When you go through the temple for the first time you make covenants with God, and by attending the temple as often as you can you are reminded of those promises you have made as well as the blessings you will receive for obedience to the Lord. President Boyd K. Packer said: “In the temples, members of the Church who make themselves eligible can participate in the most exalted of the redeeming ordinances that have been revealed to mankind.” He then goes on to say, There are many reasons one should want to come to the temple. Even its external appearance seems to hint of its deeply spiritual purposes. This is much more evident within its walls. Over the door to the temple appears the tribute “Holiness to the Lord.” When you enter any dedicated temple, you are in the house of the Lord. There, in a sacred ceremony, an individual may be washed and anointed and instructed and endowed and sealed. And when we have received these blessings for ourselves, we may officiate for those who have died without having had the same opportunity. In the temples sacred ordinances are performed for the living and for the dead alike.
We do not discuss the temple ordinances outside the temples. It was never intended that knowledge of these temple ceremonies would be limited to a select few who would be obliged to ensure that others never learn of them. It is quite the opposite, in fact. With great effort we urge every soul to qualify and prepare for the temple experience. Those who have been to the temple have been taught an ideal: Someday every living soul and every soul who has ever lived shall have the opportunity to hear the gospel and to accept or reject what the temple offers. If this opportunity is rejected, the rejection must be on the part of the individual.
The ordinances and ceremonies of the temple are simple. They are beautiful. They are sacred. They are kept confidential lest they be given to those who are unprepared. Curiosity is not a preparation. Deep interest itself is not a preparation. Preparation for the ordinances includes preliminary steps: faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, a maturity and dignity worthy of one who comes invited as a guest into the house of the Lord.
When we make covenants with the Lord, he always returns our obedience with blessings. Some of the blessings we are offered by obtaining temple worthiness are protection from the world and the sealing power of the temple, binding us to our families for time and all eternity. I truly don’t know if there is much more I can want than to be promised protection from the adversary and distractions of the world as well as the knowledge that I will be with my family forever.
The protection we are offered comes hand in hand with wearing the temple garments. The temple garment is and outward expression of an inward commitment. In this case, the Lord gives us a tangible reminder of the covenants we made. Our garments are truly our armor of God. As Paul said in Ephesians 6:13, Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day. The biggest blessings of wearing the temple garments are stated by Elder Carlos E. Asay of the 70 when he says, “the temple garments are worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have received their temple endowment. This garment, worn day and night, serves three important purposes: it is a reminder of the sacred covenants made with the Lord in His holy house, a protective covering for the body, and a symbol of the modesty of dress and living that should characterize the lives of all the humble followers of Christ. He then says: “I like to think of the garment as the Lord’s way of letting us take part of the temple with us when we leave. It is true that we carry from the Lord’s house inspired teachings and sacred covenants written in our minds and hearts. However, the one tangible remembrance we carry with us back into the world is the garment. And though we cannot always be in the temple, a part of it can always be with us to bless our lives.
Another big blessing the Lord gives us in the temple is the Sealing Power. In Matthew chapter 16 we read, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” Peter was to hold the keys. Peter was to hold the sealing power, that authority which carried the power to bind or seal on earth or to loose on earth and it would be so in the heavens. Those keys belong to the President of the Church—to the prophet, seer, and revelator. That sacred sealing power is with the Church now. Nothing is regarded with more sacred contemplation by those who know the significance of this authority. Nothing is more closely held. There are relatively few men who have been delegated this sealing power upon the earth at any given time—in each temple are brethren who have been given the sealing power. No one can get it except from the prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Whenever the fulness of the gospel is on earth, the Lord has agents to whom he gives power to bind on earth and seal eternally in the heavens. Bruce R. McConkie said: “All things gain enduring force and validity because of the sealing power. So comprehensive is this power that it embraces ordinances performed for the living and the dead, seals the children on earth up to their fathers who went before, and forms the enduring patriarchal chain that will exist eternally among exalted beings”
The temple is truly a place where we can go to gain peace and understanding. At the Logan Temple cornerstone dedication, President George Q. Cannon made this statement: “Every foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness, moves the heavens in mighty power in our behalf, invokes and calls down upon us the blessings of the Eternal Gods, and those who reside in their presence” When members of the Church are troubled or when crucial decisions weigh heavily upon their minds, it is a common thing for them to go to the temple. It is a good place to take our cares. In the temple we can receive spiritual perspective. There, during the time of the temple service, we are “out of the world.” The Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs.
As a Missionary, your ultimate goal is to preach the gospel and help others come unto Christ. When a person truly comes unto Christ, a desire to go to the temple, make covenants, and receive blessings of protection and sealing becomes a goal. I know that as a missionary, I need to have a firm testimony of the sacred ordinances that can only be fulfilled in the house of the Lord, and I am so thankful for the opportunity that I had to go to the temple and gain that understanding for myself. I know that my belief in temple work will help me be a better missionary as I encourage people to come unto Christ and receive the blessings of the temple. I am so excited that I will get the chance to go preach the gospel that I love so much to the people of New Zealand for 18 months.
Brothers and sisters, we are all stronger than we think and better than we even know, and the temple can be a goal for each and every one of us. Strive to go to the temple, even if you already have, continue to make it your goal!
I would like to bear my testimony that I know, without a doubt that this gospel is true. I am so thankful to be sealed to my family for time and all eternity. I am thankful for missionary work and the opportunity I have been given to serve as a full time missionary. I know the Book of Mormon is the most true book on this earth, and without it we would not have the full gospel. I am thankful for the priesthood in my life and the spirit it brings to my home. I am thankful for loving parents, who are patient with me and always push me to be better. I am thankful for Mallory, my older sister, and the example she is to me as a missionary. I am thankful for my younger siblings, who make me laugh and love me no matter what. I also have a strong testimony of the importance of ward families. I know that I am meant to be in this ward and all the encouragement and love I have received as I leave to serve my mission fills me with gratitude. I hope you all know how much I love and appreciate you. Receiving my mission call truly helped me understand how personally my Heavenly Father know me and the desires of my heart. I know that He knows each and every one of us personally and loves us more than we can ever comprehend. I am so thankful to be a member of this church and to have the knowledge of the atonement so that I can return to my Father in Heaven some day. I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment