Where Earth Meets Heaven

I've been like the other 99% of the population as of late.

I have been seeking understanding...I have been seeking for goodness and truth.

I am grateful  I have such a simple and clear knowledge  of who I am, and I have been walking a path which gives me direction.

I know I am a daughter of God.

I know I am a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In being such, I know that I have made covenants to act in faith and purity, and to participate in ordinances which prepare me to gain a state of happiness--without death, sorrow, or fear.

I have many sisters: biological, at church, at work, even on the street...in the middle of nowhere.  I can relate to a woman without ever hearing her voice, but seeing her smile or reading her words brings me close to her.

Today, I went to the temple with my Sister Cara.  I have known her since grade school...

I have known her Momma as well...she made us lunch at the temple today!

I went to the  temple after a long month of wondering, praying, and contemplating life.
As a Mormon,  I believe that the temple is the closest place I can get to God.  The temple, I believe, is indeed the House of the Lord.  Yes, there are many temples upon the land which bring hope and peace to many of the temple recommend holders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The temple, to me...brings peace, happiness, clarity, strength, and love as my will is tuned closer to the Lord's will through divine and sweet revelation.

I sat through some of the ordinances we participate in at the temple, and I heard things, minute details in a new light.  When it came, I realized that the Lord was teaching me...
"Crystal, I have known from the beginning, before your little feet set themselves upon the Earth who you are, where you would walk...and therefore where you will be in order for me to intervene and assist you in your journey.  I knew, before you came, the ground you would till and the hardships you would bear--they are all known by me and will be for your gain"
Is this knowledge I have always believed?  Yes.
Is this knowledge I now know? Yes.

But, it came with a second witness.

In another room of the temple, I picked up a set of scriptures, sat amongst the beauty and magnificence of the temple in my pure white dress, and I sought instruction.  I had been led to a specific set of scriptures all week long.
But, like most of us, I busied myself with tasks and duties, found myself fatigued and frail...and the study which was sitting and waiting for me...continued to sit...and wait.

When I grabbed the scriptures in the temple, I knew it was time to open to the specific book and chapter in the Book of Mormon my thoughts had been set upon all week long.
I opened to Alma 32.
I read and read...trusting that there was something there that the Lord had to tell me.  I could not walk away without his voice speaking truth to me.  I only had to read a few verses in when it came, so clear...
"...and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in preparation to hear the word."

Sometimes, it takes pain and sorrow to hear the good things the Lord needs us to know.
That pain and sorrow can bring you to the brink of death...and as the scripture says, "yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." it is indeed so.  We do walk through that valley over and over at times...in order to hear rightly what we need to know.

I know that I am a daughter of God.
I know I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I know that my Savior and Father loves me.
I know that the temple is  a place of peace from the storms of life.
And I KNOW that every minute detail of my life was known from before my mortal existence...and it is all planned as a means to prepare me to know more...to hear more clearly...and to become, one day, a Queen.

I cannot say how I know all these things...but I do know them!