Burdens and the Temple

This past year Brent and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. We were remarried by Elvis in Las Vegas at the Graceland chapel and then had Thanksgiving with my family.  After that we went to Salt Lake City to have the second half of our anniversary.  We decided that there was no better way to spend our actual anniversary than doing what we had done that day 15 years ago which was to be in the temple.  We left Emma with friends and took off early that morning to get into one of the first sessions in Salt Lake.  I had never been to a live session before so I was really excited.  By the time we fought traffic and found the front we were late for the session we wanted and were looking at waiting..  The sweet sisters working the clothing desk told us instead of waiting to go do Initiatories.  So cool!!!  

The thing about all of this that I failed to mention is that we had just recently decided to move to Louisville Kentucky and I was having a very hard time being in Salt Lake when there was so much to do at home, not to mention the emotional stress I was feeling at making such a life changing move.  We had planned this trip, booked the rooms, and were there but I was frustrated and couldn't keep my mind from wandering back to all the responsibilities.

Well, there I was in the Initiatory rooms. I mentally decided to block everything that I'd been vexed about and focus on what was being said. The sweet blessings for the work I was performing for those spirits who have already gone Home washed over me and became very powerful.  I realized that I already had these blessings years before when I received my own endowments and that the blessings placed upon my shoulders were still as good as the day I received them.  I realized I could handle the burdens placed upon my shoulders because I was blessed to do so.  Coming upon this remembrance was a completely humbling experience.  The sisters serving with me watched as tears streamed from my face and we all felt how strong the presence of the Spirit of the Lord was with us. I felt honored to be proxy to receive these blessings in person for my sister in heaven, and blessed to be reminded of how much the Lord loves me.

The next month was hard and not without burdens but I decided to share this experience often with friends to help myself more than anything. By sharing my experience it kept it fresh in my mind and helped me to remember that I could handle it all.