[MUSIC PLAYING] A person who goes to the
temple--when they enter, they lay their problems and
challenges down at the door, go in, and when
they come back out, the same problems and
challenges are there. But what has changed
is the individual. During that time in the temple,
they are spiritually refreshed. They're empowered with a
grander, better vision. They see things in their true
character and perspective. [SPEAKING SPANISH] I was baptized when I was
19, but as a young man, I fell away for a long time. One day my wife
and I were talking, and suddenly two
missionaries came by. Just a few days later,
she was baptized a member of the Church. [SPEAKING SPANISH] My husband was
active for a while, but then overnight his
testimony grew cold. I kept going. I would always take
my son to Church. [SPEAKING SPANISH] Little by little, I fell. When you leave the Church,
knowing the things of the Lord, Satan attacks you,
traps you, misleads you. And that happened with me. The tempter pulled me down as
low as a human being can fall.
As time passed, my wife
grew stronger and stronger in the gospel until one day, she
asked me to sign a permission form for her.
She was too afraid to
tell me that she was going to the Costa Rica temple. When the Panama
temple was dedicated, she started going to
the temple every weekend in her spare time. I always said, "Why do you
waste your time at the temple?" I always heard her talk
about temple workers, and I wondered, "What
is a temple worker? What is a temple worker?" One day I was alone in my
house, and I started meditating. That day I decided to
get down on my knees. I begged God to forgive me,
to take control of my life, to make me an instrument
in His hands, to change me.
The Lord answered my prayers.
I feel so grateful to the
Lord for the great change He has brought about in my life.
One of the great
achievements is being able to serve Him
as a temple worker.
On June 10, 2011,
after being active in the Church for
one year, I was able to enter this very special
place for the first time.
I never thought I'd
be a temple worker, but today the Lord has
put me in the place where He wants me to be as His son.
I would not trade
my year of service in the temple for anything.
The whole effort
here is conversion and to internalize the gospel. It penetrates to
the heart so there's the mighty change of heart
beginning or progressing in their lives, and it
becomes who and what they are. I know the reality
of Jesus Christ. I know His role as
Savior and Redeemer. I bear witness of His
infinite power and grace to forgive and to
sanctify and to save each one who will receive it.