"Stories on the Sabbath" - Journey to the Temple

             A few weeks ago our stake presidency came and challenged each of us to prepare an acceptable offering (D&C128:24) to the Lord at the upcoming temple dedication of the Brigham Temple.  I really felt the spirit when he issued this challenge and it has made me feel a greater excitement for this temple to be dedicated.  As I have been working on preparing my acceptable offering, I have felt the hand of the Lord leading me to accomplish this offering.  I testify that God lives and that he loves each one of us and as we prepare our lives to be worthy to enter into one of his holy temples, we will feel his spirit in greater abundance.

            Years ago when I lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, I served as second counselor in the Young Women's Presidency.  I remember an activity we had where we were given a "dice" that had directions on it, instead of dots.  At each intersection we were to roll the dice and it would tell us what direction to go.   The goal of the activity was to try to get to the temple.  We all loaded up in vans and headed off with the roll-of-the-dice. 

            Our first roll said, "Turn left", and so we did.  The next roll said,"Turn left" again, and so once again we turned left.  I'm sure we looked quite funny to the on-looker as our van kept going in circles in the church parking lot.  Finally we made it some how to the street.  At the first inner section we made a wise roll which pointed us in the direction of the temple.  The next roll said, "Go straight."  That was good until we rolled a "u-turn".  Now we were heading completely AWAY from our goal.  Our journey took us into an apartment complex, a 7-11 parking lot and the Las Vegas Airport.  Needless to say, we weren't making the progress we needed to.  One particular time we were in the left lane with cars all around us, when we rolled a "turn right".  There was no way that we could do that because of our previous decision.  The good thing about that was that the left turn took us towards our goal, instead of away from it.  At a certain pre-appointed time, we all were to stop where we were in our cars and take the straightest route to the temple.  

          It was really interesting as we reached Bonanza Road - which is a straight east shot to the temple.  As we were on a hill looking down into the valley, we could see the bright lights outlining Bonanza.  Then way far off in the distance you could see the faint, subdued lights of the Las Vegas Temple.  The perspective we had at that moment made it very clear to us the route we needed to take.   Seeing that our goal was insight, we began to relax a bit and have a little fun.  At one of the stop lights, we jumped out and did a "Chinese Fire drill".  I'm sure we looked crazy to all watching, but we had a blast.  At the next light a van full of boys pulled up along side of us.  They had just witnessed our little fire drill.  We rolled down our windows and one of the girls asked them if the were LDS?  They didn't respond at first and then another girl yelled CTR!  The driver opened his window at the same time as one of the guys stuck his head out of his back window.  On his hat were the initials BYU.  They said they were LDS and when we told them that we were too, the driver shook his head and say, "we know we could tell!" 

            As we kept driving and went down into a little valley, one of the girls said that she couldn't see the temple anymore.  She made the comment that it was a good thing we knew that this road led to the temple otherwise she would have turned to find another path that might seem easier.  We kept driving and finally reached the temple.  It was wonderful to meet the other young women of the ward and hear the experiences that lead them closer or farther away from the temple.  Our Mia Maid president spoke to us and gave a beautiful talk.  She challenged us all to realize that even though this was a game tonight that we all played, it was a true parable of what happens in our lives.  Every road that we take, every choice that we make in this life will either take us away or bring us closer to our goal of being married in the temple.  How are we all doing?

            While at the temple, we asked the girls to come up with PARABLES they could see that happened along their journey to the temple.   Here are some that they came up with.

                              PARABLES ON OUR ROAD TO THE TEMPLE

1.  Roll-of-the Dice:

             Each road (choice) we choose will take us closer or farther away from our

                 goal of getting to the temple.

2 . Told to turn Right, but was already in the left lane and could not turn:

            Because of a prior commitment to live the gospel, and be in the right place at the right time, many of the temptations that come our way, are not even an option.  We literally are SAVED from bad choices by our previous right choices.

3. Bonanza Street:

            This street represented the straight and narrow path to the temple.  The one sure way to make it to the temple - (follow the prophet, keep the commandments)

4.  Bright lights of Bonanza Street compared to subdued lights of Temple:

             

            Many times the ways of the world seem flashier and call out louder to us. The Temple does not need to try and compete with the world.  It stands on its own and there is no place like it in the world where you can find PEACE.

5.  Hill and Valley:

            When we are living right, its like we are on a HILL.  We were able to look out and see what is ahead of us.  This is called Eternal Perspective.  We have a goal that

we want to attain and we begin working for it.

            There will be times when we reach a VALLEY or a low spot in our lives and the goal we set seems so hard to reach - at times we can't even see or remember what our goal looks like.  It would be dangerous in life if not for our eternal perspective the time we were on the hill.

           

6.  Chinese Fire Drill:

            It's okay to have fun along the way, just as long as we keep our eye on our goal.

7.  Van Full of LDS Boys:

            You will find a worthy mate on the way to the temple.