I was born on April 18, 1947, in Chicago. We had 14 kids in our family: 10 boys and four girls. My mom died young, so I did a lot of the raising of the little kids. Sometimes we barely had any food to eat, and our neighborhood wasn’t safe. You had to watch your back crossing the street if you didn’t want to get something thrown at you. It was hard, but we made it.
I was homeless later in my life. I went to visit a relative, trying to get myself together, and we saw an advertisement for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on TV. Then we saw the advertisement again, and again. I think the Lord is talking to me, I remember thinking. So I called the number on the screen, and two elders soon came over to the house. I was drawn to their message because I was tired of crying. I wanted to be a part of something that would lift me up inside.
My baptism was just wonderful and going to the temple later was too. My first time doing baptisms for the dead was fun! I liked getting in the water and feeling like I was born again, like I was being regenerated.
When I received my endowment, I felt warm and tingling and kept whispering, “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!” And not too long ago I was sealed to my mother and father. I invited everyone from the wards around here, and a lot of people came to sit with me. The whole time I was just trying not to cry and keep a smiley face. The sealing ceremony felt like getting a warm reception from my ancestors.
I love going to the temple because even though I’m 78 years old now, I still feel some anger and sadness from things in my life. But when I go to the temple, it’s like I’m walking into a peace pathway. I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore. I relax. The spirit in the temple soothes and comforts me, and I know I—and probably you too—really need lots of comforting.
More articles for you:
▶This might be the best thing to tell someone before they receive their endowment
▶How I finally found relief from decades of religious doubt
▶When the name you ‘take’ to the temple becomes a real person
