Goal# 6: Attend the temple every week for a year
Well, if I were to be completely honest, it would be 6 weeks short of a year.
I love this image taken by one of the BYUI faculty
When I returned home from my mission in December of 2010 I knew that I wanted to spend more time in the temple. For the first year of my mission I wasn't able to attend because there wasn't a temple in our boundries. Fortunately, the last four months of my mission I was able to go to the Columbus Temple several times.
When I returned to BYUI that January I knew that I needed to be going to the temple regularly, esp. since it was literally less than a mile away from my apartment. During an interview I had with my bishop we talked about becoming an ordinance worker. I felt strongly that was exactly what I needed to do. After an appointment with the Stake Presidency I received a call from the Temple and had an interview with President Thueson of the Rexburg Temple.
We had a lovely interview and then he set me apart as an Ordinance Worker of the Rexburg Idaho Temple. It felt so peaceful and so right. I knew that was where I needed to be.
I was put on the Tuesday Evening shift and began that week. At first I thought it would be a struggle to keep up with my schoolwork when I didn't have most of Tuesday afternoon and evening (3:00-9:00ish) to study, but I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to work around. I looked forward to Tuesday more than any other day.
It worked out that I stayed on that shift from January until December when I graduated from BYUI (I did take a break when I moved home for the month and half break after Spring Semester).
Lessons I learned:
1) First, I loved taking the time once a week to focus on the eternal. This seemed to bring an appropriate balance to my life while I was focusing on school and career choices, etc. It was a constant reminder to focus on my relationships, my gospel understanding, and my love for the Lord.
2) I loved learning the ordinances and covenants of the temple by heart. This has become a huge blessing over time. I understand now that when we have learned those things well then the Lord will better be able to bring them to our minds and hearts when we need them.
3) I learned what a joy temple service can be.
4) I learned to love the people on my shift (although that really wasn't hard). They became a family away from family. I was really the only young single adult sister for most of my time there and the rest of the shift were middle aged and up. I felt like the favorite grandchild to a handful of newly gained grandparents. I felt so much love for and from them. It was a hard good-bye when it was time to leave.
5) I gained a better understanding of how the Lord communicates with me.
6) I realized the power of peace that can come from temple attendance and keeping temple covenants. That first year home from my mission was a great personal struggle. I was still learning to cope with depression and anxiety and it had taken a downward turn since returning home. The temple became a sanctuary from myself, in a way. There I could take a step back and feel the peace I so desperately would need.
7) I felt how close we really are to those on the other side of the veil.
I had so many wonderful experiences from this opportunity. I will always be grateful that I was able to spend so much time at the temple in my youth and that I was able to be tutored by such wonderful people along with the Spirit. I look forward to the time that I will be able to return as a Temple Worker.
