Saturday, May 23, 2009

I Love the Temple!


Matt and I went to the Mesa, AZ temple today. It was such a needed trip. We have been struggling and praying and fasting for a miracle and I specifically have been struggling with "why" we had to come to Arizona. Since we have come here, things have gotten a lot harder for us. We figured it would be the opposite. When we were preparing for this move, it seemed that financially it would be a good opportunity and we would be a little bit better off than we were. We figured that Matt's work environment would be better and that life in general would improve for us. We had been told by the Lord, through the influence of the Holy Ghost that this was a move that we were supposed to make. We did not know why but we figured that when we got down here we would get our answer. Well, here we are and 8 months later, two miscarriages later, more debt later, I still didn't have an answer and I was beginning to doubt our decision to move down here. I have prayed every night and asked the Lord to reveal to me what my purpose was here but I had gained no insight. During these hard times Matt and I have both had blessings that have reminded us of the importance of attending the temple. So we set out today to go to the temple. We drove half way there and Matt didn't have his recommend. We drove home to get it and then back to the temple. It would have been so easy to just say forget it because it is not a short drive but I knew that is exactly what the adversary would have us do so we were determined to go. After I was dressed and waiting in the Temple chapel for Matt, I opened to the Doctrine and Covenants. I couldn't remember where I had been reading so I just flipped it open and here is what I read:
Section 58:1-12

Hearken, O ye Elders of my church, and give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning this land unto which I have sent you.
2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.
6 Behold, verily I say into you, for this cause I have sent you-that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;
7 And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation, and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand;
8 And also that a feast of fat things might be prepared for the poor; yea, a feast of fat things, of wine on the lees well refined, that the earth may know that the mouths of the prophets shall not fall;
9 Yea, a supper of the house of the Lord, well prepared, unto which all nations shall be invited.
10 First, the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble;
11 And after that cometh the day of my power; then shall the poor, the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come.
12 Behold, I , the Lord, have spoken it.

I have never had scriptures spoken to me so bluntly. It was like the Lord saying
"DUH Aubrey, you are there because I sent you and that's all you need to know for now. I am preparing you for what is to come and you can't understand it yet so just be patient."

I feel like we are being tested and prepared for life. Maybe not something grand, maybe just whatever lies ahead but we are being prepared and the first test in all of this is to see if we would follow the desire of the Lord and pack up everything we own and move to somewhere we knew nothing about and have nothing and no one familiar to turn to. I frankly can't believe that we did what we did but it makes sense now. I will stop questioning why we came here because now I know that the reason we are here is because the Lord asked us to come. I know we are being humbled right now. We are being taught to simplify and be meek. I did not expect the answer to be so simple and that is exactly why I could not understand what the Lord was doing with us. I had prayed not long ago to know if the scriptures were really true, not necessarily because I doubted but because I had never asked. Well today I got that answer too. I am so grateful that we live 25 minutes from the Temple and can go more often. I am so thankful for a Father in Heaven that knows what he is doing with my life, especially because I haven't a clue.

3 comments:

King J, Queen M, Princess E and Princess M said...

Oh man, I have chills. It is incredable how he really, really knows each of us and what we are going through isn't it.

I am glad you found a little bit of peace.

Tami's Eclectic Corner said...

That is an awesome post. I needed to read that. I love ya!!

Lynda said...

The Lord is good, He tries to show us, if we have our eyes wide open, signs. Thank the Lord that you had your eyes wide open.

This scripture "For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand." gave me goosebumps, its so true, and how hard it is to wait, but I know He will bring good things to those of us who believe. God Bless you my friend~