The Temple
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“To enter the temple is a tremendous blessing. But first we must be worthy. We should not be rushed. We cannot cut corners of preparation and risk the breaking of covenants we were not prepared to make. That would be worse than not making them at all… Spiritual preparation is enhanced by study.”
(Elder Russell M. Nelson, Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings, April 2001 General Conference)
(Elder Russell M. Nelson, Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings, April 2001 General Conference)
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“If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing. Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is.”
(President Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World, April 2011 General Conference)
(President Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World, April 2011 General Conference)
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“That trial has not been a problem for either of us because, when we live righteously and have received the ordinances of the temple, everything else is in the hands of the Lord. We can do the best we can, but the final outcome is up to Him. We should never complain, when we are living worthily, about what happens in our lives… What I am trying to teach is that when we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent.”
(Elder Richard G. Scott, Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need)
(Elder Richard G. Scott, Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need)
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“When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple. Because of the importance of this work, the Church has built temples closer to the people, 5 and family history research is being facilitated as never before.”
(Elder Russell M. Nelson, Generations Linked in Love, April 2010 General Conference)
(Elder Russell M. Nelson, Generations Linked in Love, April 2010 General Conference)
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"Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received…immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life.”
(Elder Richard G Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012 General Conference)
(Elder Richard G Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012 General Conference)
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“The growing visibility and reputation of the Church presents some remarkable opportunities to us as its members. We can help “disabuse the public mind” and correct misinformation when we are portrayed as something we are not. More important, though, we can share who we are.There are a number of things that we can do—that you can do—to advance an understanding of the Church. If we do it with the same spirit and if we conduct ourselves in the same way we do when we host a temple open house, our friends and our neighbors will come to understand us better. Their suspicions will evaporate, negative stereotypes will disappear, and they will begin to understand the Church as it really is.”
(Elder L Tom Perry, Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear, October 2011 General conference)
(Elder L Tom Perry, Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear, October 2011 General conference)
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“so many of you have is a precious and wonderful thing. It makes one eligible for an exclusive and remarkable privilege—the privilege of entering that House which says on its wall, “Holiness to the Lord—the House of the Lord.” Live worthy to serve in that House. Keep it holy. Do your part to keep from the Lord’s House any unclean or defiling influence or person. Enjoy its beauty. Enjoy the wonder of the things that are spoken there, the beauty and the blessing of the ordinances there administered.”
(President Gordon B Hinckley, Keeping the Temple Holy, April 1990 General Conference)
(President Gordon B Hinckley, Keeping the Temple Holy, April 1990 General Conference)
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“She was a temple worker who had been back home for a visit. She grasped my hand and said, “It’s so good to be back. I love my service in the temple, and know I cannot be happy, really happy, away from it. It brings me a joy and satisfaction that is found in no other place. I feel a sense of accomplishment in doing something of eternal value. It’s a little like the work of the Savior, who did for mankind what they could not do for themselves. This work brings peace to my soul—yes, the peace that passeth understanding.””
(Elder Franklin D Richards, Happiness and Joy in Temple Work, October 1986 General Conference)
(Elder Franklin D Richards, Happiness and Joy in Temple Work, October 1986 General Conference)
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“You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.” 1 It is the house of the Lord. 2 It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed… There exists a righteous unity between the temple and the home. Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple.”
(Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples, April 2009 General Conference)
(Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples, April 2009 General Conference)
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“May we enhance our temple experience with a spirit of reverence, treating it as a place of purity and a place of holiness. May we enhance our temple experience with a spirit of worship by leaving the world behind and seeking to obtain added light and knowledge. If we do these things, the Lord will bless us and we will become prepared to live in His holy presence.”
(L.Lionel Kendrick, Enhancing Our Temple Experience, April 2001 General Conference).
(L.Lionel Kendrick, Enhancing Our Temple Experience, April 2001 General Conference).
My Personal Position Statement on the Temple
Eternal Families are of the utmost importance and we have the opportunity, privilege and duty as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to do work for the dead. We must prepare ourselves to enter the temple so that we can perform these sacred ordinances for our ancestors and receive the great blessings for doing so. We must keep our thoughts, words and deeds pure because we shouldn’t enter the house of the Lord if we are not clean. It is a holy place, it is the lords house therefore we mustn’t enter it unworthily. We should make temple attendance a priority in our lives. By doing so we will be able to feel closer to the lord and better keep the commandments when we have the temple as a constant goal in our mind.