I remember when we lived in Missouri and the closest temple was seven hours away.  We would leave the children with a baby-sitter and drive down on Friday, do a session that night and then spend all day Saturday in the temple, leaving late for the drive home.  I would cry when I had to leave the temple and the pure love and closeness to my ancestors that I felt there.

Then when we moved to the Utah Valley and had the Provo Temple seven minutes away, it was the balm to my depressed body and soul.  For a three month period, I did an endowment every day for my German ancestors who’d lived in Russia.  As soon as my son went to college, I applied to be an ordinance worker, and worked two days a week for five years.  Those were five very difficult years, and I spent my stint as a worker in the Celestial Room in hour-long prayers.  All the things I prayed about were resolved miraculously.

Then came my miraculous healing from depression.  My fellow temple workers were all so happy for me!  They had become like a host of mothers to me.  Too soon, however, I was obliged to end my service because of all my orthopedic problems (temple ordinance work is hard!  I don’t know how those elderly sisters do it!).

Since that time, when not laid up after surgery, I have tried to attend once a week.  When I was getting my writing career going, I went even more often.  I needed the revelation and confirmation that I would always receive during my prayers in the Celestial Room.

Yesterday, I was finally able to return for the first time since my surgery.  Yes, I had to take my walker, but I made it!  I have missed the peace and safety so much these last weeks.  Especially after reading the conference talks—so many of which were about the safety of temple covenants.  I am refreshed, revitalized, and recentered.  I thank my Heavenly Father for the gracious gifts of temples where we can get a peek at the Celestial Kingdom.