Medical Emergency in Section 5

Prior to the October general conference all GSMs were required to attend a security training in the Conference Center.  As part of the training, G Group was assigned positions to serve as part of the emergency scenarios.  My position was on the front rope between sections four and five.  No one knew what situations would be thrown at us.  We were instructed what do to and then left to our own vigilance.  It so happened that one of the scenarios was a medical emergency.  An individual across the aisle and two rows up from my position suffered a heart attack.  We all reacted as trained and evacuated the row in front and the row behind the emergency.  After security was on scene, we returned to our positions. 

I learned from that training the importance of being aware of what was happening around us.  I took it seriously that we were to maintain vigilance during our service.  Little did I know how close the training would be to a future reality!

During the last session of the April 2012 general conference.  I sat scanning the crowd, listening to Elder Ballard.  As he began to speak, I noticed a brother on the end of the aisle across from me switch seats with his young daughter.  As he sat back down he leaned over to the brother next to him and said something.  Immediately the brother he was concerned about collapsed onto his shoulder.  I stood and quickly approached to lend assistance.  He said he needed help to assist the brother from the conference.  I looked to the security brother three rows down and indicated that we needed help. Security came and began to administer aide. Susan, who was sitting directly in front of the situation had simultaneously become aware and began to evacuate the seats in front of their row.  Lee, who was seated by the front rope, also came up the aisle to evacuate the row directly behind us.  Paul was seated several rows back and also came forward; he got on the radio and reported a medical emergency.  The brother who had passed out regained consciousness as security spoke to him.  With five of us standing in the aisle, I decided that I needed to sit down and let the team do their work.  The brother was assisted from the plaza before medical personnel had time to respond.  The aisle cleared and I was left alone.  As I contemplated what had just happened I noticed that the second rope was still down.  I moved from my seat to Susan's position which was by the second rope and put the rope back up.  Minutes later the security brother stationed at the top of the aisle came down to take the position that had been vacated.  The guest service missionaries and security had responded efficiently as a team, just as we had been trained. 

Mike Parker

Linda Stewart

I had an experience Sunday at MSW.  When we were loading the building a member of the Choir staff came down looking for the parents of the little three year old boy who had been drowned the past week in the Weber River.  The news of this little boy had been all over in the news because they couldn’t find the body, and they had called a large volunteer search crew out all week looking for him.  I can’t even imagine how hard it would be to loose a child or a grandchild.  That is something that I hope I never have to go through. 

She also mentioned that they didn’t know what this couple looked like and wanted to know if they were on our official choir guest list.  They were not there.  A mention was made that there were two primary songs being sung in preparation for the choir’s new CD, and one of them would be sung at this little boy’s funeral.  I was curious to know if we would see any of these people.  Just by chance, our sweet usher inside Door 18 (Anita) was talking to a couple of women, and she introduced them to me as the composer and author to the primary song “I Know That My Savior Loves Me”, a song that was written and used in the 2010 Children’s Sacrament Meeting Program.  They had been invited to come because Ryan Murphy had written a new arrangement of the song so that the Choir could perform it on their new CD.  It was such a sweet experience speaking with these sisters for a moment.  They also mentioned that this song was sung at the Powell Boys funeral a couple of months ago.  They were just glowing and so proud and happy to be there.  Ryan Murphy greeted them. 

The next guest to show up was Brother and Sister McMaster.  Brother McMaster is the son of Clara McMaster, who many years ago wrote the well-known primary song “Teach Me To Walk In The Light”.  Brother McMaster asked if he could sit in the back because he had to sit on the stand for his Stake Conference which was being held in the Assembly Hall at 10:00 a.m. that morning, and if he sat with the Official Choir Guests, it would necessitate his leaving during the broadcast.  It was such a privilege to be able to welcome and speak with Sister McMaster the daughter-in-law to Clara McMaster.  I had served in primary music for many years and heard her speak many times.  She was one of my idols.   

As we serve at Temple Square we never know who we will meet or what kind of an impact they can have on our lives and what kind of an influence we can be on their life.  What a blessing it is for us to serve together as Guest Service Missionaries. We love our calling!!!

Linda Stewart

Tabernacle Acoustics

We were assigned to seat patrons in the balcony of the tabernacle.  We took our positions and waited for the doors to open.  While we waited we spent the time talking to another GSM couple.  Three of us were standing and the other was sitting on the hard bench.  As we talked we heard a very loud noise reminiscent of a tuba warming up.  However the orchestra was not performing that night.  We all pretended not to notice the noise but it did reinforce the idea that we should be careful what we do and say in the tabernacle, because the acoustics are amazing!   Mike Parker

Spanish speaking brethren at priesthood session

One of my fondest memories happened during our first general conference. During the priesthood session I was assigned to work in the aisle at the bottom of section twelve. Several brethern came in right after the doors were opened,and took seats on row one of section twelve. A young brother, in his twenties, called me over and asked if they could save some seats for his father and brother. I noticed his Spanish accent and asked him, in Spanish were he was from. He told me that they were from Mexico and that this was their first time in the Conference Center. When his family arrived I noticed that they didn't speak English but they didn't have the translation sets. I went back over and let them know that the devices were available. Since the section was full and the session was about to start I ran up and got five devices so they could enjoy conference in Spanish. After the session they all gave me a hug and thanked me for my help. The next morning I was assigned scanning tickets at door six. This same brother from the night before came through my door. As soon as he saw me he came rushing up and gave me a big hug as we met again as brothers in the gospel. It literally brought tears to my eyes to think that the Gospel has such a power to create feelings of brotherhood in an instant. Mike Parker

Homeless man

We were assigned to cover the balcony during the Mormon Youth  reunion.  The first brother to enter the balcony was unkempt and appeared to be homeless.  I welcomed him to the tabernacle and and told him that the balcony was my favorite place to sit.  I told him I loved the pioneer surroundsound that you only experience in the balcony.  He told me he had a friend who lived on the street with him, that had been in the Mormon Youth Symphony.  Somehow someone, in Mormon Youth, had tracked his friend down and convinced him to play with them at the reunion concert.   He then asked me how people got into the choir and orchestra.  I told him they were members of the church.  Surprised, he asked if they all had to be members.  I assured him that they were all members of the LDS faith.  Apparently he had no idea that his friend was a member of the church or that he had been a part of Mormon Youth.  After the concert I asked him how he enjoyed the concert and his seat in the balcony.  He beamed as he told me of his experience.  I will never know the end of the story, but I am sure he and his friend were inspired and touched by the spirit during the concert. I can also imagine the conversation when he and his friend from the orchestra discuss the fact that he is a member of the church.        Mike Parker

Hello fellow group G missionaries! Happy Cinco de Mayo! We have been asked to compile a history for group G and we need your help. We don't really get to see each other very often so we thought it would be fun to create a blog so that we could easily share some of  the experiences we have had while serving on Temple Square.  We are asking each of  you to write some of the experiences you have had while serving as a guest service missionary.  You could include spiritual experiences, funny experiences, some of the highlights of your service, experiences with the Brethren or other special guests, just about anything that you would like to share. We will wait anxiously to hear from you. It is an honor to serve with you and we appreciate your examples of Christ-like love.