Gilbert Temple Cultural Celebration

I choose this day

I choose the person I will be

Do I fear man?

Deny who I am, 

And all that I believe?

Will I stand tall?

Will I soar or do I fall?

When the spirit calls will I be strong?

Will I obey?

I will choose this day. 

Last weekend was the Gilbert Temple Cultural Celebration. It was DDay for the youth after hours and hours of practicing. And with the weather forecast calling for 90% chance of rain it was time to see if we would really stand tall or fall amidst adversity. The whole day was perfect. The rain in the morning helped with the dust (but was freezing cold while I was waiting for my race to start haha). But I literally thought during my race, "Glad it's raining now so maybe it won't rain tonight," 

Well, it rained. Hard. Not only was everyone wet but everyone was cold. Some of the youth I thought were going to shiver to death. I prayed that their spirits would still be lifted doing this performance during these imperfect conditions. 

I choose this day

I choose the person I will be

I will not fear man

I know who I am

And what I believe

I will stand strong

And turn my back to Babylon

I find my a strength when I kneel to pray

I will follow he Lord

I choose this day

So along with the second verse in this song, the youth decided that night where they stand...with the Lord. They chose that day while holding upright their Titles of Liberty that they were going to stand strong and turn their backs to Babylon. 

I still get choked up envisioning all those youth showing that amidst the mighty storms that may rage in our lives, that we can still find hope and peace. 

Although it was freezing, I'm glad it rained. It brought so much more meaning to the event where we all had to really choose where we stood....literally and figuratively. 

I feel so blessed to have been a part of it and work with our amazing youth and leaders. It brought such a beautiful spirit of the temple into our home. I love that my kids know the "temple song" and can even do the actions. They may fight over the temple pictures, but at least they have a love for the temple. 

I know the temple is the house of God. I know that as we do work vicariously for the dead we become perfected as well. I hope I can always live my life to always be worthy to attend the temple.