FAIL!

I never seem to have any luck while going to the temple on vacation. About 5 years ago when we graduated from BYU Jeff and I went to Hawaii and then Los Angeles. While in LA we went to a session in the LA temple. Unbeknown to us we were shoved in a Spanish session and had to head phone it. As if that weren't bad enough, there was a hold up of some sorts that had us paused for a half hour, someone came in to explain what was going on- in Spanish! It was not a happy experience. (Yes, say what you will about how the Spirit should over come language, or I should be happy to just sit in there, whatever it was stressful.) So fast forward five years to last month. While in Utah I decided to attend the 8 p.m. Friday night session at the Provo Temple. I have always liked the Provo temple. I was able to leave the kids with my Mother In Law, (thanks Carol!) and had a lovely session. It was nice to be in a full sized temple again, (not there is anything wrong with mini's, but I really like sitting in the chapel cause it gives me time to relax and refocus with the pretty music.) there were so many people there that they had us divide in to two sessions and I went at 8:20. It was great. I was feeling that good spiritual high and then on my way out BAM! Reason number 327 why Emily is going to Hell!

While placing a name on the prayer roll a lady comes up to me,
Lady: "Hi, can you give me a ride home?"
Me: "Um, I am sorry I am from out of town."
Lady: BLINK, BLINK, "I can give you directions."

I am feeling really weird at this point. I mean I feel bad for her and want to help, but seriously have you driven in Utah lately the place has changed so much in the last five years, and I am not a big fan of night driving, and it wasn't my car (and I am not one of those people who is used to driving strange cars.)

Me: "Um, where do you live?"
Lady: "By the Walmart in Orem."

What? Seriously? Way opposite direction of my in-laws. Oh, hey yeah my in-laws who are watching my most likely screaming infant at this point....

Me: "Um, I am staying with my In-laws who are watching my kids and my 4 month old daughter is probably crying as we speak." (and she was)
Lady: BLINK, BLINK, BLINK
ME: "I am sorry I can't give you a ride."
END SCENE

So here is the question;
Was this just a harmless interaction between an out of town young mom, and a socially inept stranger,
or was I just given a direct follow up test for the temple, entitled, "You Just Spent 2+ Hours Learning the Mysteries of God, Prove It?"

How can I have just spent all that time in the celestial room feeling the Love of the Lord and not help a fellow Child of God. Should I have just had faith that I would find my way back to my in-law? (which by the way I did take one wrong turn and had to back track a little on the way home.) If I had had enough faith would Mae have been contented until I got back? Would I have received the blessing of a potty trained son or sold house for my great service? Did I fail a test as obvious as that, "new testament class that passes all the "needy people on the way to the test, thus failing to grasp the true meaning of the Gospel test."

Or do I get a pass cause it wasn't my car, and my kid was screaming, and something was a bit sketchy about the lady with no ability to pick up on social cues?

Either way, I am not going to the temple on vacation again. It's just you and me Oklahoma City.


by the way the amazing photo was taken by my friend Jenn's hubby, Andrew Morrill who is an amazing photographer whose work and be viewed and purchased at www.celestiallightphotography.com