Exaltation Is a Family Matter

After being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for 20+ years, the long term impact and reality of my family not being sealed really struck me hard after reading this quote.

My husband and I have been married for 11 years, completed temple prep classes twice, and held various callings in church, yet we still hadn't been endowed or sealed as a family in the temple. My teenage daughter would remind me weekly that "her spiritual happiness" was in my hands, but even that would not give me the push I needed to take the final steps in preparation.

For 10 years I had thought of going to the temple as a "WE" commitment, and not as a case of individual salvation. This past December I had a prompting to focus on myself and my own individual journey to the temple. I knew my husband would go if I asked, but I didn't want to push him into anything he wasn't spiritually ready for. Without consulting my husband of my intentions, I scheduled a meeting with my bishop and 2 weeks later, I had a temple recommend. My husband was shocked! 2 weeks later, he had his temple recommend and 4 weeks later, we were entering the temple and being endowed.

So far the story sounds like it has a happy ending, but 4 months later, we're still not sealed and that possibility seems to be moving further away with each passing day. Immediately after going to the temple, Satan through us some big curve balls. My daughter faced her own trial, that would keep her from being immediately sealed to us and my husbands faith seemed to be shaken a bit after our visit to the temple. Things seemed to be falling apart, but I immediately recognized it as Satan's work. I'm sharing my story because I want to stand witness of how much Satan wants to tear apart families and the sanctity of marriage. He was quietly watching my family take the necessary steps to reach exaltation and he felt compelled to step in.

I'm not sure how this story will end, but it makes me question my motive for going to the temple. Was I wrong in saying "I'm only responsible for my own salvation and my husband can make that choice himself?". I really thought I was doing the right thing at the time, but maybe that selfishness is what opened the front door to Satan and welcome him in.

My daughter and I are now having lengthy conversations about the "What Ifs" in life. "What if" he doesn't change his mind about going back to the temple?  "What if" we aren't sealed?  I told her the only thing she can do as his daughter is pray for a softened heart and continue to lead by example. As his wife, I will seek counsel. I will read, offer advice and hope is questions can be answered. I will thank heavenly father for the family we have now and I will seek strength to continue loving my husband. Lastly, I will submit to the understanding that "Exaltation Is a Family Matter".