Going to the Temple

At the age of eight I was sealed for time and all eternity to my parents and siblings in the Washington DC LDS Temple.  It was a beautiful, perfect day and I remember feeling so happy I could taste it.  I loved my family and I loved the way I felt.  I wanted to come back one day, when I was all grown, and feel that way again.

Fast forward twenty-two years.  My personal faith and testimony have fluctuated all over the place.  Things I once knew for certain I've doubted more than once.  I've stopped going to church, started again, stopped and started, and stopped and started.  I've found peace, then let it be dashed.  Been angry at God, then changed my perspective.  It's been winding and long, but in the end brought me to where I was yesterday.

After careful consideration, I decided to go through the temple and receive my endowment.

Now, one thing most non-Mormon people know is that Mormons don't talk about what goes on in the temple. I had been through the NYC temple before its dedication, when it was open to the general public, but still was not quite sure what to expect from the ceremony itself. I even found myself jokingly asking my parents if anything crazy weird would happen - like, no bloodwork or creepy stuff, right?  To which Mama H laughed and responded "Do you really think Papa H and I would've stuck around if they took our blood?!"  Fair point.  It's just really personal and sacred.

So, as J-Man describes it, I became "more Mormon."  Which works as an explanation for me.

It was a wonderful experience.  Mama and Papa H were there, along with some friends from my current ward (our term for 'congregation').  I felt happy and loved and at peace, as much as that day ages ago.

I know that my J-Man and I don't have the same ideas about faith and heaven and religion overall.  I'm ok with that.  I love him with the entirety of my heart and that hasn't changed.  I know that the majority of my friends aren't LDS either, so this might sound strange or confusing.  I don't have all the answers, so if there are questions about temples, the best place to learn more is here.  What I can tell you is that I am happy. My heart is full.  I love my family and my friends.  I couldn't ask to be on this wild journey of life surrounded by anyone better.