July 2010 Ensign

Choose the That’s the advice from an increasing number of By Richard M. Romney TempleLatter-day Saints in India, who know that bless- Church Magazines ings come from going to the house of the Lord. ou notice it most when you look in their eyes. There is joy there, hope and belief, Yan optimism that ignites a smile when you say, “Tell me how you feel about the temple.” For Latter-day Saints in India, temple marriage brings a depth of understanding, a sense of ful- fillment, and a commitment to keep covenants forever as they cherish the promises of eternity. Although the nearest temple is thousands of miles away in Hong Kong, increasing numbers are finding their way to the house of the Lord. Guided by prayer, faith, and the Spirit, they are choosing to be sealed in the temple. Here are some of their thoughts and stories. Finding Strength William Prabhudas of the Bangalore Second Branch works in a courthouse. He knows how heart wrenching it can be to see marriages torn apart. That’s one of the reasons he and his wife were so eager to find strength in the temple. “Like most couples, sometimes we have small issues to work out,” he says. “But working them out is so much easier when we both have an eter- nal perspective.” His wife, Sheela, says that going to the temple has helped not only her and her husband, but it 18 Ensign “We were sealed as a family. It was a good feeling. We forgot the outside world, and it was like heaven for us. We talk about it all the time.” Sheela Prabhudas has also helped their children: Above: The were also there to see her family the temple, and Rennie and his Celesta, age 13, and Doris, 7. Prabhudas sealed. “Afterward, we all held wife, Keerthi, following their “We were sealed as a family,” family traveled hands together. We looked in good example, soon will be. to the Hong Sheela says. “It was a good the mirrors and thought about “From the time I joined the Kong China feeling. We forgot the outside Temple (left) eternity,” she recalls. “It was Church, it has been a process of world, and it was like heaven for to be sealed. beautiful. I knew I wanted to changing and improving, learn- us. We talk about it all the time.” It is the temple belong to my family forever.” ing the plan of salvation and “What a blessing to be sealed nearest to following it,” Rejjie says. “But to my wife,” Brother Prabhudas India. Two Times Two Together the actual goal is to go back and says. “And then they brought Over the years the Thomas live with Heavenly Father, our our daughters in, dressed in brothers of the Hyderabad loving Father, who wants us to white, to join us. It reminded Fourth Branch have done a come back to Him so much that me of cleanliness—cleanliness lot to set good examples for He gave us a Savior, His Son, in our lives and in our homes. each other. As teenagers, they Jesus Christ, to save us from Cleanliness and the temple go became members of the Church sin and everlasting death. I’m OND M I D hand in hand. When we are at the same time. They worked grateful that the gospel of Jesus RAIG C clean, the Lord promises—in His together to encourage their Christ changed me and my fam- T AS NOTED; NOTED; AS T P LE BY house of promises—to bless us.” mother until she also joined the ily, and going to the temple is MP E T Celesta recalls that her family Church. Both brothers served the culmination of all of that.” NEY, EXCE NEY, M HINA C O worked, planned, and saved for in the India Bangalore Mission. Rejjie explains that one of the R two years to be able to travel to Both helped comfort their challenges he and Metilda faced ICHARD M. M. ICHARD ONG KONG R the temple. But most of all, she mother when their father passed in getting their parents’ approval H H OF HS BY BY HS remembers being in the temple away. And both recently married. for marriage was that they are P P with her parents and that her Now Rejjie and his wife, from different regions and speak HOTOGRA P PHOTOGRA aunt and uncle and cousins Metilda, have been sealed in different dialects. “But in the July 2010 19 “The gospel of Jesus Christ changed me and my family, and going to the temple temple there are no differences,” is the culmination he says, “and that was a great of all of that.” reminder for us.” He feels the future of India belongs to the Rejjie Thomas young. “We are the ones who are going to make a difference,” he says, looking at Metilda. “That’s the kind of vision we both have. We need to conduct Above, from was investigating the Church. “I and Keerthi’s father was very family home evenings, have left: Rejjie, wanted to play cricket instead, impressed with their wedding. family scripture study and family Metilda, Keerthi, but the seminary teacher said, Once he saw their good exam- and Rennie prayer, and stay focused on the ‘You need to put God first,’ so ple, he agreed to our marriage, Thomas. Below: temple. That is our future.” I did. Even though I was shy, I and in that way we honored our Rennie and Metilda agrees: “When I ask Keerthi enjoy came and sat on the back row.” parents and also got our mar- him how he can be so under- Sunday School On the front row he saw Keerthi, riage properly arranged.” standing and loving, he says it each week. who at that time had been a Rennie says his experience is because the gospel makes member for just six months. with Keerthi is a good exam- him better. On his mission he Though they became friends, ple of how the understanding saw the example of the mission it wasn’t until Rennie returned of marriage in the Church is president treating his wife with from his mission that they started becoming more widespread. respect and love. And in the dating. Keerthi remembers how, “When I first joined the Church, temple we see that same pat- when they finally decided to it was a big thing if a member tern. As we show that same get married, they went to their married a member,” he says. parents to convince “And if they got to the temple, them the choice that was even bigger. But now was right. we understand how to get “We learned in married within the Church. We seminary that we make sure we’re ready for the should honor our par- temple. The temple is the key.” ents, and we remem- bered that,” she says. The President’s Example Rennie adds, Enter the apartment of “They counseled Venkat and Lynda Dunna of us that we should the Hyderabad Fourth Branch, pattern in our lives and someday finish our education and that I and there are plenty of clues to our children, that influence will should wait for my brother to be that these newlyweds are crazy strengthen the Church in India.” married first. So we worked and about each other. A handmade Rennie talks about how waited, and the best part was birthday banner from him to her he met his future bride while that, just as we finished our edu- is taped to the wall. An album attending seminary when he cation, my brother got married, with their wedding photos 20 Ensign sits on the table near the sofa. want to say no, but they did As they talk, he puts his arm want us to wait many months, around her, and she smiles so maybe a year,” recalls Venkat. often it’s contagious. “What helped us was the They describe how they met Spirit,” he continues. “I felt through Church-sponsored prompted to tell everyone that activities and how happy Lynda and I were both working, “We just kept thinking, ‘The Lord’s going to help us,’ and He did.” Venkat Dunna Lynda’s mother was when they so we would help take care of Above: Venkat “Seven of us traveled to the got engaged because she knew everything but that it was impor- and Lynda temple together,” Lynda says. “On Venkat from church. But there tant to get married as soon as Dunna remem- the same day Venkat and I were ber traveling to was a problem. Venkat had an possible and that it was impor- sealed, my mother, my sister, and the temple in a older brother who was single, tant to start by going to the group of seven. I were able to be sealed to my and in India some still hold temple. We just kept thinking, The same day deceased father. It was a wonder- to the tradition that older sib- ‘The Lord’s going to help us,’ they were ful day in every way.” lings should be married before and He did.” sealed, Lynda Venkat, who is now serving younger siblings. His parents, A new Latter-day Saint chapel was also sealed as branch president, says one to her deceased who are friendly to the Church was opened just in time for of his greatest desires is to see a father. but are not members, were also them to have their wedding and temple in India some day.

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