Husband jokes with me I never worrying etc. Only two times
have I felt overwhelmed, dark or anxious the feeling can not be put into words. It was unbearable
One of those times was when I went through the Temple for my first time. I am remember an overwhelming feeling of not being good enough. Not deserving. People like me don't belong there. The darkness and weight I felt was so awful I was getting physically ill. I got the courage to walk in with my sister and Mom. Right away the Temple president pulled us aside to speak with us. One of the first thing he said to me was, "I can tell you have been through a lot to get here, and then reminded me I was where I needed to be." immediately that darkness left. The blessings that have come from that day are overwhelming to think of. I was right where I needed to be.
Joseph Smith History 1:15 I kneeled down and began to offer
up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I
was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an
astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak.
Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were
doomed to sudden destruction.
Temples are the very center of the spiritual strength of the
Church. We should expect that the adversary will try to interfere with us as a
Church and with us individually as we seek to participate in this sacred and
inspired work. Temple work brings so much resistance because it is the source
of so much spiritual power to the Latter-day Saints and to the entire Church.
At the Logan Utah Temple cornerstone dedication, President
George Q. Cannon, then of the First Presidency, made this statement:
“Every foundation
stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed according to the
order the Lord has revealed for his holy Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan
on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness, moves the heavens
in mighty power in our behalf”
So what is the spiritual blessings we receive through the
Temple? I would like to share a story of my dear friend. She lost her son very suddenly and unexpected one day. I would
imagine this trial to be one of the most difficult we could experience. The
only way you could really ever cope with it would be through spiritual
strength. She has pointed out several times to me the moments she has felt the
absolute closest to him has been when she and her husband have attended the
Temple. At times that feeling has been so powerful at a particular moment they
later discuss it as husband and wife and really they had the same impression at
the same time. Through these experiences she has said they feel they have been
closer with him now then when he was on this earth. I know some people would
like to describe experiences like this as wishful thinking. But those who have
had the privilege of something so sacred know there is much more to it then
that. It is as real as you all sitting in front of me today.
Other blessings we will experience through Temple
attendance is a more full understanding of what our purpose is on this earth.
As we better understand this our relationships with family will deepen. The
desire to work on these relationships is much greater. What we are working
towards is much more then just a happy family or marriage but an eternal family
and marriage. As we live up to and keep
the covenants made in the Temple those relationships cant help but improve. If
we are struggling with things that may be holding us back let those issues be
addressed. Don’t be the reason your family is being with held those promised
blessings.
Not everyone has the opportunity to have a Temple
Recommend. Whether it be due to age or
perhaps your current situation we have other physical places we can go to feel
closer to our Loving Father in Heaven. Places that will help prepare us so when
we are ready we can go and enjoy the peace, guidance, and beauty of the Temple. A great place to start it this very church. Attending
all our meetings and most importantly partaking of the Sacrament. Thank you to
all of you who make feeling the spirit possible every Sunday as you prepare the
sacrament, lessons, keep the building clean etc. It is a great source of
spiritual strength for everyone.
One of the ways Satan will try to distract us from receiving
spiritual blessings to make us feel as though we are not capable or worthy.
I would now like to share with you the other time in my life
I could feel the advisory trying so hard from keeping me from knowing my
potential it was almost tangible. The weight I felt in my body and mind that
day was practically unbearable. That was
the day I was going to have my patriarchal blessing. Satan knew the strength I
would have through that blessing. I was only 21 and had just moved to Utah. I
had been here a month and knew as soon as I came I wanted to have my blessing.
That morning as I woke up I felt the feelings described earlier. I went to the
patriarchs home. A man who knew nothing about me, about my family, about where
I had been. As he set his hands on my head my anxiety and low self worth was
almost to much to bare. I was about to ask him to stop and say I can’t do this
when he immediately said a line that changed my life forever. Immediately that
weight I felt that fog I was in
physically left my body. Satan did not want me know I was of any value
or worth. He didn’t want me to know the potential of the atonement. I am so
grateful I over came those feelings of inadequacy. I now Know I am daughter of God of infinite
worth. Along with every other woman.
Satan wants to distract us from growing and reaching our
potential. His best way to keep us from doing that is by degrading our bodies
through temptation and low self worth.
On LDS. Org I found this:
Man is composed of two parts: a mortal body, and an immortal
spirit. The Lord calls our body a ‘tabernacle’ or a ‘temple’ since it is the
temporary residence of our eternal spirit (see Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3:5; 1
Corinthians 3:16). Since the spirit and the body together are the soul of man
(see Doctrine and Covenants 88:15), what affects one affects the other. By
taking care of our bodies we make our “tabernacles” an acceptable house for our
spirits.
It is amazing to me that Our bodies are held to the same
standard as something as beautiful and magnificent as the Temple. It makes
perfect sense.
For men I feel like holding Priesthood is a perfect example
of the potential our body and spirit has to be as a Temple. I am in awe of you worthy priesthood holder
Men. I know we live in a world full of pressures and temptation. Thank you for staying strong and over coming weakness. It is through
that Priesthood I have been sealed to my family in the Temple, it is through
that Priesthood I was given my Patriarchal blessing. I have a very STRONG
testimony of the blessing of a worthy Priesthood holder in a home and the
comfort that can bring.
As a woman I may not carry the priesthood. That’s ok. I know
it is meant that men hold those keys.
President Packard once said“Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the
highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its
holy calling and service next to the angels.” I know this to be true. We live
in a world that tries to distract us as woman from our divine potential as a
woman. Women are often treated by society as being useful only if they are
pleasing to the eye. Woman are viewed as objects. We need to dig down and see
our divine potential as much more then that. What we are capable of as Mothers
and nurturers’ is the very best way for us to become us Christ like as possible
in this life. I know it isn’t easy. I have gone through the pains of pregnancy.
I have had many sleepless nights not knowing if I would have the energy to even
function. At times I literally haven’t. At the same time nothing has ever
brought me such joy such growth as being Mom. Not only to my own children but
the many wonderful children around me. We are raising God’s children weather it
be our own or children around us. He trusts us and puts a particular emphasis
on the females doing this nurturing. I am beyond grateful for this calling.
As our Bishop pointed out last fast Sunday sometimes this
life may be hard and need to be endured. I am a firm believer in everyone has a
story to tell. We all have experienced sorrow and loss. The key is to have
faith in our Lord, know that he has the ability to ease that burden, because of
him all these wrongs and hardships will be made right one day. Because he chose
to suffer for our sins and sorrow he will help bare the burden. He understands.
I have no doubt that Obedience Brings Blessings. It is so
amazing to think that we have these physical gifts such as a temple, this
meeting house, our bodies to prove our obedience and because we are obedience
we are able to experience those blessing promised.
The scriptures are full of accounts of prophets through out
times asked to show obedience. For
instance Issac and Abraham
President Monson gave this analogy perfectly in his talk
Obedience Bring Blessings in the last conference talk:
A soul-stirring account of obedience is that of Abraham and
Isaac. How painfully difficult it must have been for Abraham, in obedience to
God’s command, to take his beloved Isaac into the land of Moriah to offer him
as a sacrifice. Can we imagine the heaviness of Abraham’s heart as he journeyed
to the appointed place? Surely anguish must have racked his body and tortured
his mind as he bound Isaac, laid him on the altar, and took the knife to slay
him. With unwavering faith and implicit trust in the Lord, he responded to the
Lord’s command. How glorious was the pronouncement, and with what wondered
welcome did it come: “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any
thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not
withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”6
Abraham had been tried and tested, and for his faithfulness
and obedience the Lord gave him this glorious promise: “In thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice
Can you imagine the Lord giving him this promise what joy he
must of felt. I to have a testimony this promise. As Pioneer day just passed, I
was reminded of the blessings I have experienced in my life because of pioneer
heritage. They too were faced with HUGE struggles and adversity. Because they remained faithful through there
many afflictions I know with out a doubt it has given me strength to be where
I am today. If 10 years ago someone would let me see into my life where I would
be I would laugh and think it was a joke. My path was not headed this direction.
To see myself with a Temple marriage and
my three beautiful children, in addition giving a talk at the pulpit would seem
nearly impossible and to be quite honest, not something I even understood or
cared to understand. I know I had prayers in my behalf. I know my Dad, Mom and
Step father attended the Temple many times on mine and my sisters behalf. I
know they had many fasts and I am sure knelt down in prayer countless times
praying for their daughters to return to the only things that would make us
happy, the blessing of this gospel. Slowly we all returned to activity. First
was my older sister who after gaining a testimony of this gospel through the
book of Mormon went through the Temple and served a mission. She also would go
to the temple, pray and fast in our behalf. During that time I experienced some
miracles. I wish I could say I turned my life around. But that was not the
truth. There is no logical reason I should be standing here right now. I did
not do this alone. At times I don’t
think I did any of it. It was through their prayers, there Temple attendance,
their fasting that I am here today. The
happiness because of where I stand today can’t be put into words. The
meaning my life has is far more then I
could of ever imagined. I can’t express my gratitude for those things.
Our faith will be tested in this life. I believe the
savior knows the true intentions of our
heart. But you and I don’t. We are given these experiences at large because we
need to prove to OURSELVES that we are capable. That we will stay strong, that
we will do what is right. We will overcome our weakness and struggles through
the proper channels. I can testify to you that as you do so the joy and peace
you will experience by doing what is right can’t be put into words. I know the
savior will literally take that burden from us and bare it so we don’t have to
no matter how big or small that struggle may be. Everyone in this room is
capable of experiencing these promised blessings. We can and will. There is no
reason we shouldn't.
"Spirituality, our true aim, is the consciousness of
victory over self, and of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one
to conquer difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one's
faculties unfolding, and truth expanding in the soul, is one of life's
sublimest experiences.... Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of
love, every brave suffering for the right; every surrender of self to something
higher than self; every loyalty to an idea; every unselfish devotion to principle;
every helpfulness to humanity; every act of self-control; every fine courage of
the soul undefeated by pretense or policy, but by being, doing, and living of
good for the very good's sake -that is spirituality."
-David O. Mckay
President Hinckley
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste
a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that
most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be
people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration,
most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail
journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only
occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to
thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
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