Bern Switzerland Temple

This is the second time I’ve been to this temple. The first time was in 1979 on my Around the World trip. Earlier in the trip, I had been pickpocketed in Egypt and lost my temple recommend! President Dan Rona of the Jerusalem branch interviewed me as my “bishop”, and President Emil Fetzer, president of the Bern Temple interviewed me as my “stake president”, after calling Elder Carlos Asay of the Quorum of the Seventy at 4:30 AM Utah time to get permission!

Today, I left the Ambassador Hotel, caught the free tram outside, rode it for 7 minutes, then exited at the Bern train station. I then caught another free train and took it three stops north to Zollikofen. There, I exited and walked for 5 minutes to the temple.

Time was of the essence here as the temple opened at 9, and our MUST-CATCH train back to Paris left at 10:34. I figured I had time to do 2 initiatories.
I arrived at the temple at 8:26. At the initiatory area, there was a card there with 5 names on it. Three of them had been done. You do the math! I felt like the Lord was expecting me! Three other patrons were there. They were kind enough to let me go first. 🙏

I was done around 9:05, walked back to the station, caught the train back to Bern, then caught the tram back to the hotel. A quick check-out, then back to the tram, back to Bern Station, and with 10 minutes to spare, we boarded the train to Geneva!

All is well!

A bench across from the tram station outside the hotel. It is completely made of branches!

The Bern Switzerland Temple was the 9th temple dedicated by the Church. President David O. McKay dedicated it in 1955. Here are a series of “firsts” about this temple:

The Bern Switzerland Temple was the first temple built in Europe (and in Switzerland).

The Bern Switzerland Temple was the first “overseas” temple built by the Church.

The Bern Switzerland Temple was the first temple to use film presentation of the endowment ceremony.

The Bern Switzerland Temple was the first temple where English would not be the predominant language.

The Bern Switzerland Temple was originally named the Swiss Temple.

The Bern Switzerland Temple is a sister building to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. (The above firsts were taken from churchofjesuschristtemples website.)

I am now on my way back to Paris! I shall Miss Switzerland 🇨🇭!!!