Come Into the Temples

Sister Brimhall gave our lesson Sunday from Chapter 10 in the manual, "Come into the Temples."

Whether we go to the temple or not the work will be done.  We can either jump in or get blessings or not.  

D&C 110: 6-10 "Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.  

For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house.

And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people.  Even so.  Amen"

The manual shares the story of President Snow at the Kirtland Temple:  "Lorenzo Snow loved the Kirtland Temple, knowing that "the Son of God, in His glory, had honored it with His royal presence."  Consequently, he was awestruck when he first stood at a pulpit there to teach.  "No language can describe my feelings, " he said, "when, for the first time, I stood up in one of those pulpits to address and audience--a pulpit on the breastwork of which, only a short time before, this holy Personage stood--'his hair as white as pure snow, his eyes as a flame of fire'--where also Moses, Elias and Elijah came and committed the keys of their dispensations to Joseph Smith." 

The manual shares the story of President Snow at the Salt Lake Temple:  "Many years later, on April 6, 1892, President Snow stood before another gathering, this time in front of the almost-completed Salt Lake Temple.  About 40,000 Latter-day Saints crowded into the enclosure surrounding Temple Square, and about 10,000 more "occupied the tops of adjoining houses and places from which a view could be obtained."  The multitude had gathered for a ceremony in which the capstone would be secured on the temple's highest spire.  Later that day the statue of the angel Moroni would be placed on the capstone.  By assignment from the First Presidency, President Snow, who was then President of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was to lead the Saints in the Hosanna Shout.  As he explained the Hosanna Shout to the multitude, he expressed his love and enthusiasm for temple work.  "Now when we go before the temple, and this shout goes forth, we want every man and every woman to shout thiese words to the very extent of their voices, so that every house in this city may tremble, the people in every portion of this city hear it, and it may reach to the eternal worlds." 

The Lord wants everyone to know about the temple and receive those blessings.  

Sister Brimhall talked about their excitement when she went the Billings Montana ground breaking.  She grew up having to travel long distances to attend.  There was quite a bit of opposition when it was being built.  They arrived on a rainy, freezing, muddy day.  As they stood in that weather, they felt they connected a little with their pioneer heritage.  

Since she was young when she attended the ground breaking she didn't appreciate the Hosanna Shout.  While reading the lesson she came to understand the importance of the Shout being from the heart.  

One sister shared her experience of being on her mission when the temple was dedicated in Hong Kong.  Anyone in China could get on a train and and off to walk right to the temple.  

"For every temple stone laid the power of the adversary decreases."

We are all invited to come to the temple of the Lord.  How often do things get in the way of going to the temple?  

The manual says, "The prospects that God has opened up to our view are wonderful and grand; the imagination cannot conceive of them.  Come into the Temple and we will show you.  Many of you, I presume, have been there, and have heard the marvelous things that God has prepared for those that lvoe Him and continue faithful to the end..."

How can we accept the invitation to come into the temple?  Some answers shared:  When we go we come home with a much better spirit.  It's noticed and felt by our families.  When you go and your children see you go it becomes a part of their lives.  It opens up conversation between friends and neighbors.  

Another sister shared that she was converted in Australia by an American missionary.  Unfortunately he has become less active. Every time she comes to America she visits and asks him to drive her to the temple.  It's been four years but this year he and his wife are attending with her.

Another sister pointed out that even little things like have a pair of "temple earrings" can be a reminder to us to attend. 

What blessings come from receiving Temple ordinances and keeping those covenants?  Answers shared:  We have a different outlook on life.  We have to work hard on our marriages because we know they are eternal.  When focusing on the eternal, we take out the vision of the world.  Satan can mimic a lot of feelings but he can't mimic peace.  Just driving to the temple and being on the grounds there is a peace that the adversary can't touch.

Sister Brimhall talked of serving in the temple and her love for watching the kids outside with their families.  One family asked to wait in the waiting room because an Aunt was going to come down so the kids could see her in her wedding dress.  When the little girl saw her she said, "Wow, there are angels here!"  

The manual says, "Now, it should be an object in every man's and woman's mind to come into our Temples and to perform this labor.  It is a great labor, and an important one, too.  When we go back into the other life and find our dead friends living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a very pleasant meeting.

We ought to not wait for opportunities to be pleasant and agreeable always; but we should strive, even if it takes a little sacrifice on our part, to put ourselves in a condition to perform this labor." 

How are we going to feel when we show up and our family says I've waited for you to find me?

What can we do to give family history and temple work the time it deserves?

Sister Brimhall says that she has been excited and surprised to see during her time serving in the temple that youth are now bringing in their own names.  

What are some of the blessings we can receive by doing temple work?

One sister shared her experience of doing the work for a favorite grandmother right before going on her mission.  It was such an amazing experience and she felt the spirit so strong.

We need to have our roots firmly in bedded in the gospel and the temple is a way to help us do that.  We need to be thinking that every time we go to the temple we are helping one more person be able to be in the celestial kingdom like we will be.