Longing for My Home

It has been a while since I last entered the House of the Lord in Manila, Philippines. I used to go there every month for two years back when I was assigned as a full-time missionary in the Philippines Quezon City Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I served from May 2006-May 2008. Those were best times when I was learning a lot of life's lessons through rough times and by being more dependent on Deity.

After 8 months, here I am now in Doha, Qatar. It is a different environment here given that it's in the Middle East. Missionary work is prohibited in this side of the world. I am grateful the government allowed disclosed Church meetings. Even though we meet as a ward, still it is a different feeling not seeing missionaries on the streets and most especially, for me, not having a Temple around.

The Temple was my abode when I felt pressure upon me. Each time I step inside, I immediately feel calm assurances that all will be well, that I will be able to overcome the challenges that I faced. It was as if the presence of the Lord was always there that answers to prayers came quickly, personal revelation came instantaneously, that the moment you walk out, you feel the burden of the world pressed upon you again. It was a place of safety for me. Whenever I was inside, literally, all of my worldly cares left me and I could only think of exaltation and the Plan of Salvation.

Given our circumstances here in Qatar, I long for my peaceful abode set on an hill, which I know is the abode of my Savior Himself. His presence is undeniably present there. I can relate to the last verse of Isaac Watt's words:

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

That is my favorite song. It's entitled, "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need." Surely I have found a settled rest in His abode. While others go and come, I seek spiritual enrichment and enlightenment, just like a weary child who has just arrived home seeking for nurturing care from a parent.

I love being the Temple! 8 months of not being able to enter there seems like an eternity to me. I cannot wait for my next visit to the Temple, wherever it may be...