Counting the days

On Sunday morning I had an interview with my Stake President. It went rather well. He will make up his letter and then send the packet to SL to get it done. He says that if he does not hear back in 60 days he has to call down there and find out what is going on. Per information on the way it is done. So we shall see. So I titled this blog what it is. We should know something by Christmas. What a great gift that would be. My guess would be more of New Years, but we will see. I think of the last time I was able to attend the temple. It was in 97 and I lived in Seattle, or I had gone there to visit Barbara. Just over 11 years ago. It was to do the work for a name I got there while I was attending. The last time I was able to enter a temple was in 06 for the Sacramento temple open house. Someone from my messenger list who had been a member before but never was able to go to the temple, who lived in the area went to the open house themselves. They thought it was really beautiful. There was just one concern. There was a glass door between the ordinance room and the Celestial room that wasn't open. It wasn't until I went there and understood what she was meaning. In the days of Solomons temple and even the days of moses when they built their temple, there was a space between the ordinance rooms and the holy of hollies that was most sacred and was a place for the Priests who were to officiate in the HoH's could prep themselves and enter that most holy and sacred place. We have the same in our temples. It is a preparatory place where, as the Prophet Brigham Young said in his Discourses, that as we enter heaven, we give unto the Angels who stand as sentinels, the key gifts we receive when we are at the temple. That place symbolises the angels who stand waiting to accept the gifts and allow one to enter the HoH's. It must have been a little different in the times of the Old Testament, as they were looking for a Savior to come.
Yes it has been some time since I have gone, but the impressions that have been imprinted in my heart about the temple are still there. The endowment is full of symbols and full of spirit, if one who comes to the temple, open to the teachings taught there, goes away with more then he came in with. I know of several occasions that someone has gone that they could not find the answer anywhere. Have gone to the temple to ask of the Lord with everything he has to offer and found an answer. It may be through the scriptures, it may be in the blessings, it may be someone else who helps them find the answer, but they do receive it. I remember a couple on my mission who after they had both served missions, went to the temple for a date. After they got into the Celestial room, he waited for the room to clear. There was one patron working there and she would not leave but had tears streaming down her face. When she finally left, he proposed to her. She said yes, and then they went back to the dressing rooms to change. As they were leaving the patron came up to both of them and asked if they were engaged now? He was shocked and asked, "How did you know?" She just smiled and said, "The Lord told me as I watched you come in." On a personal note, when I went to the Oakland temple for the first time, I did not know what to expect. I went with an open mind and heart. When I was welcomed into the Celestial room, I sat down on the couch and just pondered the feelings and blessings I had received there. When i looked up, I saw my grandmother, who had passed away nearly a year earlier. Standing in white, with a smile on her face, and her words have stuck with me since them. Welcome home. She was there for just a brief moment. But as Joseph had said on his first vision, 'I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two aPersonages, and they did in reality speak to me.' I saw my grandmother, and she did in reality speak to me. Though she was gone, she was there for me.
I cannot wait to take Chris to the temple and go many more times after. It may overwhelm her in the beginning, but after she has gone, then we can talk together and read what the sacred things that are there, and the meaning for them. I remember when still on my mission the lessons I learned from members when we went to the temple with them. It opened my eyes of my understanding. I hope I can help Chris with those too. Well I have said enough. I am just so grateful that this is finally going on an upward ladder. It has been so long, since I was able to bless, pray, or do anything to help others. I will be so grad to be able to do that again. Its all about serving. That's what i want to do.