I want to tell a story today about my struggles to get to the temple the first time.

It was 1989 and I had just turned 21 and I wanted to go to the temple.

I loved the temple. I had always loved the temple. Ever since I first went to the Bern, Switzerland temple as a teenager to do baptisms for the dead. My parents had gone to the temple as often as they could while I was growing up and I saw it in them. And I so wanted to receive my endowment and be able to go to the temple consistently.

But, there were a few things standing in my way. You see, back then, it was not like today where all young people are encouraged to go to the temple just as soon as they can after high school. You see, sisters did not go to the temple to receive their endowment until they were at least 35, unless they did one of two things:

And I certainly wasn’t getting married. And I had no plans to go on a mission. As you’ll see, these weren’t dead fast absolutes, but it was the general practice that single sisters did not go to the temple until they were 35 unless they, first and preferably, got married or, as a second class option, were going on a mission.

But I SO wanted to go to the temple. But, I knew the rules and expectations. And still I wanted to attend the temple. So, I decided to pursue it anyway.

I went to my bishop. He said, “No, absolutely not unless you are getting married or going on a mission.”

I went to him the next week. He said the same thing.

I went to him the next week. And surprise, surprise, he said the same thing.

I kept going to him every week to the point that he started trying to avoid me when he saw me coming toward him after sacrament meeting.

After about 8-10 months of this, I finally wore him down and he said, “Okay, I will recommend you, but you still have to talk to the Stake President.”

So, I made an appointment with the Stake President. I walked in his office and sat down and we started talking. And guess what his answer was! “No, not unless you are getting married or going on a mission.”

So, I made an appointment with the Stake President for the next week. And got the same answer.

And I repeated it the next week, and the next week. Until after 2-3 months of this he finally said, “You really want to go to the temple. Okay, I will give you a recommend.”

Shortly thereafter, with my parents by my side, I went to the Provo, Utah temple for the first time to receive my endowment.

It was just as incredible as I had imagined! I loved it! Words cannot describe the feelings I felt and all that I learned.

After that first trip to the temple, I went to the temple every week during the school year (or if I was in Utah working for the summer, the summer too) while I was going to BYU or working in Utah. After I moved out of Utah, I continued to go as often as possible, aiming for at least once a month, but it did depend on how far away the temple was.

A couple of years later, I did decide to go on a mission (and I’m so glad I did), and a lot of that probably had to do with having gone to the temple. It’s likely I never would have served a mission if I hadn’t gone to the temple despite the pressure not to. Now I’m serving my second mission as a Service Missionary and I serve with BYU-Pathways Worldwide.

Now-a-days, both young men and young women are encouraged to go to the temple just as soon as they are able after they turn 18 and are out of high school. I am SO glad this has changed. It is so wonderful to see the spirit in them after going to the temple. And more and more young people are serving as temple workers in the temple and are encouraged to do so, especially after receiving a mission call and are waiting to serve their mission – it’s no longer just the retired person’s service opportunity. And they learn so much this way.

And just in case you hadn’t guessed. I LOVE THE TEMPLE.