Tonight after reading my scriptures, I felt like I should
read some of my spiritual experiences from the past. After reading about one, I felt very strongly
that I should share it. Maybe it is
more because I need this reminder myself and my important role of mother (especially
in the summer time when life is crazy with balls flying at my head and an
abundance of chaos).
“July 2012
A couple
weeks before Spencer’s baptism, I went to the San Diego LDS temple. I was ready for the 7:30 session, but kept having
a prompting to wait for the next session.
I kept shrugging it off. But the thoughts kept coming. So I sat down
and prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help me know if these thoughts really
were from Him or if they were just my random weirdness. The spirit confirmed that they were from Him
and that I would understand why I needed to go to the 8:00 session once I
saw.
So when the
officiator told us that it was time to go into the 7:30 session, I got up and
walked with everyone else, but sheepishly told him that I was going to go to
the 8:00 session. I thought he was going
to think I was weird and was worried what he would think. However, he was very kind and told me to go ahead into
the other chapel to wait.
I walked
into the chapel, to the center seats and looked up at a painting of a 12 year
old Jesus teaching at the temple. I sat
down very slowly because I was completely struck that this was why the Lord wanted me
to wait for the 8:00 session. As I
looked at that painting I saw my boys in the place of Jesus Christ. I kept thinking I needed to read the
scriptures and the thoughts were just “No, let Me teach you.” I sat by myself in that room for about 15
minutes staring at the painting, listening to the Spirit help me understand
more fully my GREAT responsibility to teach my children the gospel. The Spirit impressed upon my mind so deeply
that these children of mine are going to grow up and step by step need guidance
to keep their priesthood duties. Baptism
is the first step, but then there is getting the priesthood, being a home
teacher, serving a mission, being a husband and father, etc. It was very clear that I needed to stop
thinking of them as the rough and tough little boys that leave muddy finger
prints all over my newly washed windows, but as the strong, fearless Priesthood
leaders that God sees them becoming. It
was all about what their potential is…to be like Jesus Christ in that painting
and it starts right now with how we treat and teach them. Stuart and I must help them reach their
potential by doing the small things today.
After being
alone for 15 minutes, the same officiator came in and put his hand on my
shoulder and said, “Aren’t you glad you waited!” Yes I was!”
