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Hey everyone! I’m the other Whitney, the author of The Life of a Mormon Teen! Whitney and I are doing a little blog swap! Be sure to visit
my blog for her post!
Today the youth in my ward had a temple trip. Because the
temple is two and half hours away, we only get to go twice a year, usually. The
temple is my favorite place. Ever. Hands down. For real. I love how incredibly
strong the Spirit is each time I go there. I love feeling how the veil is so
much thinner. I love the serenity of people lovingly speaking softly so that
the Holy Ghost may richly abide in that hallowed house. In short, I love
everything about the temple.
I remember a couple years ago I was at the temple with the
youth and realized something really important- I realized that I was home. Home
in the house of the Lord. I remember the significance sinking into my soul,
deepening my understanding and love of the temple. I was in awe that for just a
few hours, I could literally be in heaven on earth. I could be back in my
Father’s presence, almost. I remember touching the walls, staring at the
ceiling and chandeliers, and feeling that enveloping sense of peace as I
repeated over and over in my head, “I am home. I am home. I’m at home”. It was
beautiful.
My grandfather gave me some sound counsel which I shall
never forget a few days before I embarked to the temple for the first time at
age twelve. He said, “One of the first times your mom saw your dad was at a
young single adult temple trip. That is the best place to find worthy young men
with whom to spend your time, and eventually, one with whom you will spend
eternity. Choose to date young men who you can go on temple trips with, because
you know they live their lives worthy of the house of the Lord”. Seriously. How wise is that? This advice has
stuck with me, and will stay with me forever. I plan on telling my future kids
this.
Setting the temple as
our goal is so essential. Prophets counsel us to keep our eyes on the
temple at almost every general conference. The temple ordinances are the keys
to exaltation and eternal happiness. I have something really cool I want to
tell you about that- a really cool way to visualize that goal. So, I was in the
Nauvoo temple two years ago with the youth in my ward. We were finishing up and
waiting on a few slow pokes, but the temple workers needed to move those of us
who were finished from the chapel area of the temple to a different waiting
spot because another group needed to the chapel. We were moved to a little lounge-type place
at the foot of a beautiful spiral staircase. I remember standing at the foot of
those stairs wanting more desperately than anything to ascend them and discover
what lay beyond the doors above. I recall yearning to learn of and make the
covenants which I knew were taking place on the higher floors. I imagined
wearing a beautiful white dress, and being led up the stairs by a handsome man
in white, my future husband, whoever he may be. At that moment, I knew that I’d
allow nothing to stop me from eventually ascending that magnificent spiral
staircase. I would not justify any sin nor temptation which would impede my
progress there. To me, the spiral staircase in the Nauvoo temple is a very visual
and personal reminder of what I can have when I remain righteous and strive to
follow my Savior.
Each of us is capable of being worthy of attending the
temple. If you aren’t, become so! You will not find greater joy than that of
attending the temple. It’ll be the best decision of your life. I know it’s hard, sometimes, to stay on the
straight and narrow, but it’s so worth it! It really is! You’ll have no idea of
the joy you’ll find until you try!
So, I’ll see you there?
Whitney
