I just returned from the Boise Temple Dedication. The entire state of Idaho is participating in three different sessions offered. Our family (Stephen and I, Lex, Mason, and Lily) attended the 9 'o clock session. It was a special experience to be part of and I am very grateful that I was able to share this moment with members of my family.
We were instructed well and were able to feel the testifying spirit of the Holy Ghost bear witness that what was happening was good and true. I was humbled and felt reverent feelings for the opportunity to be taught by the prophet of our church. President Thomas S. Monson, from the House of the Lord. He told a story of a group of wonderful saints from Guatemala who traveled up through Mexico and toward the Mesa Arizona temple to receive the sacred blessings of the temple. They traveled on an old rickety bus, which broke down on their way – which eventually arrived at the temple only after the people on the bus went without food for three days to pay for the repairs for the bus. The temple president of the Arizona temple had been inspired that they would be arriving and went to work preparing food, and lodging arrangements for those truthful saints. This story spoke to me of the importance and value we should place upon entering the house of the Lord as well as the understanding that God is mindful of His children. Because I have always lived closely to a Temple of God, I fear that I have many times taken it for granted. This story helped ignite a clearer understanding of the blessings that the temple can be in my life if I am more committed and have a greater desire to benefit from its power on earth.
I am grateful for the blessings that I have received from being able to attend the temple regularly. Not only are the obvious blessings of living eternally with my Heavenly parents & earthly family comforting, as well as grasping the concept of my heritage & my future posterity, but the simple and basic blessings I benefit from desiring to be there, such as: peace of mind as I live in this troubled world; a place provided for me to be still & quiet and focus on God's ways away from a busy and noisy worldly ways: increased faith and desire to be committed to follow His plan of happiness: Christ like feelings of compassion for others; more focus on remembering that I am literally a Child of God and am created in his image: and also the opportunity of gaining more instructions to know of God's ways and the things I can do to become worthy to enter His presence. ALL of these blessings come as I strive to be worthy and ready to let the Temple come into my life. I desire these feelings and blessings for myself and especially for the people I have grown to love and care about in my life!
I have a testimony of Temple worship and work. I know it is real. I know it extends beyond this earthly life. I know It Is God's house on the earth today and connects Heaven to Earth. I know we can come closer to God by being worthy to enter it's walls. I know that the instructions we receive there will enable us to learn what we need to know to see our Father in Heaven again someday. I know the priesthood power that is used in the temple make it possible for families to be sealed together forever. I know that true and lasting happiness come into our lives as we put Christ and his loving atonement at the center of our lives -the temple gives me the focus to use this atonement for myself as I strive to overcome my sins and shortcomings. I know God is real and mindful of each of us. I know He gives us our free agency to accept or reject all of these blessings. I know He is merciful and kind and loves us with a love that is beyond our understanding. I know God is in charge and that as I humbly submit to follow His plan for me, I will have more eternal blessings and happiness than I can begin to Imagine.
I know all of these things because of the strong warm feelings inside of my heart, which are given to me from the spirit of the Holy Ghost, as I've striven to contemplate, live, and then realize them in my simple life.