long time friends

i have met some remarkable people in my ward. sweet sweet sisters. none afraid to talk to me and tell me their names.

but there is one special lady... i just feel we were friends before we came here to earth. i feel like i have known her all my life. i have talked 2 her 3 separate times, but i feel like we are the best of friends. she is the same lady that gave that sweet lesson and had to post about it. the same lady that invited me to the temple to help pack up crystals. she is so tender and full of love. 

she spoke this sunday on eternal marriage. 

she opened with this talk, from Elder Richard G. Scott,

And then she began asking sisters to expess why they decided to get married in the temple.

some felt it was not an option. that they always wanted it. one sister said they had it the other way, married outside of the temple, and wanted something more. when she found her second husband she knew with out a doubt that was what she wanted.

i had a feeling she may ask me to share my feelings, after our beautiful temple experience together. it felt like there was a big chance. she said my name at the very end. i was caught off guard, not feeling totally ready to share. but as i took a second and thought. my feelings were strong. the spirit was right there. i started to weep. and she looked at me and teared up as well. the spirit was so very strong. and i felt so grateful to share my part.

i began saying i have always known i wanted to go to the temple. i remember the day my sister was married in the idaho falls temple. when she walked outside with a beautiful glow around her and her new husband. knowing she was able to be with him for time and all eternity. she was completely elated and unable to stop grinning. she adored him. i wanted that exact moment of my very own. and i was truly blessed the day i knew ryan and i were going to the temple to be sealed.

she shared with each of us that she is a convert and  at a very young age she got pregnant. and after having the child, she wanted to give it up for adoption to an active LDS family. the father didn't want that, and took her to court to fight it. he won. she knew after what she wanted. she went to rix college and started dating a young man who was not a member. she realized that wasn't what she wanted and told him that they needed to stop dating. he was in shock, and didn't agree. she said she knew exactly what she wanted. and that was to get married in the temple. and soon after she said that. he started going to church, was baptized and asked her to marry him. she told him that they both needed to fast and pray about it. and they did. he called her 24 hours later and asked what answer she got. she knew that she was supposed to marry him. he was pleased of her answer because he felt the same, and asked her to marry him once more.

they were married in washington dc. at the same temple she went to as a young teenager. she fell in love with one of the sealing rooms there. and she was married in that very same room. she shared how much she loved the temple and is so sad to see that it is closed for a long period of time. but someone mentioned to her, as she mentioned to us... that our bodies are a temple and we need to work on bettering them while the temple is closed. 

this hit me hard. i have so many things to work on.

her stories are so incredible and she has been through so much. it's made her who she is. so strong and willing to help and love anyone. she is inspirational. 

after her lesson, she came to me and wrapped her arms around me and i whispered in her ear that i loved her. she squeezed me tight and said she loved me too. we were both full of tears. 

i can't help but think heavenly father knew we were supposed to end up here. he helped me find my old friend.