Our
family's prayers were answered as blessings from heaven were poured upon all of
us when Ashley, Paul, and Connor were sealed in the Salt Lake temple!
Paul
and Ashley took out their endowments at the Mount Timpanogos temple the day previous.
Jon, Cam, Sarah and I attended to them; Jon and I being the kids escorts.
It is such a stunning temple, as all of them are in their individual way, and
very moving helping our daughter and son throughout the beautiful
process. Sitting in the Celestial Room with our four kidlets was simply
wonderful! Afterward we all dined at The Roof on top of the Joseph Smith
Memorial building which overlooks the Salt Lake temple spires. It was
such a special day and evening together as a family!
The
following day, on Saturday, we all traveled to the Salt Lake temple where Paul,
Ashley and Connor were sealed for time and eternity! Another magnificent,
once in a life time experience! The high light was hearing Connor's
delightful giggle as he was being escorted down the hall to the sealing room to
his parents! Hearing him tickled everyone in the room :) I'm
sure Heavenly Father was delighted to hear such a sweet sound in His
sacred temple; who but a happy, innocent child filled with delight would He want
in the temple! <3 span="">
Connor
was thrilled to see his parents dressed in while kneeling at the alter waiting
for him. His first response was a darling, "Mommy!" followed by
"Daddy". The experience was very moving, and tears of joy
flowed from family and friends who were in attendance. Ashley later
gleefully told Paul, "You’re a Christeson now!" Meaning he and
Connor are sealed to our family just as Ashley and Connor are also sealed to
his.
We
enjoyed snapping many pictures outside on the grounds after the sealing which
included extended family who were in attendance; many of us then went to
the Cheesecake Factory for dinner to further celebrate. There are many
small and large miracles leading up to these two magnificent days. Sincere,
prayerful study, sacrifice, service, love from so many good people, etc., which
helped to prepare our kids for this important time in their lives. Jon
and I will be forever grateful to good missionaries, Bishop, Elders
Quorum president, Home and Visiting teachers, along with the loving influence
and support of family and friends in our kidlets lives! Their sincere
desire to prepare for this living ordinance in their lives completes our family
circle. They will experience many profound blessings over time as
they return to the temple often individually and as a couple.
I
bare fervent testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is
the true church of Christ on this earth today. We are promised that if we
obey the commandments of God, repenting of our sins, seeking to improve our
lives and those around us on a continual basis and, thereby, magnify our
testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ living in a manner that will
draw us closer to our Heavenly Father and our elder brother and redeemer, Jesus
Christ we will be blessed eternally. By being sealed together as family
members in God's temple by an ordained member of the Priesthood who is
sanctioned to seal family members one to another provides us with the promise
of being a "forever family" together after this life if we live up
to the covenants we make in the temple!
There is nothing more important or beautiful than this promise! I
encourage you, the reader, to read The Book of Mormon, to ask questions of
serious members and find out for yourself "why" this should be
of utmost importance in your own life. For many answers to your questions
please check out www.lds.org
We
are so very proud of you Paul and Ashley! We love you and our grandchildren
with all of our hearts and souls! xoxo
