Digital Only: Young Adults
3 Ways the Temple Became My Place of Solace from the World
The author lives in New Jersey, USA.
What I thought would be just another temple trip turned out to be so much more.
Earlier this year, my husband and I moved across the country from Texas to New Jersey. A couple of months after settling in, I decided I was ready to brave the journey to the Manhattan New York Temple.
Getting to the temple from our house requires me to walk a quarter mile, catch a bus, walk a couple of blocks, and then take the subway.
On that first journey to the temple, I saw a lot of people, cars, buses, and bikes. I saw people playing instruments, taking photos, shopping, commuting to work, and eating at restaurants. I didn’t think much of it at the time; it was just another day in the city.
When I finally stepped out of the subway tunnel, I walked until I reached the temple doors. I was relieved that I’d made it and had time to spare before the session started.
A Place of Refuge
As I walked in, I saw paintings of the Savior. I saw the beautiful, white, perfectly clean interior of the temple. I was greeted by the smiling faces of loving temple workers, welcoming me and directing me where I needed to go.
Out of nowhere, I was overcome with emotion. My heart filled with gratitude, and I realized my eyes were filling with tears.
I’ve thought about that moment a lot. I was overwhelmed by the stark contrast of my day—I experienced the hustle and bustle of the city and then the immediate and peaceful calm that the temple offers. I was moved by the tangible sense of refuge in the Lord’s house and the peace the gospel of Jesus Christ offers each of us.
A Place to Slow Down
I don’t think there’s anything inherently bad about living in a busy, fast-paced world. There are times when I really love it! But I learned that there is so much power in being willing to slow down and focus on what matters most.
President Russell M. Nelson said: “If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often—not less. Let the Lord, through His Spirit, teach and inspire you there. I promise you that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation.”1
I went to the temple that day simply because I thought it had been too long since my last visit. I didn’t necessarily go with a question in mind or a desire for a certain prayer to be answered. Regardless of my intentions, I walked into the temple and knew it was the best possible place I could be that day. As President Nelson taught, the temple really did become a place of solace for me.
A Place to Remember What Matters Most
As I was waiting for my session to start, I noticed a painting with a small deer. To many, that buck in that mural was likely just a reminder of beauty in nature. But for me, it was more.
See, I lost my dad when I was 19. He loved nature, especially deer. And ever since he passed, deer have reminded me of him.
Seeing that buck on the temple wall reminded me that I could feel my dad close to me, especially in the temple.
As Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: “Often in the temple, and as we engage in family history research, we feel promptings and have impressions from the Holy Ghost. Occasionally in the temple the veil between us and those on the other side becomes very thin.”2
Later, after I went through the endowment session, I saw a man who was receiving his endowment for the first time. I watched as he finally entered the celestial room and embraced his family members. The joy they felt was palpable and brought tears to my eyes.
This reminded me of when I entered the celestial room on the day of my own endowment and was greeted by my family, including my dad. It gave me hope for the joy I will feel when we are reunited again—joy that I will get to experience because of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The temple and family history work we do truly can remind us what matters most.
Heavenly Father Knows Us
What I thought would be just another temple trip turned out to be so much more. It was exactly what I needed. Heavenly Father sent me three simple reminders:
The temple is a place of refuge from the world.
The temple can always bring us peace and remind us to slow down enough to feel the Spirit.
The plan of salvation is real, and it’s meant for each of us.
President Nelson counseled: “The temple is a place of revelation. There you are shown how to progress toward a celestial life. There you are drawn closer to the Savior and given greater access to His power. There you are guided in solving the problems in your life, even your most perplexing problems.”3
I know that when we spend time worshipping in the temple, we are blessed. Sometimes the blessings are easy to identify, and sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes we receive answers to our prayers in the temple, and sometimes it acts as a refuge where we can continue to pray in patience until the answers do come.
When we stand in holy places, God’s love and power have a greater ability to manifest in our lives.