I first heard about the Laie Hawaii Temple shortly after my family was baptized into the Church in 1960. That same year the president of Finland, Urho Kekkonen, made a visit to the United States of America. His schedule included Hawaii and the "Mormon Temple" in Laie.

I was a little girl and wondered how he could get inside the temple if he was not a member of our Church. My mother had told us about her preparation and that she needed a recommend to enter the temple. President Kekkonen would have to show a recommend to go inside, but not being a member, he could not. The day came when news media reported President Kekkonen's visit to Laie, and pictures of him showed him climbing palm trees instead of being in the temple.

I remember saying to my mother: "Mom, one day I will go to the Laie temple in Hawaii and when I go, they will let me go inside." She smiled and nodded her head with a whisper, "Yes, you will."

I felt special that day, realizing that one day I would do something that even a powerful president could not. I just had to be worthy and live in a way that I could enter in the sacred House of the Lord. My mother must have wondered how my plan could happen, but she never stopped my big dreams.

Our family sacrificed much so that she could go to the Swiss Temple, becoming the highlight of her year. It was a two-week trip by train, boat and bus. Three days of travel time one way and a week in the temple. Later a temple was dedicated closer, and it was only a day to the Stockholm Sweden Temple. My mother's trips became more frequent and she served as a temple missionary after she retired.

I left Finland to go to college, serve a mission, marry in a temple and raise a family and work in international business. No matter where I was, temple worship was always an important part of my life. Later, the Helsinki Finland Temple was dedicated in my homeland.

On Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, I attended the Laie Hawaii Temple rededication. I was in the House of the Lord with the living prophet of God, President Thomas S. Monson, and heard him speak — something I could have never imagined as a little girl and new convert to the Church.

I moved to Laie, Hawaii, and now live 7 minutes from that special temple of my dreams. I have been to the temple many times. My family has enjoyed many blessings and brought the saving ordinances to our family members on the other side of the veil.

It has been almost 50 years since that childhood experience in Finland. Each day I thank the Lord for the young missionaries who brought the gospel to my family and helped us prepare for the blessings of the temple. — Helena M.A. Hannonen, Hauula 3rd Ward, Laie Hawaii Stake