The Temple

 It's been a year since all of the temples closed because of Covid. It's one of those events surrounding Covid that seems so surreal. We had no idea in 2019 that temples would be closed in 2020. I feel comforted knowing that I wouldn't have been able to attend much more than I was already attending even if I had known. I feel happy to know that I was filling my temple bucket and I'm now able to draw from those blessings. (I had an arrangement with my neighbor to babysit my kids every other week so I could attend the temple during the day. It was my biggest gift of self-care to myself and I loved it.) 

I wrote this on Instagram about my feelings on February 12:

I woke up yesterday, February 12th, just really missing the temple. Of course, I've missed going to the temple for months and months but it felt very acute yesterday. After mentioning it to David I finally went and checked in my little temple book that I keep in my temple bag. Sure enough, the last time I was able to go to the temple was February 11, 2020. Yesterday was officially one full year of not attending the temple. It's interesting to me that my soul seemed to know the date, even though I didn't, and it mourned that year mark.

David and I stopped by the Draper temple on our date and even just being in the parking lot reminded me of this truth:

Even though I have gone without attending the temple for a year, I have felt those temple blessings in my life each day.

I'm grateful for the Power of God in my life and the continuous blessings of the temple. 

Temples have several phases of opening and although our temple is open for living ordinances it feels like it's going to be a VERY long time before they reopen for everyone. 

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In an exciting and wonderful turn of events, our nephew Nathan invited us to attend the temple with him when he received his endowment before leaving on his mission. We knew that he was preparing to go to the temple and to go on his mission but he was only able to invite 16 people to come with him.   We didn't really expect to be included in that number. He texted to invite us and I was so excited I was practically skipping around the house.

It was such a beautiful evening to be in the temple, especially with this group of people that we love so much. We would have stayed all night - it just felt so good to be in the temple. 

I wish we knew when we'd be able to come back again - but I'm truly just so glad that we didn't have to wait longer than a year to go back (It was more than a year day wise- but February to February doesn't feel as awful as it could be.) 

I wanted to include and echo Elder Bednar's words about returning to the temple here (emphasis mine):

“Returning to the temples is something we have prayed for and looked forward to with great anticipation. We rejoice in the opportunity to again serve and worship in holy temples, even if our experience will be different because of constraining circumstances and additional sacrifices we are asked to make.”

President Thomas S. Monson: “Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure.”

“Because of our desire to follow the Savior, we are learning to do things in new and sometimes better ways. We are now preparing to enter Phase 3 of temple reopening. We are committed to reopen each temple in a careful and cautious way to avoid the spread of disease and protect both patrons and temple workers.”

“I invite every youth and adult member of the Church to obtain and hold a current temple recommend even if we live a great distance from the temple or cannot attend frequently because of present limitations.” 

 

“Our participation in temple worship is a sacred privilege, not an entitlement or simply part of our established routine. We do not come to the temple to hide from or escape the evils of the world. Rather, we come to the temple to receive the power of godliness through priesthood ordinances that enable us to confront and conquer the world of evil.”

“For a while we may not be able to attend the temple as we did in the past—on a weekly or monthly basis. However, we will be blessed in remarkable ways as we honor and cherish the covenant relationship we have with our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and as we apply in our homes the principles we have learned and the patterns we have observed in the Lord’s holy house.”

“We do not know how long adjustments to temple worship will be necessary, but no power or influence can stop this glorious work from progressing and achieving its eternal purposes.”