POP QUIZ!

What is the greatest temple that has ever been built?

This was the question asked by the pretty new Stake President Sunday evening. President Clare and his wife (I have no idea if the last name is spelled right) were invited to come and speak to six singles wards... my ward was in charge of getting the speaker... THANK YOU BROTHER WALKER!  (I must say it was probably one of the top five firesides I have ever attended outside of CES firesides. Maybe coming up to the #1 I have ever attended!  It was that good!)

President Clare suggested that we had better be careful with which temple we selected because his mission covered Kirtland. :)  When he asked the question, I immediately thought of my OWN personal temple.  After a few quick suggestions of different temples, someone called out that "WE" were the greatest temples God has ever built.  President Clare had found the answer to his question!

The greatest temple ever built is...

(Here is Taybabe outside Manti this past summer. Love you TREEBS!)

I was studying Isaiah this week in 2 Nephi 12 and Isaiah 2. Last year I went through 2 Nephi with Isaiah for Airheads by John Bytheway. This year I decided to go through with David J. Ridges's Isaiah Made Easier.  (Very happy with this decision.)

Vs. 10 in 2 Nephi 12 states, "...the glory of his majesty shall smite thee."  Brother Ridges comment with that verse is, "you will not be able to stand the brightness of his glory at the Second Coming and will thus be consumed; see D&C 5:19."  The GLORY of the Lord is what consumes the wicked.

Brother Ridges continued, "Some years ago, a student asked me how the temples would survive the burning at the Second Coming. Verses 10, 19, 21 plus D&C 5:19 provide a simple answer. Temples can stand the glory of the Lord. Therefore, they will not be burned."

As I read these words, all the thoughts from the fireside and the greatest temple ever built settled my mind. God's temples can withstand His glory!  And why not!  We are told that He does not dwell in unholy temples.  SOO if I can prepare my physical/spiritual temple, my body, to become holy--a place where He can dwell-- MY TEMPLE [body] will be able to with stand the glory of God = NOT BE BURNED AT HIS COMING because my temple will already be used to being full of light, HIS LIGHT, His glory!!!  Of course add in your fire insurance of paying tithing to the whole package too--but what another beautiful reason to make sure that my body becomes a temple where God can dwell!

And just as a treat... Krisi shared this GREAT talk with me on Grace (click here). It is so worth the read! Thank you for sharing Kristi! I LOVED IT!

REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING

I have a habit of singing a hymn all the way through before saying my morning or night prayers. Today was "Rejoice, the Lord is King". In such a real personal way, this spoke to me and I wept. Lift up my head, Lift up my heart, and REJOICE. Today I am rejoicing in family ties. For good Aunts and Uncles in my life. For the gospel, for Jesus Christ and his never failing love--for me.

I went to go date the top of my hymn book to symbolize that the song was an answer to prayer... and then I looked at my watch. Today is 11.1.10. Exactly 7 years ago I was in the temple Timp Temple--taking out my endowments. I always try to go to the temple on my anniversary--but this week will have to wait until tomorrow morning.

... My heart is full. My head is lifted. And I AM rejoicing in MY King. Whatever God wants, His will be done.

But I do believe in miraculous miracles.

DO ANGELS HAVE BLOW-DRYERS?!

A choice friend recently went through the temple last month. There was a time when she dreaded even the thought of going there. Not because of what it was, but she wanted to make sure she was committed to keep the covenants she entered into there. She went to the temple completely by herself. Her escort was a temple worker. She wanted it this way, because for her, she needed to experience the temple by herself.

She called me up about a week ago and said she was ready to go to the temple with the ward and asked if I would be willing to come. My ward temple night was the day before and being in a new ward I wanted to support them, but this dear friend "going public" with others knowing she was endowed meant a lot to me. I prayed. I was to go with her which I was trilled about. For the last week I have been anticipating to going to the temple with her last night.

Yesterday while at work, I thought of another friend that I had not seen in a long time. I called her up and asked if she would like to come with us. Her situation is quite tough. The amount of afflictions she has in her physical/mental areas are some of the greatest battles. And yet this sweet sister chooses the better path. She could be over come by sorrow and grief and yet she strives to live each day defiant and full of faith. She kills her "odds" with her believe/trust in Jesus Christ.

She said that she would go, but an hour or so later she called me to let me know that she just didn't think she would be able to go. She didn't have any clean clothes and her mom was really sick. I told her that if she would pray about whether to go or not I would support whatever she received. I suggested that she wash her clothes in the tub and hang them up to dry if she was really worried about something to wear. She said she would pray.

A few hours later she left me another message saying she would be ready to go at 6. :)

As I entered her house my heart became heavy as I looked at the challenges that face she and her mom. I was proud of her for wanting to go to the temple.

As I went into her room. She had surgery on her ankle (I think it was her ankle/foot area-don't quote me) and still had the cast on. She has not been to the temple since the beginning of Aug. But cast and crutches she was determined to do a session. I had forgotten my advice about washing her clothes, but as I gave her a hug I was shocked to feel her all wet. She looked BEAUTIFUL! But I exclaimed that her clothes were all wet and she just smiled and told me that she washed them like I had suggested. My heart swelled with the faithfulness of this sweet sister. Now please note- it is Oct, and yesterday in the valley it was so cold that we had a good scuff of snow! This is a picture taken from my car on the way out of work. See that mountain-- there is snow on the top of it!! This tells you it was not the "warmest" of days.

Now this sweet sister was not thinking of the weather outside. I doubt she had been outside for a few days. But here she was wet skirt, shirt, and sweater/cardigan--crutches and cast--hobbling out to my car! What a site. My heart was full.

When we got in my car, I put the heater on to quite a full blast and aimed it her.

We drove picked up our friends and went to the temple. I dropped everyone off as close as I could. I was really worried about getting out of the temple at 9 pm and having her wet clothes make her sick. As I was thinking this, a spot was available for front row parking!! At least I could run to my car and not have her sit out in the cold too long.

I went into the temple and found my adopted grandparents waiting to do initiatory!! This was a surprise because of health reasons the Shepherds had said they wouldn't make it to the stake temple night anymore. This was a kind blessing from God to see them there. I also saw other sisters from my old ward that I so dearly loved--the whole situation was choice.

We went to go do a session. I could not help smiling at my friends and to God. There were two sisters there that were at the temple for their second time. It was beautiful to behold. And there was my friend with her crutches against the wall, just happy to be in the temple.

Through the session I still thought about how when we left the temple with her wet clothes--IF she became sick it would be my fault. I said a silent prayer. I had thought about going and asking the temple workers to dry her clothes in the temple dryers but thinking that would not work because of sanitary reasons--then I thought maybe I could ask them if we could lay out the clothes where the workers change their clothes, perhaps the 1 1/2 of being in the session would allow them to dry out more. The thought of the clothes being in a small locker with no air--just made the thought of her putting them back on wet all the more dreadful. These are the thoughts that raced in my mind...so in the session I prayed/asked/thought in my mind that Heavenly Father could send some angles to blow-dry the clothes in the locker. I explained the faith of this sister in coming to the temple that night and all her efforts. Now she had not complained once about her clothes. And in fact--had I not hugged her I would have never known they were wet! She would have just let me taken her for she would have not said a word. That is just how this sister is/has--faith of David and non murmuring like Nephi.

I stewed over her clothes for a few more moments and then focused on the endowment and basked in the sisters sitting around me. I LOVE that God gives us brothers and sisters to love!

The session finished, and it was sweet. I was able to shake my old bishoprics hands in the celestial room--choice sons of God. I told my old Bishop about this sister and her wet clothes. He too knows the type of determination she has, even at the sacrifice of comfort. He beamed with is smile for her.

We all went downstairs. I changed out of my temple clothes and met my friends in the lobby. My cast/crutch using sister was waiting for me. I hugged her...and found her clothes to be completely DRY! Not believing it I rubbed her sweater and exclaimed that the angels had gotten out their blow-dryers! I wanted to cry. She was completely dry.

We talked about the miracle all the way back to her place.
...
This morning as I got up to walk--the natural man in me wanted to rationalize this miracle. But I have done the math. A locker that is 5 1/2 feet'ish tall 12 inches'ish wide and 15-17 inches'sih deep--no air circulation--wet/damp clothes hanging in there for two hours = still damp/wet clothes coming out! Think of a boys locker room after a practice. Sweaty clothes hung in a locker-no air circulation for two hours = still moist, now smelly, I don't want to go on a date with you if you are wearing those same clothes!
...
MY CONCLUSION:

Angels HAVE blow-dryers!
:)

Needless to say - it was a choice night in the temple.

Jesus is the Christ!
God is a God of miracles.

ARE THEY IN?!!!! --RATTLESNAKES--

Nyk called me up yesterday to share with me a dream she had had just yesterday morning. So profound is the dream that I asked her if I could share it. Deep is the meaning and there can be so many applications. Thanks for calling me up Chick! Love you!

--
THE RATTLESNAKE DREAM - Nykelle Pollastro - 9.21.10

I had a most amazing dream early this morning that I know was inspired by God. I have never had an experience like this, and have never had a dream where when I woke up, I knew the interpretations immediately, and felt that it needed to be written down and remembered.

Carson gets up for work at about 4:30 am, and I get up with him to make his lunch/breakfast. I was still extremely tired from the events this weekend, so I decided to go back to sleep for a little bit at about 4:50 am. When I went back to sleep, I had an amazing dream dealing with rattlesnakes…

I was living in my Uncle Paul’s [Mapleton, UT] house before the new additions had been completed, and it was as if it was my personal home. I had put Mia down in her crib for a nap, and had left somewhere to run an errand. When I came back through the back door up on the deck that enters into the kitchen, I noticed the double-wide screen door was wide open. I was nervous, and thought, “How did this happen?” I was also frustrated knowing I was going to have a lot of bugs/animals to deal with in the house. Immediately when I came in and saw two strange animals that looked like a cross between a very small Kangaroo and a deer. I shooed them out. I then tried to close the screen, and noticed that a huge rattlesnake was trying violently to get into my house. I could hear him shaking his rattle and saw his fangs. I tried as hard as I could to keep him out, but the snake was too strong and came into my home. Mia ran up next to me and as I was yelling at her to run away, the snake turned to bite her. I was able to grab the snake right behind its head and stop his fangs from sinking into Mia’s face. He in turn tried to bite me, but I was able to pull back. I remember thinking that it was over and there was no way we could live through this. I was able to grab the snake and toss him outside and shut the screen, but I didn’t lock it. As I continued in the house, I found 4 other rattlesnakes of various sizes inside our home, one which was entering through the small crack in the front screen door from not being locked.

As I was looking for the snakes, I realized that Mia somehow had gotten out of her crib. I found a 2 year old child who told me that they had gotten her out. I was sad to see that a 2 year old had been taking care of my daughter while I was gone. I noticed Mia had some marks on her face from me not being there, either from falling, or scratches from the snakes.

It took several hours to try and get all the snakes out. I called [my husband] at work and desperately begged him to come home immediately to help me get the rattlesnakes out. He was a little irritated that I asked him to come home early, and a little reluctant to do so. As I tried to push the snake at the front door out, he would keep creeping in until I locked the front door.

Finally, I was able to get all 5 snakes out of my house and drown them with water from the hose. After we were pretty sure they were dead, they were collected in bags. My dad came over later that day to witness the snakes, and I specifically showed him the huge snake that I dealt with first. He was amazed at the size of the rattle and the head on that snake.

I woke up promptly at 6 am from this dream, fascinated by what I had just experienced. Immediately when I woke up, I knew the meaning of the dream. I knew that the rattlesnakes were the temptations of Satan and the adversary getting into our home. I knew that because I hadn’t locked the doors before I left, that the snakes were able to get in. I knew that “locking” the doors was a symbol of prayers/scripture study/FHE for our families. And as I thought about how much time we spent trying to get rid of the rattlesnakes, my mind immediately thought of Moroni in the Book of Mormon and the time that he spent trying to solve the disputations/problems among his own people, and because there was so much time spent doing that and not preparing, the Lamanites had full advantage over them when they came.

I felt the extreme importance of having daily scripture study and prayer, and also fhe with our families. That is our “safety lock” on our doors for our homes and our children. Without that, we are leaving the doors unlocked in a sense for the adversary to get in and tempt and destroy our children and our families. We then shouldn’t be surprised if when we have taken a break from spiritual “locking” the door with prayer/fhe/scriptures, that our family/children are beset with temptations/problems/contention. We then have to spend our time trying to “get rid” of the adversary snakes in our home, which is time lost in preparing for future trials and temptations, which is why the snakes kept coming back in to my home… I didn’t have time to “lock the door” because I was trying to get all the other ones out. This teaches me the importance of daily study/prayer/fhe, and that we can never take a spiritual “break,” because once we do, we have just allowed the influence of Satan into our lives, and just like Moroni, we will spend our energy trying to clean up and get rid of the problems, instead of preparing for future battles. I also know that the 2 year old helping Mia represents other influences taking over when mom and dad aren’t there to teach and be the correct influence, or when they are not taking the time to teach their children… the teachings come from some other source that will never be as good. Mia’s scratches/bruises on her face represent the results of the influence of the 2 year old, which shows the destruction that can come from outside influences.

I was shocked that this insight came so clearly and that I understood it so well, and knew the interpretation. I have faith that this was inspired of God, and that now is the time for me to fortify my family against Satan DAILY.

As and after Nyk shared this with me, so deep was the impression on my mind. I shared her dream with a friend which commented how this is a pretty powerful parable. True, true!

The truths that came with all of Nykki's insights - when times get worse, all the ugly stuff/temptations "Rattlesnakes" will always be lurking outside in the world. They will always be around and even hiding in the bushes of our homes. But if we do not allow them to come in, we can and will enjoy peace and safety inside our homes. Not naive from the dangers that loom outside, but ever confident that our homes are safe harbors and places where fear and terror for the enemy is not present because we (our homes) are fortified with faith in God.

Nykki--thank you for sharing your dream with me! Thank you for being sensitive enough to know that it came from God!

MANTI TEMPLE

On Saturday for the first time in my life I went and did a session at the Manti temple. I don't know if I have had quite an experience like that in the temple. It was WONDERFUL! Not only was everything beauitful and in order--but I could not help but ponder over the fact that this temple was where the Doug and Judy Cloward Family began. My mom and dad were sealed for time and all eternity, making sacred covenants and vows to one another and to God in that holy house. I wish I would have found out what sealing room they were in--next time.

The temple was beautiful inside. The pictures and the things unique to that temple--absolutely breath taking. It was like experiencing the beauty of the SLC temple for the first time. Something about these older temples and the personal sacrifices that went in to building them. The experience was sacred and I could not help but weep. Weep for joy and gratitude for my parents who decided to have the courage and the desire to follow God. Who are still striving to always retain/remember their temple covenants. I am told that marriage even with the right person is a work. But how grateful I am that they are working at it. The experience was very sacred for/to me.

The woman that I went through with, her last ordinances were preformed in 2004! My heart broke over the fact that she had had them started 6 years ago, and now in 2010 she was finally having her work done for an endowment. Oh how much work there is to do. And yet the temptation to be idle, or just self deluded/focus is amazingly great.

How thankful I am for temples of God! How much HE loves us. How much he trusts us!?! (Sometimes it is a little frightening just how much he believes in us.) :)

Jesus is the Christ.

Weekend To DOs:
Discover if I have allowed any Rattlesnakes to come in - GET THEM OUT!
Lock my doors
and the Relief Society BROADCAST!!!!!!!!!!! And then next week is General Conference. Seriously, this and the first weekend in April = MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR!!