Blessings of the Temple

Saturday, May 31st, Braxton and his cousin, Braiden Parkinson, went to the Logan Temple to receive their endowments.  It was a great evening and a very special time for our family.   Braxton is our fifth child and last one to go to the temple for his endowments.  For Craig and I it was a huge blessing to know that each of our children have made correct choices that have brought them to the Lord's house to receive the blessings He desires to give them.  We have both felt a huge relief and a feeling of peace and calm since that night.  It is a great blessing to know that we are all sealed to one another and that if each of us continues on doing our part to keep the commandments and the covenants that we have made, that we can all be together as an eternal family. 

 

We are grateful for the love of family and friends who came to support Braxton and Braiden and for all those who wanted to be there, but were unable to.  We still felt of their love and support on this special night in our lives.  For Robert and Kelly Parkinson and their family, Braiden is the first to go through the temple.  Nicole will follow soon as she just got engaged and will be married in the temple in August. 

 

We enjoyed spending time with family and friends outside the temple and at Chuck-A-Rama for dinner afterwards.  Anytime we get together with family is a special time.  We are so grateful to have such an amazing family!  We love them all so very much.

 

I have thought often recently of a Family History Video featuring Elder David A. Bednar and some teens.  In the video he shares the importance of the temple and of helping our ancestors receive their temple ordinances.  We are grateful that Braxton and Braiden have both chosen a mission, but more importantly that they are worthy to go to the temple.  We know that the blessings of the temple endowment will protect them on their mission and will help them to be better missionaries as they understand the importance of eternal families and covenants.  We love you Braxton and Braiden.  You are a blessing in our lives.  We can't wait to see what amazing things you accomplish on your missions. 

 

 

 

The Time is Now

 

 

The Time is Now

Each of us benefits from all of those who have gone before.  Learning those stories helps us really understand who we are and where we came from.

This is the work of salvation. It’s not just indexing.  It’s not just researching names.  These are people, sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.  We are here to participate in the work of salvation in inviting all of these people to come unto Christ and receive the saving ordinances of the Gospel. That’s who we are.  That’s why we are here on the earth.  With the technology capability that you young people have, you were prepared for this day.  The time is now.

I don’t know of a greater blessing than ultimately realizing that God trusts us and depends on us to do His work.  It’s a remarkable spiritual experience when you do the work for your own ancestors and you take your family names to the temple to perform the ordinance work.

With a young man like you, I will rarely ever ask the questions, “Are you preparing to go on a mission?”  I will ask the question, “Are you worthy to be in the temple?  And will you be next year and will you be the year after that?  Are you doing the research in your own family and helping others with their research?  That for a young person in the wickedness of the world we live today is one of the greatest safeguards against the temptations of the adversary.  The time is now!

~Elder David A. Bednar