~by Amanda
We have a song that we teach our kids called “I Love to See the Temple.” It is a simple song that teaches the kids that going to temple is a good thing and it teaches them what we do there ~ we learn, we pray, we feel the spirit and we seal our families together forever.
Being a busy mom of three young children, I don’t get to attend the temple as often as I would like. Where we are, we live about forty-five minutes from a temple. On a day this spring, I took my daughter (age 6) and one son (age 3) to a couple stores in that area, so we stopped to wander the grounds of the temple.
On that cool, overcast spring morning I noticed that as soon as we stepped onto the grounds we felt peace. Serenity seemed to envelope us. Calmness filled us. We admired the flowers, the fountain, the beautiful stone and wood work, the Angel Moroni.
I was able to talk with my children about when my husband and I were married in the temple (a different one than we were visiting), and I was able to tell my daughter (who was adopted) about when she was sealed to our family forever. We were able to talk about the blessing of having an eternal family.
My daughter and I talked about how someday she may choose to be married in this temple.
I was able to tell my daughter how much the temple means to me and how much I love going when I have the chance. I was able to tell her how when I go I feel peace and how I have had my prayers answered when there.
On that day, I realized that even though I don’t always have the time to go into the temple, I can feel close to the Lord and feel the peace of the temple by going to grounds and soaking in the spirit there. Today, I encourage you to do the same. Take the kids, or go by yourself, sit on the grass and ponder anything weighing on you. Pray for an answer. Feel the peace. And enjoy your day.
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What beautiful pictures. Thank you Amanda. At the Temple nearest me there is a visitor’s center with a large statue of Christ. When I go there, I like to look up at Christ and ponder His love for all of us. The Christus statue includes the nailprints in Jesus’ hands and feet from when He was nailed to the cross. The last time we went to the Vistior’s Center with my children was at Easter time. My daughter noticed the nailprints on the statue and asked me about them. Although I did tear up, it was a wonderful way to testify to my daughter of Jesus’ sacrifice, His atonement , the resurrection and about the real meaning of Easter.
The Portland Temple is probably one on my most favorite. That temple was always so peaceful to me. The way the trees are around it etc. it just seems so protected from the outside world. I loved going there. I was young and sometimes being downtown used to scare me, but I always felt better knowing that patch of peace and beauty wasn’t far away. Very comforting!
Of all the Temples I’ve been inside, I think Portland’s Celestial Room is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
beautiful pictures and wonderful sentiments. those kids are blessed to have a mom with such great insight!
Beautiful. I love how there is peace even on the grounds of the temples. And I love being there with my children. Thank you for sharing a little of your peace with us here.
Amanda, what a great essay! You truly have a gift for expressing yourself in picture and words…I think your kids are so blessed to have you for their mom!