There have been a lot of weddings go on over the past two weekends. I have gone to 3 receptions and one sealing at the temple. There are several more coming in the next month or so too. I am so happy for these young couples that live their lives in such a way that they are worthy to go to the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity. They are starting off their marriage the right way. It is only the first step, but the right step.
Many years ago I had a friend who was getting married. She and the young man she was marrying were both members of the church ( and if my memory is correct he was returned missionary) and they were planning this big elaborate wedding. It was going to be lovely. I remember all the work going in to it to make sure that everything was just perfect. There was only one thing missing. They had decided to not be sealed in the temple. They were just going to have a church ceremony. I asked my friend why they weren't doing the sealing. Her response to me is something that I will never forget. She replied, "I'm not sure I want to married to him forever. We'll try it out for a few years first and see how it goes. If it is good then we will think about the sealing." Wow. I remember thinking, if you don't want to be with him forever why do you even want to marry him?
Now, I understand that not everyone is LDS who reads this blog, and I do respect every one's personal views, however, I am LDS and so my thoughts about marriage and eternal marriage might be different then some of you. However, I would think that any bride would want to be with her spouse forever, no matter what.
Needless to say..those two dear friends were only married a few short years and then their marriage ended in divorce. She has been remarried 2 other times, and he once. I hope that they are both happy. They seem to be...however, I know for sure that he has fallen away from the church, and her, I'm not sure. But I wonder sometimes...would their marriage have lasted if they had been sealed in the temple? Would they have worked a little bit harder at it? I don't know for sure, it wasn't my marriage. And who can say for sure...but...it has made me think many times about marriage and what is important.
The temple sealing that I went to on Wednesday was lovely. It had been a long time since I had gone to a real sealing and I was so thankful that Gio was able to go with me. The spirit there was so strong. These two dear friends had both been married before and divorced for only a short time when they found each other. To see them kneel together at the altar and be sealed. To hear those special blessings promised to them ( and each one of us as we are sealed). It made me think back to my wedding day when Gio and I were sealed almost 22 yrs ago. How blessed we are! Truly blessed.
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| Franceso and Onrella coming out of the temple |
The officiator at the ceremony gave a wonderful discourse...but there was a part of it that really touched me. (Go here to read the whole talk).
We started as poor college students, but her vision for our marriage was exemplified by a set of silverware. As is common today, when we married she registered with a local department store. Instead of listing all the pots and pans and appliances we needed and hoped to receive, she chose another course. She asked for silverware. She chose a pattern and the number of place settings and listed knives, forks, and spoons on the wedding registry and nothing else. No towels, no toasters, no television—just knives, forks, and spoons.
The wedding came and went. Our friends and our parents’ friends gave gifts. We departed for a brief honeymoon and decided to open the presents when we returned. When we did so, we were shocked. There was not a single knife or fork in the lot. We joked about it and went on with our lives.
Two children came along while we were in law school. We had no money to spare. But when my wife worked as a part-time election judge or when someone gave her a few dollars for her birthday, she would quietly set it aside, and when she had enough she would go to town to buy a fork or a spoon. It took us several years to accumulate enough pieces to use them. When we finally had service for four, we began to invite some of our friends for dinner.
Over the years we added to the set, and I watched with amazement how she cared for the silver. My wife was never one to get angry easily. However, I remember the day when one of our children somehow got hold of one of the silver forks and wanted to use it to dig up the backyard. That attempt was met with a fiery glare and a warning not to even think about it. Ever!
I noticed that the silverware never went to the many ward dinners she cooked, or never accompanied the many meals she made and sent to others who were sick or needy. It never went on picnics and never went camping. In fact it never went anywhere; and, as time went by, it didn’t even come to the table very often. Some of our friends were weighed in the balance, found wanting, and didn’t even know it. They got the stainless when they came to dinner.
The time came when we were called to go on a mission. I arrived home one day and was told that I had to rent a safe-deposit box for the silver. She didn’t want to take it with us. She didn’t want to leave it behind. And she didn’t want to lose it.
For years I thought she was just a little bit eccentric, and then one day I realized that she had known for a long time something that I was just beginning to understand. If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by.
How thankful I am to be married to my husband in the temple. To know that he is my eternal companion. And to know that we have an eternal family.
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This past weekend we also had stake conference. What a great opportunity to hear from our leaders. On Saturday night there was a panel of returned missionaries. We had the opportunity to ask about their missions. The ups and downs. About how the Book of Mormon changed their life and the lives of those they taught. How/When were they converted, etc. As I saw those elders/sisters standing there I couldn't help but think about Robert...and myself. About the change that happens to a person while they serve a mission. I also thought of Brian and how even now he is preparing himself to serve the Lord.
It made me think about how every day we need to nourish ourselves. We need to keep our testimonies strong and planted in good soil.
It really has been a fantastic few weeks and I'm so thankful
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This week is full of fun and exciting things for Brian. It is his last week of elementary school. He is having field trips/ field day at school with games/etc...graduation, assemblies, etc...And with a poof it is all done. And now we will have a kid in Jr High school again!
I am so proud of Brian. He is a fine young man and such a good son. I feel so blessed that he is in our family. He brings so much joy and happiness to us. He has such a good spirit about it and is a joy to be around!
I guess I better go now...I'm off to help with the first of several parties this week! And I will remember the camera this time!!!
1 comment:
Beautifully written! Thank you for sharing that story. I had heard it before, but it its so meaningful and nice to hear again.
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