Won't you like to get two cherries or extra topping on your sundae? Well, that's what happened to me today! I got two of the best cherries or toppings ever on the top of my Sunday, and I still pinching myself to be sure that this is not a dream!
So today is the Gilbert Temple dedication. I was looking forward for that moment since the first time I saw the land where the temple is now build. When I learned that the dedication was scheduled for the time when I would be already here, I was feeling already really blessed and excited. I won't share all the experiences I had since then with this temple, because I have another blog about my temple adventures. Here I just want to share how this temple and the prophet, had been my topping on my Sunday in this glorious Sabbath day.
I had plan to attend the dedication from a stake center, as the majority of the members of the temple district, and that was enough for me! I knew that president Monson would be there, but to know that he would be close to where I live was already a great blessing, so I wasn't dissapointed to know that I would had to watch it in a stake center instead of the temple. I had already attend the Montreal temple dedication almost 14 years ago so it was ok that others would get that opportunity here. I was feeling so much joy, and I was happy to know that I would witness that event, even if it was a couple of miles away from where it would be happening. It would be the peanuts on my Sunday.
And then, I was offered the opportunity to help at the temple the morning of the dedication, and my "reward" for volunteering was to attend the dedication INSIDE the temple! I looked calm but inside I was shouting of joy!!!! How me, a young woman from Montreal who moved here only a few months ago is getting this opportunity?!?! That was so much better that what I thought! And of course, I accepted the offer! Yay, it was the chocolate syrup that I already knew I would have on my Sunday. It was going to be delicious!
So this morning when I woke up, my first thought was: "today is the day! This is going to be one of the most glorious Sabbath I could ever imagine!" I had a big smile on my face, thinking about how yummy my Sunday was going to be!
So I got ready, and before the sun showed up, I walked to the temple and helped. I was putting shoe coverings on those who were coming inside the temple. I will share some thoughts about it that wonderful experience on my temple blog later, but it was an amazing opportunity to serve. I was at the main entrance, and from there I had a view of the choir for the cornerstone ceremony, and I was able to hear them singing. I also saw president Eyring coming in, as president Lesueur and his wife (the temple president and matron), elder Callister, and all those who were going to the celestial room for the morning session. What a blessing! Yes, it was like some strawberries, bananas, pinneapple and mangos on my Sunday! So good!!
And then someone special got there: the prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson! We had been told to let him walked in without trying to shake his hand, get a picture, or things like that, unless he takes the initiative to do it. Come on, it was the prophet of the Lord, we had to behave! So those who were there with me we were standing, and looking with reverence to this amazing men. I was so close to him! oh yeah! It was my extra chocolate pieces on my Sunday (I love chocolate... just saying...).
And then, it happened: he stretched his hand to shake the hand of the first person in line... when I saw that I thought: is he really doing it? Would he really shake our hands? Would he really shake MY hand? I saw him coming closer, shaking the hands of the others, until he got in front on me, and shook MY hand! Touching the hand of this man that I admire and love so much was so humbling! I could feel the deep love he has for each of God's children. But the most amazing thing was that I knew he was a prophet of God. And I didn't knew it because I shook his hand! I knew it before that happened, I knew it since he was called as a prophet, and that knowledge had become stronger as I've been learning more about his life and his teachings. If I hadn't shook his hand that wouldn't change anything to that testimony I have of the prophet of God, I would still believe that he is the prophet of God. I didn't shook his hand to know if he was a prophet of God and to perhaps decide to follow his teachings if he really was so. No! I shook his hand because, well, he decided to do it, and the excitement I got wasn't because I need to do it to believe in him, or because he was the most "famous" person for LDS people, but because I already knew who he is, and because I love him, and who doesn't like to shake the hand, or hug or just be close to someone we love? It was a sweet experience though, and it was cherry that made me feel grateful for the prophet and for the testimony I have that he is there to watch over the saints and to teach us the teachings from the Lord for our days.
After that, we went inside and waited for the dedication to begin. The feeling was so special! We saw the cornerstone ceremony. It was so sweet to see how the prophet was looking with amazement at the choir. He is so cute! He really loves the saints and if he could, he would shake the hand of every single person in the world and tell them something nice about them. He would really be that kind of person! The music was beautiful too, outside and inside the temple. Definitely they were as a manifestation of angels! The talks that were given inspired me and made me feel so desirous to keep being part of the blessings of the Gilbert Temple. Many of the thoughts that were shared were things that I had been pondering about this past week as I was preparing for the dedication. I don't want to talk to much about it, because I'm keeping it for my temple blog, but this was the best of my Sunday! I got to listen to the dedicatory prayer. I got to wave my handkerchief of joy because of that great event! When I did that, a warm and strong feeling filled my complete soul! I left the temple with a feeling of joy! I'm not there anymore, but I still feel as in heaven!
Today was a different Sunday than usual! I didn't had the usuals church meetings. We didn't had a sacrament meeting. I didn't even took the sacrament today, which usually is the most important part of the Sabbath day. But it felt like I did, because I was in a place where I remember my covenants. I was in a place where I ponder about my Savior and his atonement. Without the atonement, any ordinance that we make at the temple would be useful. Without the atonement, the sealing power would be vain. The temple is a testimony of Christ! The temple is there because of the atonement. The temple and the atonement are part of God's plan to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man!
As I was listening to the dedication, I felt that desire to renew my covenants, the baptismal one as the ones I made at the temple, as I do every Sunday when I partake the sacrament. I want to give the best of myself to follow my Savior Jesus-Christ, to take his name upon me, to always remember him, to keep his commandments, that I would have his Spirit with me. He trusted me enough to allow me to get those cherries on my Sunday, and I want to show him that I will do what he expects from me, and I know that if I do this, I will see his blessings pouring over me like the tears of joy from heaven that were pouring over the 12000 youth during the cultural celebration last night. I'm already feeling it! I already see it! And I want to renew my promise to myself that I would be a temple-worthy member, attending the temple regularly, and that I would follow his prophet's voice!
I got back home at 11 a.m.... usually at that time I would be getting ready for choir and church. But this Sunday that has started at 4:30 a.m. was already a glorious Sabbath at 11 a.m.! I was feeling as if I had ate a gallon of ice cream with so many good toppings... and two cherries! My soul is full!!! I'm satisfied! This is a glorious Sabbath! I love the temple! I love the prophet! I love the knowledge that my family can be together forever! And I love the Sabbath!
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