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Reflections on the Belem Temple Trip
My husband, Daan, and I had the privilege of visiting the temple in Belem, Brazil, from September 10–21, 2024. This journey was a strong reminder that when I prepare myself to enter the temple, I am ready to receive the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I felt this truth deeply as I stood within the walls of the temple, drawing strength from the teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 35:12, “There are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation.”
The temple is more than just a building; it is a place of power and blessings. While there, I was endowed with power from on high, as Doctrine and Covenants 38:32 says, “There I will give unto you my law, and there you shall be endowed with power from on high.”
My experiences in church—whether through lessons, activities, or meetings—have prepared me for the sacred ordinances available at the altar of the temple. There, I received the sealing ordinance, which has brought clarity to the purpose of our Heavenly Father’s plan for our eternal happiness and progress.
I have come to recognize temple ordinances as the highest, most sacred ordinances available to us. They have enriched my soul, guiding me to become a better person. In the temple, I have gained knowledge and assurance of my eternal existence and the infinite power of the covenants I’ve made with Heavenly Father.
My husband, Daan, and I have chosen to be sealed in the holy temple and continue to attend the temple as a reminder of these eternal covenants. As we build our lives upon these covenants, we are assured of our eternal relationship, united with our Heavenly Father and our family in everlasting joy, as taught in Mosiah 2:41:
“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”
This assurance settles deeply in our hearts, confirmed by the Holy Ghost.
I testify of God’s goodness to man. No other work gives us greater spiritual growth and strength or calls us to a higher standard of righteousness than our work in the temple. Our temple covenants provide us with a shield and protection. I know that Christ lives, that through His Atonement, we can return to our Heavenly Father, and that He is there for us at all times and will forgive us if we repent of all unrighteousness with a sincere heart. I am very thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.