The temple: a place of refuge

On Saturday I received my endowment in the Las Vegas Nevada temple. I loved every minute of being in the temple that day. My mom and I got there an hour and a half before the rest of my family because I got washed and annointed. The washing and annointing was so beautiful. I can't wait to go back as a proxy and hear the words of that blessing again. Afterwards, we met with the temple matron, Sister Stucki. She told us that it was her last day serving in the temple. Her husband just got released from the temple presidency. I was the last Sister she got to teach about the temple. I could feel the love she has for the temple penetrate through her voice as she taught me of it. She spent an hour with us which felt like only a few minutes. She has a special place in her heart for Sister missionaries and was pleased to hear I am serving a mission. She and her husband were mission President (and wife) over the Manchester England mission several years ago. Sister Stucki taught me the importance of the priesthood keys restored from Elijah to Joseph Smith which allows us to make the temple covenants we do. She explained each of the covenants and helped me understand them before I went into the endowment room of the temple and covenanted. If it wasn't for my Bishop suggesting that I go to the temple early, I wouldn't have had Sister Stucki's insights which helped me feel at peace and comfort throughout the endowment session. I just loved her and my mom did too.

I attended the temple again yesterday and love the safeness of it. It really is a place of refuge. A place where the spirit of the Lord will always reside. I felt it yesterday as I felt it Saturday. It's quiet, and my mind is clear. I noticed that the thoughts and impressions I had yesterday were very different than those I had Saturday because I wasn't thinking so much of myself, but of someone else, making the same covenants I did and qualifying themselves worthy to enter God's presence. I also recognized the highlights of Saturday when comparing them to the session I attended yesterday.

Some of the highlights were:
-My siblings and parents were in the temple with me
-My mom was sitting by my side
-Steph and Mike were chosen to be the witness couple
-The celestial room was filled with my family and reminded me that families are forever
-I had help from sisters and temple workers throughout each step of the endowment session.
-I got to receive the blessing of my own endowment
-I gained a stronger testimony that the Temple is the Lord's House and he is at the head of this work

I loved seeing my family members all in the temple with me. Their smiles and actions added to the greatness of this day and helped me know that this work is true. I really appreciate Steph and Mike and Em and Chad for driving out here, paying babysitters, and even spending Halloween here in Henderson. It was one of the best weekends I've ever had. We were all able to be together. Can't wait for the next holiday! :) I missed Jeff a lot. He couldn't get work off to come down, but he and I already scheduled out to go to the temple when I come up to Utah for my farewell! Well, this post is long but I just want my family and friends to know that I love the temple and the Spirit I can feel there. I can't get enough of it. It really is the Lord's House. He has walked the halls of the temple. I could feel that. The ordinances and covenants are sacred and eternal. I know temple work is true and vital for our exaltation. We are so lucky to have so many temples in the world. I heard a statistic. It's that 80% of the members of the church live within 200 miles of a temple. There is no reason not to attend. We are blessed as we attend and it is the only way to help those progress on the other side of the veil. I have the day off work today and I'm leaning towards going back to the temple again! Yesterday my mom said, "Aren't you nervous to go by yourself?" I said, "No." And she's like, "We can schedule a time to go together later this week." But I figure, if I have any free time, I should go as much as I can, even if I am alone. I actually really enjoyed being alone in the temple. It allowed me to be on my own timeline. I could sit in the celestial room and read and pray as long as I wanted. I didn't want to leave! But when I did, I felt uplifted and happy. The temple sits so close to the Las Vegas strip, surrounded by the flashing lights, it stands the brightest. As I exited the temple I looked out at the city all lit up and thought of the many people in this world who need the gospel. Pretty soon it will be my responsibility to teach some of them the importance of Christ in our lives and they will be able to enter the temple! It is crucial we get to the temple to make it back to our Father in Heaven. What a special blessing it is to have temples!

P.s. I forgot to mention that I love my temple dress :) It is so nice to be in all white in the temple, and to see others the same. Thanks to my grandma who found a smaller size in Utah in the style I couldn't live without. She overnighted it from Utah! I also am already used to the "Gs". I feel so guilty taking them off for even an hour to go run! ha ha. They make me feel so safe and clean! Whoever said they're hard to get used to is lying. The silk ones are so light, I feel like I'm not even wearing an extra layer. I absolutely love them.

Enjoy the pictures!

Celebrating at Olive Garden
I love my family!