A Place of Peace

Today, in Relief Society, the teacher mentioned four ways that we can exercise our faith. The fourth way was temple attendance. I had already commented twice, so I refrained myself from commenting again, but if I had known that temple attendance would be the last thing she spoke on, then I would have saved my thoughts all for that.

For the last two months I have attended the temple once a week to do baptisms and if you follow my instagram you know that to be true. One of the times I went with my two friends who are now on missions and I also brought my own names. I have noticed an immense change in my life. I received peace and comfort that I had been asking for in ways that I couldn't even comprehend while first asking them. Hands down, the temple just makes me happy.

I struggled to overcome the effects of a recent trial. It's been three months now since I've really had to deal with it, but I still couldn't completely get rid of the thoughts and feelings towards that trial. I prayed and studied my scriptures and I wanted more than anything to just be completely done with it. It wasn't until I began to attend the temple that I really started to progress. I still struggle with hurt feelings towards that trial, but the thoughts have diminished and I've noticed that when I enter the temple I don't have a single thought about it. I could even try to think about it and the thought wouldn't stick. That has been just one of the few blessings I have experience with attending the temple.

The joy and passion that I feel toward the temple is not containable. The veil is so thin there that I instantly grow closer to God as soon as I just step on the temple grounds. My entire day improves when I attend the temple. I have a strong, burning, and unbreakable testimony of the temple. If you want joy and peace in your life, go to the temple and if you don't have the recommend to go, then change you life so that you can. A temple worker once said to me while I was there, "You had so much to do today, yet you decided to come do the Lord's work." All I thought was, "That may be true, but there is nothing more important that I could be doing." I know that to be the truth.

 

A Prayer of Melody (I Need Thee Every Hour)

"We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer." - President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

I had a special experience with a hymn a couple of weeks ago. I had been contemplating the decision of serving a mission. I knew it was something that I desired to do, but wasn't exactly sure if it was something I was really meant to do. The question I really had was whether to serve a mission right when I turn 19 in January or wait until June and do a year of college. My mom turned to me one day in sacrament and said to me, "Lauren, as your mother I can receive revelation on your behalf. You are supposed to serve a mission in January, but you need to get that answer on your own." So, I prayed about it. I kept it in my thoughts and I brought it to the temple. I wasn't really anxious to get an answer soon since it's so far away, but I got my answer sooner than I expected and at a time when my question wasn't even currently on my mind. I was playing through some of my hymn arrangements and I started to play a new arrangement of "As Sisters in Zion". I few lines into the song I became overwhelmed with emotion and tears filled my eyes. I wasn't even hearing the lyrics, just the melody to the song, but I knew what God was telling me. I am meant to serve a mission in January and what better way to receive this answer than through music, particularly piano.

Hymns are prayers and they can be answers to prayers. If you have a question, try turning to the hymn book. Read the lyrics or just listen to the melodies. I promise there is a hymn with an answer to your question. I receive so much peace from the hymns, whether I'm just listening to them, singing to them, or playing them on the piano. They are meant to promote peace. They thin the veil. 

This video is of me playing an arrangement of "I Need Thee Every Hour". This is a favorite among many members of the church and the lyrics are an amazing testimony. I love to play this hymn when I want to feel closer to Christ and my Heavenly Father. I truly need them every hour and in every aspect of my life for I know that only through them can I have true joy. I hope you enjoy the video and that you feel closer to them through it.

Lyrics 

1. 1. I need thee ev'ry hour,
   Most gracious Lord.
   No tender voice like thine
   Can peace afford.
2. (Chorus)
   I need thee, oh, I need thee;
   Ev'ry hour I need thee!
   Oh, bless me now, my Savior;
   I come to thee!
3. 2. I need thee ev'ry hour;
   Stay thou nearby.
   Temptations lose their pow'r
   When thou art nigh.
4. 3. I need thee ev'ry hour,
   In joy or pain.
   Come quickly and abide,
   Or life is vain.
5. 4. I need thee ev'ry hour,
   Most holy One.
   Oh, make me thine indeed,
   Thou blessed Son!
6.