Preparing for the Journey
Cheryl Craft of Olathe, KS, USA
The temple shall be dedicated to the pursuit of peace. It shall be for reconciliation and for healing of the spirit…By its ministries an attitude of wholeness of body, mind, and spirit as a desirable end toward which to strive will be fostered. -Doctrine and Covenants 156:5a, c
Excitement was high in anticipation of the building of the Temple. In our congregation in Oklahoma the children were collecting their coins and sending them in to Independence. They received “peace” rings to remind them of their stewardship in building the Temple.
Our young family was blessed to have President Bud Sheehy in our home before a reunion at our campgrounds. He brought a large tube containing the blueprints for the Temple. He laid them out on our table and explained the spiritual inspiration for each detail as he walked us through the pages.
We could see the etching on the glass entryway honoring Joseph Smith, Jr.’s experience with the Spirit in the grove. We stepped onto the Worshiper’s Path remembering the Tree of Life and standing in the shadow of the cross. We came to the fountain of living water where “we will thirst no more” because of Jesus’ promises. We looked up at the sun gleaming through the windows of the spiral, each one reaching closer to heaven. “The field is white already to harvest.” As we were ready to leave, the windows invited us to reap with all our might for the cause of the kingdom. We imagined the large brass doors opening to the view of the World Plaza, a map of the world before us. The lion, lamb, and little child Peace symbol on the doors urged us to be ensigns of peace to the world.
Anticipating the twenty-fifth year anniversary of the dedication of the Temple, I know that God visited our home that evening many years ago. As a family, we were being prepared for our journey. Our young children are now adults, and along with our son-in-law, work for the church. My husband and I share God’s blessings as we volunteer at Heritage Plaza Church Historic Site across from the Temple. To hear the hymns from the carillon at Stone Church and see the sun beaming from the spiral of the Temple is a daily inspiration.
Prayer Phrase
We are One in Christ.
Spiritual Practice
Week Six: Discover
Journal/Reflect
We live in an uncertain and exciting time. The Spirit is yearning to be incarnate in new places, ways, and forms. In a recent address, President Veazey proclaimed that the “future church already is being born.” How are you invited to discover the new life that is already emerging around us? What might it look like, in preparation for conference, to cultivate a posture of curiosity and discovery as we seek together where the Living God is at work among us?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
