Perhaps the most spiritual moment of my life was when you and I were sealed by the power of the priesthood in the sealing room of the Reno Temple.

The temple was beautiful—white, bright, and filled with light, peace, and love. We were surrounded by family and loved ones. As the sealer spoke, the Spirit was so strong. I remember holding my mother’s hand and bawling with tears of joy, completely filled with love, light, and peace. It was a divine witness to me that this was the most important moment of my life—the ordinance that would weld us together through the power of the priesthood, granting us the opportunity to inherit the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.

The Spirit was overwhelming that day, and the ceremony was deeply moving. The most sacred moment of our lives was being fulfilled.

Had we not been married in the temple—had we only been married for time and not sealed eternally—I would not have been so deeply moved or overwhelmed by the pure light of divine truth. A civil marriage would have been a celebration, yes, but not the powerful, Spirit-filled experience of an eternal sealing.

Thank you for that day—for going with me to the temple and sharing in one of the most powerful manifestations of the Spirit I have ever felt. I pray that together we can continue to live worthy of the blessings we were promised when we made those covenants and participated in that sacred ordinance.

President Nelson taught twenty-five years ago,

Brothers and sisters, be of good cheer. Take life one step at a time and do the best you can each day. Life passes so swiftly. We do not know how many years we may have together here in mortality. For Sister Nelson and me, that number is dwindling down to a precious few. We are profoundly grateful that our love endures, even in our empty nest. Real love is not measured in terms of moonlight and roses, but in terms of who will care for you when you are old.

When mortal life is over, each of us will return to God, who gave us life. In a Judgment interview, I doubt that He will ask a surgeon, “How many operations did you perform?” or “Do you wish you had spent more time at the hospital?” But I know He will ask if Sister Nelson and I remained faithful to our covenants to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and always remember Him. No doubt He will carefully scrutinize my apostolic ministry, but that vital subject will probably be subordinated to His evaluation of my record as a husband and father.

I don’t fear death. In fact, a scripture describes a Saint’s death as “precious in the sight of the Lord” (Psalm 116:15). It will be precious to me, too, as I am reunited with our parents and our precious daughter, Emily, who died some five years ago. Her passing left her young and righteous husband with five children. I will eagerly meet my ancestors and preceding prophets and apostles. And one day Sister Nelson and I will dwell together in the presence of our family and the Lord forevermore. We will have been faithful to covenants made in the temple, and to the oath and covenant of the priesthood, which have assured us, in the words of the Lord, that “all that my Father hath shall be given unto [you]” (D&C 84:38).