Temple Bliss

This week we had Bucket at Funny Kathy's house.  As always, wonderful food (fabulous recipes to follow) and conversation.  As we were talking about various things, Sheron F- who was recently called to the Temple Presidency of the Draper Temple- (which  means she can't come to Bucket except when the Temple closes which  was this week.)- said she was speaking to a Women's Conference next week and wanted our thoughts about the temple.  I shared some thoughts and friend Gail said she was also speaking in Sacrament Meeting this week on the temple and could I forward her my remarks.  I searched my old posts and found this one.

This topic is especially dear to me this month as David and I actually started as Temple workers in the Draper Temple.   Just two weeks so far but it has already been a spiritual feast.  I'll share more later:

A line from one of my friend's poem (Elaine Christensen) says, "Some days you know God loves you." Wed. was one of those days. While I was at Lake Powell, I had the opportunity to read a book that I’ve been anxious to devour. It is called "The Holy Secret" by James Ferrill, the author of "The Peacegiver." "The Peacegiver" was a life-changing book for me so I was anxious to read his next book. I wasn’t disappointed. The premise of this novel is the question "Why don’t we love Holy things?"

"Many today carry a secret: We do not love what we have been commanded to love. We do not love what is holy. Although we might reverence things that are deemed holy- the temple, for example, and the scriptures, and the Sabbath- we do not love them. Not really. Not with our whole souls.'  James Ferrill

Our actions as a people suggest that as a body of believers we do not love what is holy. Do we do what we do out of obedience or do we love it? Are we "passionate" about reading the scriptures, passionate about keeping the Sabbath day holy, passionate about attending the temple.

I have been having conversations in my head and with my sweet friend, J. about the temple. I have had miraculous experiences in the temple. I feel the Spirit there. I yearn to do what is right. But I’m not passionate about going. My friend, J. is. I see that I am missing out on something.

It reminds me of when Travis left on his mission. Tenille and Travis were high school "true loves"....Travis and Tenille’s brother, Trent, went out about the same time. One day Tenille came to our house just glowing. She told us she had just turned in her mission papers. She said she loved getting their letters, loved reading about their experiences but WANTED her very own wonderful experiences. So she did! Awesome!

I feel that way about the temple and J.
I WANT to feel the way she feels because I realize that I’m missing out on something big. I was anxious to go to the temple this week, since I’m giving a talk on Sunday, but our Jordan River temple is closed. So I called J. to see if she would like to go with me to the Timpanogos temple. It was an amazing experience. Instead of being rushed, I prepared. We sat in the car for 1 ½ hours before even entering the temple (which is one of my favorites...it is so beautiful...I’m mesmerized by the glass work) talking about holy things. We were both going with prayers in our hearts. We were going to worship not just "do" the work. I was alive and attentive during the session. We spent much time in the Celestial room, apart, pondering the things we each needed to discuss with the Lord. I left with new insight, filled and almost bursting with adoration. It truly was a holy day. Thank you, J. for your influence and listening ears. (These are a few quotes that J. has shared with me through the last year...)

D & C 109:22- And we ask thee, Holy Father, that they servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon then, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them. (I've really not thought of leaving the temple "armed with power." Don't we all need that desperately?)
The Lord has planted within us a divinity; and that divine immortal spirit requires to be fed. That divinity within us needs food from the fountain from which it emanated.
Brigham Young Turn our meanderings into a sacred pilgrimage. Unknown
He does know, He does understand, He does care. And He has had us sacrifice to build sacred houses where the linkage of His heart, His 'bowels of compassion' can merge with ours.
Truman Madsen