Thursday, December 2, 2010

10 Year Anniversary

Have you noticed that in America we are way too focused on "taking". We "take" baths, showers, naps, tests, breaks, etc. Where are we taking these things from and where are we taking them too? Why so much taking? But the phrase using taking that I dislike the most is "take out my endowments". The endowment (a special spiritual blessing given to worthy and faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the temple), like the Holy Ghost, is a gift - it cannot be taken, it must be given, and for it to be meaningful in our lives we must choose to receive it. I received my endowment (or at least began to) 10 years ago. It is strange to me that it has already been 10 years since I remember that day so well, but it has been, and over these past ten years I have received my endowment more fully each time I have attended the temple.
Since that time I have attended 19 temples (plus visited 8 more that were closed) - there are similarities and differences about all of them, and I have loved them all. But the best part of all of them for me is the peace that I feel, even when I am first on the temple grounds. I am so grateful for that peace, and for the strength and answers I have received as I have attended the temple. What a great gift!

The Las Vegas Nevada Temple - where I first received my endowment.