We just got back from a 2-week road trip. We visited Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. We had a great time visiting family and seeing the beauties of different parts of the country.
I can tell you though, 8 kids, 2 parents, and many hours of driving was not always easy, or exactly fun. We did learn some things though: the baby loves Winnie the Pooh, after eating citrus from our backyard Wal-Mart oranges taste terrible, Disney's Robin Hood has some great one-liners, Texas can get really cold in January, gas is super cheap outside of California, and we remember that it is so fun to visit and reconnect with family and friends.
Another really neat thing, is that everywhere we visited, there was a temple. The first one we visited was in San Antonio, TX. No matter how much complaining happened while we were trying to get there, once we got out everyone had a renewed spirit and was just happier! I love the awe of the 3-year old when she discovers Angel Moroni and the quiet reflection of the 11-year old as he ponders his sacred feelings. It was truly amazing to see how much we all quietly enjoyed being at the temple. The peace and love we felt was incredible.
While visiting Dallas, we were busily going from one family member to the next and we forgot about the temple. As we headed back to Jeff's brothers (later than expected) a little voice asked, "Were we going to the temple today?" We tried to explain that we ran out of time and that we just were not going to make it. All our reasons sounded hollow...we should not have forgotten.
A few days later we eagerly mapped the Oklahoma City temple, determined not to miss another one. As the GPS chimed "You have arrived, " Jeff turned into a church parking lot and said, "I think you mapped the wrong address, I don't see a temple." We stopped to change a diaper and let everyone out for a minute. We soon realized that we were at the right spot...the temple was being rebuilt and in its current state, it did not look like a temple at all! It was just a big construction site. The feeling was weird, we were there, but the temple we expected wasn't.
Fast forward a few days and we were in Denver, Colorado. The Denver temple was our temple for almost 7 years, so we knew just where it was. It was too cold to get out, but the feeling we had as we drove up to it was unmistakeable. That same feeling of love and peace reached out to us.
These amazing temples are here for us and for our families. Are we taking advantage of them? Are we taking the time to teach our children to love them, to see them, and to be there? Are we prepared even though we may be at the right place, but a temple is not available?
Love for temples starts early. My parents followed President Kimball's advice; “It seems to me it would be a fine thing if every set of parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so the [child] from the time he is an infant could look at the picture every day and it becomes a part of his life. When he reaches the age that he needs to make this very important decision, it will already have been made” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball (1982), 301). I am trying to do the same, but just realized that my baby does not have a temple picture in his room!
I encourage you to make a temple goal to be there more often. Whether you are a temple worker, or one taking steps to obtain a recommend, decide today to be at the temple more--either pondering outside or serving inside. This spiritual preparedness is too important to miss.
I end with some prophetic promises.
"As we attend the temple,” counseled President Monson, “there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart. We will grasp the true meaning of the words of the Savior when He said: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ [John 14:27]. Thomas S. Monson, “Blessings of the Temple,” Liahona, May 2015, 91.
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) promised: “If you will go to the house of the Lord, you will be blessed, life will be better for you. … Avail yourselves of the great opportunity to go to the Lord’s house and thereby partake of all the marvelous blessings that are yours to be received there” (“Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, July 1997, 73; emphasis added)
Elder Richard G. Scott promised: “Regular [temple] attendance will enrich your life with greater purpose” (“Receive the Temple Blessings,” Ensign,May 1999, 26; emphasis added).
President Thomas S. Monson also promised: “As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation” (“Blessings of the Temple,” Liahona, Oct. 2010, 15; emphasis added).
No comments:
Post a Comment