I sat in the temple this morning, thinking about the way things work out...
My mind went back to all of the events that have transpired for me to be sitting in that chair this morning, having the awesome experience that I was...
...hundreds of millions of years ago, plants and animals died. Their fossilized remains provided the electricity for the building I was in, as well as the gas for the car I drove to get to the temple.
...much more recently, the gentleman for whom I was doing the work passed on without having a chance to obtain the necessary ordinances. He and I are now eternally and intrinsically linked. Kind of cool.
...in 2000, the Houston Temple was dedicated, the culmination of many prayers, tithing dollars, hours of labor/service, design and construction, and a dedication ceremony. All so that I could be there this morning.
...even more recently, someone in Louisiana came across this guy's information and submitted it to the temple for work to be done. Now she, he, and I are all linked. The card was printed in July.
...in August, someone was baptized in this person's stead, and subsequently someone was confirmed a member of the Church for and in behalf of this person. Those proxies and I are now linked as well.
...sometime earlier this month, someone received the initiatory ordinances. That links someone else into this, in addition to those who helped with the ordinances.
So there I sat, thinking about how blessed I was/am, and considering how wonderful it all is. I am overcome with a sense of gratitude for those who have gone before, both in the long distant past, as well as in the more recent past. Above all, I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who orders ALL things, from dinosaurs to laser printers, for my ultimate benefit, learning, and progression.
I thought about the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants which states that we - without our ancestors - cannot be saved, neither can they - without us - be saved. I'd always kind of thought that that meant we had to get to work in order for us to act as saviors on Mount Zion. But this morning I realized that they have done much for us, laying a foundation that we can build upon. Their sacrifices, their hopes and dreams, their efforts have all gone in to making this world what it is for me, all of which culminates at the temple. So I cannot be saved without them - while salvation is an individual matter, there is no individual salvation. We are all saved together!
My mind went back to all of the events that have transpired for me to be sitting in that chair this morning, having the awesome experience that I was...
...hundreds of millions of years ago, plants and animals died. Their fossilized remains provided the electricity for the building I was in, as well as the gas for the car I drove to get to the temple.
...much more recently, the gentleman for whom I was doing the work passed on without having a chance to obtain the necessary ordinances. He and I are now eternally and intrinsically linked. Kind of cool.
...in 2000, the Houston Temple was dedicated, the culmination of many prayers, tithing dollars, hours of labor/service, design and construction, and a dedication ceremony. All so that I could be there this morning.
...even more recently, someone in Louisiana came across this guy's information and submitted it to the temple for work to be done. Now she, he, and I are all linked. The card was printed in July.
...in August, someone was baptized in this person's stead, and subsequently someone was confirmed a member of the Church for and in behalf of this person. Those proxies and I are now linked as well.
...sometime earlier this month, someone received the initiatory ordinances. That links someone else into this, in addition to those who helped with the ordinances.
So there I sat, thinking about how blessed I was/am, and considering how wonderful it all is. I am overcome with a sense of gratitude for those who have gone before, both in the long distant past, as well as in the more recent past. Above all, I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who orders ALL things, from dinosaurs to laser printers, for my ultimate benefit, learning, and progression.
I thought about the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants which states that we - without our ancestors - cannot be saved, neither can they - without us - be saved. I'd always kind of thought that that meant we had to get to work in order for us to act as saviors on Mount Zion. But this morning I realized that they have done much for us, laying a foundation that we can build upon. Their sacrifices, their hopes and dreams, their efforts have all gone in to making this world what it is for me, all of which culminates at the temple. So I cannot be saved without them - while salvation is an individual matter, there is no individual salvation. We are all saved together!
Comments