The Temple is about Families

Thoughts from Elder Winkel "The Temple is about Families"

I grew up where the nearest temple was 12 hours away so temple attendance wasn't something my parents talk about much. I just remember that when they took a kid to school (BYU) or the MTC they added an extra day so they could get in a couple of sessions. I remember my older brothers being gone for a week every other summer doing baptism for the dead in Utah (closest temple). But I do remember my mom saying that she was never without her temple recommend even if it was never seen by a temple worker to admit her to the temple. Now my mom has a temple literally in her back yard and she has a standing appointment and sneaks in when she can. (How would it be to sit up in your bed and framed inside your bedroom window is Angel Moroni. What a lucky woman she is!!!!)

Fast forward to now. I have a temple 18 miles away (40 minutes by car on a regular day-thank you Seattle traffic), but it has been so hard to get to it. I hate going by myself, I hate going sleepy (see previous posts) and working full time (ie. Homeschooling my children) it is hard to find a chunk of time to get there during the day. It really has been very hard to get there. Just as thing were getting so I could go, I was in the auto accident and it prevented me from sitting that many minutes, not to mention the fact that I was out of the house 2 hours every other day doing therapy. Now things are changing and I'm not going to therapy as often and so you would think I could get there. NOPE! Got teens now and they are sooo much work! I can't wait until my 14 year old can drive! No wonder my mother paid for our car insurance (but we had to earn the good student discount as well as be at her beck and call).

BUT....as long as I'm worthy I will have a current recommend and be worthy to enter His house.

I think being worthy to enter has a blessing attached even if you don't go. Example: I have a special love for family history. In fact my patriarchal blessing says that genealogy work and family history will be very important to me. Well, I don't have any work to do. My side of the family is done (pioneer blood on both sides so it was done a LONG time ago and we have a family historian on both mom's and dad's side that keeps us abreast of all the updates). So what was I supposed to do.

Guess what my answer was---I was to write MY history. So I have spent the past years writing what we call the Blanding Bugle. Once a month I put fingers to keyboard and write a detailed entry into our family newspaper of the wonderful things we are doing or the not so wonderful things we are doing. When I get discouraged and don't think I have anything to write, I look back on the past 17 years worth of editions and realize what a FANTASTIC family journal I have. I often find my kids going through the paper copy and laughing and saying, "Oh, I remember that." It truly has turned our heart to our children. I also send a copy of it to the grandparents (and many others) so they know the going on's at the Blanding Family. I'm sure it doesn't mean as much to them as it does to us, but …

It truly is a treasure of great worth.

(from another post)

Those who are faithful in keeping them (even if you put one entry in a year) are blessed for their efforts. My personal journal is over 5000 pages on the computer (and yes, I have backed it up :-)). Many times all I do is copy and paste emails I have written. They are a great source of what is going on in my life and my thoughts and opinions. The world of blogging is another way to keep a journal.

I know the two books I have of my mother's life and that of her father are a treasure to me. It isn't well written; at leas in the academic sense, but it is a work of love and I LOVE it. My grandfather died many years before I was born so I never got to know him, but I am also positive that when I get up to heaven I will be able to recognize him because of the words I have read. The same goes for his parents as we have a book of remembrance on them as well. If my house were to catch fire, I would grab those books, my hard drive, and my scriptures-that is after my kids are OUT OF THE HOUSE! I would be sad if they were lost. They truly are priceless. In the same manner I hope that my children see our Bugle as prices as well, at least eventually.

I'm sorry for the pending departure of your aunt. I too am waiting for the dreaded phone call from my sister's husband as brain cancer is going to take her life any day now. I do hope that she has a journal to pass on to her nine children. She has lived a life worthy of a journal as she has been blessed beyond measure. She has lived a life of exemplar faith, love, devotion and perseverance. I hope there is wonderful peace in your home in the coming weeks.