Renae Van Thiel

I was a temple worker in the Portland, Oregon Temple for five years.  I drove to the temple alone each week, a distance of about one hundred miles each way.  When I was set apart as a temple worker, I was blessed with safe traveling to and from the temple.

After one particular shift at the temple, I was exceedingly anxious to get home.  I drove quite fast all the way along the Sunset Highway in Oregon, and drove around a bend to the main thoroughfare through Seaside, Oregon.  I suddenly realized three cars were stopped in my lane just ahead.  A driver three cars ahead was trying to make a left turn.  He stopped to wait for the oncoming traffic.   Two cars were stopped behind him waiting for him to make the turn.

I was horrified knowing I had no chance not to crash into the stopped car ahead of me.  I slammed on my brakes as there wasn’t time to pump them, gripped the steering wheel, and hung on for dear life.  The car was screeching, and the back end was lurching back and forth.  I could do nothing, but wait for the collision.  I saw the woman in the car ahead of me put her arms up over her head to cushion the blow.  The man ahead of her drove right off the road entirely to the right to avoid the crash.  I felt my hair go straight up in the air, saw the windshield crinkle from one end to the other, and I saw my blood splattering all over the windshield!  I just kept hanging on to the steering wheel and pressing hard on the brakes.

The next thing I knew, I was seated in my car just barely not touching the car ahead of me.  The windshield was fine.  There was no blood there.  My hair was as it was supposed to be.  The front driver made his turn; and the man who drove off the road, drove back on and went on his way.  The woman took down her arms and drove on her way.  I was in shock for a few seconds and could not believe what I had experienced.  It was a miracle!

Then it came to my mind that I had been shown what would have happened had I not been protected by the blessing of safe traveling I had received in the temple when I was set apart.  I drove the rest of the way home in great humility and thankfulness.

I made many more trips to the temple after that, but I never exceeded the speed limit again. I had indeed been taught a profound lesson by the Spirit.

Renae Van Thiel, Baker City, Oregon