Personal Study , Latter-day Saint Families
2 min read
Dorothea Bea was born on April 18, 1947, in Chicago. She grew up in a large family with 14 children: 10 boys and four girls.
Their mother died when they were still young, so Dorothea took on a large part of the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings.
Their mother died when they were still young, so Dorothea took on a large part of the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings.
Later in life, Dorothea faced the experience of homelessness. During a visit to a relative, while trying to rebuild her life, she saw a television advertisement for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The ad kept appearing, and she felt it was a sign from the Lord. She decided to call the number on the screen, and soon after, two missionaries came to visit her. The message they shared deeply touched her. She was tired of crying and longed to be part of something that would give her back her hope.
Her baptism was a wonderful experience, and attending the temple for the first time was too. Dorothea especially enjoyed baptisms for the dead; she liked to immerse herself in the water and feel as if she were being reborn, as if her soul were being renewed.
Upon receiving her endowment, she experienced a warm, tingling sensation and couldn't stop thanking the Lord under her breath. Some time later, she was sealed to her parents. She invited members from several nearby wards, and many attended to share in her special moment.
During the ceremony, she struggled to hold back tears while maintaining a smile. For her, the sealing was like receiving a warm welcome from her ancestors.
At 78, Dorothea still finds peace and solace in attending the temple. Although she still carries difficult emotions from the past, entering the temple gives her the feeling of walking on a path of peace.
She no longer needs to look over her shoulder. She can relax. The spirit she feels in the temple calms and comforts her. And she is convinced that many people, just like her, need that comfort in their lives.
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