We were safely parked in front of the temple. As usual, I fanned out a few family name cards for two of our daughters to choose from. Both like to look at the information included with the name: the birth, marriage or death dates. The older the date, the more interested they are in picking that card first. They feel that particular ancestor has waited long enough for their temple work to be done.
On this day, the older of our two daughters picked “Jane Smith” (her actual name), as she noticed Jane had passed away in 1781.
As my daughter took the card quickly from my hands, she squealed with joy and a sense of humour we all know and love, exclaiming, “This is your lucky day, Jane!”
Children Feel the Influence of the Temple
Since then, I have thought a lot about that statement. Each time, it brings me a big smile and a warm heart. Every one of our children has a love for the temple. Not only do they enjoy the service given to family members who have passed on, but it has also been a place where they look for direction, comfort, peace, and love, not only for themselves but for each other. They choose to be together as often as possible. I don’t have to look very far to see where their love for the temple originated.
When they were young and not yet old enough to enter the temple, they would encourage their father and me to go because “they were old enough to babysit each other.” I truly felt they recognized the feeling in our home once we returned. It now felt softer, kinder, and holier; a place set apart from the outside world.
Being Temple-Centred Has a Generational Effect
I look back on my childhood and see the same patterns. Despite their limited means, my parents took every opportunity they could to attend the temple. I remember a long family road trip through the United States in the mid-1970s. I was responsible for taking care of my younger siblings on the grounds of one of the temples so my parents could attend a session. I was happy to do so. I loved the feeling on the beautiful grounds and how I felt once my parents returned.
Years later, as each of their children or grandchildren went to the temple for the first time, my parents made sure to be there with support and love. They also worked long hours preparing names for temple ordinances. Because of this, there were more names than time. Therefore, they would share the names with me and some of my siblings. This brought a closer relationship with my parents than ever before. I saw with clarity what important work was being accomplished, and their love of family history began to grow within me.
The Temple Gives Us An Eternal Perspective
On November 28, 2021, while my mother was in the hospital working with her specialists to determine the next steps in her care, she suddenly went into cardiac arrest and required shock treatments to restore her heart's rhythm. It worked. Unfortunately, the cardiac arrest caused her other organs to begin to shut down completely. She was told she only had a few days left to live as her kidneys had lost their ability to function.
My mother felt at peace, feeling this was a direct answer to the prayers she and my father had offered. They had been struggling with the difficult decision of whether or not to proceed with a second heart surgery. At the time, neither seemed to be a good option.
Now that my mom felt the choice was made for her, she counted her blessings and was grateful for the gift she had been given; a few more days to say goodbye to most of her siblings and her children.
As I visited with Mom during those last few hours, we discussed her desires and wishes for the arrangements after she was gone. I suddenly felt her emotional turmoil.
She knew she would soon see her parents, her youngest sister, her three great-grandchildren and other family members who had previously passed on, and this comforted her. However, her thoughts of leaving her sweetheart (my dad) and their children behind to deal with the challenges of this earthly life brought her sadness and conflicted feelings. Her long-time career as a nurse was partly due to her natural desire to care for others. I wanted Mom to feel peace and assurance that we would be okay, despite missing her greatly.
Instantly, a thought came into my mind. I presented this plan to my mom and told her to ‘meet’ me at the temple. We committed to having a ‘temple date’ soon. We would do the work together, but from opposite sides of the veil. This brought instant calm to my heart and peace to her face. Mom smiled so brightly and nodded her head. I can testify that this plan was a gift given to us and has been repeated a few times since her passing. I have felt her presence near while serving in the temple.
The Work Is Hastening…On Both Sides of the Veil
I know without a doubt that this life is not the beginning nor the end. The work continues. Our family members on the other side of the veil are there to assist us in this work. The plan of happiness unites families. Family members are waiting for us to do the work they cannot do for themselves. Not only that, temple covenants continue to give us hope, faith, and direction during the travails of life.
When we look toward the temple, there is clarity. Even if we cannot physically be in the temple, there are many ways to be a part of it by assisting those who can.
After mom passed, our youngest child, who was not yet endowed, came with us to the temple every single month, no matter what the weather. She would wait in the car or outside on the temple grounds, feeling the same feelings of peace, love, joy and comfort that we were feeling inside. She found clarity and answers to prayers and felt close to her family- the living and the dead.
Temples are the house of the Lord. He wants and desires us to attend. Families are not perfect, but the plan for families is. Temples bring us closer together in many ways.
I truly “love to see the temple”. (“I Love to See the Temple,” Children’s Songbook, 95)