Happy Temple Anniversary of 44 years

     Forty-four years ago today, Debi and I drove to Mesa Arizona to first attend a temple of The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be sealed for time and all eternity through a sacred ordinance.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that through the sealing power given to men by the Lord, marriage does not end “until death do you part”.  We believe that as Adam and Eve were joined in the garden of Eden, which was an eternal place, marriage was meant to be an eternal joining.

     So Debi and I made the two-day trip with two little boys in our two-door Pinto sedan.   We spent the night in El Paso with the rear brakes locked up which required me to rent a repair bay in a gas station to back the brakes out so that we could continue on our way.  Mesa was the closest temple to Austin at the time but still over 2,000 miles away.   The next morning, at our motel, we found that the car’s battery was dead and with some help from a jump, I drove to a JC Penney’s where I had the battery replaced.

 

     On Tuesday April 27, 1976, we were sealed together as a family.  I don’t believe that we could have been any happier.   A grounds keeper at the temple the day before walked up to Debi and gave her some Gladiolas and said to her “these are for your wedding day”.   It was very special because we didn’t know him nor him us.

    Because of this wonderful blessing, the sting of death and separation from each other has given me the hope and strength to carry on with my life.   I know that when my journey is complete and I will return home to my Savior, I firmly expect to be able to embrace my beautiful bride once again.

Happy Sealing Anniversary, Debi.

All my love always and forever,  Mike