Temple Blessings

This past week I had the opportunity of attending the temple to do baptisms and confirmations for the dead twice, on Tuesday as well as on Saturday. On Tuesday I had the blessing of bring 14 female names to the temple and on Saturday I was proxy for temple names. The 14 names that I brought were divided up between the girls that I went to the temple with and we each did 3-4 names. The temple names on Saturday were from Mexico. While I was in the temple Saturday I had a really cool experience. I was there with three other women and as we were being confirmed, there were last names that I was confirmed for that were familiar last names - each one was the same last name of someone that had wronged me in my life. I felt as though it was a test that God was giving me and instead of thinking about the things they had done to wrong me I tried to think of the good in their lives and that they were children of God. Also, when we were in the baptistry waiting for our turn I was watching the boys that were ahead of us being baptized. As I was watching I noticed that some of the temple names they were being baptized for were from Maine and I got really excited! I also noticed that some of the last names were "family" names that I was familiar with and it made me extremely curious about who submitted the names and my excitement continued. I know that this was a tender mercy from God and that he was showing me his love and care. Over this weekend I have found 80+ names to bring to the temple and I can't wait to get all the work done for my ancestors! I love the temple and after going for the first time in 6 months, I must say it was an amazing experience and helped me appreciate the temple and God's love even more!