I Love to See the Temple

Spokane Temple

I am so grateful we have a temple close by. It is hard enough trying to go at least once a month with my husband between coordinating schedules and finding babysitting for the kids. I can't imagine having to plan an all day or an overnight trip just to attend the temple and go maybe only a couple of times a year.

When Chris and I lived in Spanish Fork we talked a lot about moving to Spokane. He was wanting to move back home and I had always had a desire to move to the Northwest. (That is where I had planned to job hunt before I meet Chris.) Our only concern was that the closest temple would be four hours away in Seattle. That was our biggest sacrifice in moving. We were pretty spoiled in Utah Valley with the Provo temple just 20 minutes away and several other temples close by to chose from.

As we continued to pray and talk about it a miracle occurred. We heard the great news that a temple would be built in Spokane. Now we knew that our prayers had been answered very clearly and knew that we were meant to live in Spokane.

The first time I went through the temple (Provo) was January 15th, 1993. I had just received my mission call to serve in Manchester England. I had never had a temple class. My parents didn't talk or go to the temple. Most of what I knew was from my teachings in primary and Young Women. The temple seemed a little scary and I felt so little and lost. My escort, and the only person I knew, as I went through the temple that day was my best friend from high school. She was already married and had her first child. I so appreciated my friendship with her that day. She made my temple day so special and memorable for me.

The Provo Temple - my first temple.

I love going to the temple to feel the quiet whisperings of the spirit and the peace it brings to my heart and mind. It is so nice to be able to escape the "world" and all my worries for a small space of time. I am also grateful for many wonderful experiences I have had in the temples.

At the end of my mission I was able to go through the London Temple. This was a special experience because this is the temple where my parents were married and I had always wanted to go through this temple.

While on my mission I made good friends with a young woman who had joined the church with her mother. Her mother had died several years ago and she had been raised by her abusive step-father but had stayed true to the gospel and loved feeding us (just 16 years old) and going out with us doing missionary work. She asked me to do her mother's temple work when she found out I would be going to the London temple after my mission. I felt so humbled and privileged to do the work for her on behalf of her mother. I asked if she wanted to wait until she was old enough to go through the temple herself but she replied that she wanted the work done and wanted me to do it for her.

So as I went through the London temple I did the work for this young girl's mother. I felt such an overwhelming bond with this lady who had passed on and felt like I had become a part of their family. I rarely cry - but this day I was all tears.

London Temple

I also love the Timpanogos Temple. It is a beautiful temple in a beautiful surrounding of mountains. This temple is most beautiful to me because it is the temple in which I meet Chris and was then later married to him for time and eternity. I actually never wanted to get married in the Timpanogos Temple. When it opened it was the new popular place to be married and I didn't want to be in that crowd. I always wanted to get married in the Salt Lake Temple because of all the history and perseverance behind that temple. But after discovering my future husband in the Timpanogos temple and because of I-15 road work we decided to be married in the Timpanogos Temple.

The Timpanogos Temple - where Chris and I were married.

Another temple that is dear to my heart is the Preston England Temple. This temple is in my mission area. During my mission the Preston temple was announced and several months later the whole mission took a church history tour and we all got to see the ground where the temple would later be built. During the last month of my mission President Hinckley (then first counselor) came to dedicate the ground for the building of the temple to begin. Again the whole mission was able to attend this great event. Many of us pledged to come back when the temple was completed.

I was able to make that dream come true in the summer of 1998. Chris and I had been married for almost a year when my dad gave us airline tickets to England and Germany. We were able to show each other our mission areas and Chris was able to meet my English relatives. And of course top on my list of things to do in England was to see and go through the Preston Temple.

While in England we stayed with my Nan and Uncle Richard, who live just outside of London. Preston is 8 hours away from London. So we planned on driving one day, staying over night at a friend's house, going to the temple first thing in the morning, seeing more of my mission area and then driving home the next day.

Because it was a short trip, I repacked my bags so we didn't have to take everything with us. And while doing so left my temple recommend at my Nan's house in London. I of course didn't realized this until it was too late.

As we pulled up to the Preston temple it was so beautiful it was breath taking. I had this wonderful feeling come over me and so many memories of my mission and people came flooding into my mind. I was already so touched by the spirit and I couldn't wait to go in and fulfill my experience. As we got ready to go in I searched for my recommend so it would be ready to show once we entered. I looked and looked and looked. I couldn't find it any where. I was getting quite anxious when all of a sudden a picture popped up in my mind. My recommend was back in London on the dresser in the room we were staying in at my Nan's house.

At that point I started heaving with sobs of disappointment. I had traveled all this way and now I wouldn't be able to go in because I had left my recommend behind. I cried and cried. My poor husband tried to console me but I was just too miserable. After a long time - when tears would no longer come pouring out - my husband suggested we at least go in the door and see if there was anything we could do. I agreed - just so I could at least go in the door but not expecting to get any further. As my husband explained our situation to the temple worker at the door he called for the Temple President. The Temple President took me in his office and listened to my story. He asked if I was worthy and who he could validate it with. I gave him the name of my Bishop in Spanish Fork, Utah. The next minute he was looking up his name and calling him. I couldn't believe it. Did he not know that it was two o'clock in the morning there in Utah?

I gave him a quick reminder about the time difference but he said that it was okay - they wouldn't mind. (But he wasn't the one who would have to go back to church with these people when I returned home.) When the phone was finally answered, it was the Bishop's step-son who was on the other end. He explained that the Bishop was out on a mountain camping out with the scouts and so could not be reached. But the step-son was excited to talk with someone from England as he had just returned home from serving his mission in London.

So next the Temple President called the 1st counselor of our ward. He was a very elderly gentleman and again I was concerned that getting a call so early in the morning might give him a heart attack. The 1st counselor did answer the phone and was quite excited to talk with someone from England and vouched for my worthiness.

I don't know if this is standard or some exceptions were made for me but I couldn't believe the amount of relief and happiness that entered my body at the moment the Temple President told me I could go through the temple. The tears that I thought were all dried up came flushing down my face again.

As Chris and I got dressed and prepared to do an endowment session we were asked to be the witness couple. When we entered the endowment room there were several sisters and brethren who were there from wards that I had served in. It was so comforting to see them and enjoyable to talk with them afterwards. I was also quite astonished that some of them even remembered me from my missionary days.

After this experience I knew first hand how it would feel if at judgement day I could not stand before God completely clean. It made me realize how much I need the Savior to vouch for me and help me overcome my sins. I also felt the happiness I know each one of will receive when we pass through the veil and meet with our loved ones again.

The Preston England Temple - the one I almost didn't get to go in.

All these memories came to me yesterday as Chris and I went to the Spokane temple. We were there because of a special occasion. One of our friends was going through for the first time in preparation for his mission. It was so wonderful to see his family and friends be there at the temple for him. I hope he will have many more wonderful experiences in the temple and as he goes on to serve his mission.

I hope that some day I will be able to see all three of my children enter into the temple to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the many blessings that we truly are blessed with for going to the temple.