Temple Worship: The Source of Strength & Power in Times of Needs

My thoughts on Elder Scott's talk "Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need"

Confession time. I read this talk many, many months ago, but am just getting around to posting my thoughts, so the thoughts that I had when I read it are totally different than the ones I have now. I have been through so many things since I read this talk last. The biggest of course is being diagnosed with cancer. What a "time of need." Unfortunately, when I needed the temple most, I couldn't go (it was closed and I couldn't sit because of pain) so I had to take solace in knowing the temple was there for me.

I have always felt guilty about the lack of minutes I spend in the temple each week. I know there are "times and seasons" to our lives, but I still can't help but think that there is a temple 30 minutes away (closer if the lights are in my favor) and I don't go there often enough. I want to type "regularly" but what is "regularly"? anyway. When I was pregnant and raising very young children "regularly" was once a year--between nursings. Now that I have older children, what is "regularly"? Trying to find a three to four hour window is hard. I just hope the Lord looks at my heart.

Elder Scott's advice is very good and I have used those "check boxes" if you will as I have gone to my own "temple" to meditate and ponder in my "time of need." Right now making it to the temple on a "regular" schedule will be hard, if not impossible, but I can have a "temple experience" in my own home. I can spend an hour communing, pondering, reading and going through the blessing of the temple on a "regular" schedule here in my home. I know I have thought a lot about the promises, covenants and blessing that are in those ordinances as I have faced my own mortality.

(I truly can't continue this line of thought.)

My one and only hope in my entire life is that my family lives worthy to receive the blessings of the temple sealing that happened June 30, 1989. I will be heart broken if one of my children isn't there with us in the heavens. It will kill me if I don't see seven wonderful, heavenly faces smiling back at me. Of course that means I have to live worthy to be there as well. As my children develop their own thoughts, personalities, testimonies, etc. it is scary to be a parent. As I read in the Book of Mormon and hear the pleading words of Lehi to his sons. I know where that pleading comes from. I know. I'm scared. But I know that if I do all that I can, blessings will be poured out.

I echo Elder Scott's words:
"What a blessing to have once again on the earth the sealing authority, not only for this mortal life but for the eternities. I am grateful that the Lord has restored His gospel in its fulness, including the ordinances that are required for us to be happy in the world and to live everlastingly happy lives in the hereafter."