Kelly's lesson about temple marriage

Well,I was not sure how I would even start my lesson today. Shortly before I left home for church, I decided to grab some items for my lesson. I wanted to represent one of my siblings on their sealing day but I did not have any large photos handy.

What could I bring that represented a celestial family? I decided to take the framed photo of our family picture from our last reunion-perfect. Even though I am not sealed as a spouse, I am still part of an eternal family. I also took Kim's beautiful watercolor of the Boston Temple. (one of the sister's wants a commission of that for herself!) I took my mantel clock, a past Christmas gift from mom- it would represent "time" when I spoke of being married for time vs eternity.

Interestingly enough this week at school I was in shop and the teacher was teaching the kids how to make gum ball machines and they were using mason jars, but tossing the 'seals'. I told him that I would take the 2 doz he had. I told him that I would give them to a friend who cans fruit.

On my way out the door this morning, I grabbed the canning seals to give to a sters at church but as I did-I had a revelation. I was to give these 'seals' to the sisters as a part of my object lesson-to teach via an analogy about the how the good sealing of a jar preserves the good fruit inside for a very long time-not quite an eternity but, the correlation is made just the same. Without the seal, the fruit goes bad and would not stay inside the jar. The seal performs a great power. I challenged the sisters to use the seal to teach their families about eternal marriage with the same object. The Lord is truly a brilliant teacher!

I began my lesson and was already crying, the Spirit was present. All of the lessons in sacrament meeting spoke of family history and the temple work, in Gospel Doctrine we have studied the plan of happiness and also today the kingdoms of glory....all things that are discussed in the conference talks. The Father knitted the building up of my lesson for me, weeks in advance. Going to the temple this week, I was able to participate in a sealing as a daughter by proxy, and once before I had been at the altar with my own parents years before. God wanted me to know and to re-live that experience again, so that I would know that I have received the blessings of the temple sealing as a child. I only regret that I did not realize that at the time,when I was at the temple on Wednesday. But, I did realize it today.

In addition, I did tell them it was my wedding anniversary today. I was not crying about the sadness of being divorced because it was my choice and I was happy. Also, that one year ago today I told the sisters, I was at the temple-on my wedding anniversary. Bob was not happy about it at all, the temple has always been a bone of contention with him. He said that mine going was selfish and did not benefit our family. How so untrue that statement is, if he really understood what the temple really is about-bringing families together for an eternity. The temple afforded me peace and a vision of what was going to happen in my life.

For the sisters who know me, they were all concerned for me and having to give this lesson. Their hearts were knitted with mine and I felt their love and support thru the Spirit for me even before I began my lesson. I wanted to be careful also not to offend a young woman who joined the church a year ago and has found herself pregnant by a long time-good member teen boy of the ward. They were recently married in the chapel. I am curious if anything that was said registered with her.

The Lord directed me to cover what I was not sure of to teach. But, here is what the focus was on.

Salvation is a personal matter, but exaltation is a family matter. Elder Nelson.

Also, instead of saying you have a temple marriage-focus on the terminology of a celestial marriage. When you do, celestial becomes a verb, not just a noun. Many sisters pointed out you can have a temple marriage but not a celestial one, that having a celestial marriage doesn't happen everyday-it is a work in progress towards being one.

In addition, this earth was created solely for the exaltation of families. Without the priesthood being restored this realization of this goal by our Father could not have taken place.

I was glad I was able to not just get through my lesson by to learn what wonderful gifts I already can have from my Father. Being a part of redeeming my dead ancestors, giving them the gift to be sealed with their own families-is truly what brings me joy.

Amen.