A few weeks ago at work, I was listening to a talk by Sister Dalton while I was picking weeds. In her talk, Sister Dalton shared a story about a group of young women who trained and prepared all summer to walk from the Draper, UT temple to the Salt Lake, UT temple--a distance of 22 miles. Each week as they prepared, they learned about temples. Sister Dalton describe the day when they made their final trek. They had leaders with food along the way. They received encouragement from family and friends. The young women participating in the walk helped each other. And at the very end awaited their families--there at the Salt Lake City temple.
Sister Dalton concluded her story with this statement: "The temple walk is a metaphor for your life. Parents and priesthood leaders stood guard along the route. They provided support and aid. Young women guarded and encouraged each other. Young men admired the strength, commitment, and stamina of the young women. Brothers carried sisters who had been injured. Families rejoiced with their daughters as they ended their walk at the temple and took them safely home."
As Sister Dalton spoke these words, tears came to my eyes. I began to reflect on what a wonderful place in life I was at--engaged to a wonderfully righteous man, about to start a full-time teaching internship, feeling closer to God than I have at almost any other time in life--yes, life was so good. And then tears came to my eyes as I thought of all the people in my life that sacrificed and gave and helped and encouraged and uplifted and inspired me here. Gratitude filled my heart to the brink and I could not deny the love of God and His hand in my life.
And that is how I feel today. Amid the excitement and nerves and happiness and butterflies and joy, above it all what I feel is an immense feeling of gratitude for everyone who has helped me get here to the temple with the man I love. For the primary teachers and young women's leaders. For the home teachers and visiting teachers. For the bishoprics and stake leaders. For the school teachers and classmates and band council members and NHS friends. For the priesthood leaders. For the family friends. For the friends that grew up with me and the friends I've made at college. For the family--extended and close, old and new.
Today, as I enter the temple to get married to the man I love for time and all eternity, I think of all of you. To any of you who have helped me in times of need, been a listening ear, shown and taught me the way, blessed and uplifted me, laughed with me, cried with me, encouraged me, touched me in any way--to you I must say thank you. Thank you for helping me become the person I am today and for helping me find my way along the path of life so that today I am filled with more happiness than can possibly fit in my heart.
This past week, with the culmination of today, has been the best week of my life up to this point. Why? Because it's given me time to realize how many, many people the Lord has blessed me with throughout my life and how, because of all those people, I'm very, very loved.
Here I go, my friends! I hope to see many of you tonight at the wedding reception! And for those of you who can't make it, know that I'm just as equally grateful for you're influence and love you just as much.
Teachers, friends, and family like you are the thing that make life worth living.
Lots and LOTS and LOTS of Love,
Lindsey (Soon to be Self!)
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