So Bishop Asked Me to Give a Talk: Sunday, December 11th, 2022

My faith is so important to me; However, it wasn’t always strong. I was raised by my mama and my grandparents in an LDS/Catholic home that celebrated our different cultures and spoke Spanish and English. So definitely not your “cookie-cutter” LDS family.

Having been raised in two religions, I have learned different perspectives of the same(ish) Gospel and there are definitely similarities between the LDS and Catholic beliefs like God is the Father, Jesus is our Savior, the Holy Spirit is our guide and there are promises and commitments that we make between the Lord and us. Catholicism taught me about the Trinity and the seven Sacraments and the LDS church taught me about the Godhead and the ordinances and covenants we make both inside and outside of the temple... But that’s the biggest difference of all: Temples.

Bishop asked me to speak on the blessings we receive from attending the temple and I will; However, I want to share a story first. I want to share a story about how and why I decided to receive my endowment. So here we go...

While taking notes on the talk that President Nelson gave at the October 2021 General Conference called, "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation", he compares the reconstruction of the Salt Lake City Temple to our own personal spiritual foundation by saying, "The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple". Then asks two questions:

1. "How firm is your foundation?"

2. "What reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the Gospel are needed?"
   

When I pondered these questions I was reminded yet again that the foundation I had 5 years ago was much weaker than it was now. Taking into account, the circumstances I was raised in: A kid who grew up in a broken home with religious differences. While growing up, I wanted nothing more than to know that temple blessings like "families can be together forever" were true even with the broken & blended family I had.

I chose to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; I had a testimony but my spiritual roots weren't deep enough. I believed in the Gospel, but I didn't know if it could be true for me.

As I grew, I wanted to know for myself and I decided that I should start putting effort into "reinforcing" my testimony; Therefore I started taking daily measures: reading my scriptures regularly, praying at least twice a day, and attending all four years of seminary, and I even chose to go to a faith-centered school, BYU- Idaho.

Although life was still challenging and I still faced many problems, the reinforcements that I added made my life easier to bear. By the time my first semester of college came, I enjoyed being a member of the church and I knew that the Gospel was true. From here my testimony and my knowledge only grew further.

However, there was one thing missing in my journey for spiritual growth... I rarely participated in the temple. I did proxy baptisms for the dead once when I was 12 and I never went back. I mean why was it such a big deal? I wasn't getting married or even considering a mission. So why would I?

I learned that lesson and I learned it the hard way.

When I first came to college, I was pretty naive and I experienced many problems that I never thought I would experience. These memories are not good ones and frankly, when I think of my first semester, I don't have many memories at all because they were very traumatic. That part of my life completely changed me as a person. During the days I would lock myself in my apartment and very solemnly go onto campus and there were many nights that I would cry myself to sleep or wake up from having PTSD-induced dreams. I turned to various channels of help such as therapy, medication, friends, and the Gospel.

All of them working in tandem really helped me out of a bad place but over the span of two years, a lot happened. I was completely crushed and constantly beside myself feeling worried, fearful, and sad. I was constantly in prayer, asking Heavenly Father if He loved me despite everything and if I was still worthy in His eyes. For a solid year, things were ok, but the Spirit consistently prompted me and for many months, I ignored every prompting where the Spirit even hinted at the temple. To be clear it was not because I didn't have the desire to go but because I still didn't feel worthy. No amount of counseling could fix what I needed to come to terms with.

In President Nelson's talk, "Make Time For the Lord", he said, "Never underestimate the profound truth that “the Spirit speaketh … of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be.” "It will show unto you all things what ye should do.” The Spirit is our companion. He will never lead you astray and he will always lead you toward the Savior. This is a true statement, and I have seen that in my own life, especially during this part of my life.

During that year, my social media was suddenly flooded with quotes, pictures, articles, and posts about the temple. My Bishop had me join my entire apartment in Temple Prep classes even though they were all getting married or considering missions and I was not. Then I started having this vivid dream every night for 4 months. The same exact dream depicted me in a white dress with a faceless future spouse standing in front of the San Diego Temple. Our families were surrounding us and it was a joyous day. The most bizarre experience was when I went for a consultation with Dr. Webber. Dr. Webber was my maxillofacial surgeon and during that consultation, he asked me if I was a member of the church. To which I said yes. He proceeds to ask me if he could give me a blessing because he feels so strongly prompted to. That completely shocked me, but I said yes.

One thing I know for sure is that God works in mysterious ways and this mini-story just proves it. In that blessing, Dr. Webber said something that stood out to me but this hit me the hardest,

"Christ paid the price of your worth. Your worth is infinite. Not sin, not anything could lessen your worth. This is not a chance meeting. God is aware of you. God is aware of the smallest sparrow that falls. God is aware of every hair that falls from our heads. I command you to know of God's love for you. I command you to. You are required no more to repent. Your Heavenly Father is aware of your struggles in school. When you feel lonely, self-pity... stand, arise, you have work to do. Draw closer to the Lord through prayer, fasting, scripture study and church attendance. I command you to feel the love of the Savior. To feel it completely fill you up and feel the Spirit. To burn like a fire, so that when it withdraws you feel. He knows your desire to be closer to Him and constantly feel the Spirit. Run to the temple."

From there, God only blessed me with even more miracles. The same year, when I first moved to Northpoint apartments, I met Bishop Baxter. I came to him with my story and my new purpose and I was scared that he would see me as unworthy but he saw me at my worst and yet did not see me as anything less than a child of God. He reminded me of my divine identity and showed me, Christlike love. He was the one that helped me set my temple date.

Then a few months later on August 6th, 2021, I finally received my endowment.

8/6/21 Sacramento California Temple.

I was blessed that my favorite seminary teacher, Sister Clegg, was able to attend the temple with me and be my escort into the temple. After all, I would know absolutely nothing about the temple if it wasn't for her. She was the one who pre-prepared me to enter the temple. She inspired many seminary students to pursue the temple for themselves, for marriage, and for missions. I was extremely blessed, that my best friend, Juliette, flew from Utah to come to my endowment and be there for me on this special day. She too taught me a lot about the temple especially since she was endowed much before I was. My mom has not received her endowment, but I am grateful for her being there to help get me ready and prepare me for my special day. I hope that when the day comes that she desires to enter the temple she will allow me to be her escort through the temple. Lastly, I was happy to have my stepdad enter the temple with me. Especially since he was so well-versed in the endowment. It really helped me calm my nerves.

This year, I have made temple work an important part of my life. I am grateful to be at a school with a beautiful temple beside it, constantly helping me grow my spiritual capacity. I started participating in more endowment sessions with my friends, Juliette McCartney, Kaj Mosely, and Spencer Azimi-Tabrizi. Then, Bishop Olson offered me the amazing opportunity of being a Rexburg Temple worker and I was elated that I got to share the experience with my dear friend, Juliette. Now, my focus is on family history mainly my mother's side since she's a convert and none of her family has been recorded.

Remember what I said about not knowing if "families can be together forever"? Well, this past October, I had a major breakthrough. As I delve into family history, God blessed me once again. I called my Catholic grandmother to tell her that I needed some information about her family and she was more than happy to help me. An hour later, I called her again and asked her for permission to take her parents' and grandparents' names to the temple. She didn't understand what I meant so I explained the Plan of Happiness and the point of temple work. She doesn't believe in our religion but she loved the fact that I wanted our family to be together forever. God performed a miracle because, after many years, she gave me permission.

This November I was able to take my own family names into the temple. My friends Juliette, Kaj, and Spencer all helped me do the work. Being able to share this experience with my friends and feel the Spirit as the work was being done has been so rewarding and incredibly emotional.

It was during the proxy baptisms that I learned that my family can be together forever. Our mortal existence is only a blip on the timeline of forever and knowing that if it doesn't happen in this life then it will happen in the next. I had a strong testimony without knowing that but adding the temple into my life was the best thing I have ever done. I have learned that because "...the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple" the temple is a house of love. A house of connection. A house of learning.

As you attend the temple, you come to understand that it is the best place to be. Some of the reasons why I love being at the temple are being it is the best place to seek knowledge, find answers to prayers, learn about the Gospel, find peace, find security, and grow your relationship with our Heavenly Parents and the Savior. I think that a quote by Sister Rosemary Wixom said it best, "In the temple, all feelings of inadequacy and imperfection begin to fade". God does not care if you are perfect, no one is perfect. He cares about whether you put in the effort to know Him.

In October 2018, President Nelson issued a challenge to attend the temple regularly. He said, "Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before". This year, I followed his counsel and regularly attended the temple. While I was participating in the temple, it came to me that while the work we do in the temple is for the deceased who cannot do the work for themselves, we are the ones blessed for participating in the temple because we are the living doing the work.

As I spent time in the house of the Lord, I have seen how God has blessed me immensely. Although, life can still be difficult and problematic, knowing that I have unending support helps make my troubles seem more bearable and less impossible.

While studying the topic of temple blessings, I have come to find that there are personal blessings and promised temple blessings. Here are some of the blessings of temple worship written in the texts, read in the scriptures, spoken by prophets and apostles, and experienced through life:

1. Protection against temptations.

2. Peace.

3. Learning by way of the Spirit.

4. Having a clear mind.

5. You will be blessed in all aspects of your life.

One, Protection against temptations. "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage" (Mosiah 7:33). Wearing the garments and having an active temple recommend reminds me of the covenants that I have made with the Lord. Knowing that I not only have a physical place to find sanctuary from trials, but I have the Spirit as my constant companion and a strengthened spiritual foundation, gives me the strength and courage to uphold my standards. Additionally, President Nelson said it best when he said, "Spiritual doors will open. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for God's angels to attend to you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundation. Likewise, whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants! Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable."

Two, Peace. My life is definitely chaotic but serving in the temple has allowed me to leave my fears, anxieties, worries, and distractions behind and feel the presence of the Spirit. Even when I was in tumultuous situations, I felt peace. I was able to go on with my life even with the storm raging. In President Monson's talk, "Blessings of the Temples", he said, "As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will grasp the true, earning of the words of the Savior when He said: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".

Three, Learning by way of the Spirit. I am a college student. I study. I stress. I worry. It doesn't matter if it's scriptures or textbooks because when I make time for my Heavenly Parents and my Savior, I find that I am so much more focused and eager to learn. As D&C 109: 14-15 states, "And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said: "And that they may grow up in thee, and relieve a fullness of the Holy Ghost, and be organized according to thy laws, and be prepared to obtain every needful thing".

Four, Having a clear mind. In this day and age, there are distractions everywhere; phones, social media, video games, social events, dating, etc. It can be hard to clear your mind and make time to focus on the savior. True to the Faith describes this by saying, "Sometimes you may feel that you cannot think clearly because your mind is so burdened with problems and the many things clamoring for attention. In the temple, the dust of these distractions can settle, the fog and haze can lift, and you can understand things that you have not understood before. You can find new ways to deal with the challenges you face".

Five, You will be blessed in all aspects of your life. When you make time for the Lord, you will be blessed no matter what. The Lord does not demand perfection. He just wants time to connect with us as we continue to learn of Him and continue to form a relationship with God. In President Nelson's talk, "Hear Him", he said, "I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence in your life".

I want to bear my testimony that my faith is important to me. It's taken an entire lifetime, many trials, and trial & error to get where I am right now. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't always fun, but I have grown closer to my Heavenly Parents. I have grown to find peace in the storm, I have experienced small miracles, I have felt protected against the adversary and so much more. Choosing to convert myself to this church and choosing to receive my endowment were easily two of the best decisions I've made. Even if you're not endowed go sit on the grounds, do baptisms, sit in the waiting room, and read scriptures. Do something that will invite the temple into your life. Our Heavenly Parents know and love each of us individually and know exactly what we need. Our Savior wants us to follow His example and partake of the blessings of the temple. These personal blessings will come as we devote our time and energy to serving Him.

God is good. The Atonement is perfect. The Gospel is true. Even if your life is good even when it doesn't go according to plan, you are protected and blessed. Your problems will not be fixed instantly or go away but the power of the Gospel, the Atonement, and the love of our Heavenly Parents and Savior give us the strength to persevere.

And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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Talks Mentioned

• Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (2020, April 5). "let this house be built unto my name". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/44bednar?lang=eng

• Magazines, E. B. C. (2022, January 1). Promised blessings from scriptures and prophets to help you resist temptation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2022/01/digital-only/promised-blessings-from-scriptures-and-prophets-to-help-you-resist-temptation?lang=eng

• Miller, L. (2018, November 24). 8 profound promised blessings of temple worship. LDS Living. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.ldsliving.com/8-profound-promised-blessings-of-temple-worship/s/89728

• President Russell M. NelsonPresident of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (2020, April 5). Hear him. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/45nelson?lang=eng

• President Russell M. NelsonPresident of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (2021, October 3). Make time for the lord. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/59nelson?lang=eng

• President Russell M. NelsonPresident of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (2021, October 3). The temple and your spiritual foundation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/47nelson?lang=eng

• President Thomas S. MonsonPresident of the Church ImageMonson, T. S. (2015, April 2). Blessings of the temple. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/blessings-of-the-temple?lang=eng

• Temples. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (2004, January 1). Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/true-to-the-faith/temples?lang=eng