a few weeks ago my Sister Tessha sent an e-mail to the family asking if anyone was interested in having a day of remembrance for our niece Hayley.
Dear Family,
I'd like to do something this year in memory of Hayley Elizabeth and some of the others, known or unknown who
have passed. I'm extending this invite to anyone who'd like to join me in setting a time to do some temple work
this month and in doing so mark the day in her memory. I talk to Luke and he and Jenn think it's a great idea.
have passed. I'm extending this invite to anyone who'd like to join me in setting a time to do some temple work
this month and in doing so mark the day in her memory. I talk to Luke and he and Jenn think it's a great idea.
*Anyone living in proximity of other family who wants to coordinate meeting up for a session or some work,
please do so!
please do so!
*If you've got your own family file names - awesome. If not, maybe next year?
*If you think of it and want to take a picture that day to share with us it would be a fun way to connect - Instagram or Facebook or whatever.
Let me know if you'd like to participate.
Love ya!
Tessha
I've been trying to attend the temple every month and this was yet another excuse to go, so of course I said yes.
I was hoping James and I would attend the Rexburg Temple while we where visiting Idaho Falls but that never happened.
All of a sudden I realized the end of the month was here and I hadn't attended a session.
I had gone to the Idaho Fall open house but I wanted to do more.
Big digression:
Over a year ago I was talking to my brother Seth about the gospel. I'm not sure the exact content of the discussions but he said something profound that has stuck with me ever since and has led me to several moments of inspiration. (which has to do with the blog post and I hope.)
He said something along the lines; Do you know why so many of God's children decided to follow Christ and come to earth? The plan of Salvation is really base on just a few key players. First you have Christ, Joseph Smith, Abraham and a few other prophets who brought the fullness of the gospel to earth. Everyone else was able to come to earth and gain experience and receive blessing because of the impact of the Few. end of his Seth's comment.
When he said this a light bulb went on in my head. I recalled the sentence in my patriarchal blessing that talks about my rule in the pre-existence. I was told I helped many who where struggling to gain a testimony of the plan of salvation. I had always wonder why there where spirits who struggled. But I know Heavenly Father understood there where spirits struggling and he wanted a plan that would help them make the right choice. Making the plan as easy as possible would help those who had fear, believe.
Later I was reading in the book of Abraham about the many are called but few are chosen. I always thought that many of us had been asked to do important work on earth but many of us didn't fulfil that work. This still might be true but this verse had a new meaning to me. Many are called, meaning many people could have fulfil Abraham, or Joseph Smith's work on this earth but few are chosen. only a few where needed to make the plan successful. I really like this idea as well.
We'd all come down to earth, learn and grow and hopefully receive the gospel so we can return to heaven. But this is when the plan gets beautiful. In order for any of us to return to heaven we must all be able to return to heaven.
That's when we come in. In the later days a marvelous work and a wonder will accrue. A stone cute of the mountain will roll forth and fill the whole earth. Not just everyone living on the earth but everyone who has ever lived or will live on the earth. Meaning Temple work. The whole reason we will have a time period set apart to do temple work before the great judgement day. The Millennium. In order for God's plan to be fulfilled we need a time when temptation is bond and all can receive the gospel. Not all will want the highest degree of heaven but all will be placed where they are fulfilled and happy. God's plan of happiness.
I've never had the genealogy bug but I told myself I would help in the work by attending the temple regularly and doing as much work as possible.
Back to Hayley:
Hayley came to earth to receive a body but her work was not on this earth. Her influence in our family has been felt by many and her spirit always seems to have a message of temple work. I think she's getting excited for the millennium and is trying to help usher in this new dispensation. (my thoughts alone.)
Last week, my institute class decision was on the millennium. If you have the time I encourage you to read Chapter 45 in the Gospel Principles Manual.
During our discussion two thoughts stood out to me.
1. During the millennium people will still have their agency, and for a time many will be free to continue with their religions and ideas. Eventually everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is the Savior.
This struck me as interesting. The Millennium will begin when Christ comes down to rule. That means while Christ is leading the government of the world there will still be righteous people living on the earth who do not recognize him as our Savior. The millennium will not be this mass wipeout followed by a crazy new way of life. although it might be that as well. However I believe the millennium will be similar to life here on earth as we know it.
This brings me to point number two.
2. Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
During my class, my instructor pointed out that during the millennium Satan will be bond because we will not heed to his temptations. Then he share a quote for the prophet Kimball (I'll try to find the exact quote later)
Kimball said that when we cast Satan out of a single home or individual we have started the millennium (or blessing of the millennium) in that home/individual life.
When I read this quote my eye lit up thinking back on the scripture in Matthew about no one knowing the exact time of millennium. Could it be that the Millennium will only start when enough people want it to start. D&C 65:3-6 is Joseph Smith encouraging the saint to pray for the millennium. The modern prophets have repeatedly said the earth is as wicked as it was in the time of Babylon. I know there are certain prophecies that need to be fulfil but could it be that we are capable of ushering those prophecies and helping the work along?
I dare say so.
In recent weeks I've removed my smart phone from my home. It has bittersweet consequences. but while I was attending my institute class and talking about casting out satan and preparing the way for the millennium The spirit whispered to me that I must remember these things. And that my choice to remove temptation was a blessing.
Since that week I have felt the power of the adversary in great waves. Thrashing at my emotional and spiritual door.
I didn't realize all my struggles where related until my friend Sarah Day pointed it out. Satan will do anything to destroy the plan of happiness. especially in the home. He will even use Church leadership to make us question our spiritual promptings.
I know my road is different from others. I know I have many family and friends who wonder why I walk another path. And I too often question if my path is right. But I try to stay prayerful and not let questioning temptations leave me to doubt. I do know that my path is the right path for me and my family. Others walking on a different path may also be walking on the right path for them. I do not wish to judge, I just wish not to be judged.
Now back to Saturday.
Saturday morning I woke up extra early. Sharolee had kindly agreed to watch my kids at the last minute. We drove to Longview for the kids to spend time with Grandma while I continued on towards the temple. Excited to finally fulfil my commitment to Hailey.
As I walked towards the temple my heart was happy.
We had the missionaries over the night before and I had promised them I would share my testimony with someone.
As I walked towards the temple I said a quick prayer asking for a missionary opportunity this day. (I don't remember the last time I prayed for a missionary opportunity.)
I stopped took a picture and then walked into a temple. it was busy and beautiful.
When I reached the initiatory center there was a line. I waited patiently for my turn to talk to the receptionist. She informed me that temple staff was limited do the busyness of the day and that the wait time for initiatories was an hour long. I only had an hour or so to do the work and return to my family's needs for the day.
My heart felt heavy. What was I going to do? Hayley I tried.
I walked outside the temple and was stumped as what to do. So I sat and waited.
Not long after, I ran into Rebecca (James' Sister). She had an hour before her photo session and was just going to hang out around the temple.
We visited for a while and I probably dominated the conversation. Then it occurred to me. Here is my moment of testimony sharing.
I shared my thoughts and testimony and did so in honor of Hailey and in reverence honor of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
The day continued as blogged about before.
We met with Grandma Sharolee and saw the show Pinkalicious, we had a wonderful dinner at Pizza Caboose and then we parted ways.
There was still one last thing I needed to do in Portland.
I took the kids to Fred Meyers and let them each pick out some flowers for Hayley's gravesite.
When we found Hayley's head stone Gwenevere commented on how dusty it looked. funny enough I had a towel in the car and my water in my water bottle.
Gwenevere took great care to clean Hayley's headstone.
To arranged the flowers and took pictures.
Thank you Tessha for the temple attendance recommendation. Thank you Seth, brother Manwaring, Sarah Day and others for their guidance in helping me understand my Savior better.
May we all try a little harder to bring in the millennium.
Slight digression:
Last week Gwenevere was encouraged by her Girl Scout troop to do a little family history. She's been working on her family tree display, learning 3 facts about our family, and counting how many living relatives she has. It's been a fun project to focus on during this time of adversity. I'll try to post more about her project another day.
Happy Memorial Day!
