Christmas Memory #2

This Christmas memory will probably be the hardest to write about. This memory is from Christmas of 1997...ten years ago.

I was on my mission in the Arizona, Tempe mission. Before I had left for my mission I had challenged my Grandpa Price to be in the temple when I went through. My grandpa and I were pretty close. Most of the family acknowledged that I was one of his favorite granddaughters, and he had a few granddaughters. Anyway, he hadn't been back to the temple since he had taken his own family through to be sealed when my dad, who was the youngest of six, was five years old. He accepted my challenge, but because of different health issues that came up, was unable to be in the temple when I went through.

I was able to talk to my family earlier on Christmas morning, and then went to dinner at some members homes, and then went to the Bishop's house of one of the wards we were covering for the evening. My dad had asked me to call back in the evening, because my Grandma and Grandpa Price would be there, and they wanted to talk to me. I talked to my grandma, and then my grandpa got on the phone, and the first thing he did was tell me that he had gone back to the temple. He had done so about 2 weeks previous with my dad and my uncle, both his sons. He was so excited and proud to tell me that he had accepted my challenge and been successful. I was so happy! I can't even describe the feelings I had when he told me he had gone back. I still consider it one of the most spiritual experiences while on my mission.

It was the last time I talked to my Grandpa. He died two months later. It was like Heavenly Father waited for him to get back to the temple. I stayed on my mission instead of going home for the funeral. It was one of the hardest decisions I've made, but I knew my grandpa wanted me to stay.

Of all the Christmas presents I've ever received, I'm pretty sure hearing my Grandpa tell me he had gone back to the temple, was the greatest present of all.