TWIN FALLS , IDAHO ….My father-in-law, Robert F. King, known as Bob by friends and family, is a Twin Falls Idaho native. But never, even in recent years, did he imagine a temple would be built just blocks from the Snake River Canyon rim where his sons worked in the summer and the family enjoyed many a picnic at the Shoshone Falls. Never could he imagine that it would be located only three blocks from where he and Diane, his wife of nearly 50 years, built their home seventeen years ago. And never, after he suffered a debilitating stroke, could he have imagined that he would be called to serve as a counselor in the new Twin Falls Temple presidency.

Bob planned to spend his retirement playing golf and taking walks in view of the canyon. Though he would have loved to visit the temple every day, he didn't think that would be possible, since the nearest one was located two hours away in Boise , Idaho .

It's difficult to dream of things you can't envision, but we are pleasantly, even joyously surprised when the unexpected miracle happens. However, more difficult to grasp, perhaps, are the dreams you do envision, the miracles you do hope for, that nearly elude you.

Turning Towards the Temple

On returning from their mission from North Carolina where they served in the institute program, Bob King, turned his desires to the temple. “I want to serve in the temple,” he told Diane. “You can't tell anyone that. We don't make those decisions. You have to be called,” Diane countered. “I know,” said Bob, “but I want to make my desires known, there's nothing wrong in that.”

In January 2003, just three months after their mission, the Kings were called as ordinance workers for the Boise Idaho Temple . For the next four years, the two made the long trek up to serve every weekend.

After nearly a year of serving, President Peter William asked to see Bob and Diane. Bob supposed he was needed as a trainer. He was stunned to learn that he was being extended the call to be a sealer. Though surprised, he had an overwhelming feeling that he could do it, and that the Lord would help him.

Bob quickly took to his new calling. His favorite work in the temple is the performance of sealings. When Bob is not doing sealings or some other work, you can be sure to see him at the recommend desk.  He finds this calling so rewarding because it allows him to meet many new people. For years, Bob's children have teased him that in his retirement he would be a Wal-Mart greeter because as a pharmacist he had most enjoyed visiting with his customers who would often seek him out to visit with him. He spent as much time as he could up front at the counter where friends would tell him of their families. Their news of births, marriages, deaths and ailments all got Bob's ear and he would share in their joy and console them in their disappointments.

As it happens, a Wal-Mart sits at the edge of the Canyon right near the temple, but, as we like to joke, the temple won out.

Why the Temple Has a Special Meaning for Him

Bob's parents, William and Clara, were not members of the Church when Bob, and his twin, Billy were born. When they were 11 years old, the twins were out playing and, while crossing the street, Billy was tragically hit by a car and passed away.  Bob witnessed the accident, and sadly recalls the horror and grief his family struggled with for years after.

Bob's dad in particular began to search for answers. He wanted to know what would happen to Billy. He visited many churches and found the message of eternal families, understood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the balm he needed to heal his grieving soul, and ended up joining when Bob was a teenager.  William remained an active member of the Church throughout his life, and, though neither his wife nor his children were baptized into the Church with him, Bob fondly recalls Sundays at the ward building with his father and siblings.

During the Korean War, Bob served in the military as a radio operator, and, after the war, occupied a barracks in Germany . While there, he found he had a lot of spare time, and began seriously reading the Book of Mormon.  He felt a strong impression that it was true, and chose to be baptized. 

The Twin Falls Temple amidst sunflowers.

He graduated from Idaho State University 's school of pharmacy, following in the footsteps of his dad, also a pharmacist. One day while at work, William turned to Bob and said, “You will have to do the work for Billy. Your mother does not want me to go to the Temple.”  Bob promised his dad that he would do the work for his brother.

When his mother passed away just a couple years ago, Bob was grateful for the opportunity to seal Billy to his parents.

A Surprise Announcement

On Saturday, October 2004, while driving back from the Boise Temple, Bob and Diane were delighted to hear the announcement by then President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, that a temple would be built in Twin Falls . Where it would be, they could only guess. They never imagined that their drive to the temple would be drastically reduced from two hours to just two minutes! The temple would be built just three blocks from their home.

TWIN FALLS IDAHO TEMPLE

Upon hearing the announcement Bob had the overwhelming feeling that he would be called to serve in some capacity in the new temple.

Service Interrupted

It seemed so long for the temple to break ground. Bob took his daily walks around the Candleridge Golf Course where the new temple would stand. He imagined the temple rising up in his neighborhood.

On March 31, 2006, Bob awoke at 3:00 a.m. with an excruciating pain at the base of his head. He got up to go to the kitchen to take an aspirin with his wife following him. On the way back to the bedroom he stumbled in his steps as he sat down on the bed.  Diane knew something was wrong and called 911.

Bob suffered a stroke at the base of the brain known as Wallenberg Syndrome. Though the stroke left his mental faculties intact, Bob faced many new challenges.  He found himself nearly crippled by feelings of dizziness, vertigo, and facial pain.  He had to relearn how to walk, and had difficulty swallowing food. Particularly disturbing was his double vision for which he had to wear corrective glasses. 

Bob enrolled in an intensive physical therapy program. It helped a great deal, but he wondered if he would ever be well enough to return to the temple. He learned that if he was gone from the temple for more than three months, he would need to be reinstated to temple service, which meant his service as a sealer would be suspended until which time he would be recalled. He couldn't bear the thought of a prolonged period away from the temple with an uncertainty about his returning, so he made a goal to go back to the temple in three months. Faith in a blessing he received along with the care of his wife, family and the ward helped him to recover sufficiently to make a trip back exactly three month after the stroke. 

Bob was delighted to reunite with the workers in the Boise Temple , all of whom prayed every day in their meetings that Bob would recover to again serve with them. Bob knew he was among faithful friends, and he particularly enjoyed resuming his service with the brethren of the temple. “I had no idea how much I missed the fellowship of the brethren until I was reunited with them,“ he said.

Bob continued his therapy, which included resuming his walks around the Twin Falls Temple grounds. With each step and with each new stone laid on the Temple , Bob felt he was getting stronger.

Bob King doing his daily walk around the temple – AUGUST 2007.

Though Bob had felt he might have a new role in support of the Twin Falls Temple , he believed that those thoughts and desires might not be realized since having a stroke. He only hoped he could be a sealer or a greeter at the door. It's hard to imagine or dream of much else, but he was content with any role which allowed him to be close to the temple.

Two months ago, Bob awoke one morning and everything appeared blurry. He wondered if his sight was getting worse, but realized the prism he wore on his glasses to correct his double vision was no longer serving to help his sight, but was in fact hindering it,. he went to the doctor to have it removed. Feeling to his left side also began to return.

Bob King observing the construction of the temple – AUGUST 2007.

He now feels 85% back to health since his stroke. He still uses a cane to steady himself and he is sometimes more easily tired, but the work in the temple rejuvenates him. In fact, his recovery has been so dramatic that some of his friends have noted that it seems as if he's aging backwards, at times throwing off his cane or forgetting and leaving it behind. Nothing will stop his being at the temple. Diane likewise is drawn to the temple and looks forward to serving the brides and children.

On October 2, 2007, nearly five years since serving in the Boise Temple , Bob and Diane received a call to serve in the Twin Falls Temple , Bob as second counselor in the presidency and Diane as assistant to the Matron. They could hardly believe it and burst into tears of joy.

BOB KING, AUGUST 2007

With the same strength and energy as he put into his recovery, President Robert King and Sister Diane King have worked tirelessly alongside President D. Rex. Gerratt and Sister Marjorie Gerratt and President Karl Nelson and Sister Beverly Nelson to be sure the temple will be open the day after its dedication on August 25.

President King often quotes a scripture that sums up his attitude towards temple service, where the Lord says in reference to Solomon's Temple : “..mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” (1 Kings 9:3). Bob concludes, “I believe that scripture applies to modern day temples. If this work is important to the Lord, then it should likewise be important to us.”