The temple is an essential part of having a healthy mind, three BYUH students say
As a place of rest, a place of peace and a place where the noise of the world can’t be heard, the temple contributes to having a healthy mentality and strength to deal with life’s hassles, said BYU–Hawaii students who frequent the sacred house of the Lord.
Joanne Eyo, a junior from the Philippines majoring in accounting, said she considers the temple her sanctuary. “Stepping into the temple wipes your worries away immediately because you’re focusing on the temple,” she said. The Lord allows people to rest in His house so they can be inspired, motivated and energized before facing their responsibilities once more, she continued.
For Chakri Ambati, a senior from India majoring in information technology, the temple is a place of peace. He said working there gives him more energy even after a tiring day. “When I go to the temple, that means I’m out of the world … My main focus is seeking the Lord and connecting to Him,” he expressed.
Vuthy Sok, a senior from Cambodia majoring in information technology, said going to the temple—whether it’s just sitting around the temple ground or participating inside—allows her to release her mental burdens. The temple is at the center of her life, she shared, because it is the House of the Lord; it’s where His spirit dwells. “It is like heaven to me. I feel connected to Him … I feel relaxed and away from all stress and distractions,” she continued.
The need for a higher ground
Sok said she lost her mom three years ago. “It was really hard because I just started studying here. I was a freshman,” she expressed. She said going through multiple difficulties made it harder for her to find peace. “But then I remembered,” she continued, “the temple is where I can find answers to my struggles.”
Sok said focusing on the temple helped her better understand her circumstances at that time. “God allowed me to go through these experiences to help me become stronger and build my testimony of the gospel,” she shared. Knowing she will see her mom again someday, Sok said it helped her cope and understand the purpose of life.
Meanwhile, although having hobbies is enough for some people to cope with the pains of life, Eyo said spiritual experiences are essential for her to function better in her responsibilities. “Ever since I became a mom, it was just me and my husband. Both our families are far from us, so I needed divine help,” she shared.
“I was assigned one morning as an usher in the celestial room, and for some reason, I kept looking at the door waiting for patrons to come in,” Eyo recalled, saying the patrons light up the room with their presence. Watching the patrons file in, she said, gave her a wonderful thought: “This must be the feeling when you are in the celestial kingdom. How much greater will your happiness be if you see your family there with you?” Because of this experience, Eyo said she comes home feeling more motivated to love and serve her kids. She realized going to the temple is not just for herself, but also for her family.
Stepping into the temple wipes your worries away immediately because you’re focusing on the temple.
Ambati also said one of the ways the temple blesses him is by providing a place to rest from his frustrations. When he was a new student, he said he had to balance his church calling, school, work, friends and dating life. He said he felt the weight of frustration and expectations because even though he was performing his duties, he couldn’t see the results of his efforts. “So to escape the things that bother me, I choose to go to the temple; I choose to turn to the Lord. It is the best place for me whenever I feel down,” he shared.
Ambati said he developed a deep testimony of the blessings people gain from temple service. “I’ve seen a lot of growth … I had low self-esteem, I was not confident academically … but choosing Him makes things better,” he said.
Commitment, purpose and promised blessings
Ambati said it’s been over three years since he started working at the temple. “I started the month I got here and I haven’t taken a break since,” he said. During the first few months of his weekly temple visits, he said it was a challenge whenever he would miss out on weekend campus events. He said he used to receive mild teasing from his friends, such as getting called “bishop.” “But it was never an issue because I know my purpose,” he expressed.
Sok said going to the temple calls to mind what the Savior said in John 15:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Some people find it hard to go to the temple because of personal reasons, Sok said, but committing to it can help people learn and understand the process of healing and finding peace.
Eyo said everything in a person’s life will change forever for the better if they prioritize going to the temple. “For me, it’s never a sacrifice,” she said. Without the temple, her week feels incomplete and she feels more vulnerable emotionally, she added.