Gardening at the Temple

Ha - I have to laugh after my last post - I noticed I am wearing my BYU shirt. Anyway, last Saturday I took the girls with me to a service project at the Portland temple with the youth in our ward. Daddy had to teach a class at church that morning. (You may have noticed the man to whom I married is not ever mentioned by name (o: long story, it's a little annoying, but I love him anyway!) So the girls and I got up early (after our late night at the gymnastics show) and traveled to the temple to plant pansies. The girls and I had fun with the "big kids". Natalie tagged along with Whitney a lot and some of the young women played with the girls and helped me out with them. All the girls, young and old, especially enjoyed when the gardener started pulling out a big patch of zinnias and let them have as many as they wanted to carry around.

During our visit, I had a conversation with my girls and one of the young women about why the temple is so special. I talked with one of the young women, who isn't a member, about how marriages performed in the temple are forever, not just in this life. And how any children born into the families of 'sealed' parents are also sealed to their parents. She was cute and said how pretty it must be inside and how she hoped she could get a "pass" to go in someday. (here's a link with more info if you're curious http://http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/membership-in-christ-s-church/temples-and-family-history#d)

I also talked to Angela about how the temple is Jesus' house. I forget how literal three year olds are and had a funny conversation. "Das where Desus lives? You see Him?" I explained that we don't really see Him in the temple, but we can feel Him in our heart. She replied pointing to her chest, "He in my heart in my body?" This was a tricky concept. (o: I told her we can feel the Holy Ghost in our heart when we think of Jesus. We feel love and happiness. Then she asked, "Where de Holy Ghost?" We continued this conversation throughout the visit and several times she said things like, "Is that the Holy Ghost over there?" pointing in some bushes. She was fascinated with this subject and showed that she understood the most important concept when she affirmed, "Jesus lubs me."