Salt Lake City, UT (Where I received my own endowments)
Draper, UT
Twin Falls, ID
Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
(Will attend here while at MTC)
On September 20, 2013, my life changed for forever. I received my call to serve a mission!
I knew it was coming and I couldn't wait! Where would I be serving?!
Sister Tawni....you have been assigned to labor in the
I was thrilled! It was perfect! It is perfect!
But that's a separate blog (click the mission to check it out)
On September 27, 2013, my life changed for forever again. I received my endowments in the Temple of the Lord. Before I received them I received advice from EVERYONE! My mother, my branch presidents, friends that had gone before me, my sister, my brother.
In this post I'm going to try to combine advice that was given me, and advice that I wish someone would have given me before I went through. Before I start, I do want to make clear. I do not claim to be an expert on all things Temple. In fact I'm still really new at this! But I do think that some of this will help, feel free to add more advice in the comments!
Prepare yourself spiritually.
I would suggest some reading.
Doctrine & Covenants 109 for starters. This was the dedicatory prayer offered for the Kirtland Temple. Read it before you go in, and then sometime after. You'll read it differently the next time around. I promise.
Also Temple & Tabernacle in the Bible Dictionary. (Speaking of the Bible Dictionary, read it! It's amazing and full of so many great things!)
These two talks:
And just for funsies, my new favorite chapter Doctrine & Covenants 31, make it personal change the name to be your name and it becomes an amazing powerful blessing for you and your mission.
Prepare yourself mentally.
If you are anything like me, you are curious and your mind is going about 1,000 MPH about "what should I expect and what is said and why, oh why!, does everyone keep telling me it's overwhelming? And if one more person tells me that it's 'different', I might scream".
At least that was a running dialogue in my head before I went.
Before you go in just stop, I know it's hard, but don't even TRY to think about what goes on. I can tell you that no matter what you will be 100% WRONG.
The Temple session is a beautiful and wonderful time. Don't overthink it and don't worry about it.
Here's what I can tell you:
What to expect? A bazillion and one of the nicest, sweetest, loving women to ever grace the earth helping you at every turn. I mean that literally. These women are placed almost every ten feet in the temple. You cannot get lost. And if you have a question, they are more than happy to help you. Do not worry! They are there and they love you and are so happy for you! Your first time through, is all about you! Everyone there will know it's your first time, even if they aren't a temple worker, will help you! Remember it's the Lord's house and everyone there knows it. It is the most loving place on earth.
Overwhelming? Yes and no. The temple is somewhere you will repeatedly go and will always learn something new. Yet, at the same time it's wonderfully simple. The first time is the most overwhelming, so just relax and feel the spirit. The first time through the main focus is to soak it in and feel the spirit. The next time you go through, you'll know more of what is going on, and be able to focus more on learning! So the first time listen, but FEEL.
It's different? Yes, it's "different" I suppose. The covenants made in the temple are ancient they are before this time. But they are wonderful and beautiful and the blessings and promises that come from them are amazing and undeniable. I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE TELL ME THIS. And honestly, I wish they wouldn't have focused on this. It made me nervous and it only compounded my problem of thinking about it. And being worried. It's nothing extreme. Honestly, just trust me on this, it's not worth worrying or even thinking about.
Prepare physically.
Obviously you want to look clean and presentable for the Lord's house, and you want to be spiritually ready as well. But there are some basics that you need not forget!
Clothes! Ladies, do not forget that you will be leaving with an extra layer, and to dress appropriately....I thought my skirt was long enough...I was sadly wrong by a few centimeters. The first time through I would definitely suggest wearing a skirt that DEFINITELY hits below the knees front and back. Then back at your house you can go and try on and adjust, but trust me when I say you will not want to be playing the how-not-to-move-as-not-to-show-my-new-layer game while leaving the temple. You just won't. Don't forget the tops. I knew that I would need sleeves, but the neckline never occurred to me. I'm narrower through my shoulders and many many of my round neck shirts had to go. They weren't too low, but they were too wide! So dress accordingly! And don't be my sister and have to stop on your way to buy a white bra. Wear one!
Hair! Maybe your hair doesn't drive you crazy, but just to be on the safe side I would suggest either pulling all of it back into a low pony tail (white holder, don't forget that!) or at least the front half back into a pretty clip. Just trust me. I didn't the first time and the second time through it made a big difference in how much my mind wandered. I kept pushing it back the first time, because it WOULD NOT STAY OUTTA MY FACE! So just pull it back. You'll thank me later, or maybe not. But I really wish I would've.
Makeup! This is simple. You probably will cry. Bring a white hankie. They sell them at the distribution center. And unless you want black eyes, wear waterproof makeup. Simple.
But the best advice I received to date. GO BACK.
It was probably the single best piece of advice I received.
I hope that this does not read the wrong way, because I LOVE THE TEMPLE. And it is the most amazing place on earth. But my first time through was not my best experience.
I had built it up so much in my head, and everyone with their "oh it's different" made me worry.
I can say that the first time was amazing and beautiful but it wasn't my favorite time in the temple. And it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought that I would change completely 180, my way of thinking would immediately be different. But I walked out confused and I wasn't sure what all I had heard, did I even learn anything? And I felt like I was different, everyone else was all "Oh my gosh! I learned so much, the gospel is true!" And I was all, "Wait! I don't remember what was said! I don't understand!" But the advice for my dilemma was two simple words: GO BACK.
I have been twice since and my love for it has grown immensely. I understand so much more and more every time I go. Now I have the "The Gospel is true! I learned so much!"
But don't feel strange if you are like me and your first time through isn't "ah-ha!" or all enlightening like you thought it would be. Everyone is different.
I really wish someone would have told me,
it's okay to not feel 100% changed after your first time through.
So here I am, telling you, it's okay.
It's okay to feel nervous, it's okay to be confused, it's okay!
Change doesn't happen overnight or after once through the temple.
It happens over a lifetime of visits to the temple, it happens slowly, over many visits.
If you walk out of the temple and felt the spirit that is all that matters.
Just because you didn't have an all inspiring moment or full enlightenment like you thought you might or think other people had, doesn't mean that you aren't spiritual enough or worthy enough, there is a lot to learn and soak up, and you have to go back to learn more. And eventually you'll have that YES! moment. I didn't get that until my 3rd time through. Everyone is different. You might get it the first time, you might get it the 3rd, 5th or maybe the 10th time. But GO BACK.
"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear,
for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear
record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God,
that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."
Doctrine & Covenants 68:6
The temple is an amazing place, so be of good cheer, and do not fear, for the temple is the Lord's house and He is there with you!
xoxo, The Blonde Chocoholic
Thank you for this. I can't go until next year but am eager to go and love reading about how better to prepare myself for it.
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