So close!

[RachelleDrew]

Most of you know my situation. For those of you not aware, I am a convert, and my husband is a former in-active gone re-active. We were married outside of the temple, and have a son who was not born under the covenant. We've been working on getting my husband his priesthood (he went inactive just before getting the melch) and just my progression in general. Things have been going well.

Obviously our ultimate goal is getting sealed. We had set a personal goal for ourselves of getting sealed by 2010. It made the progression much easier and seemingly more attainable.

We had a frank convo with our branch pres just a few days ago. We thought it was pertinent to make him aware of our goal, that way he could offer us advice or constructive criticism to keep us in line with our goal. When we told him about the plan for 2010, he seemed quite surprised.

Apparently, he was thinking about setting up appointments for recommend interviews and temple prep classes before this year was even up. We have been doing very well, but we just assumed there would need to be a period in which we would be consistently living the gospel and church standards for an extended period of time in order to kinda, I dunno, prove ourselves? Does that make sense? We have been doing everything we have been prompted to, and feel we are ready. We just thought we would have to wait a while to prove the same to our authorities in the church.

Our BP's exact words? "If you two continue progressing the way you have been, there is no reason why you couldn't be sealed before 2009 is over".

I'm excited, and incredibly nervous. We are so close. I'm so scared i'm going to do something to screw it all up. My temper gets me into trouble often, sometimes to the point where I break commandments. I've done okay with that for a while, but who knows what could happen in the future?

I don't know. If we couldn't pass the recommend interview and our sealing got pushed back because of something I did, I just couldn't live with myself. Or what if after our endowments and sealings I mess up? I mean major stuff.

I'm sorry, this isn't really a post that is going anywhere. I'm not really asking for advice, or have anything constructive to add to the board. I'm just kind of venting my nerves a bit.

I'm sure at some point everyone here who is temple worthy realized prior to making those covenants that there was a huge responsibility about to be placed on them within the near future. How did you deal with that pressure?

[YoungMormonRoyalist]

Don't worry sister, I'm in the same boat. Soon I'll be 19 and be able to recieve God's endowment....but I don't think I'll ever feel worthy or ready. I know that the oft quoted saying is "With great power comes great responsibility." But think of the positive, "With great responsibility comes great power." And the sealing power is the greatest power, save the Atonement, given to man on earth. I cannot fully comprehend it. So yes, there will be the responsibility of being faithful to the commandments, but being sealed is far more worth it.

[sensibility]

That is amazing news. I'm so excited for you. The temple is fantastic.

Probably the only way I can deal with the pressure is remembering that it's okay to know I can't completely live up to the standards by myself. It's okay to need the Atonement. It's okay because I can be forgiven when I do fall short. It's okay because when I'm honestly not strong enough to do what God's asked me, I know He will uphold me and give me strength beyond my own. Which doesn't mean it's not scary, of course . . . it just means that I'll be okay, flawed as I am.

The other thing that helped is knowing what covenants I would be making before I went through the temple. I think everyone should know this before they set foot in the lobby. Hopefully someone's talked you through that already, but if not and if you feel it'd help you to know, send me a PM and I'd be happy to tell you in appropriate detail.

Also, have you had recommend interviews to do baptisms? If so, know that it's the same interview. The interview is not an intensive, draining, scary test that you have to pass (though that didn't stop me from being scared when I was going in preparation to receive my endowment, of course. ). My temple recommend interviews have always been very positive experiences.

Best of luck. :)

[jameslentz]

being able to feel worthy is a very hard thing to accomplish for me because i am so good at beating myself up about all the little things. A friend of mine that i just reconnected with made a good observation when he said that often we are harder on ourselves than even God is. I have only read part of this book but I plan on finishing it...I think it could probably help in your situation to understand that our Heavenly Father expects us to use the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ....it is not a one and done deal and there is no limit on the number of times you are allowed to use it. The book is called "The Continuous Atonement" by Brad Wilcox, you can find it on DeseretBook.com.

BTW, I have recently become active again and I am in the same boat as far as trying to put my life in order to get my recommend so that I can go back to the temple. I have taken comfort in some of the talks I have heard recently from the General Authorities about accepting trials and actually being grateful for the opportunities to grow that hardships bring. I wish you well on your journey.

[Gwen]

something i find a comfort when i attend the temple as far as worthiness and how far i am from perfection actually occurs in the temple. there is a point in the temple when you have opportunity to voluntarily participate, before beginning it's asked that if you have hard feelings toward any other participants then you should not participate. there is pause given if you feel you need to return to your seat. the fact that this takes place says it is ok to be at the temple with such feelings. it acknowledges our humanity and imperfections in this life that will sometimes lead us to feeling that way. it doesn't mean that we don't have to work on those feelings. just that they will exist and it doesn't disqualify us from god's love.

god doesn't expect us to be perfect............. yet.

[Hemidakota]

Most of you know my situation. For those of you not aware, I am a convert, and my husband is a former in-active gone re-active. We were married outside of the temple, and have a son who was not born under the covenant. We've been working on getting my husband his priesthood (he went inactive just before getting the melch) and just my progression in general. Things have been going well.

Obviously our ultimate goal is getting sealed. We had set a personal goal for ourselves of getting sealed by 2010. It made the progression much easier and seemingly more attainable.

We had a frank convo with our branch pres just a few days ago. We thought it was pertinent to make him aware of our goal, that way he could offer us advice or constructive criticism to keep us in line with our goal. When we told him about the plan for 2010, he seemed quite surprised.

Apparently, he was thinking about setting up appointments for recommend interviews and temple prep classes before this year was even up. We have been doing very well, but we just assumed there would need to be a period in which we would be consistently living the gospel and church standards for an extended period of time in order to kinda, I dunno, prove ourselves? Does that make sense? We have been doing everything we have been prompted to, and feel we are ready. We just thought we would have to wait a while to prove the same to our authorities in the church.

Our BP's exact words? "If you two continue progressing the way you have been, there is no reason why you couldn't be sealed before 2009 is over".

I'm excited, and incredibly nervous. We are so close. I'm so scared i'm going to do something to screw it all up. My temper gets me into trouble often, sometimes to the point where I break commandments. I've done okay with that for a while, but who knows what could happen in the future?

I don't know. If we couldn't pass the recommend interview and our sealing got pushed back because of something I did, I just couldn't live with myself. Or what if after our endowments and sealings I mess up? I mean major stuff.

I'm sorry, this isn't really a post that is going anywhere. I'm not really asking for advice, or have anything constructive to add to the board. I'm just kind of venting my nerves a bit.

I'm sure at some point everyone here who is temple worthy realized prior to making those covenants that there was a huge responsibility about to be placed on them within the near future. How did you deal with that pressure?

Rachelle, there is no real pressure but what we placed upon ourselves. Just live each day as it was Sunday.

If you failed in any of your covenants, it is still repentable with the exception of murder and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. You will find a FATHER who love cannot be expressed in our own language that HE reveals unto HIS children.

Seek the Spirit for guidance and comfort in your preparation of entering into the temple. Fast one day prior before entering the temple and seek the Spirit that it will help you to understand the symbolism within.

As you finally sealed in the walls of House of Lord, it will be the first day of your journey of perfection. Now move forward with your family….

Edited April 28, 2009 by Hemidakota

[rameumptom]

Rachelle,

Remember to trust in God. Fear is the enemy of faith. Look at these things as challenges that you may be overcoming for years. To be in the temple does not mean you must be perfect, but that you are worthy. And if you can partake of the Sacrament worthily, then you should be worthy of the temple.

Believe the guidance of your branch president. He's guided by the Spirit. Have faith that Christ will help you through your weaknesses, just as He does for every single one of us who currently attend the temple.

[Wingnut]

Yay! Congrats! That's very exciting news to have it seem so much closer. Just don't stop working on your progression after you achieve this immediate goal.

[marshac]

Just live each day as it was Sunday.

Great.... then I'll never be able to buy more milk. We always run out on Sunday, and it always seems to long until Monday....

Rachelle- My wife and I are in a similar boat, although our first one is expected Dec 22... it would be so nice to have our marriage sealed before then. This past sunday at stake conference really focused on the tample and the need to be sealed... otherwise marriage is just some transient event that ends when we die, LDS or not.... this made me start worrying about complications during childbirth, etc.

Hopefully all goes well... I doubt we will be able to visit the temple anytime before 2010.

Isn't it awesome how going to the temple is stressed so much.... and then it's like "except you new folks... you gotta wait awhile." heh.

Keep up updated on your journey!

[NeuroTypical]

I'm sure at some point everyone here who is temple worthy realized prior to making those covenants that there was a huge responsibility about to be placed on them within the near future. How did you deal with that pressure?

I trusted people who told me "no, really, it won't be that bad".

Now that I've been a happily endowed card-carrying member of the "I get to go to the temple" club for 13+ years now, I can firmly echo that advice.

No, really, it won't be that bad. I mean, if you and your hubby had a lifestyle of clubbing and wife swapping and gambling, there might be some difficult lifestyle habits that will take a lot of energy. But if you're an average couple with a couple of bad habits and some favorite sins here and there, you'll be in very good company at the temple.

Remember - these are the only deal breakers:

1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?

Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

Please note number 8 - it's sort of the 'catch all' question. Note that it does not say "do you keep the...", it says "do you strive to keep the..."

In other words, you don't have to be perfect, you just have to try your best.

LM