Download PhotoWhen Carson and Serlyn Mongkeya were married in 2014 in Kosrae FSM, their deep desire was to be sealed in the temple right away. But without the means or support to make the journey to the nearest temple, this was not possible at that time.
“I had heard about the temple from the time I was in primary in Pohnpei,” Serlyn explained. “When I was 6 or 7 years-old my mother and brother John went to the temple in the Philippines, but I had not been able to go.”
Together the newly married couple set a goal to one day seal their union in the House of the Lord. Over the next several years, they waited and lived the gospel and were blessed with 5 beautiful children.
Help came in the form of senior missionaries Elder Joseph and Sister Carol-Lynne Hirschi who arrived after Christmas in December 2023. Soon thereafter, the Hirschis began holding temple preparation classes and the Mongkeyas began attending, dedicating themselves to preparing to make the journey to the new Yigo Guam Temple to be sealed together along with their children as an eternal family.
Finally, in July Carson and Serlyn were able to fly to Guam and on July 24, 2024 knelt around the sacred altar surrounded by their children and were sealed together for time and all eternity.
“It was a dream come true,” said both Carson and Serlyn. “There are no words to explain my happiness,” added Carson.
“In the temple I felt overwhelmed with happiness, with peace and calmness,” explained Serlyn. She described the comfort of being sealed together in the temple and knowing that in the next world everything will be okay. “I have no worries anymore,” she added.
Carson likewise felt joy and peace while in the temple. Like Lehi in his vision of the Tree of Life, he explained that his first thoughts upon being sealed with his wife and children were for his extended family, most of whom are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ. “My heart was overflowing with happiness, and my wish was for my other family members to have and experience the same blessings.”
Serlyn was born and raised in a Latter-day Saint family, but most of Carson’s family are members of another faith. Carson and his mother accepted the gospel and were the only members of his family to be baptized when Carson was in the 8th grade. He expressed his deep love and respect for his father and grandfather and other family members and hopes for the day that they too will come to accept the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoy the blessings of the temple.
“I went to school with Carson on Kosrae,” said Serlyn. Before baptism “he was a little bit of a bully,” she explained with a smile. Then after he was baptized, I noticed he changed and began treating others kindly.” Obviously this change for the better impressed Sherlyn as they eventually fell in love and were married.
“After my mom and I were baptized,” Carson explained, “the Church and gospel helped me to grow more and more and become better and better.”
The Mongkeya children also described their feelings about going to the temple to be sealed. “I was so happy and excited when we were sealed!” said their son Cerson (10) in Native Kosraen. Daughter Arides (7) loved “being all dressed in white.”
Ultimately the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about binding families together eternally through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Mongkeya family from Kosrae are great examples for all of us as they love each other and work together to become an eternal family.