Temple Ordinances For My Mother

The first time I prepared to go to the temple to receive my endowments was the most exciting time of my life.  I had saved up for months and was going to make the 1600-kilometre trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg with my ward.  I had taken the temple preparation class, and had prepared the name of my mother – who died when I was only three years old – for temple work. Two nights before our planned departure, I went to the store to get snacks for the road and to withdraw the money needed to pay for my transport. However, on my way back home, two men came up behind me and held me by force. One held a knife to my throat while the other grabbed all my things. They took my wallet, my cell phone and even my snacks. I screamed as loudly as I could, but it felt like no one heard me. And then it was just over. 

I called the police who eventually caught the two robbers. But my heart was broken: not over the phone, the cards I would have to replace, or the snacks they had taken, but the money that was now gone. Without it, I could not go to the temple. I cried and cried and cried.  The following day was a Sunday. I went to church and, with a heavy heart, told everyone I wouldn’t be able to go on the trip as I no longer had the money to pay for it. Our wonderful Relief Society sisters prayed with me that I might find peace, and that our Heavenly Father would perform a miracle. 

And He did. I got home that Sunday afternoon and found an envelope with my name written on it. Inside was exactly the amount of money I needed to go on the trip.  I cried and cried and cried some more, but this time it was tears of joy. To this day I don't know who gave me that money.

I went to the temple. There are no words to adequately describe what I felt as I received my own endowment and did my mother's temple work with the members of my ward. As I walked into the celestial room I saw a beloved friend with her arms open, smiling at me. For that split second, I felt like I had seen my mother, who had died when she was only 23. I looked around the room and got a glimpse of heaven.  Everyone looked like angels in their white robes, and finally everything I had learnt made complete sense. It was a day I'll never forget. 

Satan will always try everything in his power to prevent us from doing the things that will help us return to our Heavenly Father,  but if we trust our Father in Heaven He will provide a way for us to do the things He has asked of us. I know the Church is true with all my heart, and have seen miracle after miracle happen in my life that has only strengthened my testimony about the plan of happiness set out for us. I know the temple is the one place where we can feel closest to our Father in Heaven and receive answers to our questions and prayers.  It's the one place I know where families can go to be sealed and to stay together forever.