Blessings in and of the Temple

Boston Temple July 24, 2013 

Endowment, resting in Celestial beauty, a priesthood blessing, safety, security, and feeling renewed. 

Five months to the day (today is December 24) is when I went through the Boston Temple. I hope I can continue feeling the peace I felt there that day for the rest of my life. What a sweet and inspiring memory. 

It was my last day off at camp and plans fell through with my friend Meganne so I asked to borrow a camp car, got dressed, and drove the two and a half hours to Boston from Fayette, Maine. The AC wasn't working in the car, I had a headache, I was scared of Boston traffic a little, but I wanted to go and serve The Lord and receive the peace He promises when serving Him. So I went. 

I spent a total of four hours in the temple, two hours for the Endowment session, which was only me and one other woman besides the temple workers, and two hours basking in the peace of the Celestial room and getting a priesthood blessing from one of the temple presidency. 

I felt I needed a spiritual recharge, a refocus of sorts. This year at camp it wasn't as hard to keep the Spirit with me because I chose to not go places and be around things that weren't conducive to the Spirit. I chose to try and have a better attitude about people and situations, but I still felt weaker there. I think it had to do with the complete exhaustion stemming from the unhealed concussion, which made it hard to study my scriptures and then the hard work I put in at camp. I also recognize when I get really "busy" my personal prayers are not always as sincere, which I believe weakens us too and at camp I was really busy. 

Feeling weak always has me in awe though, because I am able to recognize the hand of The Lord supporting me during that time of learning. A time of learning that has come either because of my mistakes and imperfections, requiring humility and repentance on my part, or a time of learning that comes just because it does. This learning allows me to have greater faith in Heaven and in knowing God knows what I need to learn to become the best Sarah. 

I chose to ask for a comfort blessing at the temple because I felt I should. How beautiful it was too. I had received a comfort blessing before leaving for camp that didn't necessarily bring me comfort... Truthfully it kinda scared me. However, the lessons of that original blessing were reinforced with different words and greater perspective by being in the temple. I'm to continually keep my eyes open and be aware of my surroundings and I am to look forward to the great day when I can bath my Saviors feet with my tears when he comes to earth again. It was a really beautiful blessing and I felt so very peaceful after. 

I felt safe, I felt refreshed, I felt renewed. 

I know the temple can do that for each of us, every time, if we go with a sincere desire to serve The Lord. 

I. Love. The. Temple.