October 24, 2009

• Un-uttered Prayers

  While I was serving in the Relief Society Presidency in our last ward the other councilor was taken into a Stake calling, leaving an opening in the presidency.  As Dalea Ellis, the President was going back and forth over names to submit for a new councilor she was impressed to call Debbie Sutton.  Debbie has had quite a story.  Although most recently her husband joined the church.  She has always been fearful of “pushing” the temple on him because her mother warned her that’s when her own father left the church and the family.  Dalea had the distinct impression that if Debbie accepted this calling it would be the means by which her family would go to the temple.  She told her as much after Debbie accepted.  Debbie fulfilled her calling faithfully until her family moved out of the ward a few years later.  They still hadn’t gone to the temple. 

  On Monday the 12th Debbie called me to invite me to the temple the following Saturday.  They were finally going.  Her husband, who is career navy, is getting deployed next month to fight pirates in Africa.  He is the one who got the ball rolling…as soon as he said the word Debbie went to work.  In just over a week they got everything in order…you see, sometimes it isn’t a matter of worthiness.  They have both been worthy for years.  Sometimes it’s about being prepared in every way.  They were finally prepared and knew they needed to get this done.

  Minutes after getting off the phone with Debbie my mind started rolling.  What am I going to do with my kids for 6 hours on Saturday.  Brian would be out of town and I have a nursing baby.  I called Dalea and she arranged to have her 12 year old Brailey at the temple with the baby.  A few minutes later I received a phone call.  It was Coral Briscoe.  She is a woman in our ward who is Weston’s nursery leader.  I don’t know her well.  I have talked to her a few times and she loves loves loves Weston.  She took out her own endowments just a few months ago.  She is single with 2 great teenage kids.  Anyway,  after the initial pleasantries she came right out with it.  “I just had a feeling I needed to call you and ask if there was anything I could do to help you…can I ever watch your kids or anything?”  I paused,”Seriously?”  I told her my situation and clarified that we were talking about 5-6 hours with 3 kids (one of them being Weston…who is like 3 kids alone ).  She declared she would LOVE to as her kids were with their dad that day and she had nothing else going on.  Have you ever had an answer to an un-uttered prayer?  I have. 

  Saturday came.  Jeff and Maren had the 2 older girls overnight and brought them back about noon.  I picked up Coral at about 1pm, brought her home, and gave a few instructions.  I was off.  I had Charlie with me.  Upon arriving at the temple a few minutes early, I fed the baby and handed her off to Brailey who arrived just at that moment.  I was in the temple….it’s been awhile since I have been able to go with the new baby and pregnancy making it a difficult thing to do. 

  We went through the endowment session and then straight on over to the sealing.  After sealing Debbie and John the sealer had John stand in front of the mirrors alone.  He asked him what he saw.  “Myself forever”  The sealer then hammered home that had he not come to be sealed to his wife, that would be his future…a lone man for eternity.  I have never seen that done in all the sealings I have been too.  He then had Debbie come stand with him.  “Now what do you see?”  It was quite a moment.  And then they brought in the three children…

  Not a dry eye…

  Especially Jordann, their 14 year old daughter who really understands what is happening here…

  After sealing the family the sealer had them stand together in front of the mirrors to see what they had for eternity.  It was one of the most moving experiences of my life.  I have difficulty putting in words how beautiful and TRUE it was.  How anyone, who has been through something like this, could doubt the truth and power that is the gospel of Jesus Christ is beyond me. 

  Everyone worried about how John might take this new experience, as he is the lone member in his extended family, need not worry.  The smile he had on his face the whole time and the look of understanding and light in his eyes was enough to know that he gets it and was more than ready to take these steps. 

  The baby was fine, although completely unwilling to take a bottle, so a bit hungary.  The other children had a great time with Coral who did not let them watch TV (bless her) and played games, played princess, and read books all afternoon. 

  How grateful I am for an answer to my un-uttered prayer so that I might participate in such a spiritual,  uplifting, and faith promoting day.

  • 11:23 am
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