Anyone who has simply walked the grounds of the temple knows, that it has such a calming effect on your spirit. Its quiet, and the architecture is uniquely beautiful. I have had times, where I was feeling so anxious, upset, and sometimes angry, and the temple was the only place I could find refuge. I walk inside, and I forget every negative feeling, and automatically feel so at peace, and that is a real testimony to me; You know you are in the spirit of the Lord when nothing seems to be problematic in your life, even the worst of things. It is within the walls of the temple I have received revelation Yes, real revelation from my Heavenly Father, telling me where to go and what to do next. Some of the most intense prayer I have ever experienced has been inside of the temple, and I always feel as though I am God's object of infinite devotion. Being worthy of the temple brings me the greatest joy I have ever experienced, it is at the temple where I learn more about my Heavenly Father, and grow closer to him.
This week has been a rough one, I did not think I was going to make it. Between work, and outside influences trying to crush and disprove the gospel that I love so much, my spirit was feeling defeated and low.
I haven't been able to go to the temple yet this week, so I feel that extra urge to share a story that always reminds me of Gods love, and the importance of the temple.
Just a few days before I received my patriarchal blessing, I was feeling nervous and anxious. I did not know what to expect, and I was excited to receive the answers and guidance I was praying so diligently for. I had been praying for comfort, and for ways to make me feel less anxious about my blessing, and I also had been praying for things that I thought weren't even making their way to God's ears. I wanted confirmation that He does listen, and He does answer.
I had been getting promptings for a couple days to call the temple and tell them I was coming, but I was ignoring them. I had no gas in the car to make the 20 mile trip, no money to fill it up, nor did I think I had the time. Then, as I was standing in the line to pay for my things at Khols, a voice came to me really loud, and it was not my voice, telling me "Go to the temple." I just shook my head to myself like, whoa that was weird... and went on with other things flooding my head. Just a few seconds later the voice came again, "Go to the temple." I was thinking to myself all the reasons I shouldn't go, and once again ignored the prompting. I was next in line to pay for my things, and the voice came again, and this time it practically yelled at me. "GO TO THE TEMPLE!!" So, I looked at the cashier loading a bunch of stuff from the person in front of me, and decided I could call and see if anything was open. Sure enough they had one spot at 3:00. I agreed I would be there, and rushed out of khols to go home and change. Its about a 36 minute drive to get to the temple from my apartment, and I was 15 extra minutes away where I was shopping. So I stepped on it, praying the whole way and telling Heavenly Father that if He needed me at the temple today, He had to help me make it happen.
By the time I changed into my temple clothes and made it back into my car, it was 2:40. I was feeling even more anxious then before! I just kept praying, and jumped onto the highway. Then, my gas light turns on. Feeling a bit frustrated, and wondering why on earth God has the sense of humor He does, I began to pray again, telling Him stopping for gas was not a possibility until after the temple, and that if He needs me at the temple, He needs to help me make this happen. The prayer was answered immediately and I kid you not, the arm ticker thing lifted up, just enough, and the gas light went off. OFF! And let me tell you, the gas light comes on and stays on in this car, it doesn't change its mind. I have never seen it go off unless gas was put into the car, and the timing was just too unreal!
I made it to the temple at 3:06, not too late at all. I walked in, and one of the temple workers said to me "We knew you would be a little late, and something told us not to start without you." I didnt realize at the time, but God communicated with them, and was watching my back. It blows my mind when I think back to the look on the guys face when He told me this. He received a promoting from the spirit, telling him to hold off starting the session until I arrived, and he was just as shocked as I was when the gas light went off; there was a reason I was at the temple that day.
Nothing out of the norm happened at the temple that day. We did our thing, and I reluctantly walked out of the temple doors. But it was after I had left, that changed my life.
I had decided to stay and read my scriptures since it was warm, and I walked around to the back, where it is quiet and there is no traffic from coming in and out of the temple doors. My mind had once again traveled back to my patriarchal blessing, and all of the things I wanted answers to, so I began to pray. Right there in plain sight, I began to pray out loud to drown out the voices in my head. After what was about 20 minutes of intense prayer and conversation with my Father in Heaven, I got back into my car. A feeling of comfort came over me, and something just told me not to worry, that all the things I had been praying for, was heard, and would be answered.
I look back on my patriarchal blessing and I read it over and over. Every single thing I had asked about, was answered through my blessing. No one besides God knew what I was praying for, and no one knew the desires of my heart like God. It was because of that prayer, at the temple, that I was able to clearly and specifically ask Heavenly Father those things, and He listened. He always listens. Things were said in my blessing pertaining to things I do and pray for on a daily basis, things no one else knows. I am so mind boggled, but I choose not to question heavenly Fathers ways.
I realize now that the temple is there for so many reasons, one of which is for our spirits to grow close with our Heavenly Father, and come to him in times of need. It is a place that is clean, holy, and un-defiled, just like God intended. Its a place to receive revelation, peace, answers.... It is home. I need the temple. It is the only place I can abundantly feel the spirit, help so many people, and still help my self at the same time.
I have such a testimony of regular temple attendance It is a commandment. It is necessary, and it is important. It is a place of refuge, a place of learning.... It is my favorite place in the whole world. I know that the temple is there for us to find peace, and to find answers. It is there for us to feel Gods love. It is a holy place; the house of the Lord. I love the temple!
I haven't been able to go to the temple yet this week, so I feel that extra urge to share a story that always reminds me of Gods love, and the importance of the temple.
Just a few days before I received my patriarchal blessing, I was feeling nervous and anxious. I did not know what to expect, and I was excited to receive the answers and guidance I was praying so diligently for. I had been praying for comfort, and for ways to make me feel less anxious about my blessing, and I also had been praying for things that I thought weren't even making their way to God's ears. I wanted confirmation that He does listen, and He does answer.
I had been getting promptings for a couple days to call the temple and tell them I was coming, but I was ignoring them. I had no gas in the car to make the 20 mile trip, no money to fill it up, nor did I think I had the time. Then, as I was standing in the line to pay for my things at Khols, a voice came to me really loud, and it was not my voice, telling me "Go to the temple." I just shook my head to myself like, whoa that was weird... and went on with other things flooding my head. Just a few seconds later the voice came again, "Go to the temple." I was thinking to myself all the reasons I shouldn't go, and once again ignored the prompting. I was next in line to pay for my things, and the voice came again, and this time it practically yelled at me. "GO TO THE TEMPLE!!" So, I looked at the cashier loading a bunch of stuff from the person in front of me, and decided I could call and see if anything was open. Sure enough they had one spot at 3:00. I agreed I would be there, and rushed out of khols to go home and change. Its about a 36 minute drive to get to the temple from my apartment, and I was 15 extra minutes away where I was shopping. So I stepped on it, praying the whole way and telling Heavenly Father that if He needed me at the temple today, He had to help me make it happen.
By the time I changed into my temple clothes and made it back into my car, it was 2:40. I was feeling even more anxious then before! I just kept praying, and jumped onto the highway. Then, my gas light turns on. Feeling a bit frustrated, and wondering why on earth God has the sense of humor He does, I began to pray again, telling Him stopping for gas was not a possibility until after the temple, and that if He needs me at the temple, He needs to help me make this happen. The prayer was answered immediately and I kid you not, the arm ticker thing lifted up, just enough, and the gas light went off. OFF! And let me tell you, the gas light comes on and stays on in this car, it doesn't change its mind. I have never seen it go off unless gas was put into the car, and the timing was just too unreal!
I made it to the temple at 3:06, not too late at all. I walked in, and one of the temple workers said to me "We knew you would be a little late, and something told us not to start without you." I didnt realize at the time, but God communicated with them, and was watching my back. It blows my mind when I think back to the look on the guys face when He told me this. He received a promoting from the spirit, telling him to hold off starting the session until I arrived, and he was just as shocked as I was when the gas light went off; there was a reason I was at the temple that day.
Nothing out of the norm happened at the temple that day. We did our thing, and I reluctantly walked out of the temple doors. But it was after I had left, that changed my life.
I had decided to stay and read my scriptures since it was warm, and I walked around to the back, where it is quiet and there is no traffic from coming in and out of the temple doors. My mind had once again traveled back to my patriarchal blessing, and all of the things I wanted answers to, so I began to pray. Right there in plain sight, I began to pray out loud to drown out the voices in my head. After what was about 20 minutes of intense prayer and conversation with my Father in Heaven, I got back into my car. A feeling of comfort came over me, and something just told me not to worry, that all the things I had been praying for, was heard, and would be answered.
I look back on my patriarchal blessing and I read it over and over. Every single thing I had asked about, was answered through my blessing. No one besides God knew what I was praying for, and no one knew the desires of my heart like God. It was because of that prayer, at the temple, that I was able to clearly and specifically ask Heavenly Father those things, and He listened. He always listens. Things were said in my blessing pertaining to things I do and pray for on a daily basis, things no one else knows. I am so mind boggled, but I choose not to question heavenly Fathers ways.
I realize now that the temple is there for so many reasons, one of which is for our spirits to grow close with our Heavenly Father, and come to him in times of need. It is a place that is clean, holy, and un-defiled, just like God intended. Its a place to receive revelation, peace, answers.... It is home. I need the temple. It is the only place I can abundantly feel the spirit, help so many people, and still help my self at the same time.
I have such a testimony of regular temple attendance It is a commandment. It is necessary, and it is important. It is a place of refuge, a place of learning.... It is my favorite place in the whole world. I know that the temple is there for us to find peace, and to find answers. It is there for us to feel Gods love. It is a holy place; the house of the Lord. I love the temple!
No comments:
Post a Comment