New York City is known for its diversity, there are people from all over the world that gather in New York. This diversity is reflected in the church meetings and in the the Manhattan Temple. New York City has the nickname “crossroads of the world” because it brings so many different people from all over the world together.
The church meetings in Manhattan are conducted in multiple different languages some of those languages are English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and American Sign Language. There are two missions in New York City and those two missions stock the Book of Mormon in EIGHTY different languages!
The temple workers also experiences this wonderful diversity! There are temple workers from over 24 different countries! Some of the countries represented were China, Haiti, Philippines, Jamaica, Romania, India, Australia, Vietnam, and Mexico! All these people come from different backgrounds and histories but come together to serve the Lord.
The first temple missionaries, Brent and Wendy Cederlof, shared a beautiful story about their experience serving the Manhattan Temple. This couple said they “marveled” at how the unique group of workers were able to help people from all over the world. They were able to use their native languages to help temple patrons serve in the temple.
Bro. Cederlof remembers one time they had “a large and unusual sessions, consisting of thirty-seven sisters and ten brothers. And among them were ten Spanish speaking, five Chinese, four Mandarin, and one Cantonese. I felt very emotional to observe as sisters and brothers were assisted in their own languages into the celestial room.”
Brother Brent Cederlof said ”New York is one of the last major cities in the world to have a temple. The Lord has prepared a way for this temple to effectively serve temple visitors originating from many different countries and cultures. I have seen people from far away countries arrive at the temple and be greeted by someone from their own country;. . . It just means everything to them. People have been brought together who can handle just about anything and anyone. It is a beautiful thing. I can see the hand of the Lord in how this temple staff has been brought together.”
References:
Holy Places: True Stories of Faith and Miracles from Latter-Day Temples by Chad S. Hawkins