Laurena Priest

Every Tuesday night I attend the Monticello LDS Temple with my brother, Lane, and with my mother.  Tonight Lane asked me if I was taking one of the names I had found through for endowments and I told him no, I did not have them ready for endowments yet.  He handed me a card from his names and asked if I would take one through for him.  The name he gave me was Laurena Priest and she was born in 1877 in Colorado.

I got ready and went in to proceed through with the endowment session.  About five minutes into the session my breathing changed and I felt so overwhelmed with everything around me.  I kept thinking what is wrong with me this is not normal.  Then the flood gates opened and I was crying and could not stop.  I was beginning to feel embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.  I only had two Kleenex tissues in my pocket and I had already soaked one.  I kept thinking “what is wrong with me, my week had only started and it was not bad so far.

I started praying that I could get my emotions in control so I could concentrate on what was being taught.  Suddenly it hit me like being struck with a brick….it is not you that is crying it is Laurena.  She has waited for so long for her work to be done and she is  filled with joy that you are doing this endowment for her.  Immediately the tears stopped, my breathing became normal and I could concentrate once again.  The session was beautiful and I was teachable and humbled by this experience.  Just before the session ended the tears started again, but this time I knew they were tears of joy from Laurena Priest.

When we got into the car to come home I told Lane I had to tell him something that happened in the temple tonight.   He said what happened and I told him about the crying, the change in my breathing and how happy my sister was that I was taking through the temple.  I said to him “the only thing that would have made this even more meaningful is if it had been one of our family names.  Lane got his cute smile on his face and said “it was one of our Fuller family members that you took through tonight.”  Tonight I was in full spirit with my family beyond the veil.  Not to often are we able to experience this type of closeness.

I know that temple work is so important and those that are beyond the veil are anxiously waiting for us to do their work.  I have personally been led to names that need done so they can progress in heaven.  My experiences in the temple are faith building and I cannot deny the power of this gospel as my life is molded into a Christlike existence.