My Source of Strength

Life is not easy for any of us.  I believe we are here on earth to be tried and tested.  It’s not supposed to be easy — and knowing that doesn’t make it any easier.  🙂

So how do we get through this journey we call life?  Each of us must find our own way.  My personal source of strength is my knowledge and testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know He is always there for me, if I only seek Him out.  He will give me peace.  The world is a noisy place, however, and sometimes it is not easy to block out the confusion and turmoil of the world.  I love to go to the mountains or the ocean where I can easily feel close to the Savior and to my Heavenly Father.  When that is not possible, I have another option.  I go to the temple — the House of the Lord.  I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).

The temple is a quiet, reverent, beautiful place where I can go and block out the world.  We speak only in whispers in the temple.  I can sit in a beautiful quiet room called the celestial room and pray uninterrupted.  Then I can sit quietly and listen until I receive answers to prayer, or “personal revelation.”  While I pray every day at home and even in my car, those prayers are often hurried or interrupted by life’s challenges.  I don’t always have the opportunity to sit back and “listen” for the answers.  The temple allows me that opportunity.

Sacramento Temple

Special Temple Day

Going to the temple also gives me a chance to reflect on the covenants or promises that I made with my Heavenly Father in the temple previously.  It reminds me of my commitment to be the best person I can be, to strive to be an honest person, and to live according to God’s commandments.

I’m so grateful to have the temples.  The temple is a very sacred place.  It is so special to me that I’d like to share it with you today.  The short video below has beautiful pictures of temples — inside and outside.  The video explains why we build temples, and what we do inside.  There is nothing secret about what we do in the temple.  We often don’t talk much about it because it is so sacred and special to us, but there is nothing that is mysterious or secret.  If you’ve ever been curious about our temples, this short video is your chance to see the inside of temples up close and personal.  I invite you to take a look.  If you have any questions, leave a comment, and I’d be most happy to answer your questions.

Taking the Mystery Out of Mormon Temple Worship

Joy is Contagious

This has been the most wonderful day!  I spent the morning with my husband in the LDS Temple.  That alone makes it a joyful day.  Something else just topped off the pleasure like a cherry atop an ice cream sundae.

I sat in the celestial room of the temple and listened to a good friend tell me about the marvelous things that are happening in her life.  She has indeed been blessed the last few weeks.  I’m not at liberty to discuss the details, nor do they matter.  What does matter is the feeling I have in my heart for her.

Since leaving the temple all I can do is marvel at the great blessings that are coming to my friend, and I feel so happy in my heart.  I’m so grateful to my Heavenly Father that it is possible to find such joy in the happiness of others.  I’ve met people from time to time who can’t find joy in the happiness of others, and that is such a shame.  When blessings come to one person, they can come to others if others are willing to be the receptacle of second-hand joy.

“Who is the happiest of men?  He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though t’were his own.”  —  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”  — Marcel Proust