On the other side of the Veil

One thing that really stood out to me this week was the fact that work is being done on both sides of the veil right now and at all times. We must not stop our work on this side or else the work on the other side will come to a stop as well. I really got thinking about this because sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle of life that we forget to take the time to go to the temple and spend an hour or two there. What a great and marvelous place it is and to be able to go inside of it brings great joy into our lives. 

Richard G Scott gave a talk titled The Joy of Redeeming the Dead and in this talk he stated "But what about you? Have you prayed about your own ancestors’ work? Set aside those things in your life that doesn’t really matter. Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences. Perhaps you have been prompted to look for ancestors but feel you are not a genealogist. Can you see that you don’t have to be anymore? It all begins with love and a sincere desire to help those beyond the veil who can’t help themselves. Check around. There will be someone in your area that can help you have success. This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions. Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. "

I know that we do great work inside of the temple and are helping those who can't for themselves on the other side. 

My Testimony & Life Goals

I am going to start out with a story to talk about where my testimony comes from and how I learned a lot about myself. When I was 13 years old I was just like any other teenager. I was a social butterfly and loved hanging out with my friends. On December 6, 1996 my life was changed for the better. I learned what my testimony of the Church was and also areas that I could improve upon. I grew up in the country and on a farm so it was very easy to take the snow machines out and not get in trouble with the police officers from driving on the roads.

It was just like any other Friday night before I chose to make a decision that would change the way I looked at life.  My parents were gone for the evening with my father at work and my mother had left for a temple recommend interview. She was taking too long and I wanted to hang out with 2 of my friends. One lived across the field from me and the other just a mile up the road.I had came inside to get a flash light and I could not find one. I had a great idea of using a lighter to check the gas to make sure it was not empty thus being the reason it wouldn't start. I was being smart, so I thought, when I was having a hard time getting the snow machine to start. I held the lighter to one side of me as far from the gas tank as I could and thought I would be okay. The next thing I remember is a flash of fire going in front of my face. At first I thought it had just scared me until I felt the burning sensation on my face. I immediately jumped for the snow and stuck my face in it and then I smelt burnt hair and at this point I knew I was in trouble and had done something really stupid. I ran in the house and my brother saw me and started to freak out. I went straight to the bathroom to run cold water on my face while my brother called over to the church to inform my mom that she needed to come home now that there had been an accident. We only lived about a half a mile from the church and my mom and the bishop were at our house in a matter of minutes. The bishop gave me a priesthood blessing and stayed with my siblings while my mom took me to the hospital.

I remember sitting at the hospital in my overalls that were dripping wet from the huge towel that I had for my face and wondering how my life was now going to be. I couldn't stay inside the hospital because the heat hurt my face so bad yet I was freezing outside because it was winter. Once it was my turn the doctors and nurses pulled all of the burnt skin off my face and cleaned my hairline and put some burn cream on my face. I was released about 4 hours later and sent home with lots of pain medication and burn cream and was told to stay inside to let the skin heal. I had second and third degree burns over all of my face with the worst being right under my eyes and on my hair line. I had no eyebrows or eyelashes and the whole front of my hairline was gone. I was told that I would be in large amounts of pain and that I would not want to leave the house.

Once I got home from the hospital my dad was there and gave me a fathers blessing. I remember him blessing me with a full and quick recovery and I remember thinking to myself that this was not possible with what I had just been told from the doctors. Well, my dad is amazing and gave me the blessing I needed as a teenager. His words gave me comfort and I knew that no matter how extensive the scaring was I would be okay and I would find someone to love as I got older to start a family with. I went to church that Sunday with my mom because I was tired of sitting at home. Nobody recognized who I was and they were shocked when they found out it was me. Needless to say my night of fun that I had wanted turned into an ER visit that was not so much fun. Through this all I learned the power of the Priesthood. I never once took a pain pill and within 2 weeks you could not tell I had ever been burned. I did not scar at all and this to me is amazing. I learned a very valuable lesson at a very early age and for that I an thankful.

I have a very strong testimony of the power of the Priesthood and I know of the power that it has if you just believe in it. I know that Jesus dies for me so that I may come here and learn and grow and return to live with my Father in Heaven again. I love that I am married to a man that holds the Priesthood and that our children can fill of this power in our home.

I have many goals in life that I have and would love to accomplish. I think that for me the most important now is to raise my children with of love of the gospel and hope for them all to serve missions and get married in the temple. My goal is to be worthy to be able to stand in the temple with them as they go on to the next journey's in their lives. I want to be the best wife and mom that I can be in this world that is so full of troubles and sorrows.