I was so excited for Zach to have this experience. I found myself humming and singing the words to "I Love to See the Temple" all morning long as I thought about what he may be doing at that exact moment.
Teach a child while in his youth
Teach a child how to love the truth
And the covenants and promises he makes
Will be a shield and protection
Through all his days
I love to see the temple
I'm going there some day
To feel the holy spirit, to listen and to pray
For the temple is a house of god
A place of love and beauty
I'll prepare myself while I am young
This is my sacred duty
I love to see the temple
I'll go inside some day
I'll covenant with my father, I'll promise to obey
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together
As a child of God I've learned this truth
A family is forever
By Janice Kapp Perry with the new first verse addition by Steven Kapp Perry.
I figured he'd be home by 1 p.m. and we could head out to my parents for the rest of the weekend. He finally showed up at 4 p.m. Apparently, the leader forgot to check with my schedule and decided to take advantage of the trip to Boise and run a few personal errands. We quickly loaded up and headed out of town. Once on the road, I asked Zach how his trip had been. I was expecting the usual spiritual answer of "It was so wonderful. The temple is so beautiful. I can't wait to go again." Instead he said, "______(new leader) is so cool. He bought us _______(caffeinated drink that this mother never ever buys for her young innocent kiddos). Then we drove all around Boise with our windows down screaming at all the other drivers while drinking CAFFEINE!!" My sudden look of complete shock must have concerned him for a moment because he quickly added,"Mom, he told us we just had to loose up and have some fun. Life is too short to die bored."
I have to admit that I was now in a state of complete shock and total disappointment. What ever happened to my expectation of this day being, at least somewhat, a spiritual experience. Then Zach proceeded to roll down my car window and start yelling at all the other drivers on the road. I immediately rolled up his window and locked it. I guess it's been a long time since I was 12.
The next temple trip will be chaperoned by at least one over protective Mencl parent and he will have a father along for the next scout camp out just so that I know for myself that this energetic new leader is not too extreme for my standards. (I'm really missing his old leader right now. He spoiled us!) I'm all about having a good time, but I believe the right to corrupt my children is mine, not the church's youth leaders.
I did ask him how the actual temple experience was. His comment was, "It was just like you said, 'prayer, amen, dunk, prayer, amen, dunk'. The whole time I was thinking, 'Oh man, my mom did know what she was talking about'. Oh, and they do provide white underwear so HA! You were wrong about that part."
Sidenote: I may have described it sort of like that, and I may have expressed a slight concern that if he wore dark blue underwear it may show through his wet white baptism clothing and that may be a little bit embarrassing.
The happy ending to this story is that the leader had bought him a really big bottle of soda and Zach, not wanting to waste any of his leaders money, drank every single drop of it all by himself. By bedtime that evening, he was a sick little boy. He has some ulcers caused from stress so the carbonation and caffeine was all but kind to him in the end. As he lay in bed moaning and groaning that his stomach was hurting, I willing took full advantage of this perfect teaching opportunity to brainwash him into making healthier (and more gospel centered) choices next time. My poor baby boy. Tough lessons learned the hard way.
His next temple trip will be in our own new temple! YEAH!!!!! This picture is a month old. It has plants and grass and it looks so pretty. We drove past it last night and it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. We are so blessed!
The first picture is of the Boise Idaho Temple. The second picture is of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple that is currently under construction. Open House will be July through August with the Dedication in August.
12 comments:
Very interesting day, your son had. I might have been a little bit confused by this leaders actions too. Sometimes one action can totally cancel out the other. There is just a time and a place for roudiness. The first, or any Temple trip not one of them.
Sorry it was so disappointing. Unfortunately, I know what you mean. I'm a little nervous about Sam turning 12 next month. Honestly, that was my #1 priority in finding a new house- a ward with a well established youth organization with spiritual traditions. But, no matter what precautions we try to take, our children inevitably face the real world more than we would like. I think you're an awesome mom- and that will be more important than anything any leader does or doesn't do. (P.S. If you have any great traditions in conjunction with receiving the Priesthood, I'd love to hear them.)
I would be a bit miffed about that leaders actions as well. I hope he has a more spiritual trip the next time.
Wow, that does sound like quite the day.
The temple is looking beautiful.
That is too bad about his experience. It does sound like his dad needs to go next time! Riley went for the first time in December and again last month. I didn't realize how much he enjoyed going until one of his leaders asked him what was one thing that really strengthened his testimony. He said that going to the temple to do baptisms helped his testimony and that he really likes to go. I think it is very important for youth to have temple trips where they come away feeling the spirit so strong that they want to go back. Hopefully Zach's next time will be better!
I was totally shocked when I read about the leaders buying the kids caffeinated drinks and letting them be rowdy...he really missed the real teaching oppotunity there and he also encouraged something that he probably knew some parents would not approve of...very disappointing.
On a happier note...I am so happy that the new temple is so close to dedication. I think that you and your family will have some very special experiences in association with that that will be more the kind of experience you would have liked Zach to have today!
Oh my heck!!! I'd so be calling the bishop, or the YM's pres depending on who the leader would report too.
Try to be all natural, but point out that instead of your son talking about his temple experience, he talked about running this guys errands with caffine that made your kid sick, etc. I totally would.
Grr. Good thing you're going on the next trip.
To look on the bright side, this definitly put someone in Zach's life that could teach him to deal with stress in a different way which could possibly help him have less anxiety and that could help with that ulcer. Just make sure they are aware of things that aggrivate his stomach problems.
I would have been very annoyed! Cody was accompanied by his dad and grandparents for his first and I went with them for Shantel's first trip. I could so see Cody acting like that though!... I hope the next time one of you will be able to go with him.
Yikes! Pretty sure I would put in a calm call to your bishop. Sounds like at little bit of training is in order!
He sure made some interesting memories of his first temple trip. Maybe you could talk to him about the contrast in feelings inside the temple and outside cruising around town. I think one of the best things kids can learn is to recognize the difference between feeling the Spirit and just being hyped up. I certainly hope my dd's first temple experience is a Spiritual one.
Hey, how can I get openhouse tickets for the Twin Falls temple?
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