"I Love to See the Temple"

Going to the temple was something I looked forward to my entire life. I knew that it was sacred and important, and temple marriage was was my goal. Clarence and I were fortunate enough to be married in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, and it was beautiful. Even though we had to wait the year after he was baptized (and that year was probably the hardest year of my life), it was definitely worth it.

We made it a goal when we got married to attend the temple at least twice a month, if not every week. We've try to go every week, but some weeks it is literally impossible to go. It is still a huge sacrifice for us to go even twice a month, because we can't ever go on a weeknight due to our intense homework amounts and class schedules. So, we have the option to go either Friday night or Saturday morning. You can see why it'd be a sacrifice to go on these days. On Friday nights everyone is wiped out from the week and you just want to lounge and watch a movie. Saturday morning is the only day we have to sleep in, so it's hard to give that up.

But we've been doing it! And I'm so proud of us. I know that there is nothing more important than going to the temple, even sleeping haha. And what's a more awesome date with your spouse than a night at the temple? Nothing else wil improve your relationship more, not going out to dinner or to a movie. We get to spend three hours together focused on eternity. We get to escape the world for a while, and it is very much needed. Going to the temple makes me feel so blessed to be a woman, to be Clarence's wife, and to have him forever. I now understand why the church wants every member to go through the temple. It is so essential and so beautiful.

Excess of Gratitude

Me and my cute mom at the Conference Center after the Broadcast.

Tonight was the Church's General Relief Society Broadcast. My mom picked me up around 5:15, and we parked and walked to the Conference Center just in time before it started at 6:00 (my mom was pretty aggressive in the parking garage...) I was so happy to be with my mom and to have a special night together, since we rarely get one on one time together. I missed Rach, but she was being waited upon by the Elders' Quorum in her ward--they fed the girls dinner at the church and then they watched the broadcast there.

At first I wasn't too excited to go to the actual Conference Center, since dealing with parking and the massive crowds (about 20,000 women, since the building can hold 21,000) is sometimes an ordeal. But it was definitely worth it. The building itself is so breathtaking, especially when you walk into the auditorium and you're overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people it can hold.

I also felt so blessed to be in the presence of our Prophet, Preisdent Monson, and his counselors President Eyring and President Uchtdorf. The Relief Society Presidency are also great examples of strong women who so diligently and faithfully serve the Lord and serve the women of the Church. All three of their talks were very inspiring, and I felt especially strong that I need to be better at Visiting Teaching. I have such a cute visiting teacher, Carla. Last Sunday she unexpectedly came by with zucchini bread and an invititation to a game night with her and her husband.

There's nothing like being surrounded by 20,000 women who all believe the same that you do, who are all striving to be good mothers, good wives, and good women. I am so blessed to have the Gospel. It makes me feel empowered, to know that I have a divine role to fulfill, to know that I have a mission here on Earth. I know many people have a misperception that the Church doesn't value women, or something to that extent. Nothing could be further than the truth. Women and men are equals; yes, we are different. Of course, that's how it's meant to be. But we are both equally invaluable in the eyes of the Lord and we both need eachother in order to achieve exaltation.

I'm in a Marriage and Family class right now at BYU, and it is has strengthened my testimony of the important of the two separate roles that men and women have, but also of the importance of both . Going to the Conference tonight just deepened my gratitude for being a woman.

I'm so very grateful for Clarence, especially for his role as the Priesthood leader in our home. I'm glad we can both learn and grow together, since we both have so much to learn. Being married has already taught me so much about forgiveness and unconditional love. I love him so much and I'm so happy (ecstatic, joyful, overwhelmed!) to know that we are sealed together for all eternity. Nothing is more beautiful.