Why I served a Mormon Mission Part X

It was an amazing thing to be able not only to witness my grandmother's baptism but also to be able to baptize her with the power and authority of the restored priesthood of God. However after we left Texas we drove up to my mother's cabin in Colorado so I could spend a few days with her before I left for boot camp. We then went down to Lake Powell where my father lived and I spent my last days as a civilian with him. Staff Sergeant Keach who was my recruiter had been calling my father non stop the last week I was gone in Texas asking my father where I was and if I was still going to go to boot camp. As far as I was concerned I had swore an oath before God and witnesses that I would join the Marine Corps and that I would defend our Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. I could not see how I could be an honorable Latter-Day Saint and worthy of a temple recommend if I did not do what I said I would do. My father had taught me that there are few things that a man can truly call his own and one of those things is his word.

Well that fateful day finally arrived that I was to meet SSgt Keach across the lake at Bullfrog. My father drove me across the lake from Halls Crossing to Bullfrog. When we arrived at the public launch ramp SSgt Keach was there waiting for us. My father pulled SSgt Keach aside and I heard him tell SSgt Keach that if anything bad happened to me that he would spend the rest of his life making life very hard for any Marines he came across. I then got into the car with SSgt Keach and we started on our way up to Salt Lake City.

We stopped in Price, Utah because Sheena was still with me and her Father was going to meet us in Price so that he could pick her up. After we dropped Sheena off we continued up to Salt Lake City. When we finally got there SSgt Keach dropped me off at the hotel that was really close to temple square. As I checked into my hotel room it started to hit me what I was about to embark upon. A part of me was very scared and worried yet another part of me was excited and full of hope. After sitting in my room for about thirty minuets I decided to go an walk around temple square and just bask in the spirit of the Lord before I went to boot camp. I walked around the temple a few times and then looked at the visitor center there on temple square and wondered who got to go in the big doors to go into the temple. I sat there watching the doors for about thirty minutes and never saw anyone go inside.
On a side note it was only many years later that I finally came to figure out this mystery. I was going to the sealing of a wonderful lady that I met in Hope Mills, North Carolina. Cassandra was getting sealed in the Salt Lake temple and she had invited me to come. I arrived early because I didn't quite know where to go. After I had look around the temple for any little doors I approached the two huge doors on the east side of the temple. Very timidly I walked up the stairs to these giant doors. When I got to the doors I reached out to the handle so I could open it only to find that the handles wouldn't turn. Well, I then did what logically came to mind I twisted harder and pulled on the door. Still nothing. I wondered silently to myself if this was some kind of sign about me not being worthy or something. I then grabbed for the handle again this time I wiggled the door hard back and forth but still nothing. When I turned around I was glad to see that no one had witnessed the denial of entry into the temple. I walked down the stairs wondering what I had done wrong that I was denied entry into the Lord's house. As I walked toward the conference center I noticed several people with temple bags going into a building. I followed them and was delighted to find the entrance to the temple and not only did I find the entrance but the wonderful man checking the recommends let me in. But its time to get back to the story at hand.
As I wondered around temple square I went into the Tabernacle. As I looked upon the beauty of this building built by pioneers I set down in a pew and bowed my head to pray to my Father in Heaven. As I beseeched my God asking for his help and guidance in the months to come I sensed that someone was near me. I lifted my head and found a man dressed in a suit there in the tabernacle with me. He walked over to me asked me if I would like a blessing. I told him I would. He then took me toward the front of the Tabernacle up by where pulpit was. He pulled out a set of keys and he opened a door and took me into the back of the tabernacle. He then pulled out a chair and gave me a blessing of peace and comfort from my Father in Heaven that would serve
to help sustain me throughout my time in the Marine Corps.