HE SAW THE LIGHT!!!
We just came from the Logan Temple. The Temple is near and dear to us and we have had many wonderful experiences associated with the Temple and the work that goes on there. Some are so sacred I hesitate to even speak of them. Others are also very sacred and I wish to shout them from the mountain tops for all to hear. Today, we had just such an experience. I will not relate any names except to say that the people involved are real people and are a son and a daughter of God just as we all are.
We attended a session where a young couple received their Endowment at the Logan Temple. Their story may serve to create hope and gratitude in some of the rest of us.
The young man in this story was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Early in his youth he got caught up in the wrong crowd and let go the Iron Rod of God's word. He did many things which brought sorrow to those around him and nearly destroyed himself in the process. I won't go into all the details, but I'm sure you can imagine many of the issues a wayward and rebellious young man could get involved in, especially in this modern era. One of the issues which plagued this young man was illegal and addicting drugs, using and distributing them to pay for his habit and to keep his "friends" who were really his enemies. Eventually he was arrested, tried and sentenced to three years in prison. He served his time.
He was released, but in his own words: "You would have thought, I would have learned something, but I didn't." After a short time he was once again involved with the wrong crowd, doing drugs and all the other nonsense he had been involved in before. Needless to say, "When you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got." In this case he got arrested, tried and sentenced to three more years in the State Penitentiary. Part way through this experience he decided he'd had enough of this kind of life. From the words of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son: "And when I came to myself......." You know the rest of the story. He had finally seen the light and decided to follow a different course.
In this case the young man came out of prison a changed man. He had seen the light. Instead of going back to his old friends he sought out better company, people who could lift him and help him stay the course. Eventually, he met a sweet young Mormon girl. They became friends and later were married. She had always wanted a Temple marriage. He was not yet ready for such. Not that he was opposed to the idea, but that it takes time to prove one's worthiness for such a great blessing. After much prayer, study, and help from others, they reached the goal of getting prepared to enter the temple of the Lord. Today we were honored to be there as they received the blessing of the Temple Endowment. It was wonderful to see the joy on their faces in the Celestial Room. We consider it to be a privilege to have played even a very small role in this mighty change and see the sincerity of their love for one another and the gospel of Jesus Christ. They will be sealed next Saturday in the Bountiful Utah Temple. Their goal is, at this point, not just a Temple Marriage/Sealing, but rather a Celestial Marriage that will embody always keeping the covenants that they make and receiving the attendant blessings. Certainly that is what will bring the greatest joy into their lives and to ours as we keep the sacred covenants we have made in the Temple of the Lord. His promises are sure.
We just came from the Logan Temple. The Temple is near and dear to us and we have had many wonderful experiences associated with the Temple and the work that goes on there. Some are so sacred I hesitate to even speak of them. Others are also very sacred and I wish to shout them from the mountain tops for all to hear. Today, we had just such an experience. I will not relate any names except to say that the people involved are real people and are a son and a daughter of God just as we all are.
We attended a session where a young couple received their Endowment at the Logan Temple. Their story may serve to create hope and gratitude in some of the rest of us.
The young man in this story was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Early in his youth he got caught up in the wrong crowd and let go the Iron Rod of God's word. He did many things which brought sorrow to those around him and nearly destroyed himself in the process. I won't go into all the details, but I'm sure you can imagine many of the issues a wayward and rebellious young man could get involved in, especially in this modern era. One of the issues which plagued this young man was illegal and addicting drugs, using and distributing them to pay for his habit and to keep his "friends" who were really his enemies. Eventually he was arrested, tried and sentenced to three years in prison. He served his time.
He was released, but in his own words: "You would have thought, I would have learned something, but I didn't." After a short time he was once again involved with the wrong crowd, doing drugs and all the other nonsense he had been involved in before. Needless to say, "When you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got." In this case he got arrested, tried and sentenced to three more years in the State Penitentiary. Part way through this experience he decided he'd had enough of this kind of life. From the words of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son: "And when I came to myself......." You know the rest of the story. He had finally seen the light and decided to follow a different course.
In this case the young man came out of prison a changed man. He had seen the light. Instead of going back to his old friends he sought out better company, people who could lift him and help him stay the course. Eventually, he met a sweet young Mormon girl. They became friends and later were married. She had always wanted a Temple marriage. He was not yet ready for such. Not that he was opposed to the idea, but that it takes time to prove one's worthiness for such a great blessing. After much prayer, study, and help from others, they reached the goal of getting prepared to enter the temple of the Lord. Today we were honored to be there as they received the blessing of the Temple Endowment. It was wonderful to see the joy on their faces in the Celestial Room. We consider it to be a privilege to have played even a very small role in this mighty change and see the sincerity of their love for one another and the gospel of Jesus Christ. They will be sealed next Saturday in the Bountiful Utah Temple. Their goal is, at this point, not just a Temple Marriage/Sealing, but rather a Celestial Marriage that will embody always keeping the covenants that they make and receiving the attendant blessings. Certainly that is what will bring the greatest joy into their lives and to ours as we keep the sacred covenants we have made in the Temple of the Lord. His promises are sure.
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