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Our Temple Experience as a Family
Elder L. Lionel Kendrick of the Seventy said, “The temple is a place of holiness. It is the most sacred and holy place on earth and should be treated with the greatest degree of reverence and respect.”1
Our journey in the everlasting gospel started as a family when we were baptized on March 8, 2009, into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Three of us were baptized: my mother, Epsheeba John Thomas (the most caring person I know), my lovable sister, Kiruba John Thomas, and I entered in the Lord’s vineyard. We lost our father to a fatal accident in November 2008.
Things were never the same after the death of my father, John Thomas. We later came to know the restored gospel through the missionaries. The gospel has changed our lives a lot. We have experienced many hardships and faced tough trials as a family.
Nonetheless, as we have observed to keep the Lord’s commandments, we’ve overcome every trial. Through the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ we stood strong. My sister Kiruba got married to Ranjith Kumar in 2010. My brother-in-law is also a member of the Church. Together, they were blessed with lovable twin boys, Janish and Jeevish, born on November 6.
It took many years of anticipation for us to enter the Lord’s house. We eagerly wanted to get sealed in the temple, so we started preparing spiritually as well as temporally. We knew that being in the temple to make covenants with the Lord would bring us added strength and fortify us for the times ahead.
We were also excited to experience all the beautiful things we had heard about the temple. It was truly all that we had hoped for and more. Nothing compares to being in the Lord’s house, where all our cares and burdens seemed to fade away. It was as Christ Himself has said, “My peace I give unto you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
A lot of the difficulties and struggles we went through could have stopped us from receiving temple blessings. Regardless, we held on to the iron rod and to our faith. These became a light in our path and drew us closer to God.
We strove to be worthy through prayer and scripture study, both individually and as a family. The spirit influenced us through this preparation.
Our goal was to be sealed on the anniversary of my father’s passing, November 13. Lo and behold, our expectation was manifest. Finally, we were sealed on that date. The joy was overwhelming, our hearts were rejoicing. We have missed him so much but were comforted in knowing that he is waiting to be reunited with us on the other side. We have everything to be grateful for, especially for this gospel which reconciles us to Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, and which binds families together for eternity.