm happy to tell you The Savior is with us today!" I have wondered if President Kimball actually saw these multitudes as he spoke (His eyes did glance upward and around, it seemed, above our heads) or if he was in such spiritual harmony that he just knew. It doesn't matter to me. I know he spoke the truth. That day in the Temple I felt my mother's presence near me and my thoughts turned to Pratt. Were they both permitted to be there for a few minutes that day?
The rest of the assembly I will not try to describe but again I'll say, I am so thankful for this opportunity. Surely I'll never be closer to heaven in this life. If this is indicative of what heaven is like, it's worth a lifetime of struggle to be worthy to enjoy such blessings hereafter. I know this with all my heart, might, mind and strength. "
Mother wrote her testimony later: (Before writing this she had spend some years in Panguitch caring for her oldest brother, Earl, who had dementia.)
"I intended to spend the rest of my life in the Temple. This I have done as much as I can. My walking isn't too good and I sometimes have to be taken in a car. I am now 85 years old.
I want you all to know, that I know the Gospel is true. I know, that I know, that I know it is true, and I know that my Heavenly Father, knows that I know it is true. That Joseph Smith Jr. is a true prophet of God to bring the dispensation, and that all the prophets since him were true prophets and leave you this testimony and do it with all the love of my heart for my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren or anyone who happens to read this. (This is the way she wrote it -- she underlined it herself.)
God bless you all. I love you all individually and collectively. Grandma Miles " (Ruth Allen Miles.)
This testimony was written by my father, Orson Pratt Miles:
"Now that Dad is older and almost seventy years old, (I believe this was hand written by him in about 1960--He always called himself "Dad" when he was talking about himself to us:)
I look back on life and see that it consists of a bundle of experiences, which are both good and evil mixed up together. And now I know for sure that only the good we do makes us happy and thankful, and the evil things give us sorrow and regrets. Now I know for sure that the Lord places us here to be tried and tested to see who we will serve. Happy is the man or woman who truly repents while in this life and lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and makes it the first thing in life.
I am thankful for my testimony of the Gospel above all else, for I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all who come into this world and through His name only can we be saved in the Kingdom of God. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and that through him the Gospel has been restored to this earth in its fullness in these last days, and this is the greatest blessing one can have while here upon this earth.
Orson Pratt Miles, St. George, Utah."
(This is handwritten by Pratt in a journal in possession of Paralee Miles Eckman, his oldest daughter)
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