WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE BACK TO WORK

Here we are one week closer to going home.  I started this week by spending my two hours a week in the sewing center at BYU-H as I have been doing this whole semester. Like most other weeks, I didn't have anyone come for help but I was able to get a couple projects finished that I was doing for other people: a table runner for my sister-in-law, Debbie and a skirt mending for my neighbor, Judie.  We then made our weekly trip to Costco for groceries.  Milk in the grocery store is $5.00/gal.  At Costco it is $2.69.  Gas is also a deal at Costco at $2.09/gal. Then we attended FHE and learned about the Iosepa canoe that is on display at the PCC.  The carver for this awesome canoe talked of some of the tender mercies that happened in building this canoe that is actually used for some voyages between islands.

This week the temple reopened after the three week shut down.  That means that we as temple trainers have been very busy re-certifying the ordinance workers.  I think most temples do this once a year but this temple asks that we do it twice a year.  I really enjoy doing this because it gives me a chance to get to know each sister that I meet with just a little and feel of the spirit that is in the room when they repeat the ordinances for me.  I have been truly touched and my testimony strengthened by a few of the sisters in their love and gratitude for the ordinances they are set apart to help with.

Sundays are the best!  What a renewal I feel each week as I attend church, partake of the Sacrament and listen intently to the talks and lessons that area there for me.  Today was no different.  As I listened to one of the Sacrament meeting speakers, she mentioned a talk given by Sister Jean Stevens in the Women’s session of this past conference (Oct. 2014) on living up to our covenants (Covenant Daughters of God).

I came home from church and read the talk and have decided that this week I want to focus more on the covenants I have made with the Lord, which will ultimately let me return to His presence some day.  One of the comments she made was that the first saving ordinance that we take upon ourselves is that of Baptism.  Her comment was this, “As essential as and significant as the covenant of Baptism is, it is only the beginning—the gate that puts us on the path to eternal life. Ahead on our journey are temple covenants to be made and priesthood ordinances to receive.”  She quoted Elder Bednar as saying, “As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple.”  As I walk around this community of Laie, HI, and serve in the temple each day, that statement is perfect.  Looking out from the front doors of the temple is a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean at the end of a palm tree lined street.  This beach is called “Temple Beach”. 

Years ago this beach is where the baptisms were performed for the saints here in Laie.  They have since stopped the practice of being baptized here but what a perfect visual my mind sees. 







(The picture below is what I see from Temple Beach)

As we stand in the waters of baptism we can turn and look to the covenants we make in the Holy Temple of our God.  I personally am so grateful for the blessings that I have received from the covenants I have made--especially that of my eternal marriage in the Temple.  What would I do if I didn’t have the knowledge that I would once again live with my eternal companion who left this earthly life way to early? 

Which brings me to the third part of my blog today.  We are again, reading the Book Of Mormon.  I have been following an instagram group who is reading the Book of Mormon also.  (Social Media can be really helpful sometimes.)  The reading today is 

1 Nephi 17 and the question of the day is “How has the Lord been your light in the wilderness of life?”  I love reading the responses from other followers and today there were some awesome spiritual thoughts shared.  As I read of some of the trials that others have I realized that my life is no different than theirs in that we are all giving trials that the Lord knows we can handle and conquer.  We may not realize that at the time and feel as though we are going through a very dark wilderness with all by ourselves with no end in sight.  I have been there in my life a few times but with faith in God and His son Jesus Christ we can emerge from that wilderness and see the light of Christ again.  Nephi had some very hard trials with his brothers, his journey through the wilderness, his building a boat according to the Lord’s plans and his very long journey across the ocean to the “promised land”.  One of the comments today mentioned the wilderness of life that the early saints went through in just trying to do what the Lord wanted them to do when the church was restored to the earth.  I am pretty sure I would not have been a very good pioneer in walking across the plains and watching people starve or be murdered or die of disease but we all have our own journeys through life.  My journey has been filled with many small bouts in the wilderness (illness, money issues, conflicts with children, moves, new callings in the church. Etc.), a few bouts with a big wilderness in front of me, including the death of Carl and my parents and even the mission that I am now serving (I was taken right out of my comfort zone).  I am also sure that as I go through the rest of my life, which I hope is many more years, I will face the wilderness many more times but that through my faith in God and the knowledge that he loves me and wants me to return to him, I will be able to forge through those trials with an eye single to the glory of God.

For those who read this very long blog today,  I really didn't mean to go on and on about things but these things have really been on my mind today.