Twenty-two years ago, my husband and I were married in the Murray Chapel. Growing up I always wanted to get married in the temple. Even though my husband had been on a mission, something in him was just not ready to go back. I loved him and I was willing to marry him anyway and thought that eventually we would go to the temple. Years went by; we would go to church sometimes. I tried to go as much as I could, but with little kids it was easier not to go by myself. As my children got older, I went to church more and more. My husband would join me sometimes, but just for Sacrament Meeting.
In 2002, I decided to get my patriarchal blessing. In it, it says… "Continue to work to establish a home where the spirit of Heavenly Father can dwell and be all that you can be as a companion to your husband. Be patient with him, but do not compromise your standards in any way. As you show forth an increase in love and a desire to follow after the teachings of the Savior, his heart will be softened and he will desire to be one with you."
I knew I had to be patient with him, and maybe someday we would all go to the temple to be sealed. But we still went on with our lives. I tried hard to go to church without him, and to be a good example, but one thing I was not doing faithfully was paying my tithing. I would just leave that up to my husband to pay when he remembered or whenever.
In about 2008, I was challenged by my bishop to pay a full tithe. I promised him I would, so from that day on I started to write my own checks monthly. It made me feel great to be able to keep this promise to the bishop and to my Heavenly Father.
