The WABAK Machine

When I was a kid there was a cartoon that I loved called Peabody's Improbable History, which was part of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Peabody, a dog and his boy, Sherman would take trips back into time and view historical events from a humorous point of view. Invariably, they would get into trouble and have to make sure the events came out as they should. This past weekend, I boarded a WABAK (Wayback) machine of my own in the form of a Japanese Shinkansen or bullet train to a place I have not seen in 36 years, Nagaoka, Japan. I went to see the city one more time and to attend church with a friend from work. It was of course, wonderful. The city is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains which are covered in ski resorts. It is a lot like Salt Lake City, except for not so many people. The countryside is beautiful, covered in pines and deciduous trees in the summer.

When I was there, we had church in a house. Now there is a chapel and about 20-25 people came to the meeting. It was very special to meet these people, even if there was only one sister who was there when I was. She remembered my companions but not me, I had learned not to be so out there in Nagaoka. My testimony of the work and my love of Japan really solidified there and it is a special place for me. If I come again to Japan, I will go and spend more time there.

A Dream Fulfilled

During my time in Japan as a missionary, we often wondered when a Temple would be built to serve these people. Most went to Hawaii or New Zealand at that time to gain the blessings of the Temple. As a missionary, the Temples were always a place that reminded me of home and I used to spend time looking at the pictures of the Salt Lake, Ogden and Provo temples. The rooms and the evident peace you could find there were an object of longing, especially when they are so far away. Even though I had been before my mission, it was only about 5 or 6 times, including time in the mission home and in Hawaii at the LTM (MTC to the younger crowd). So I understood a small measure of the pain that the devout members of the church felt who were far away and had no means to get to a House of the Lord.

In 1980, that changed for Japan and a temple was built, on the site of my old mission home. That temple has stood for 28 years now and yesterday I finally attended a session in that sacred and very special building. I had visited once before but did not have the time to do a session, so I just sat in the foyer, hot tears of joy running down my face. This time there were tears, but not so many. However, there was a sense of completion. I would not be in this place at this time if it weren't for my decision to go on a mission. I would not have this job, I would not have been blessed with my wonderful wife and children, I would not be blessed with a strong testimony and likely would not have continued in the church. Japan and my service here changed my life completely and made me better for it. Even the struggle to learn Japanese was a blessing, even though I contemplated some pretty serious actions due to the difficulty of learning. We did have some missionaries who never did learn and a couple of them broke because of it. I am grateful that the Lord sustained me and allowed me to learn and serve.

Today, I attended church at the chapel next to the Temple. It was the gaijin ward, so the services were in English (my head aches with Japanese right now). There were more than blonde heads and blue eyes there, however. A woman in a sari sat in front of me, there were Islanders a few rows up, a smattering of Japanese and others. For the musical number a group of people from Ghana, Canada and France sang "How Firm a Foundation" in French. I thought it fascinating that here I am in Japan, listening to an English hymn sung in French by a group of people who have joined what many call the only true American church. We know it is the only TRUE Church and that it is headed by Christ who loves all people, no matter where they come from or what their racial heritage is. Quite different from my typical Utah ward back home.

The sun is setting now and I have quite the view from my room on the 28th floor. Tokyo tower is glowing red in the distance and I can see Minami Azabu where the Temple is located. It is a dream fullfilled.