After packing their bags and preparing lunch the night before, Roan and Sigfred Duksin will begin their 12-hour journey from Sligo, a town in northwest Ireland, to the nearest temple in Preston, England, at 3:45 a.m. on October 14.
“We leave here at 3:45 a.m. and arrive at Preston England Temple around 3 or 4 p.m.,” Lorne Duxin said.
The Ducasins were born in the Philippines and moved to Ireland to work and study English. Lorne Ducousin was the first to arrive in 2002, followed by Sigfred Ducousin in 2003. In the Philippines, they lived quite close to the temples. So traveling such a distance was part of the adjustment.
They drove three hours from Sligo to Dublin, Ireland, picking up several branch members along the way. They then take a three-hour ferry ride to Holyhead in Wales. Once you arrive at the port, reload your car and drive for another 3-4 hours depending on traffic and stops.
After a long journey, they finally reach the Temple of Preston England and head to the guardian’s residence. Upon joining the company, Lorne Duxin felt a sense of peace and belonging.
“On my travel days, I already feel like I’m at home,” Lorne Duxin said. “You hear noise inside[the temple accommodation]and it’s the sound of children just coming out of the temple playing happily, or elders having fun, or young people giggling. That noise is a safe, happy noise. It’s different from the noise outside.”
The Dukashins and other members of the Sligo branch worship at the temple for three days before making the long journey back to Ireland.
In 2020, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Lone Duxin gathered many names to perform the proxy ceremony. Since then, she and Sigfred Ducusin have been steadily considering names, coming up with as many names as the circumstances allow.
The Dukushins come to the temple at least twice a year.
“We don’t take breaks at the temple,” Lone Duksin said.
Their only downtime is short enough to refresh and sleep through the night. Because there are many rituals that must be performed, the Dukashins attend all the sessions available to them during their three days at the temple.
“We felt God’s work of salvation accelerating,” Lorne Duxin said. “Our physical limitations do not hinder the Lord’s work.”
Lorne Duxin said 12 congregations and more than 4,200 members across the Republic of Ireland were seeing an acceleration of work for both the living and the dead.
Charlotte Tiernan, a member of the Sligo branch, was baptized with a partially completed font in 1971. At the time, members were working on building the first chapel in the south of Ireland. In 1972, the first chapel in the Republic of Ireland was completed. The church has six wards and six branches and continues to grow.
On October 6, 2024, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans for the Dublin Ireland Temple. For members in Ireland, this long-awaited announcement caused great emotion.
“I heard the temple announcement and I screamed,” Tiernan said. “I helped build the first chapel in Dublin, Ireland, and now I am looking forward to working on the first temple in Dublin, Ireland.”
Tiernan and her husband currently serve as temple workers at the Preston England Temple. Despite the long journey, they committed to working one week each month.
Having a temple in Dublin won’t change their worship that much, but the trip to the temple will.
“My temple worship is the same as it is now,” Tiernan said. “I always want to serve in the Lord’s house and do the best I can. We are currently training to serve in Ireland, but we will continue to serve in England. I feel blessed to be able to serve and work in the Lord’s house.”
Donal Cunnan, former Sligo branch president, said traveling long distances to go to the temple strengthens one’s testimony, adding: “The extra effort gives those who attend the temple an even greater sense of gratitude.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a total of 382 temples worldwide, including dedicated temples, temples under construction, temples announced, and temples in the planning stages.
