It could be said that I have developed an addiction to temple open houses. The addiction was born out of wanting to provide my children with opportunities that don't come around very often. I looked at the experiences as adding to their spiritual armor.
We were just in Utah for general conference, a trip that we drove, and the kids were not at all excited about making a return trip so soon. I, on the other hand, was totally ready. I couldn't fathom missing the opportunity for an open house so close to home. I am referring to the Payson, Ut temple. This would make it 3 open houses in a matter of a couple of years. Who gets a chance to say that? People as crazy as me, that's who.
I kept looking at my calendar and willing it to magically come up with a time for me to make the drive. It just wasn't working out. I had resigned myself to not going. In the meantime there was all sorts of drama occurring about the final day of seminary. First it was the 15th. Then it was the 7th. Then it got moved to the 1st. Why all the changes? Seniors. I don't know if they decide to have the debate every year or what, but it really shouldn't be this hard to figure out when to end. The problem with the last date change was that we were told on saturday the 25th of April that May 1st was to be our last day. So 2 weeks of lessons was supposed to somehow be crammed into 4 days, with 2 days notice. Now, I suppose a lot of people just don't give a flying rip, but I do. I actually care about what I do and that just wasn't cool and it was completely unnecessary. The reason for the change given really didn't make any sense.
What's a girl to do? Well, I got a phone call from a friend that re-ignited this temple open house bug I couldn't shake. She was heading up to women's conference on Wed the 29th and she had an extra ticket and knew I liked to do things on a whim. Would I be interested? She also informed me that she was attending the open house while there. Seriously? How could a ditch my students for the last week of seminary? That's just not cool. I couldn't do it.
This latest temptation did, however, give me a masterful idea. I realized that the new end date of seminary may have prevented me from going to women's conference and the open house with my friend, but it did mean that my calendar would allow me to make that trip to Payson the following week. I could take Ethan and Jordyn out of school and head up to Ut anytime the week of the 11th to attend the open house. Yes! Victory was mine! I was moments from calling my in-laws to tell them of my plans.
While I held victory in my hands I was delivered the final nail in my Payson dream coffin. There was yet another change to the end date of seminary. Now it would be back to the 7th. Defeated once again.
That entire process was over a 2 day period on the weekend of the 25th of April. What I could have never realized at the time was that there was something much more important that I needed to be part of. To think I could have missed the whole thing had I had not been denied access to do what I wanted to do. What I thought was the right thing to do. I think all the date changes for seminary were a way the Lord could keep me from taking off to utah on either of the weeks, because I would have gone had I could have. It's not something I probably would have taken to the Lord in prayer. I don't know that I would have listened to a no.
Very long story short and not too many details, but some friends of mine are having a hard time. I've been going through a lot with them. One of them hasn't been attending church, praying to the degree of earnestness and real intent, and not carrying a current temple recommend. If I had not have been here to go through this process with them I would not get to hear a wonderful testimony of awaking out of darkness. I testimony of the power of prayer. I would not have received the excited phone call when the temple recommend was in hand. I would not have gotten to hear the tears of joy and rejoicing. I would not have just gotten back from taking this friend to the temple for only the 4th time in her life. I would not have gotten the chance to hear what a positive influence I've been. I would not have had the opportunity to experience Doctrine and Covenants 18:
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many soulsunto me!
I can't even describe the feelings I had. I thought my heart would actually burst. I was so flooded with emotion that I couldn't contain it. I cried like I never have before and immediately fell to my knees to give thank to my Father in Heaven for letting me be a part of this process with someone. I have never been so grateful for the opportunities that I've been given to love, to serve, and to bring souls unto the Savior, and I've never experienced a greater more pure, more lasting joy - ever!What it did is make me crave more experience like unto it. It made me realize that while I was after what I thought was choosing something better than good by having the desire to sacrifice to attend a temple open house, the Lord had the best thing in mind for me. Something far above my abilities to fully comprehend and take in. I got to see Heaven. I got to feel Heaven. I got to touch Heaven.
What is truly remarkable is that this experience doesn't just benefit my friends, it doesn't just benefit me, but it also benefits my children who went through the experience with me, and my seminary students who got to hear my testimony of it, and anyone who reads this. The most remarkable and wonderful thing about Heavenly Father is that he can accomplish so many things at one time. All things work together for our good and the good of others.
Through this process I was able to tap into the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. This enabling power is His grace. Through this grace I was able to gain access to knowledge, strength, and power that were not my own. I was lifted up and magnified throughout the entire process and it left me changed. How grateful I am for an all knowing, all loving Heavenly Father who took the desire of my heart and magnified it into something truly amazing by and through His son Jesus Christ.
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