Temple Sealings

In our church, the first Sunday of the month is fast Sunday. Fast Sunday is a day when we fast from food and water for twenty-four hours and then we contribute the equivalent of what we would have eaten to the poor. This is the basis for the welfare system in our church. The other interesting aspect of fast Sunday is that in our Sacrament meeting on that day everyone has the opportunity to share their testimony with the rest of the congregation. A testimony consists of our expression of our faith in God, in the Lord, in the Lords church and in his prophets. Along with this expression of faith it is common to share anecdotes from our lives that have helped to strengthened our faith.

Today in our fast and testimony meeting Lisa got up and shared about Kira and Justin's little Evan. As Lisa briefly described SMA tears filled my eyes and as I checked out our row I noticed that we were all fighting back tears. Even Alex (our tough one) seemed touched. Lisa then told how during that first week after we learned of Evan's diagnosis she was really struggling with the news when suddenly a very sweet and calming memory came to her. She remembered when we all went to the temple in Orlando to participate in Evan's sealing. When a child is sealed to a parent the father and mother kneel on either side of the alter and the child is placed on the alter between the parents. The sealer (a man who has the Priesthood power and authority to perform the ordinance) then seals the child to the parents in a bond that endures not only this life but in the eternities as well. It is a tremendously powerful ordinance. Lisa then described how Evan was first sealed to his father and then to his mother. As Evan was sealed to Kira his eyes were wide open and he looked directly into Kira's face and we all knew that he was where he was supposed to be and somehow we all felt that Evan knew it as well. My heart warmed as Lisa reminded me of this experience and my tears of sadness turned to tears of joy. Evan is right where God wants him to be and no matter what happens, anyone who was in that room knows, that in the long run, everything will be OK. What a comfort the gospel of Jesus Christ is.