FOUR MORE WEEKS! EEK!

Well, here I am.  Just four weeks left.  I commented to Larry yesterday that at the beginning of the week it seems like it will be long but by the end of the week we are wondering where that time went.  I think I am wondering where this last six months went.

 I love the days I spend in the temple. There is just a special spirit there but most days I am so busy that I fail to take time to bask in that spirit felt in the temple.  Our temple Matron, Sister Kealoha always reminds us that we need to take time to minister to ourselves as we serve diligently in the temple.  For me that means a few minutes of peace in the Celestial Room with my focus on what my Heavenly Father has done for me and the blessings I have received throughout my life.  I always take a little time to reflect on my eternal companion and what he is doing on the other side of the veil and if he is happy with the things I am doing in my life now as I prepare to someday meet him there. (Although, I hope that is not for many years.)

Each Sunday I feel like I have a Spiritual Feast.  Today I read the Sunday School lesson complete with five chapters in Mosiah.  The main focus on the lesson was that we, like the people of the Book of Mormon, have a living prophet who receives revelation from God concerning the members of the church.  I truly believe that Heavenly Father watches out for us as a people and gives revelation that will help the world in times of need.  Some of those things mentioned were: the beginning of Family Home Evening and how it helps families endure tough times, getting out of and staying out of debt, the changes in missionary service i.e age, method of presenting discussions, etc.  I know that each general conference, the things we learn and are reminded of come from revelation and are given to improve our lives and help with our understanding of gospel principles.

Our Relief Society lesson was on the blessings that come from paying tithing.  I have always done so with no questions asked but I remember one particular time when Carl and I went to tithing settlement several years ago.  We were building a new home, Ryan was on his mission so we were paying for that and tithing, I was teaching part time but also had gone back to school and was paying tuition.  When we looked at our income versus the amount paid out for tithing and the mission we were amazed at how much of our income that was yet we were still able to buy the things we needed for our family and the new home.  I truly have a testimony of tithing.

Tonight we attended the annual Temple Devotional.  Larry was asked to bear his testimony and did a very nice job expressing our gratefulness for the opportunity to serve this mission in the Laie Temple.  He also told of a couple of spiritual experiences he has had while in the temple.
We were reminded by President Nihipali that it doesn't matter how far away the temple is from where you live but how far away you are from the temple.  I really liked that analogy.  We need to attend the temple regularly in order to gain that knowledge and and faith that are required of us by God.
Sister Kealoha spoke of the fact that in the 1000 years of the millennium, we will be those people working in the temples of the world doing the work for all who will accept the gospel on the other side of the veil.
President Kealoha talked of the sacrifice that we are all making to serve in the temple each week.  He reiterated the fact that the Lord expects us to sacrifice in order to receive the blessings of exaltation.  We have to sacrifice something good for something better.  That happens through temple service.

Many of the people there tonight expressed their sadness that we are leaving soon.  It is nice to be told that because it means we must have done what we were supposed to do here in a pleasant and friendly way.  We will miss these people as well.

On to another week.....