The Throne of God in San Diego

I love the temple. For me it is how I connect with Deity. It is my source of strength and power. It is the foundation upon which my "happily ever after" has been laid. Because of the temple and the covenants that we have made there, Charles and I are sealed together forever. There is no "til death do you part" for us. Thank goodness. 

I have felt the sealing power of the temple in an amazing way. I have a new understanding of the actual "power" that comes from the sealing ordinances. It is a power that is felt -- that rests upon me -- and gives me strength beyond my own. Charles is "gone" but he does not feel gone to me. I can feel the sealing power actually reaching across eternity and keeping us connected, and close. There are no words to explain the feelings. It is an out-of-this-world experience. It is a force of celestial proportions. 

We are bound to each other, and no force of life or death can part us. Does it sound like a fairytale? That is because it is. My fairytale ending is ever before me. Except there is no "The End" to the story... it will continue on forever. And forever might just be enough time with Charles, my true love. The love that we have is not bound only to this mortal world -- our love is everlasting. If you truly love someone, would you settle for less than forever? Not me. 

I try to attend the temple at least once a week. We are very lucky to have one here in Boise, Idaho. There are many temples throughout the world. On our journey we stopped to capture some pictures of a few of them. (Temples are different than meetinghouses, for more info click: HERE.) 

The San Diego temple is one of the most beautiful structures of all, I believe. It is a celestial castle from a magical dream. It looks like it has been transported directly from the streets of Heaven to dwell in our mortal realm. 

I taught a lesson on Sunday about temples. It was about the one that Ezekiel saw in a vision -- the temple to be built in Jerusalem, before the coming of the Lord. It is an amazing lesson. Read through Ezekiel in the Bible, if you haven't lately. Read the whole Bible, it is fantastic. I love it. 

Here are some points from the lesson manual about temples:

1. The glory of the Lord fills the temple.
2. The temple is "The place of the Lord's throne" on earth.
3. The Lord walks in the temple, calling it "the place of the soles of my feet."
4. The temple is a place where the Lord may "dwell in the midst" of his people.
5. We learn about the laws of the Lord in the temple.
6. There are ordinances that the Lord wants us to perform in the temple.
7. Even the grounds that surround the temple "shall be most holy."
8. Only those who are worthy should enter the temple.
9. In the temple we learn the difference between holy and profane and between clean and unclean.

What struck me the most was the temple is "The place of the Lord's throne" on earth.

I think sometimes we do not see the temple for what it really is. Maybe we go attend out of duty, or loyalty, but do we actually know where we are going when we attend the Lord's throne on earth?

We are living in a true immortal story, with The God of Heaven as the leading Role. He is our Eternal Father, and we are His children. Can't you feel that? We mortals are always seeking after super-heros, and someone with power to rescue the world from its evils and pain. The reality is, that Hero has already come. He performed the act of our rescue -- the Atonement -- and He will come again to purify the earth. His name is Jesus Christ.

We are weakened humans of flesh and blood, but one day, if we are worthy, we will be celestial beings full of power and glory, because of God's loving and wonderful plan of happiness. We drudge around in our imperfect fleshy bodies, but we long for something more... something better... something worth living for... worth fighting for... something eternal. We long for our Home in the presence of our Heavenly Father. We have been there before, and we want to go back. Our spirits inside our bodies -- the same spirits that once dwelt in the presence of God -- long to return to Him.

The temple is the House of God on earth. It is a piece of Heaven nestled in a corrupted world. It is as close as we can get to Him while living in this terrestrial sphere. God is King of Heaven and Earth. He is infinite and eternal. He is all powerful, and everlasting. And He has given us access to His power, and the ability to enter into His House of Glory and Light. The temple is a structure that He has deemed worthy enough for Him to enter, and for His Spirit to be felt. He has invited us to come partake of His power. What a tremendous blessing! Wow! 

I am just starting to understand...

I have always loved the temple, and believed in its power, but now I am able to really catch glimpses of the great plan, and eternity. My mind and spirit have traveled to new vistas, and visions. Charles' death has taken me to new places of understanding. I find more than comfort in the temple, the scriptures, and the gospel as a whole. I find peace to handle the trials I face, and to lift me from my sorrows. But I have also come to know -- through great study and learning -- the true purpose of life, and my place in it.

I do not wish for anyone to experience death of a loved one, but I do wish everyone could learn the lessons that come from pondering life after death, and where we go when we die. It is different when you book read about it, compared to when you experience the feelings of death firsthand. Very, very, different. My access to things spiritual has increased, because part of my heart is dwelling in the spirit world, and I reach out for it daily. As I reach, I find. The temple has been crucial in my reaching.

I have come to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way I never knew was possible.

I love the temple. The more I go, the more I know.

We all seek after and desire strength and power.

Go to the temple often, and you will find it.

That's a promise!