Are You Ready?

How do you explain to someone who has never been to the temple, what an impact it can have on their lives? It seems like the events that have been the most frightening in my life have led me to the temples. For example, last month I finally got up the courage to go to the doctor to discuss some symptoms that have been bothering me for the last couple of years. She suggested that I have some tests and a biopsy. The weekend before the biopsy I went to the temple with some friends, hoping for some peace and comfort. As I sat in the Celestial room, in a moment of quiet prayer, I didn’t ask for a miracle, I just asked for a calm feeling. Whatever was going to happen, I wanted to be able to accept it with peace. And I received that blessing. I was calm waiting for the biopsy. I was peaceful waiting for the results. I was filled with gratitude for the friends that stood by me waiting and rejoiced with me when the negative results came in.

I remember a song we learned while my children were going to Primary.

I Love To See the Temple

I love to see the temple,
I’m going there some day.
To feel the Holy Spirit
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young.
This is my sacred duty
Janice Kapp Perry

I’ve sung this song many times as my children grew up, However, I never thought about the last line. “I’ll prepare myself while I am young. It is my sacred duty.”
Even if we can’t go to the temple, we should prepare ourselves by living righteously.
It is what a loving father wants us to do so that we can live with Him again.

I remember when the church’s policy was not to encourage single women to go through the temple unless they were getting married or going on a mission. They also didn’t encourage women married to non- members to go through the temple. I could sense my mother-in-law’s sorrow at not being able to go to the weddings of her children, or going through the temple with her grandsons before their missions. But, when the time came that policies changed—she was ready.

I heard a television evangelist once say,
“ARE YOU READY TO MEET GOD?”
I’d have to say no. I want to spend more time with my family. But, preparing to go through the temple is a step on the road that I’m glad I have taken.

In the meantime I’m off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (also known as a retired chemist in New Mexico) I’m going to visit my dad, who is my wizard.