Preparing To Be Sealed Together

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Everytime my family moves to a new place, we're pretty much used to being asked to give talks the Sunday after. It's like a trend these days. When I got here in Arizona 4 months ago, I was pretty happy I never got to talk. But I guess one can never hide forever. They finally found me last Sunday. 

I saw it coming, and the best part was, I also knew my topic was coming. I just felt it. When I opened that little yellow piece of paper, I didn't even noticed the rest of the writings. All I saw was, "Eternal Marriage," I looked at my mom and my brother, and we laughed because we knew. God's humor amazes me. 

It is a pretty intense subject. The whole week I was thinking of how to come about explaining how important it is for me when I have not been through the temple yet.

This topic is very dear to my heart, and that is probably why the Lord wanted me to speak about it today. 

I am not sealed to my family, and since I am not married yet, I am not sealed to my husband. 

Growing up in the church, I have always known I was not sealed to my family, but I have always had that small hope that one day I will be.

Today, I am going to break my talk into three parts. First, I will talk about my eternal family. Second, my FUTURE eternal family. Last, the blessings of being sealed together for time and all eternity.

My eternal family

My family and I are preparing to be sealed together. We understand that this is a very sacred ordinance and we want to be fully, completely, ready, and worthy to go. Worthy to go beyond the visitor's center and the baptismal font. Now, I'm not saying they are anything less. The visitor's center and the baptismal font are amazing! I have probably been there more than I have been to my classes. When I was in Hawaii, I would ditch my 8am class just to go to the temple and justify myself by saying, "Nah, I'll be good. The Lord will bless me because I went to the temple." (Andrew knows this because we would go together every week.)

I love the temple so much that I wanted to live there. It really is a little piece of heaven on earth. I say, the temple is the happiest place on earth, Disneyland being the second. ;)

I do not have a perfect family. I am, in fact, a product of a broken home. Nonetheless, it never occured to me that losing hope was an option. One day I know I will be sealed to my mom, my step dad, and my two very protective brothers, who I love so much. I know one day will be soon. 

My future eternal family

As an 8 year old many years ago, I was pretty determined to marry a returned missionary, who will be worthy to ask my hand from my Heavenly Father when I turn 21. I have NO idea why 21. I didn't really realize how young 21 is, until I turned 21 six months ago. But what was important to me that time was, and it still is, is to be sealed with my husband forever. The idea of knowing I get to be with my family even after this life was what amused me. As the years passed, that idea became truth, and that truth became my goal.

It is so surreal to think that I do have to prepare for this. It is scary and beautiful at the same time. Everytime I think of it, Elder Boyd K. Packer's words come into mind, "Everytime I think of the future, I am overwhelmed by the feeling of optimism." Truly, I do.

The promised blessings

Richard G. Scott shared his personal story and how his wife taught him the most valuable lessons in life. Jeanene would write him an affectionate, supportive note and put it in his scriptures. Elder Scott started to do the same thing with her, not realizing how much it truly meant to her. When Jeanene passed away, Elder Scott found in her private things all the notes he had given her over the years. There was one thing that she didn't put away. It is still behind their glass in their kitchen clock. It reads, "Jeanene, it is time to tell you I love you." As Elder Scott thought back on their life together, he realized how blessed he has been for his wife's example. She lived a life full of service and love. She understood the greatest of the eternal plan of happiness. 

Elder Scott closed his talk with one of my favorite promised blessings an eternal marriage can give, "I know what it is to love a daughter of our Father in heaven, who with grace and devotion lived the full feminine splendor of womanhood. I am confident that when, in our future, I see her again beyond the veil, we will recognize that we have become even more deeply in love. We will appreciate each other even more, having spent this time separated by the veil."

How beautiful is it to know that families can be together forever? Forever is such a big word and not a lot of people believe in it, but how blessed are we to know that it exist? How beautiful is it to know that we can be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us and that we will never have to part again? How beautiful is the gospel and God's love for us? 

If there are two most important words that stood out to me while studying for this talk, it would have to be "prepare" and "eternal." Prepare to be eternal.

I know with all my heart that Jesus Christ lives. And because He lives, we can, too. Even after this life. I know that families can really be together forever. It is not just a saying. It is real. I cannot wait to be sealed to my family and to my future family. The blessings of the temple is eternal, and it never changes. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance is made possible. We WILL be able to return back to our Heavenly Father. 

With our families. 

Forever.

I gave this talk the same Sunday my baby brother gave his farewell talk before leaving on his mission. Here's him with my parents and our Patriarch and his wife. Of course, I had to be the one missing because I had to take this picture. Ha

P.S. Andrew requested that I blog this. He wished he was there to listen when I gave my talk, but I guess this is just as good as being there. I hope.