The Perfect Companion

At the beautiful Hawaii temple during our trip to
Hawaii in 2008. Isn't this a great picture of my beautiful
mom? She was so at home in Hawaii, especially
near the temple. 

The temple was always a very important part of Mom's life. In fact, I'm sure it still is. She was a great example of going to the temple as often as possible. And she encouraged me to go frequently and do baptisms for the dead. Just after I turned twelve, she got some of my siblings together to go with me to the temple for the first time. I remember the joy of coming out of the water and having her wrap a towel around me.
Mom also wanted to serve a mission. It was her dream to be able to go serve with my dad. I am saddened that they didn't get to experience that together in this life, but I know that she is working hard to reach everyone she can on the other side.
About April of this year, I started doing family history work. Since that time, I have found over 1000 names to take to the temple. Shortly after I started, I told Mom (sometimes I talk to her like that) that it was her job to make sure the people that I was finding had gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and were ready for baptism.
I was recently talking to Mama C (a friend's mom who has become a mother figure to me) about the work I've been able to do for the dead. She pointed out that I've been doing missionary work, and that I have the greatest companion. It's so true. I am so grateful to her for pointing this out. I'm grateful that I've been able to connect with my own sweet momma in this way. We are working together for a cause that we both dearly love.
This all hit me very hard tonight as I studied scriptures with some of the people in my dorm. We read D&C 128:18 which reads:
 "The earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also..."

I testify that this is true. I have been irreversibly linked to my mom and to those relatives whose work I am doing. Without the experiences of family history work and temple work, I certainly could not be made perfect. And I know that without my mom doing the work that I can't, this experience would not be nearly as sweet. 

I am so grateful for the temple and the experiences that I've had there. I'm grateful for a mother that I know I can count on to be the most hardworking companion ever. And I am so incredibly grateful for a gospel that teaches me that I will have an eternity to continue making memories with my mom. This is a very temporary separation. I so look forward to the day that I can hold my momma in my arms and tell her thank you for doing her part in bringing these wonderful souls to the gospel. I rejoice in the knowledge that that day will come as long as I live worthy of it.


I couldn't resist throwing this out there: Those 1000+ names that I mentioned desperately need work done! I have initiatory, endowment, and sealings left. I also offer FREE babysitting to anyone taking my names to the temple, as long as I don't have to drive too terribly far. I would very much appreciate help from anyone willing :)