Sunday, June 21, 2009

Temple Memory


Today in Relief Society our lesson was on the temple. Several ladies shared precious memories they had of visits to the temple. I had a wonderful memory as well, but the topic wasn't quite right for the lesson. But since it's come to mind, I thought I would share it here.

When I was pregnant (back between Preston and Brekken), Aaron and I went to the temple to do some family names. These were names that needed every ordinance, so we spent an entire day there. We started the day by each doing around 20 baptisms and confirmations, then initiatories for all those names, then we planned to do a session with one of the names we were working with that day.

Being pregnant, I got tired and cranky easily. I hadn't thought to bring a little snack and this particular temple (Vernal) didn't have a cafeteria. So by the time I was getting to the end of my list of initiatories, I was really not in the right spirit. I was hungry and nauseous and exhausted and I just wanted to go home. Even as I was waiting to do the 2nd-to-last initiatory, I was thinking to myself that I was going to find Aaron after the last two names were done and tell him we were going home before the endowment session.

Then I began the initiatory for Sarah Matilda France. Suddenly, I had the most overwhelming feeling of happiness. I was THRILLED to be there and in every fiber of my being, I felt energized and happy. I floated through that ordinance. When it came time to do the last name, the feeling was gone. I still had little remnants of happiness fizzing in my blood from the experience, but it wasn't the same. I just knew in my heart that the happiness I'd felt was not really mine, but belonged to Sarah Matilda France.

After feeling that, I knew I had to go to the endowment session with her name. Which is a good thing, because the initiatories had taken long enough that it was time for the session to start, Aaron was already there, and the temple president was there holding the session waiting just for me! Thank goodness I wasn't trying to leave without attending that session. Throughout the session I felt that same happiness and excitement. It helped me thoroughly enjoy the session in spite of my own physical discomforts.

As soon as we were done, I lost that feeling again and I crashed - we went back to my parents' house and I needed a LONG nap. But I will always remember the incredible joy I felt when I did temple work on behalf of my ancestor Sarah Matilda France.

3 comments:

Tera said...

What a beautiful memory. How can you doubt the truthfulness of the gospel after experiencing something like that! Thank you for sharing such a personal and intimate story.

Mistaken said...

What a wonderful experience. It's good that you recorded that.

Melissa said...

What a great experience. Thanks for sharing.