So, Monday and Tuesday we worked in the temple open house showing the video at the beginning of the tour and answering questions and asking people to fill out comment cards in the reception tent. It was pretty amazing to get to see how the spirit being so strong inside the temple can touch people’s hearts and change so much for them. It’s also been interesting to see a few people who are so set in their ways and ideas that even after they’ve gone through such a great experience they don’t seem to have learned anything. I think that it comes with the mindset with which they enter. I can think of a few times that I entered the temple before my mission with the wrong kind of mindset and honestly I didn’t really feel the spirit as far as I can tell. I think it’s because I was closed off to it and couldn’t feel, but little by little I’ve been learning how to soften my own heart so that I can learn and grow by listening to the spirit.
Something that’s been helping me out the last week is thinking about the savior more and more. I realized that for our baptismal covenant we promise God that we will take the name of Christ upon us and that we will always remember him. I realized that I don’t do that last part very well. Sometimes I’m walking through the street and my sad little 16 month old missionary body hurts and my feet complain while my back aches and I think about how tired I am and how nice it would be to go take a nice long nap. Throughout this week I’ve been working hard to look down at my nametag and notice the name that’s in the center of it so that I can remember everything he did for me. He felt my every ache and pain and paid the price for each of my sins. Then, he died for me and you. After going through all of that in a moment that he could have taken a moment to breath and relax he got up and went to the spirit world to teach those who were waiting for him. He never stopped because of his pain and never gave in because of his trials. He didn’t let himself become more important than his father and his brothers and sisters. In that moment when he wanted another way out in the Garden of Gethsemani he said to God not my will but thine be done. He chose to keep going because of his love. So now whenever I have a moment where I feel defeated I think of him and how I now can feel peace and joy that before I could not feel and it is only because of what he has done for me and that gives me the strength that I need to keep going. Because for me his will is more important than mine. I want him to be happy and I want every one of my brothers and sisters to be happy because when they are truly happy I am truly happy.
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!
