Coming Home

Yesterday was a beautiful day. My husband and I went to the temple to attend an endowment session. In our particular session, there was a sister going through the temple for her own endowments. She was glowing as she walked into the session room. As she sat down, I noticed she was already crying. She was sitting right behind me during the session and I could feel her sitting on the edge of her seat, almost leaning into me. She was intently listening to the instructions. Tears were flowing freely and at one point, I heard her audibly gasp. She was quietly saying, “Yes, yes, yes…” as though it all made perfect sense to her. She had a longing for the words being taught to her. I listened carefully to what she seemed to react to the most. You could feel her joy at receiving new covenants.

At the end of our session, my husband and I sat and watched her come into the celestial room where her friends and ward family were waiting. She fell into their arms sobbing with joy. Her joy was contagious for the rest of us in the room. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the celestial room. It felt as though we were watching her enter heaven where her loved ones were waiting. That is how I envision heaven to be someday. A joyful reunion!

Her entire being was glowing and looked so pure. There isn’t another word to describe it. She was home, where she belonged. I was so glad to have witnessed her joy and gratitude for the temple. I have pondered her reaction all day today. Do I feel that way about renewing my covenants each week at the sacrament table? Am I joyful when I think about my covenant path? How can I have that same excitement and gratitude for my covenants each day? I don’t think I’ll ever forget that beautiful woman. She changed my perception of the covenant path. I want to help gather others on the covenant path so they can feel the same joy we felt yesterday. That’s the kind of joy that lasts. It’s the eternal joy of coming home…