This past Saturday and Sunday was the International Young Adult Event (IYAE), Saturday was also the conclusion of World Conference and the wedding of two of my friends. Sunday was also the start of my drive home. In other words it was a busy weekend…
Rather than reflect on all of that however, I will attempt to focus my thoughts around the events of IYAE that took place on Sunday, particularly the closing worship. On Sunday I arrived about mid-way through the meditation opportunities and sat between two people from my second Kirtland Summer for the first session. Afterwards I went to the session led by Steve regarding “Temple Ministries” and then it was time for lunch. After Lunch I went to the meditation chapel and, well meditated and reflected. Unknown to me was that my watch was a tad slow so when I left the chapel and went to the sanctuary I was surprise to find the service going on 15-20 minutes before it was suppose to start… only afterwards when I compared my watch to my phone would I learn why…
As the service went I glanced at the communion tables saw the nine trays (though wasn’t sure from the angle if it was 9 or 8), and somehow did the mental math of 40*8=160. Yes I know that’s not correct, but that’s the number that came into my head, as I looked around and saw how many were there and counted a third of the group, remembered them saying they had 270 registered, and went… “oh no, we don’t have enough” and then I realized that somehow I had reduce the count by two.. and my anxiety and worry was washed away. I slowly moved into the line and partook of the bread and then the wine. As I partook, my glasses as normally were not upon my head. I took the wine cup with my right hand, looked into the wonderful face of the one serving and saw amazing joy as the cup moved into my left. The left hand raised it up to my mouth and as I sipped the juice my head went back and my eyes looked up into the spiral of the temple, that amazing “infinite” spiral of peace. It was a powerful and amazing experience, and then the cup went back into the tray, I went back to where I had been sitting and knelt down next to the bench and prayed and reflected. I looked a few more times at the Spiral, and though I can not be sure, I think that when I looked up in the act of the sacrament, my vision was clear and pristine and not the typical blur.
It was the first time I believe I have ever partaken the sacred meal in the Independence portion of the Temple, and it was an amazing and moving experience and the best way to end one amazing week of my life.
Now I sit across from the Kirtland portion, and reflect. Later this week I will have the opportunity to participate in this meal there as well. Together I am sure these two weeks, well two and a half weeks, the various events and the several communin services will impact me in ways I have yet to even realize.
Peace
— Lyle II