"Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness is ultimately to have you and your family live with Him forever. In sealing rooms within the temple, marriages between a man and a woman are performed. There, a man and a woman kneel and join hands across a sacred altar to be married for this life and for eternity. This eternal marriage is called a temple sealing, and children born into such marriages are also sealed to their families forever. Being sealed as a family is the crowning ordinance of the temple and the greatest of God’s blessings for His children." Find out more @https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/families-and-temples/what-is-the-temple-sealing?lang=eng

Once upon a time, there was a little dork named Josh. The little dork got uncomfortable every time a pretty girl looked him in the eye, so he set himself apart for a life of celibacy. One day a beautiful princess named Autumn moved into his town. Little Autumn was prettier than any other girl Josh had met, and made him extra uncomfortable because he knew she was out of his league. One Sunday Josh's parents were giving Autumn a ride home from choir practice at church; that's right, not only did she look like an angel, but she sang like one, too. Josh was squished into the middle seat and therefore was able to accidentally brush hands with the princess when putting on his seat belt. This much contact with beauty nearly caused him to give up the ghost, and the same sentiment would have been said for him as was said for King Kong: Twas beauty that killed the beast. From that day on, for nearly 5 years, Josh sought the attention of Autumn, until finally he was able to steal the Princesses heart and claim the prize.

While on our families “once-in-a-lifetime” sabbatical (for my Dad’s 15 year work anniversary), I was asked and answered the biggest question of my life. Minutes after talking about missing Josh, and not having connectivity with him because he was in the Utah mountains, or so I thought, I felt someone stand behind me in our family photo. I was more than shocked to turn and see Josh standing there! We had talked about getting married, and I knew he had a ring. However, I knew we were at least a few weeks away from being engaged, if not months because I was away and he’d recently returned from his mission in Japan. Little did I know that while I was missing him, he was on an eight-hour layover in Washington D.C., with my Nana touring the Smithsonian. They flew to Paris that night and landed early the next morning. We’d gotten up early that morning in order to get to the Eiffel Tower “before the crowds.” I didn’t think anything of my siblings encouraging me to change to a “cute” outfit because with 3 sisters, that’s not unusual since I’m no a fashionista. Anyway, we ended up walking the four miles to the Eiffel Tower and quickly got in position for a family photo before more tourists showed up. Josh and Nana had been dropped off minutes earlier, and were hiding. My parents got all the kids into a family photo position, and that is when I felt someone put their arm around me. My mind's reaction was "WAIT, WHO IS TOUCHING ME?" In total shock, I turned around as my siblings moved away so that Josh and I could have our space. Those next few minutes were unreal as he told me he loved me, knelt down on one knee asked if I would be with him forever. BEST DAY EVER! I am so grateful that we have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and years of foundational friendship to ground us, with eternity to look forward to together!