Talk on the Temple

On Sunday, Stuart gave a talk about the Temple. Here is the outline:

 Story of co-worker wanting to know what’s in the temple.

 Describe what the temple is

o President Monson, in the October 2010 Ensign, said “To members of The Church of Jesus

o The Bible Dictionary says “A temple is literally a house of the Lord, a holy sanctuary in

o The Lord attended the temple.For the Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is the most sacred place on earth. It is the house of the Lord, and just as the inscription on the exterior of the temple states, the temple is “holiness to the Lord.”

which sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the

living and also in behalf of the dead. A place where the Lord may come, it is the most

holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in

sacredness.”

 We know that even the Lord attended the temple. We can read in the 4 gospels

that Jesus was seen teaching in the temple and even chased out the money

changers who were defiling his Father’s temple. When the Lord’s gospel was on

the earth, there were temples. Some popular temples in the Bible are Moses’

portable temple, the Temple of Herod and the Temple of Solomon. If we want

to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we too need to take advantage of the temple.

 What goes on in temples

o President Packer, in October 2010, has said “In the temples, members of the Church who

o “We do not discuss the temple ordinances outside the temples. It was never intended

make themselves eligible can participate in the most exalted of the redeeming

ordinances that have been revealed to mankind. 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.”

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.”

 Need to prepare for the temple

o President Packer also said “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.”

 “The process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is

commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of

the Lord. … In the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully

take upon us the name of Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar, “Honorably Hold a

Name and Standing,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2009, 98).

 Transition to why I’m talking about blessings

o Because of the sacredness of the covenants in the temple, I don’t plan to talk specifically

about what goes on in the temple. Instead, I am talking about the results of the

ordinances in the temple. That is, I want to talk about the blessings of the temple.

 Blessings of the temple

o Families

 Bruce Hafen talk in 1996 on Contractual marriage versus covenant marriage

 Another benefit of the sealing is when you compare it to a contractual

marriage. Part of the sealing is making a covenant with the Lord.

Because of this, in a sealing, you never have any reason to break your

covenants because, even though your spouse might not be faithful, the

Lord is. However, in a contractual marriage, once the other member

breaks their end of the agreement, you are considered free to terminate

the contract. With the Lord’s help, we can overcome the other spouse

breaking their end of agreements and carry on our marriage through

eternity. Now, we know there are special situations in which a person

might divorce after a temple marriage, but those reasons are between

the individuals and the Lord. Like an insurance plan on being with my

family

 When I was sealed in the temple, I didn’t know what our family was going to be

like. Nearly 10 years later, I am starting to see more of what my family is and I

now I can’t imagine what life would be like without my wife and kids. I want to

see how my daughters and son turn out. However, I know something tragic

could happen and I might not see who they will become. With the sealing power

of the temple, if I stay faithful, I know I can eventually be with them again. We

hear a lot about taking out an insurance policy in case something bad happens.

The sealing is like an insurance policy on getting to be with my family forever.

 Sacrifices made to be sealed to children and how sacrifice helps you value things

better

 In some cases, parents are sealed to their children after the born. This

happens perhaps when the parents are converts later in their life, or

perhaps when the parents adopt a child. My wife and I have had the

opportunity to see children sealed to their parents in the temple. This

has always made me happy because these e parents have had to

sacrifice a lot, whether because of adoption or because of the effort of

becoming worthy, in order to be sealed to their kids. Making a sacrifice

for the people you love, in my experience, helps you to love them even

more. As the hymn goes “Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven”,

which is often an increased measure of love.

 Family life is better, not perfect when going to the temple. Especially in the day

of the Lord. This is because the temple ceremonies remind us of the importance

of families.

o Peace

 President Monson has said “The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings

peace to our souls—not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by

the Son of God when He said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.”

  Going to the temple while protesters were outside.

o Handle trials

 Time to pray in the temple helps us get the Lord’s help.

 Paradox of when too busy to get the things done you need to get done, the

o Better relationship with the Lord

 Make covenants and see the peace of the temple. Time to think, pray, and

clarity of mind that the temple gives you.

meditate that helps improve our personal relationship with the Lord.