I'm going to be rather honest here. I've never felt this strong desire to go to/through the temple.
My parents weren't married in the temple. Because of inactivity and my dad, my mom wasn't endowed while I was growing up. She went through the temple just a couple of years ago. I didn't grow up with a feeling that temple attendance was important. There were no garments in my home and I'm only just becoming used to my friends wearing them.
As I near the age of 24 I realize that I can soon choose to go through the temple. As it is, I haven't felt like the baptistry gives me the most holy of feelings.
With these thoughts going on in my mind quite a bit recently I've decided to reach out for help. How do you feel when you're in the temple? What drives you to go? Is it worth it?
Welcome, Minnie!!
5 months ago
4 comments:
I have felt a peace in the temple. I loved the initiatory (washing and anointing). I feel terrible saying this but I don't like the endowment. But I do enjoy the celestial room afterwards.
I do think the temple is important. I don't think it's perfect, just like I don't think the church is perfect (the gospel is, but not the church, in my opinion). I'm working to strengthen my testimony of the temple. Maybe start going to the baptistry more and really focus on feeling the spirit while you're there?
Don't go just because you feel like you should. Don't go before you're ready.
For me, the temple is the most peaceful place, even just being on the grounds. The times I have felt the spirit the strongest have been in the Celestial Room and the Sealing Room, where I've had undeniable testaments of the Spirit. WHenever you choose to go, make sure it's because you are ready, and not because you feel like you have too. I think it is so important to go regularly -- we haven't been able to since my baby was born, and I can tell a difference in my life. People save up for a life time to attend the temple once. There is a lot of important covenants you make, so make sure you prepare a lot spiritually before taking out your endowment. And just for the temple in general, go with a specific question in mind, and with a prayerful heart. That really makes the experience a lot better for me. Hope you don't mind me throwing my two cents in. I love the temple. :)
I can't believe I missed this post! Honestly before I was endowed I didn't really care for going to the temple. A lot of the spiritual experiences I had happened outside of the temple on temple grounds and I always felt anxious and awkward whenever I went to do baptisms. And I even did baptisms today and I still didnt really like it that much. When I received my endowment I was so so nervous beforehand. I didn't feel good enough, worthy enough etc. and I kind of massively freaked out. But then when I went it was so beautiful and even though I was still a bit nervous I finally felt that overwhelming peace that everybody always talks about. And I don't feel that way everytime. If I'm not well-rested and prepared it's super hard to pay attention and I definitely get less out of it. To be honest I go to the temple to pray, to feel worthwhile and to become entitled to the blessings that we're promised by attending the temple. I think everyone comes to love the temple in their own time and in their own way and I think it's perfectly normal for you feel hesitant about it especially considering that you didn't grow up surrounded by that familiarity. I did grow up with that familiarity and it was still a big adjustment. I sure love you and I'll be there in a heartbeat if/when you decide to go through!
Let's talk about this some time. Cuz I'm definitely more than a little disappointed that they won't let me go. I wanted to go so bad.
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