I am thankful for the close proximity that I have to so many temples. I generally liked to go to the temple in the middle of the day, as it seemed like a time when the least amount of distractions would present themselves. However, I knew the arrival of our baby boy would change this long time habit, as now I would have a new little friend home with me to occupy my days. As I eagerly looked forward to having a new little baby, I became concerned about how I was going to be able to fit my mid day temple outings in my new life.
Each one of my children have entered our home and this Earth Life bringing two tremendous gifts with them. The first gift was the power for each of them to be loved as individuals and literal spirit children of their Heavenly Father. The second gift was some very important deeply personal lesson for their Mother to learn. K’Lynn taught me how to do what I needed to in order to be the very best person that I could be. Kandace taught me how to experience pure joy on this Earthly journey, and how to think with my heart. The lesson that Chaz brought with him is closely tied to this lesson, which is why I share this today.
One night, as I was getting Chaz ready for bed, I lovingly inspected his adorable little face, as I also stretched out his long fingers, and chuckled at his mowhawk, half formed by a perfect cowlick on the very top center of his head. As I reflected upon my new little gift from Heaven, my mind wandered, as it had so many times before about what he knew that I wish he could tell me. Almost as instantly as this thought came to me, the spirit spoke to me “Families Are Forever”. It was so powerful. I worried over that a bit, as I then became fearful that possibly the reason this lesson was tied to him was due to the fact that maybe he wouldn’t be here with us for as long as a parent would expect or hope for. This concept frightened me. I have since gained peace in the fact that this wasn’t what was meant to be taken out of such an experience.
Just a few weeks ago, I was again lovingly starring at my new little guy (clearly I do this often), and it was as though the spirit allowed me the tinniest little glimpse of what Chaz’s oversized spirit performed before he came to us. Through this, I immediately gained an increased testimony of Missionary Work. The spirit helped me to realize that those who have gone on before us do need our help. It was my feeling as a mother, that Chaz was acquainted with people who knew and loved him as a family member before he came to us, and that he was instrumental in these ancestors accepting temple work that has been performed in their behalf.
Joseph F Smith declared: 'Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their [people] here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties”.
After this teaching moment, it is my belief that there are tremendous efforts taking place on both sides of the veil to ensure that these ordinances are performed and accepted by those so anxiously awaiting this opportunity that qualifies them to live eternally with Heavenly Father.
Although I will be forever humbled at the opportunity I had to receive this little glimpse of the power behind this special person gifted to me as my Son, it is the underlying lesson the spirit taught me that is the tremendous gift. Immediately after this experience, I realized something profound. When I visit the temple, I get to feel the power of Heaven. On the same account, little spirits that join our homes allow us to feel the power of Heaven through their oversized sprits housed in tiny little bodies. Heavenly Father is mindful of the time and effort that goes into caring for a newborn. Certainly, the law of compensation would take such an effort into account.
As I reflected upon this entire experience, I felt closer to some of my deceased family members than I had in quite some time. Suddenly the pieces of the puzzle came together for me. The lesson was this: That through the blessing of the internet, and the self discipline of using my time wisely, that I could literally participate in temple work in my living room multitasking as I cared for an infant. Earlier, I mentioned that I had never really caught the vision of where I fit in with geneology, and how this could fit into my life. But, through this experience, I have come to realize that this is a way that I can serve Heavenly Father on the other end of temple work and family History.
It is still ideal for me to attend the temple as often as my circumstances will allow. Yet, in the times where personal limitations will not allow me to do this as often as I would like, indexing and seeking out ancestors on family search allows me to play just as vital of a role in the mission of the church which consists of: proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the saints, and redeeming the dead.
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