New Special Calling

On May 9, 2013 we, Grant and Pat Howlett, received a calling from the Columbus Ohio Temple presidency to be ordinance workers in the Columbus Ohio Temple.  We were so delighted to again be working in the temple as ordinance workers.

Columbus Ohio Temple

Back in the 1990's we had been called to be Restricted Ordinance Workers (ROWs) in the Washington D.C. Temple.  That meant that when we could make the trip from Ohio over to the Washington D.C. temple we could work there as ordinance workers, but we would not have regular assignments due to the difficulty to be able to be there regularly.  For about 6 or 8 years we worked as ROWs in the temple out there in D.C. until a directive came down from the First Presidency that if we still had children in elementary or high school, we should not be able to work in the Temples as ordinance workers.

Washington D.C. Temple

It was sad to have to stop going over to the Temple in D.C. to serve as workers since we still had our youngest in high school.  When we finally got our temple here in Ohio we thought we would be working here in this temple, as our youngest was out of school.  However the Lord felt we still had to wait.

In the spring of 2010, while serving a mission in Church and Family History Office in the Europe Area of the church, we were living in Frankfurt, Germany and towards the end of our mission we were finally called as ordinance workers in the Frankfurt Temple working with English speaking people.  It only lasted for four months because our mission ended and we were sent home, but it was wonderful to serve as ordinance workers again.

Frankfurt Germany Temple

Clarissa & Jason McMarrow at Columbus Ohio Temple

Now we serve on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month in the Columbus Ohio Temple and we are learning quickly how to do the many duties of ordinance workers.  A few things have changed since we served in the 90s and we are slowly learning the changes, but thoroughly enjoying the service and being in the temple regularly.  What a wonderful blessing to know we can help so many people do their own work or the work for the dead, who cannot do these earthly ordinances for themselves.  We love it!