Making the temple a habit

Dallas, our first temple trip when dating

On Mother's Day I got to attend my Relief Society lesson. It was about temples and the sister teaching asked for ideas on how we can make the temple a part of our children's lives. How can we get them in the mindset that they are going to the temple?
I'd like to think that I am doing a good job of teaching that. I reinforce it in my primary class often. I took them to the temple and walked the grounds. I took the pictures from that trip and have made them each a keepsake box that says, 'Temple Bound 2015' and has pictures of them touching the temple, individually standing in front of it, and a group picture of them in front of it.


OKC with Isabells

But what about my example of attending? It is a shame that we live so close and that I do not get there very often. I have been prompted time and again that if I want to be a better parent I need to fast and attend the temple. Sacrifice. The key is sacrifice. What did our Heavenly Father do for us? He sent his Son to sacrifice for us. And fasting and attending a temple that is less than 15 miles away should be two things that can be easily accomplished! After reading a recent conference report I decided to just schedule my temple attendance right then. Every two weeks I have a slot indicated for temple attendance. Once a month during the day, and once in the evening.


San Diego 12/21/01

But don't you know that I put off getting a sitter for Macey until it was too late for my first during the day trip! But when I got up that morning I thought, 'I am going to go anyway!' I asked Dan if he wanted to meet sister and me for a picnic on the temple grounds. And that is what we did. And I love it almost better because now I can get my children in the habit of going to the temple. It won't be long before Alex can go and serve there himself. He needs to see that it isn't that far away and the blessings for going, even if just in the lobby or on the front grounds, are real and are a boon to our family. So, during the summer my day trips will include my children. We can go and enjoy the peace of the temple and be strengthened by it.

Mesa, Macey's first visit

And they can clearly picture where I am when when I leave them with Dad or a sitter and say, "I'm going to the temple!" Won't this be a beautiful habit? But it takes 14 tries to get it ingrained (or so the research says) so we'll have to wait and see how committed I still am in 7 months. Be sure to ask about it when you call or email, so I can be accountable to more than just my blog!


Mesa, for Flake wedding

And, if you have a good answer to this question, leave a comment for all to learn from...

Dallas, Valiant 8 boys