Cagawea, 1767 et al

It is fascinating to witness some of the names that come through for ordinances. Names are received from Salt Lake electronically and they are sent back electronically when the ordinances are completed. Today, May 1st, we received names for baptisms from such places as Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, USA, and England. Just by chance I happened to be watching the screen as some names came up with a personal connection to the past.
Cagawea
born 1767
Lemhi Shoshone,Blackfoot, Ida.

Cameahwait

Chief-No-Retreat

Shoshone Chief

Big Nose

Since we had lived in Salmon, Lemhi County, Idaho in the 60's and were somewhat familiar with the history of that area, this bit of information jumped out at me. Could this Cagawea be a relative of the famous Sacagawea? Perhaps a brother or father? It was interesting to me that I just happened to be there to be a witness to the baptisms of these people since this is usually done by local priesthood brothers. In any case these records were returned to Salt Lake that same day and were forwarded on to another temple someplace to have other ordinances completed.
Large numbers of people are coming to the baptistry on Friday nights and Saturdays. It is difficult sometimes to manage the numbers of people that come. This Saturday there was a young woman who had lost both arms and one leg in an electrocution accident when she was about four years of age. In the past she had only participated as a patron for confirmations but this time she asked to be baptized. She was baptized for ten people. It was a wonderful experience for her as well as for those who witnessed it.
Each week a different stake is assigned to come. This past week there were people from the assigned stake coming every day to the baptistry. As they were leaving on Friday night, I thanked them for being there three times that week and was corrected by a sister. She told me that that was the seventh time they had been there that week! They love to come. Each week is a new experience. New people from some far off place in Ecuador come to participate. It is still hard for us to imagine that these are all mormon kids. Many of them two or three generations in the church, are fulfilling an assignment of service that they have been taught by their parents and leaders.
At a sealing session Saturday morning, the sealers name was Verduga. He laughingly explains that his name means "executioner". Here was the "executioner" performing ordinances of Eternal Life.
On Tuesday morning, they held a special session for a stake that had requested an early morning session. We were there at 4:00 am and there were several people waiting to get into the temple. By 5:00 am they had enough people there for two sessions. Since on regular days the sessions begin at 8:00 a.m. it was wonderful to see so many people ready to serve on that special day. What a blessing to see such faithful saints employed in the work of the Lord.
This past Friday was a national holiday. Here in Ecuador the temple schedule is adjusted to accommadate the increased numbers of people who come to the temple since they are not working that day. People came from Quito and several other stakes. For us it was twelve hours without leaving the temple. We were tired but happy for the experience.