Thankful For His House...

Yesterday we had the chance to go to the Temple with two of our friends. They wanted to get a quick picture afterwards. Here is what Take 1 looked like:

Hey brother...Yes, we know we're standing in holy places, but could ya aspire a little higher and maybe catch our faces?...

 Take 2:

There we go! A shot with not just our feet, but our entire bodies in it...Success!
With our friends Becky and Shannon.

We are so thankful for the opportunity we have to spend time at the Temple. It is a true refuge from the storms of life. During a difficult time of our lives or even on just a hard day, we can enter into the walls of that sacred House of God and be gently wrapped in His love and reassured by the covenants we have made with Him.

We love what Sister Patricia Holland said, "On those days when I feel off center, out of focus, or off balance, when I feel that I don't have enough time, insight, or strength to solve my problems, I know that comfort is as close as the temple."

The Temple is truly the House of the Lord. His spirit dwells there. He longs for you to come and seek and learn and spend time with Him. Consider these reassuring words of Elder David B Haight:
"Come to the temples worthily and regularly. Not only do you bless those that are deceased, but you may freely partake of the promised personal revelation that may bless you life with power, knowledge, light, beauty, and truth from on high, which will guide you and your posterity to eternal life...You will come to know your Lord there. As your relationship with Him grows and deepens, you will grow increasingly confident in His love, in His compassion for your difficulties, in His power to bear you up and bring you back to His presence."

The Temple is such a gift from our Father in Heaven. A source of power and love and hope. And a reminder that He loves us, and wants us to be with Him...FOREVER...

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"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and that thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;" -D&C 109:22 

  ~ ~ ~

Warmth of the Son

Here it is June and we find ourselves ready to begin all things Summer. For many school is out, and the warm weather is certainly telling us that cool of Spring is gone and the warmth of Summer is here to stay! And that warmth, is something that many of us have waited for all Winter, no? During those cold, snow filled months, we longed for the warmth of the sun...

There are times in our lives that are difficult and certainly feel cold and wintery as we feel alone and long for the warmth not the sun, but rather the source of all light, the Son of God.

Don Staheli said, "What is there about a hug, about being held close to the bosom of one whose affection we crave, that means so much to us? Why is it that to be enfolded in the arms of a concerned other proffers so much comfort and sustaining warmth?

"...the loving arms of the Savior are open wide to receive us--that when no one else seems to be around, when others do not appear to understand or even pay attention to our need for a hug, He is there."

He continued, "He may send His embrace through inspiring music, a beautiful sunset, or a fragrant flower. He can manifest Himself in such ways and many, many more."

It is our prayer that we may be aware. Aware of those tender embraces He sends to us, in the form of things like music and sunsets and flowers. Also, that we may be aware of one another. Let us pray for one another. Let us look out for one another. Let us be extensions of the hands of Jesus and embrace one another. So that in the wintery months of each others lives, we may bring a little warmth to one another through kind words, a little act of service, or a simple embrace. For all of those little things are what make a big difference...