The Gift of Fresh Eyes: What First-Timers Taught Me at the Temple

By Melville Mercado

"Being able to serve those on the other side of the veil isn't just a duty. It's a sacred gift — one that changes our lives here while changing the eternity of those waiting for their ordinances there."

There is something special about seeing a sacred place through fresh eyes. I have been to the temple more times than I can count, but going with someone who is there for the first time changes everything. It brings back a familiar feeling — the same nervous excitement as the first day of school.

Last Saturday, I got to go to the temple with four newly baptized members. A sister who had been a member for four years, but had never done proxy baptisms, joined us too. Watching their excitement was refreshing. As I sat with them, I felt a gentle reminder: I should approach temple work for my own ancestors with that same freshness, every single time, no matter how routine it might feel.

Sitting beside them that day brought to mind something President Russell M. Nelson taught about why temple worship matters:

"Spending more time in the temple builds faith. And your service and worship in the temple will help you to think celestial. The temple is a place of revelation. There you are shown how to progress toward a celestial life. There you are drawn closer to the Savior and given greater access to His power." (Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial," October 2023 General Conference)

Over the years, my visits to the house of the Lord have helped me understand its ordinances more deeply. But that Saturday reminded me that there is always more to learn. There are always deeper layers waiting for us, if we're willing to pay attention. On this trip, the temple taught me about humility, trust, and second chances.

A Lesson in Humility and Gratitude

It's easy to let sacred things become familiar. Seeing these new members checked my own heart. I felt humbled, realizing how often I take the temple for granted.

Being able to serve those on the other side of the veil isn't just a duty. It's a sacred gift — one that changes our lives here while changing the eternity of those waiting for their ordinances there. True humility means recognizing that God has given us the privilege to take part in His work of salvation.

A Lesson in Trust and Preparation

Helping four new members prepare for their first temple trip took effort, coordination, and patience. Guiding new converts through that threshold isn't always simple. But every bit of that effort felt weightless the moment the ordinances were finished. Hearing them share their thoughts afterward brought real comfort — I could see they had recognized the Spirit for themselves.

It reminded me of a truth found in Proverbs:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5–6)

We do our best to guide, teach, and encourage. But in the end, we have to trust God with the rest. Once we've done our part, He takes over.

The Power of Second Chances

That same day, we also attended a temple sealing. The wife had been a member for a long time but had stepped away from church activity for years before marrying her husband, who was baptized just two years ago. After they married, she found her way back.

Their full story is theirs to tell, not mine. But witnessing their sealing was a powerful reminder of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Their path wasn't easy, yet there they stood, full of gratitude in the Lord's house. It reminded me that the Savior offers all of us second chances, as many times as we need them. The Lord Himself made this promise plain:

"Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:32)

Through His grace, healing and return are always possible. And the ordinances of the temple seal those second chances for eternity.

Final Reflection

Looking back on that Saturday, I realize that taking new members to the temple didn't just bless their lives. It restored mine. There's something about watching someone experience the temple for the first time that reminds me why I keep coming back. I could feel how much Heavenly Father loves them, and how much joy it brings Him to see His children receive these sacred ordinances.

I want to carry that feeling forward. The next time I walk through those doors, I want to do it with the same fresh eyes — the same quiet wonder I saw in them. Routine should never dull our gratitude. Every visit is a new chance to draw closer to the Savior, to lean on His Atonement, and to see His house the way it has always deserved to be seen: with awe.