I Love to See the Temple!

Settling into life in San Salvador has been an adventure. Everyday life can feel overwhelming, and we are still figuring things out. On weekends, we rent a car to do our shopping and try to carve out some family time. One of the most beautiful things about our new routine is that when we go to church on Sundays, the San Salvador LDS Temple is right there, just across the parking lot. I often wish I could take the feeling of the temple with me wherever I go.

                                   

One particular Saturday, I had just had enough. I had slipped in the shower three times, the boys were rowdy, the news was filled with worry, and my heart felt heavy. I needed peace. I turned to Mike and asked if we could drive by the temple, just to find out how attending worked here. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for—just some reassurance, some grounding.

When we arrived, we walked into a building where people in church clothes were waiting, many with babies in tow. I assume they were waiting for their scheduled temple sessions. Buses filled the parking lot, bringing people from all over. I wasn’t sure what was going on exactly, but I could feel the joy radiating from those gathered there. In the back of the building, I was surprised to find a cafeteria! I made a mental note to try it sometime. But that day was about gathering information, so we continued down the hall and found a distribution center.

I approached the counter and asked the kind sister if the temple provided clothing rentals. She let me know that this temple did not offer rentals, and I would need to purchase my own clothing. She assured me it was inexpensive. Now, you might be wondering why I moved without my temple clothes. The truth is simple: they no longer fit. The dress I had was the one I wore on my wedding day—the first dress I ever wore in the temple. It was well-loved, and it had seen better days.

In our previous assignments—Ukraine, Frankfurt, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.—we always had access to rentals, so I had never needed to buy new clothing. But that day, the sweet sister helped me choose a white dress, and when I tried it on, I felt like a princess. Best of all, it had pockets!

As we checked out, she mentioned that the temple would be closing soon. If we wanted to attend, we needed to go that day. My heart instantly felt the pull—I wanted to go in. But Mike, ever the practical one, reminded me that we didn’t speak Spanish well, and we weren’t dressed for the occasion. He found an appointment for the end of the day, so we ran our errands, had lunch with the kids, and returned later that evening.

I love going to the temple. It almost always leaves me feeling refreshed and renewed. But I was a nervous wreck—I knew people would speak to me in Spanish, and I worried about not understanding or knowing how to respond. To my relief, I found a couple of English-speaking sisters who helped me navigate my first visit. The experience was beautiful.

I have been to many temples, but I have never seen so many brown saints gathered together in one place. My heart was full. I know I belong to a worldwide church, but witnessing it firsthand in this way was something I had never experienced before. It was a powerful reminder of the unity and love that the temple represents.

I love to see the temple. And I love the peace it brings into my life, no matter where I am in the world.