Family Matters: For Time and All Eternity

Standing proudly at the intersection of State Street and South Temple, right beside Temple Square, is one of Salt Lake City’s most iconic landmarks, the Eagle Gate Monument.    A Gate with a Story   The original gate was built all the way back in 1859, serving as the entrance to Brigham Young’s property and quickly becoming a beloved symbol of the growing pioneer settlement. What began as a simple wooden arch has been rebuilt and expanded over the decades, yet it has never lost its connection to the area’s faithful, hard‑working pioneers.    Symbols of Strength & Industry   Today’s monument features a magnificent bronze eagle with wings spread wide, perched above a beehive, two powerful symbols in one:   - The Eagle → represents strength, vision, and rising above just as the pioneers rose to build a city in the desert. ​ - The Beehive → the enduring symbol of industry, cooperation, and community, a reminder that we build bes...

  This stone monument marks the U.S. Meridian Base of 1869, the official starting point for the Salt Lake Meridian, the survey reference line that defines the addressing system for the entire state of Utah!  It sits on Temple Square grounds, just north of the Salt Lake Temple, precisely at 40°46′13″ N, 111°54′00″ W. Every street, property line, and land survey in Utah traces back to this exact spot.   Its Story   - The Survey Begins (1869) : The U.S. Coast Survey established this marker to define the principal meridian and base line for the Utah Territory. It was placed here because Temple Square was already the geographic and cultural center of the city, and the temple site was the most accurately surveyed location in the region. ​ - How It Works : All east–west addresses in Salt Lake City are measured from Main Street (the meridian line), and all north–south addresses are measured from South Temple Street (the base line) — with this marker a...

This time last year at the Calgary Alberta Temple. It feels like just yesterday. And yet, so much has already changed. It may take some time before we are all together again, as our children will be serving missions in the years ahead. We look at this memory now with hearts full of gratitude and a little bit of gentle longing. Because we know that it may take some time before we are all together again. Our children are stepping forward, one by one, to serve the Lord in the mission field. In the years ahead, they will be scattered, far from home, serving, growing, and blessing lives. And while our hearts swell with pride, we also know our family circle here at home will be a little smaller, for a little while. But we know too that separation is only for a season. The temple stands as a beautiful promise that the bonds we share are not broken by distance, and not measured by time. Families can be together forever.    So we wait, and we pray, and we treasu...

The lives of Anatolin and Crisanta Padilla are deeply grounded in faith, devoted service, and the blessings of the gospel. Both were born in 1982 and raised in faithful homes within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and each chose to be baptized at age eight. Their paths first crossed in youth, but it was at a combined Seminary gathering and Youth Conference when they were 15 that their friendship grew. It was there that Anatolin enjoyed the privilege of dancing with Crisanta, a memory he fondly recalls as their first and last dance. At age 19, Anatolin accepted a call to serve in the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Mission. Following his honorable service, their friendship deepened, and they became engaged. On April 23, 2005, at age 23, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manila Philippines Temple . They are the blessed parents of four children. Their two eldest, Cerah Hennah (20) and Ammon Jarom (18), are now serving full-time missions, a joy and blessing t...

  Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan! What a week it has been! Even though he got sick for a little while, Elder Padilla shared that the Lord reminded him that His work does not stop. And neither does he! He kept moving forward, creating miracles, and helping others come closer to Christ . He has seen so many blessings this week. Hearts progressing, and the Spirit working in beautiful ways.    They gathered for a wonderful Family Home Evening combining interested friends and ward members! The support was so great that people didn’t even fit inside the house. He said some had to stay outside! Everyone enjoyed one another’s company, played a fun game together, and truly felt the Spirit and the warm love of the ward family.     This week brought a precious milestone! Nanay signed the papers for her daughter’s baptism, and you could truly see the joy and excitement in both of their faces!  And then came a memorable s...

Maayong adlaw! Our daughter, Sister Cerah Padilla, has been at the Philippines MTC for just 5 days and look how much she has already seen, learned, and felt! She shared that they received their phones and key cards right away!  "It still feels crazy that missionaries today use high‑tech phones, but we use them to study, learn, and teach the gospel! In a changing world, the gospel keeps finding new ways to spread."  -Sister Padilla She received all five vaccine shots and yes, the soreness was real! But she wrote: "I believe healing in the MTC is faster because of the prayers of others for missionaries to stay healthy. I have felt the strength from your prayers."  She met her two companions and roommates, Sister Pascual and Sister Orcuse. "We relate on so many things and help each other grow. We’ve already strengthened each other’s testimonies!"  And get this, they even earned a reward and certificate for having the cleane...

It’s already been nearly a month since Sister Padilla stepped into the mission field and time is flying! From the MTC to teaching, meeting people, and seeing miracles every week, she feels the Lord’s hand guiding her step by step.  One of the sweet highlights she shared was working during what they joyfully call their "miracle hours".  She and her trainer, Sister De Dios, would head out fully geared up with reflector straps and belts, glowing missionaries on a mission to find and teach. She said it was fun, a little silly, and a beautiful reminder that the Lord wants them to be safe so they can keep serving. And she added with such warmth: "Miracle hours are always better with Sister De Dios by my side."  Even with rainy weather and sickness in the district, His work moves forward, and He is strengthening them.  The Buruanga District She said she is so blessed to serve alongside these wonderful missionaries! They meet, plan, then...