April 27, 2013
Dear Journal,It's been a while since I've written about life events! And even though I'm really tired, I've gotta write this one down! Today was the priest-laurel temple trip, and it was a very spiritually uplifting day.
I woke up around 10 and met a member of the stake presidency to get a ride to the Boston temple. (Oh, I forgot about before. Lately I've been trying my hardest to say a morning prayer with Michael so he has that example and will hopefully develop a good habit. So this morning I prayed with him and also started a fast so I could prepare for my patriarchal blessing tomorrow. I asked to be blessed with a prepared spirit and for a memorable experience at the temple.) When we were on our way, Steven and I realized that we had both forgotten our recommends at home! So, we worked something out so with the temple president and bishop so we would be able to go into the temple.
Before our appointment, we had about 40 minutes for a testimony meeting. One testimony that really stood out to me was Steven's. It was short and sweet but very profound and sincere. He talked about how Chad was encouraging him to get up and bear his testimony and he said he was grateful for friends who care about him and want to hear his testimony. That really resonated with me. I am so grateful for the friends I have in the Church who care so much for me and I can always rely on for any kind of support that I need. (I actually recently had an awesome experience with Jonelle, I'll write about that in another entry though.) Also, we were encouraged to enter the temple that day with questions in our hearts and were promised that they would be answered. I couldn't think of anything specific right then, so I just said a silent prayer similar to my prayer that started my fast. Throughout the course of the testimony meeting, some questions and desires arose in my heart, so I also said a prayer asking that I would be able to recognize testimony-building moments, to have the Spirit with me, and to know that I was worthy to be there.
We entered the temple. went downstairs to the chapel, sang the hymn "As Zion's Youth in Latter-Days" then I said the opening prayer. After that, the temple president addressed us and talked about temple work for the dead and encouraged us to find in our hearts a love for those who we were serving. (I just had a revelation while writing this- when the president addressed us it really hit me that these passed souls who we serve and baptize are our brothers and sisters. Later, when I was doing confirmations, one of them, for a woman named "Caroline," gave me the distinct impression that we were sisters. She was my sister, and grateful for my work. I didn't realize the connection between my experience in confirmations and the temple president's talk until just now- pretty cool. Come to think of it, the whole day really taught about the brother/sisterhood of mankind.)
After the president addressed us, I had the impression to start leading in music to keep the Spirit. It turns out we had a good amount of time to sing, so I'm glad we did, it really invited a peace and love to the baptistery area.
When I went to get changed, I accidentally locked the key in a locker, but luckily nothing else- whoops! I'll be more careful next time =)
Anyway, I did 10 confirmations and was also the last of the laurels to do baptisms. I hadn't purposely done this, but just wanted to stay in the chapel for as long as possible so I could sing with the other youth. When I got to the font, I sat down and listened to last couple baptisms that Angelica was doing. There was a woman there, Sister Pico, performing a baptism for her mother. First, she did 5 file names, then everyone took a pause before her mother's baptism. When they performed the baptism, I felt peaceful. Then I opened my eyes, and Sister Pico was sobbing she was so happy! Everybody in the room was moved and President Young looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said, "She is here." I was so grateful for this experience. With the help of the Spirit, I was able to recognize this testimony-building moment. I looked around- there were two leaders from the stake YW presidency (Sister Stephens and Sancher), 1 from the stake YM presidency (Brother Young), 1 from the stake presidency (President Martin), and a temple worker. Each one of them was crying and smiling and looking around at each other in awe. In that moment, I had so many emotions. Gratitude for my outstanding leaders who are such wonderful examples to me in recognizing the Spirit (among countless other things), joy for the presence of the Spirit, joy for the answers to my prayers, joy for Sister Pico and her mom, awe at the ability of the Spirit to teach so effortlessly, and joy for the soul that had just been baptized.
Sister Pico was then confirmed for her mom, and I performed 10 baptisms. I left the font with such happiness, and it was confirmed to me that I was worthy to have done those ordinances. This confirmation came to me as more of a realization of what I already knew. I didn't have to doubt my worthiness, because I know that I have been forgiven of my sins.
When I got back to the bathroom, I just wanted to talk to Sister Pico. I needed to thank her. By baptizing her mom, I knew she was doing the right thing, and she had also provided me with an incredible experience. Right before I was about to get in the shower, she came over, wondering where to put her wet clothes. I showed her the chute and then said, "Sister, that was incredible." I couldn't hold back the tears. "Thank you," I said. Tears filled her eyes, and right there, standing in the bathroom at the temple, she hugged me, a stranger who was soaked in her white jumpsuit. But in that moment, it did not feel as though I was embracing a stranger. She was my sister, my sister in Zion. What she said next hit the message home. She said to me, "I just knew I had to do it, because you know, in my home I am the only one who is Mormon. And my patriarchal blessing said it, so I just had to." Another prayer answered. I had asked Heavenly Father to help me prepare for my patriarchal blessing today, and he placed this woman in my path to show me what it looks like to be prepared- she was willing to listen and serve. The blessing said it, so she had to do it. That is all I need, to heed the promptings in my blessing. (I just had a revelation- I have to remember to think about things to ask the patriarch, because he's going to ask me if there is anything I would really like to hear about in the blessing. The one I'm thinking of right now is my mission.)
After talking with Sister Pico, I was filled with even more gratitude. Heavenly Father answered my prayers. I said a quick prayer thanking Him. (I also said one while waiting for the shower, before talking to Sister Pico, I forgot to mention that.) Both of these prayers were very simple. Sometimes you don't have to say much at all, just "thank you." Your spirit will do the talking.
When I went back to the chapel, they were still singing. It was so beautiful. We sang "I Stand All Amazed" and the Spirit was literally surging through me. I got chills about every 5 seconds. It was incredible! As we sang the second verse, my spirit was filled. It reads:
"I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend His great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own to redeem and to justify.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful,
wonderful to me!"
I was so grateful for the Atonement at that time, otherwise I wouldn't have been there. I wouldn't have been serving the Lord in His house. And I have only Him and God and the Spirit to thank. Another song we sang that really got me was "How Great Thou Art." That one always goes right through me- such an incredible song. The last song that really touched me was requested by Brother McCurdy. Now, I don't know if he was simply prompted, just likes the song, or knows who wrote it, but he told us we should sing "Come, Come, Ye Saints" which just so happens to be written by my great, great, great, great grandfather William Clayton. When we sang this, I was filled, and I mean filled with gratitude, specifically for William Clayton. Because he has the courage to come all the way from England, to travel back and forth across the plains, to listen to Joseph Smith, I have the Gospel in my life. If he was able to do it, I can do it too! I owe it to everyone that is to come (as well as many others who have gone before and are here now). Here is a line from that song:
"We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away in the West,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell-
All is well!
All is well!"
Because of that faith, I have the gospel. It really hit me in that moment how much we are connected in this church. My grandfather helped to bring me the gospel, as did his descendants and many others. Sister Pico baptized her mother, and each youth did multiple baptisms that day. And we are all doing it for each other. We are brothers and sisters. We are all God's children, children of a King! (We also sang "All Creatures of our God and King"- cool! Related!)
Man- I love this gospel. And I love temple work. One of the coolest parts of general conference is hearing the "numbers". AKA the temples, members, missionaries, etc. I just love to hear about the growth of the Church- it makes me so excited! Because the gospel means so much to me and has brought me so much happiness as well as love for His children, all I want to do is share it! And it makes me so happy to hear about the Church's extension "to all corners of the Earth!" And that's why I love temple work. It's spreading the gospel. In essence, it is missionary work. Oh my goodness! I'm so excited to go on a mission! Holy cow...it's 5:06am...wake up in 3 hours? Yes! Church! =D Well, I think that's everything. If I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
Goodnight/morning! =P
Love,
Caitlyn
P.S. I just remembered something! Heavenly Father answered my prayers by putting Sister Pico in my path today. I was there at that time, in that baptistery hearing that baptism for a reason. I didn't know it at the time, but the singing in the chapel, the key locked in the locker, the temple worker telling Sister Pico to do her baptisms before I did mine- they all fit together to put me in the right place at the right time, and my prayers were answered more than I ever could have asked for. God works in mysterious ways, alright!
Also, when I got out of the font, President Stephens said to me, "Thank you for being here today," then looking me in the eyes said, "You are such a great girl," and smiled. She was definitely an instrument in the Lord's hands, answering my prayer about my worthiness, and I am so grateful for that.
Thanks for reading!
~Caitlyn =)
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