Meisyn’s
heart was fuller with compassion than with fear and she asked to touch it while
I held it in the palm of my hand. She
traced its intricate wings and bowed head with her quivering finger. She expressed her sadness that the dragonfly
was without its family. She worried if
it was scared and lonely. We talked how
all creatures return to heaven, go back to the loving God that gave them life. It would find her family. She expressed her relief that the dragonfly
was free and could once again fly. She
envied those dragonflies. More than
anything, Meisyn desires to fly.
Perhaps you have seen a Mormon structure with spires that rise towards heaven. It’s not a church. It is more. It is a temple. Within the temple covenants are made to bind families together for eternity. Not just for this earth life are we bound together, but forever.
On June 29, 2013, Meisyn and Jaeya were sealed to our family
for eternity. There dressed in the symbolic
white of heaven and purity they exercised what they so often sing in their
Sunday classes
“I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday. I'll cov'nant with my Father; I'll promise to
obey. For the temple is a holy place, Where we are sealed together. As a child
of God, I've learned this truth: A fam'ly is forever.”
What takes place in a temple is sacred and tender. We were warmly welcomed by escorts in white
who cheerfully told us they had been expecting us. None of us were ever alone. We were told what would happen at each new
step. In the sealing room siblings grandparents,
aunts, uncles and cousins were together and together we were all able to
symbolicly look into forever. “there are the temple mirrors—one mirror on this
side, one mirror on that side. Together the temple mirrors reflect back and
forth images that stretch seemingly into eternity.
Temple mirrors of eternity remind us that each human being
has “divine nature and destiny”; that “sacred ordinances and covenants
available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the
presence of God and for families to be united eternally”; and that, growing
together in love and faithfulness, we can give children roots and wings.” Elder Gerritt Gong
I share this because it was a tremendous and touching
teaching moment. Inside that room,
together as a family, we discussed forever.
We discussed death. Meisyn could
visualize “forever” in the reflection of herself and her family in those
mirrors. We spoke of the feeling of
safely, love, beauty, and peace that was within that room. She asked many questions, comparing those
feelings to what she might feel in heaven.
Meisyn felt peace. She understood
she would be met at the other side of death’s door by kind escorts who would also
be expecting her. She will be surrounded
by all inclusive love and acceptance.
She will have left behind her broken and bent body, but will take with
her the love, experiences and memories she had made while in that body. She
understood she will rise like the
dragonfly. She will soar freely in the
spiritual realms. SHE WILL FLY.
