Monday, April 18, 2016

How Great Shall Be Your Joy

Oh happy days. This weekend was one of the happiest of my life. My roommate, Fiona, got married. But, I have lots of friends who get married. So, here is why this was the happiest:

Right after returning home from my mission, I headed to BYU-Idaho for a semester before marrying my sweet Kyle. I moved into a new apartment complex that I hadn't lived in before and with new roommates I had never met. I was feeling a bit apprehensive about it all, but excited. My roommates were Rachel and Fiona. We each had private rooms, so the first couple weeks we honestly didn't interact very much--just kept to ourselves. But, over the course of the semester we started to spend more time together, spend more time out in our living room/kitchen instead of in our bedrooms, and get to know each other more. It was probably a month into school when we found out Fiona wasn't a member of the Church. This is a rarity at BYU-Idaho. You see more non-lds people at BYU because they have D1 sports teams and a more prestigious reputation. But, itty bitty BYU-Idaho? There are very very few non-lds people who end up there. AND MY ROOMMATE WAS ONE OF THEM! I was PSYCHED (remember, I had literally just gotten home from my mission.) I'm pretty sure I contacted the missionaries who served on campus that same day. It wasn't long until they started coming over regularly and meeting with Fiona. We got to be there for it all. The lessons, the questions, and within a few weeks, Fiona was baptized. We were all so so happy. I was just over the moon. 

Selfish flashback: As a missionary I didn't have very much quantifiable success whereas conversions/baptisms go. My heart aches still to think about all those who I taught and loved so dearly. Of course, when I didn't see results that I had expected as a missionary I was left wondering: was my mission worth it? was I not a good teacher? did I not have enough faith? etc. It is hard for me now and I assume it will be forever.

Fast forward one year and I get a text message with a picture attached, from Fiona, saying "Im engaged!" I didn't even know she was dating someone! I was so happy for her. Then, a few weeks later she asked me to be her Escort through the temple. 

I headed to St. Louis this weekend humbled and happy. On Thursday, Fiona, her now husband,his parents and I, headed to the temple for her endowment session. It was beautiful and magical and all other good words. My heart was full. On Saturday, I sat and watched as her and Gregory were sealed for time and all eternity. I was the last person left in the sealing room once everyone had filed out after giving their congratulations. Fiona hadn't cried yet and I had held it mostly together myself--then we saw each other. We hugged and wept and the joy was immense. 

I never got to see someone baptized, stay faithful, change their life, and finally, attend/be sealed in the Temple. It was something I desired so badly as a missionary, but a blessing I never received there. But, it is a blessing I received this weekend and words cannot fully describe the love and joy I feel. 

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father..." D&C 18:15







2 comments:

  1. THAT IS SO HAPPY! What an amazing experience. The temple is the BEST.

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  2. That really is amazing. How wonderful for her and I'm so glad you got to be there. Brian just found out via Facebook that a little girl he baptized on his mission just got home from her mission...sometimes results take a long time to see...what a blessing you got to see every step along the way of Fiona's journey!

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