"My" Temple

Many of you, by now have heard that there are two new temples being built in Arizona. One in the Gilbert area, and we are SOOOOO excited that one of them happens to be in the Gila Valley! I guess I kind of always knew that there would be a temple here someday, I just never dreamed it would be this soon. This will be an amazingly HUGE blessing to so many people. As I type this, I am just overwhelmed at the millions of people this will benefit. Not only here in the Gila Valley, but obviously on the other side. People in this valley have been praying for many years for a temple to be built here. Our last 2 Stake Conferences have been amazing, and we have been counseled very strongly, to increase our temple attendance. Elder Costa, from the seventy, even came and gave us the challenge to attend once a week. I know some people here that have taken on that challenge. That's 2 1/2 - 3 hours of driving each way. I have felt more anxious than ever to attend more often. But, of course, I start thinking, how in the world am I going to afford to Mesa all the time with gas being so expensive? And then I come up with all the other excuses that seem to go with attending the temple. I know that the excuses won't go away once the temple is built here, but I certainly won't have as many! I came across this fabulous quote from Elder Packer yesterday, he said, "It is evident that the work relating to temples bothers the adversary the most. It is this work that causes all the bells of hell to ring.” I can't help but think that we are going to make Satan VERY mad here in the Gila Valley!

Now here's the part that my husband will never understand about me. I tend to get attached to different "things". When we have sold different family cars or homes, or have had a dog that I actually hated, die, I don't like the separation from those things. I get comfortable, (again, even if I hated that dog!) and don't like the change. I still madly miss our Mesa home, and have great memories of my all time favorite Isuzu Rodeo that we use to have. And I think that's actually it. It's the memories. Dumb to some, but that's just me. Anyway, as excited as I am to have a new temple here, I can't help but already "miss" the Mesa Temple. For me, that is MY temple. It's been my temple for the last 12 years of my life. I can't imagine calling another temple "mine". I received my own endowments there, and married my best friend there. I have had some incredible experiences there that I will never forget. I know, to a lot of people reading this, it sounds rediculous, but I just wanted to throw that out there. Change is good, but not always easy. I am so thankful for the gospel and the opportunity I have to even go to the temple. I know this will bless the lives of millions, and I can't wait for that!