A Trip to the Temple

Illustration by Katelyn Budge

There was a time when I didn’t get to visit the temple for about six years. These years were the darkest moments of my life because I also lost my mom within this period. I wanted to go to the temple, but it was about an hour from home, and I had no money for transportation and no one to take me.

Then last year I was called as the Young Women class president. When my Young Women leader asked me to help her plan activities for the year, I told her the first thing we should do is go to the temple as a class. When I announced this to the young women, they were so excited! For most of them, it would be their first time attending. I prayed and fasted so much as we prepared for the trip. I didn’t want anything to go wrong.

In the temple, I felt relieved of every burden. I promised to visit the temple more often. It was such a beautiful experience and a blessing. I was so excited that I and my fellow youth were participating in our Heavenly Father’s great work.

I know that the temple is the holy house of the Lord, where sacred ordinances are performed. There, we can cry unto Heavenly Father in prayer, and He’ll make things right in His time, fill us with love, and give us everlasting peace. I know that when we look unto Christ, we’ll see the miracles we need. We are beloved children of our Heavenly Father, and He has a great work for us to do—gathering Israel on both sides of the veil.