A Little Piece of Heaven on Earth....

My companion and I had the most amazing opportunity to go to the Sacramento Temple this week! As missionaries we are able to go once every six weeks and it is always a favorite day and one that all the missionaries look forward too. Why? 

Because temples are the closest thing to heaven on earth. They connect us with our Loving Heavenly Father. We are obviously able to feel of that love everyday but that feeling is magnified in the temple! 

Temples are set apart from the rest of the world. They are a sacred place where people go to draw closer to their Heavenly Father and to their ancestors who have already crossed onto the other side. Temples have been blessing peoples lives for thousands of years, even dating back to the biblical times. In Isaiah 2:3 it says:

"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." 

I love this scripture because all these promised blessings from way back when, still apply today. Through modern day temples we are able to continue to gain further knowledge of God, Jesus Christ and their Gospel. By preforming sacred ordinances and making temple covenants (promises) in the temple we are connected more fully to Jesus Christ. 

One of my favorite things about the temple is that everything points to Jesus Christ. Everything we do and everything we are is because of him and his infinite sacrifice for us. As missionaries we run into alot of people who say that members of our church aren't Christian. They tend to get caught up in the title of The Book of Mormon. When in reality they need to get caught up in the subtitle: "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." That is something that we have to explain to them because Jesus Christ is the head of our church. He is our reason. 

In the temple we are able to learn more about Him, His teachings, and are reminded of His amazing sacrifice for us. I know many people, including myself, have gone to the temple and had a lack of feeling or wasn't able to feel the Spirit as much as I wanted. That's because as I participated in the sacred ordinances I wasn't seeking Jesus Christ.

As Allen Haynie put it, "He is why we come to the temple. He is who our Father in Heaven desires us to meet in the temple. He is at the center of every symbol, every ordinance, every covenant, and every hoped-for blessing in the temple. Seeking Jesus in the temple enables us to understand why we are in the temple and why we should return." Through being in the temple you will grow a deeper relationship and a greater love for Jesus Christ than ever before. I promise you. 

There are many different ordinances and covenants (promises) that's are preformed in the temple everyday. An ordinance is a sacred or formal act performed under the proper authority through the priesthood. We have the amazing opportunity in the temple to do those acts and make those promises for ourselves and for those who have already passed away. We know that God loves ALL of his children and wants them ALL to make it back to him.  Although depending on people's circumstances, environment, and family life, alot of people weren't able to hear about Jesus Christ or accept his teachings in this life. We are able to act as a proxy (stand in's) for these amazing people. They will then have the choice to accept the gospel or not. There are many different ordinances in the temple: 

-Baptisms and Confirmation 

-The Temple Endowment 

-Sealings to your families for all eternity 

"Jesus taught that baptism and confirmation are needed for all who want to follow Him and return to our Heavenly Father after this life. Baptism is thus the entrance gate to the covenant path. The term covenant path refers to a series of covenants whereby we come closer to the Savior and deepen our relationship with Him and our Heavenly Father." In the temple we are able to be baptized and confirmed for those who never had the chance in this life. Ordinances preformed by others are called proxy ordinances. In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul actually teaches us that baptisms for the dead were preformed because through The Atonement of Jesus Christ, all will be resurrected. 

The Temple Endowment is our literal and personal gift from God. The word endow has two meanings, "to bestow a gift" and to "clothe upon." Some of the gifts you receive from the temple endowment are: 

-Greater knowledge of the Lord’s purposes and teachings.

-Power to do all that God wants us to do.

-Divine guidance and protection as we serve the Lord, our families, and others.

-Increased hope, comfort, and peace.

-Promised blessings now and forever.

Those are just a few of the amazing gifts that God gives those who keep their convanants with him. President Russell M. Nelson explains that “Making a covenant with God changes our relationship with Him forever. It blesses us with an extra measure of love and mercy. It affects who we are and how God will help us become what we can become.” God loves us. God gave us these amazing temples to be able to change our lives, change the lives of those who have already passed, and grow closer to Jesus Christ. Temples aren't just glorified chapels, they are the House of the Lord. 

The Sealing ordinances that happen in temples is one of the most amazing things you can be apart of. Families are everything to God! That's why they are at the center of His plan, The Plan of Happiness. Through the sealing power of the Priesthood, in the temple we have the opportunity to be sealed with our families for eternity. These sealings aren't like "until death do you part" these temple sealings make sure you are never separated even after this life. This temple ordinance holds a special place in my heart because that is my why for missionary work. I am so so blessed to have that knowledge and to be able to be sealed with my family for eternity. I want others to be sealed to theirs as well! It breaks my heart to hear people say this life is it. That this is the only time they will ever have with their families because that's not true. Through the temple we have the ability to be sealed to them for all eternity. I am happy and willing to sacrifice 18 months of my life for others eternity. People ask me all the time why I would leave my family so long and I say that 18 months is nothing compared to the eternities we will have when I get back. 

My favorite quote about the temple is from David A. Bednar, he once said, "We do not come to the temple to hide from or escape the evils of the world. Rather, we come to the temple to conquer the world of evil" The temple doesn't hide you from the world, it prepares you for the world. I can't express how much I have seen that in my life. While that is true, the temple is also a break from the worldly things. It's a break from the car horns, blasting radios, social media, and the noise of the world. My friend serving a mission in Sydney Australia once told me that there is actually a temple right next to a very loud freeway. Except its so cool because its so loud and nosey from all the cars passing by but once you enter into the doors of the temple, it's quiet. It's Still. Leave your worries at the door and focus on Christ. 

Before coming here to California I was about 2 mintues from my temple in Bountiful. Guess how many times I went..... Probably once a month. I didn't take advantage of the greatest gift and I regret it everyday! It's crazy that I am 1 hour away now and everyone says "we are so lucky that we are so close to the temple." WHAT?? I hear of people driving 6 hours round trip just to go to the temple. If you are able to enter the temple and you aren't taking advantage of that blessing, start now. Your life will be forever changed. You will be happier and closer to Christ in a way you never knew you could be. I am so grateful for the temple and the blessing it has been in my life. 

It really is A Little Piece of Heaven on Earth ❤️

Want to learn more about how YOU can visit the temple?

How are you able to feel of God's love at home? 

Message me or comment down below!! 

Love, 

Sister Pickett

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             Speaking of Heaven On Earth....

Well 4 cities and 22 Food Tour Stops later I finally made it to 6 months as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!! 

To celebrate my companion and I went to Icing on The Cupcake Bakery in Rocklin, Ca. This bakery was actually recommended to me from a member of my church in Roseville. He told me to go there because they had the most amazing cupcakes he has ever had. Except wanna know the crazy part? He told me to put the cupcakes in the freezer because the icing was so good that it tasted like ice cream. So you know what I had to do!!

My companion showed up and it was the cutest bakery ever! They had so many amazing flavors such as: 

- Signature Pinkalicous Cupcake

-Double Chocolate 

-Red Velvet 

-Pucker Up Lemon 

-Butter Finger 

-Blueberry Cheesecake 

And so many more!! 

It's like they knew I was coming because guess what the flavor of the day was?? Rootbeer Float!

It was so good!! I ate half of the it at the shop and wow, it tastes just like rootbeer. I thought it was really amazing because extracts can be a little tricky. Sometimes you don't get enough and other times its way too much and tastes way to artificial. This cupcake was amazing!! The frosting was so smoothe and not too overpowering or sweet! The Cupcake was so tender and melted in my mouth. My companion got the Blueberry Cheese cake and it had the best filling it in! 

You already know I threw the other half in the freezer. Best thing I have ever done!! It tasted just like a Rootbeer Float Creamsicle. I don't know if I can ever eat a Cupcake the same again. I am so obsessed with this little Cupcake shop, 10/10 recommend going there for your next treat!! 

Have you ever tried a frozen Cupcake before?

What flavor would you get??