sweet goodness

It is no secret that I like chocolate. I like smooth, creamy melt-in-my-mouth milk chocolate. However, I've discovered that once you've experienced a fine European chocolate bar, it is so difficult to truly enjoy a waxy Hershey bar.

For me, it is the same with the Gospel. I believe once you have tasted the sweet fruits of the Gospel, it is difficult to be satisfied with less.

Many years ago I made a goal to increase my temple attendance. At the time, the increase meant attending once per month. The following year, I decided to increase it again -- this time to 18 times per year. I was fairly proud of myself (pride's a sin, I know, but I can only work on one thing at a time). However, at the end of that year, the First Presidency came out with a letter asking everyone to double their temple attendance for the upcoming year. I have to admit that I murmured. (yes, another sin) I kept thinking, why couldn't they have asked this years ago when doubling wouldn't have meant as much. Seriously, they have to wait until I've attended 18 times to ask me to double it? Thirty-six times for the next year? Is it possible? Could I do it?

I did it and found it wasn't much of a sacrifice. It was wonderful! I really loved it and enjoyed my time at the temple. So, the following year I didn't even hesitate to set my goal at attending weekly. Yep, I'd tasted of the sweet, sugary goodness of the temple and I was addicted! I continued going weekly even after I began volunteering in the temple baptistry one morning per week.

This continued until a couple months ago. For some reason, the universe seemed to conspire against my going. I would end up teaching seminary or Kevin would be flying or ... Not even really good excuses, I just couldn't seem to make it EVERY SINGLE WEEK. (except the baptistry volunteering of course).

A few weeks ago, I noticed that I was really struggling in life. My act was just NOT together. No major events or setbacks had occurred so what was my problem?

It became quite clear as I was back at the temple this morning. I had been experiencing severe withdrawals. That's right - I hadn't been feeding my temple addiction. Such peaceful relief to be back at the temple and taste once more of its goodness. I already feel like my life is getting back on track. I feel positive and hopeful.

I truly feel that if you've experienced one level of gospel-living, you can't go backwards without serious consequences. Move forward or pay the price. Personally, I'd like to keep feeding my addiction.

temple dedication

The kids and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication this morning! It was a tender, peaceful experience. Pres. Uchdorf and Elder Bednar were among the speakers and they are some of my favorites. It's the second temple dedication we've been able to attend in less than 6 months. What a miracle! Utah now has 13 temples. I, personally, have a temple to my north, to my east, and to be northwest.

A few years ago, as I was substituting seminary, I was speaking with a girl in the class in the moments before the bell rang. She had just moved from Florida. I asked her if she liked Utah. She did. I asked her the biggest difference in Utah and Florida. Without hesitation she replied "The temples." I asked what she meant by that and she explained that every single day in Florida her family knelt in prayer and gave thanks that the nearest temple was ONLY 2 hours away! I began laughing and said I understood. We started counting the number of temples that are within 2 hours of my home - Logan, Odgen, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Jordan River, Mount Timpanogos, Provo, and Manti (at the time Draper and Oquirrh Mountain weren't yet built). We could be at any of 8 different temples in 2 hours or less!

I often think my children do not realize how incredibly lucky we are! Heck, for that matter, I often think that I take it for granted far too often. Do I kneel in prayer every single day and thank the Lord that I have a temple only 10 minutes away? And that I can go there in my air conditioned/heated car after choosing what food I want to eat?

What is the best way to help my children realize what an incredible blessing this is? My nephew was here in June and was able to do baptisms for the dead for the first time. It was about 3 months after his birthday. Shanley wants to go on her birthday (and will probably have the blessing of being able to do that). I am filled with stories of people who save their whole lives, sell their home, or go without food in order to afford to go to the temple. How do I make these stories come alive in the minds and hearts of my children? That is my quest.

temples

Sometime after Kevin and I were married we both wrote 100 Lifetime Goals. Both of us set "attending every temple in the world" as one of those goals. That didn't sound like such a lofty goal back then (20-something years ago) but that was before President Hinckley went on a temple-building jag. Now, that goal seems much more difficult (although much more fun to accomplish?).

As a subset of that goal, I have tried to visit 3 "new" temples each year for the past several years. If I keep at it, and if no more temples were ever built, it would still take me another 30 years! At some point (maybe when kids are gone), I am going to have to pick up the pace.

I have done really well so far this year, though (thanks in part to Utah's own new temples). The year is only 1/2 over and I have already been to 3 new temples. Yea! I have been to the Draper Temple, the Mexico City Temple, and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Maybe I can sneak in a couple more this year! (And, yes, I am counting the Oquirrh Mountain open house as having been to that temple. I am sure I will have many more opportunities to attend that one over the years!)