2026-07-11 Temple Experience

Today marks a special milestone in our branch and in the lives of two of our wonderful sisters in the branch. Sisters He Zhusheng and Jin Yi-Qun went to the temple for the first time to receive their own endowment ordinances. Their achievements were several months in the making. To accommodate the special for Sister He, we requested a special Mandarin endowment session, which the temple presidency were gracious enough to approve and set up.

So, at 12:30pm 10 sisters and 1 brother from our branch, 3 other sisters and 1 other brother, and Elder Mecham and his companion participated in the endowment ordinance and supported Sisters He and Jin in their living endowments. It was inspirational to see these two sisters prepare themselves for the temple and to receive this special ordinance. Furthermore, they are planning on doing sealings for and with their deceased ancestors. We are extremely grateful to the temple presidency and staff for providing this Mandarin session for our branch and others. It was a day that will always be etched in our memories.

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2026-07-04 Fourth of July Barbecue

On a sweltering 4th of July afternoon, the venue for the Branch barbecue switched conveniently to indoors in the cultural hall of the Seneca Stake Center cultural hall. When we arrived to set up, 8 round tables arrayed with 8 chairs each and decorated with a red, white, or blue tablecloth were already thoughtfully set up for us. After setting up the serving tables and after the opening prayer and blessing on the food, everyone enjoyed the great variety of food shared. Nice patriotic music was provided by our very own Ricky Vera.

Concurrently, a tour of the newly renovated FamilySearch Center was organized for our branch by Sister Li-Fang Tsai. Brother and Sister Barnes, the stake directors of this FamilySearch Center, were on hand to help with the computers during this tour, along with Sister Margery Anderson, Brother Wang Wurui, Elders Evans and Abbott, and Sisters Gower and Bailey. In the first hour from 11am to noon, about 25 patrons came through the Center. After an opening prayer, Sister Tsai introduced the purpose of family history and genealogy in our church, as related to the importance of families and the plan of salvation. Then she invited the patrons to tour the computer room, the video room, and the touch screen TV monitors. From 1pm to 2pm, about 15 more patrons came to the FamilySearch Center.

Despite the heat outside, the branch enjoyed a comfortable 4th of July celebration along with the FamilySearch Center tours. How blessed we are to live in this free country and enjoy the blessings of religious liberty and free agency. Happy 4th of July!

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