Most likely very few, if anyone will read this but I felt it appropriate to share publicly. Just to update this blog a little bit since it's been a long while since I last used it. I have graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho and I am back living in North Carolina and working full time at a local daycare center. I am enjoying spending my week (primarily) with energetic, though slightly rowdy 1 year-olds, though sometimes I'm with 2, 3 or 4's :)
My missionary moment(? I'm not sure I can call it that, but I'll explain later.) occurred while at work. A coworker and I were having a whispered conversation while sitting on the floor between three different cots while the children were down for nap time. I was sitting with my legs crossed and my shorts rode up a little further than normal and my temple garments were showing. I simply pulled my shorts down to cover them again but my coworker had spotted them. She asked if they were part of my shorts or something else I was wearing underneath. I knew she was thinking something like spanks or some other undergarment of the sort. I hesitated for a moment. I wasn't sure if this was the place or time to explain what temple garments are, what they mean and their significance. I simply said that they are known as temple garments and members of the LDS Church wear them once we go through the temple.
My heart was pounding and I felt I hadn't explained properly. She then asked me what I meant by the temple and if all members of my church wore them(temple garments). I explained that temples are places where we go to learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what we refer to as the Plan of Salvation. I also explained that only members who have gone through the Temple wear the garments and that we are to wear them day and night, but (and this is where I think I dropped the ball on my explanation) I never mentioned that Temples are holy places, Houses of the Lord, I didn't mention making covenants with Heavenly Father and so many other things that I could have said to more clearly explain the importance and significance of the Temple and what we do there.
Feeling a little deflated in my lack-luster explanation, I kind of let the conversation dwindle. However, my coworker was still asking questions. She then asked which church I belonged to and I told her the full name of the Church and how we are commonly referred to as the "Mormon" Church. She then proceeded to tell me that another coworker had told her that Mormon's don't believe in Christ and that we don't worship Him (I'm guessing this happened after they found out I was LDS). I explained that everything we do is centered around Christ. He is our head. We follow and worship Him. Looking back on this conversation I know there was so much more I could have said or I could have even shared my testimony, but as my mom always says, hindsight is 20/20, but I hope this redeemed my less than stellar explanation of the Temple.
I know this wasn't the wonderful, feel-good type missionary moments, but I at least hope that I have cleared up some misconceptions about the Church and members.
