Jane's Gift.

Today Christian and I took Jane to the temple to receive her

  endowment (gift) as a daughter of God.

We have taught Jane and all our children that receiving their temple

endowment can be one of the most sacred events of their lives.

Christian and I have tried to teach and prepare them for this special day 

because we know it will be more meaningful and powerful.

And my Jane has been ready for this day for a long time.

She's studied, prepared, prayed, and taken temple classes to learn

more about Jesus Christ and this beautiful ordinance in His holy house.

While in the temple, we met another family from Virginia

who had come to the North Carolina temple with their daughter, 

who was also receiving her endowment as she 

prepares for her upcoming marriage later in the summer.

There is currently no temple in Virginia, and the Washington DC temple 

where they usually go is under construction, so they go to Raleigh.

It was meant to be because, as it turns out, we're best friends

and instantly hit it off.  We even went to lunch, 

 exchanged phone numbers, and took photos together.

I'm feeling grateful for the temple, families, Jesus Christ, 

new friends, and fantastic children!

*Jane's first temple experience in Provo was when she turned

twelve in 2015:
 

The Desire Of Her Heart

 January 26th, 2024, might go down in Nielson history as being
one of the best!

Christian and I took Lottie to the temple for her 

first time as a patron this morning. 

Despite the chilly and damp weather, we were overwhelmed by the warmth, 

friendliness, and love with which the temple workers received us inside.

We approached the entrance of the temple, and a temple worker greeted 

us by opening the doors even before we got to them and welcoming us

 with open arms, especially Lottie, with joy and excitement. 

"Oh, hello, Charlotte, we've been expecting you!"

(I'm crying as I type this).

"We are so thrilled you are here today for your first time!".

It was so comforting to Lod since she was so nervous

for about a week leading up to the day.

 Really, I'll never forget how kind and warm everyone was;

they treated her like she was the only one in the temple that morning.

Christian and I walked Lottie around the baptismal font area 

where she would be serving, and we quietly observed the artwork

on the walls depicting works of Christ healing, loving, and ministering

but my favorite painting is actually one giant scene cut up into

 two paintings on either side of the font.

The prophet, Alma, is baptizing Nephite people in the waters of Mormon 

surrounded by strong men defending the waters and protecting 

those choosing to be baptized from persecutors.

A young woman is lovingly being welcomed out of the water 

after being baptized by what I like to assume is her mother.

(Me and Lod)

Those paintings make me cry every time I look at them because I

think about the glorious blessing of baptism, covenants, and promises

we make with the Savior, the blessing and protection we receive

by following Him.

I think about my missionaries, Jane and Ollie,

and I think about Christian and his dedication to the Lord,

our family, and the Priesthood of God he honors and holds.

As Lottie and I waited for her turn,

 we watched two beautiful young women assisting another 

older feeble woman in the font.

 I realized the young women helping her were sister missionaries

accompanying this new member for her first time to the temple.

(Just like Lod)

(And just like Jane)

As I watched these beautiful girls assist this older woman 

with kindness and love, my heart swelled with emotion. 

It reminded me of Jane, whom we were anticipating picking up

 from her full-time mission in seven hours. 

This moment felt like a full circle for me.

In the car on the way to meet up with Nicholas and Claire for lunch, 

we asked Lottie how she felt about her first temple experience.

She said she stopped feeling nervous about halfway through and then

she felt the spirit tell her to come back soon,

and that she was special.

(You ARE special, Lottie!).

My heart was melting. 

Her relationship with the Savior is the greatest relationship she will

ever have, and serving Him is one way she can feel His love for her.

I am so thankful it was a good first experience.

At lunch, we talked more about Lottie's favorite first temple moments,

and the sacred, special moments and a few funny, 

normal first-timer experiences.

 Then we went home, cleaned up the house, and finished the last-minute 

jobs (Gig's room was a nightmare!), and I finished the grasshopper pie I made

for Jane (her favorite) when we got home later that evening.

"Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, 

what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, 

as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, 

that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, 

that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

And now when the people had heard these words, 

they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: 

This is the desire of our hearts."

Mosiah 18:10-11

* * * * *

Then I got this text from Chris Bingham (also our Stake President)

 and his wife, Nellie, who were in Spain and HAPPENED TO BE 

ON THE SAME FLIGHT HOME AS JANE

and let us know they had found Jane at the airport.

"The package is in route!!!!" 

God is in the DETAILS!!!!

The work moves on!

Our family has made a rule to attend the Temple each month. 

This was an easier task when we lived in Provo; Temples were close 

and moresical effort was madeneededget to them.

When we moved to the ranch, the closest Temple was in Albuquerque 

which was 1 1/2 hours away and made Temple 

attendance for us a little bit trickier, but we made it work.

Now that Claire, Jane, and Oliver are old enough to attend

 and serve inside the Temple, too; we have decided to make it a family event,

meaning we all go- I mean all of us!  Angus included!

We have a temple here in North Carolina, but it is under 

construction at the moment- and will be for the next year 

which means the closest Temple to us is in

South Carolina- 3 hours and 40 minutes away.

We packed blankets, snacks, games, markers, paper, whiffle bat, and

balls, and with a simple temple plan, we hoped to execute

our Thursday as follows:

10:00- Leave home

12:30- Eat at Whole Foods in Charlotte, NC

3:30 -Arrive at the Columbia, South Carolina Temple, 

change clothes, and scout out a park for kids to play in

 (across the street from the Temple).

4:30- Begin Temple service (session) with Christian

6:50- Done

7:00- Claire, Jane, and Oliver serve (Baptisms for the Dead).

8:00- Finish work, head to our favorite pizza joint for a quick dinner

8:45- On the road back home.

12:30- arrive home.

We knew it was going to be a late night, 

but we knew that the Little Nies probably would sleep in the car most of the way.

We've done that before; no big deal.

Is this plan what happened?

No.

Everything was going smoothly, and we 

were on schedule until after Mr. Nielson, and I left our temple session.

I went to turn on the car A/C so I could change out of

 my nice clothes and into my street clothes in the back of the car.

It wouldn't start.

I tried again. Click. Click.

Then it started to rain.

We had discovered that while Christian and I were in the Temple, 

the Little Nies had watched a movie in the car with A/C blowing,

 the doors open, and the lights on. It drained the battery lickity-split.

Lottie, Nicholas, and I played about 50 rounds

 of Guess Who in a hot car with Angus

asleep in a cool puddle of rain in the parking lot.

When the older children finished their work in the Temple,

 it was later than expected, and by this time,

 most of the other patrons had left the Temple.

Stuck in a muggy parking lot, we circled together, and Mr. Nielson said a prayer.

We expressed our gratitude to God that we had made it 

to the Temple and asked Him to help us get home.

We managed to ask a wonderful older couple who had just walked out

the doors for the night if they had jumper

 cables to help us wake up our car.

They did! 

We tried! We failed!

We called AAA!!

The day had turned into night, and the humidity was heavy.

Around 10:00, AAA showed up in an empty 

parking lot with 5 hungry children, a restless dog, and two tired parents.

The good news: we got a new battery. 

The bad news: it was now almost 11:00.

More bad news: no pizza for dinner. 

Better news: we drove into the Krispy Kreme drive-in and

 ordered 2 dozen donuts for dinner.

We finally made it home at 2:30 in the morning.

We will never forget this trip and can't wait to do it again next month.

You Are Never Lost When You Can See The Temple

"You are never lost when you can see the temple. 

The temple will provide direction for you and your

 family in a world filled with chaos."

-Gary E. Stevenson

The temple and temple service have been and will always be

 a priority in the Nielson home.

Our family's dedication and love for the temple started when Christian and

 I were sealed in marriage by my grandfather "Papa Jones" in the

Provo, Utah Temple in December of 2000.

It has been a place of peace, answers, love, retreat, and direction

for our lives individually and as a family.

Followed by...

Claire 

October 2013

Provo, Utah Temple

Jane 

February 2015

Provo, Utah Temple

Oliver 

January 2017

Provo, Utah Temple

Nicholas

 October 2018

Columbia, South Carolina Temple

Charlotte

January 2024

Raleigh, North Carolina Temple

We are so excited that Lottie is old enough to attend; 

now we can all go together!

2022

20 years ago

 20 years ago (almost to the day) I went to the temple accompanied 

by Christian (who I would marry 3 days later on the 16th),

 mom, dad, brothers, sisters, and their spouses,

my papa Jones and my grandma Clark and her husband.

I remember it all very vividly.  

It was a cold snowy winter evening in Provo, Utah.

Today was a very chilly morning in Raliegh, North Carolina

when Christian and I escorted Claire to the temple for her first time.

"Inside temples, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 perform sacred ordinances or ceremonies. 

When members take part in these ordinances,

 they show their commitment to follow Jesus Christ and receive blessings

 and direction from God."

Because of Covid, Claire could only select a few guests to join her.  

She invited our Bishop and his wife Jenny, 

my second cousin Nelly, and our dear friend,

Claire's dear Young Women church leader Lisa, and her husband.  

Being back in the temple was such a privilege!  

We were warmly greeted by the temple president and his wife, 

the matron of the temple and I was already in tears.

I immediately felt a rush of love and peace.  

It was like being home after a long long trip.

Christian and I hadn't been back to the temple since last March.

Our appointment began at 9:00 am and as we were pulling into the temple

 parking lot 8:55, Claire gasped and 

explained that she had left her temple recommend

on the kitchen counter at home.

We frantically called Jane to deliver it to us as

 fast as she could safely manage.

25 minutes later she showed up in her red PJs with her Uggs on running 

into the lobby of the temple with her wild

 orange hair flying behind her.

This will be an experience that I will never ever forget, 

just like my own experience 20 years ago.

Jesus Christ lives! He is the foundation that makes the ordinances

 performed in the temple lasting and significant to families and individuals, 

like my Claire. Today was perfect.

I love this quote by Apostle, Elder Gary E. Stevenson:

"You are never lost when you can see the temple.”

"Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are places of peace,
happiness, and service. They help us draw closer to God, 

learn about His plan, and serve those who have passed on by 

giving them the opportunity to receive saving ordinances 

that they did not have the opportunity to receive in this life."

(here)