Chapter 19, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith
I gave the lesson today. I have included it below. I have made some modifications to it to improve on where I failed in delivery or where I ran out of time to include all of the material I had prepared.
How many verses in the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89) talk about alcohol, tobacco, and coffee? There are five out of twenty-one verses and yet this is where we tend to focus all of our time. When we talk about the Lord’s law of health that is what we mention. When the media reports on our health practices that is what they focus on, with an occasional mention that we don’t drink caffeine, which is not specifically in the Word of Wisdom, even though it is a drug that I believe we are abusing when using it for recreation.
Potentially, the reason we spend all the time there is because those substances are easily quantified. Alcohol - NO. Tobacco - NO. Coffee - NO. To make sense of the rest of the chapter we have to use our brains, the spirit, and more of our agency to get the benefits.
“I sometimes wonder if Latter-day Saints realize that [the Word of Wisdom] has been given to us for our exaltation; not only for our temporal blessing, but to prepare us for spiritual life. … “( In Conference Report, Apr. 1907, 19)
“… I firmly believe that by reason of neglect of this simple requirement, faith has diminished in the hearts of some of our people—that, by a more general observance of the Word of Wisdom, faith will be increased among the Latter-day Saints, and greater knowledge will flow to us as a result; for by obedience to it, there will come a disposition to obey other laws of our Father, and compliance with each insures a blessing.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1908, 83–84)
He mentions developing a disposition to obey. What does that mean?
I believe this life is to learn to mold our character, making us do what is right out of reflex and not by having to think about it at every decision. I think this is a disposition to obey.
Doctrine and Covenants 89:4
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
Do we have men that conspire to make a profit on selling us stuff they know is bad for us? Do those men hide the dangers under artificial flavors and additives to make us crave their products more? “Once you pop, you can’t stop.”
I believe these conspiring men are more than just the obvious drug dealers of alcohol and tobacco. Keep in mind that some of the same men that own alcohol and tobacco companies also own food companies that supply a lot of what we eat.
Does God spell it out exactly for us in the Word of Wisdom or does he teach us a general principle and expect us to apply it more specifically to our lives and add our own guidelines?
Doctrine and Covenants 58:26
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
When I was on my mission we had the white handbook. These were rules over and above the commandments. The rules were described to me as the fence that helps keep us off the commandment wall. We never had to worry about trying to climb the commandment wall if we stayed behind the fence of the missionary rules.
Just like the missionary rules, we should set personal standards for ourselves that go beyond the standard the commandments set for us. In the case of the Word of Wisdom, we should read it and find out what it is saying beyond the high level of don’t drink and don’t smoke.
I hear lots of debates about caffeine or no caffeine. Can we drink herbal tea? Can we drink soda pop? Hot chocolate is a hot drink, isn’t it?
Elder Oaks said, “As a general authority, it is my responsibility to teach general principles.”
I think the Word of Wisdom also teaches us general, baseline principles and we need to figure out for ourselves the more specific principles that build on the general principles to make us strong and not just baseline. While doing this we should realize that some have only understood the baseline and are not necessarily accountable for what you found in your search.
We have been given general principles. We have also been given the Holy Ghost. Once we put our personal agenda aside and what we want, then the Holy Ghost can tell us what our standards should be. So long as we keep putting our lusts before the will of the Lord, the Holy Ghost is not going to be able to penetrate our heart to show us what is true.
Doctrine and Covenants 89:1-3
1 A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
“...adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints,” What does that mean? To me it feels like the Word of Wisdom was given to be the minimum acceptable performance and not the end goal.
“I look upon the Word of Wisdom as kind advice of our Father in heaven, who desires to see His children become more like Him. … I take it as the fatherly counsel of one who, knowing what I needed, said to me: “My son, these things are not good for you, and if you will avoid them I will give you the companionship of my Holy Spirit and joy while you live in the world and in the end eternal life.” How foolish I would be then to partake of these forbidden things, having the assurance that it is the counsel of the Lord I should abstain therefrom. I would feel under condemnation if I should partake of them, when He who knows better than anybody else says that they are harmful, and has warned me against them. …
“… He thought it of enough importance to give it unto us, and to warn us, and if He who knows all things thought it necessary to give advice and counsel upon these temporal matters, how carefully we, who know not what the morrow has in store for us, should observe that divine counsel. I feel that the Latter-day Saints have in the Word of Wisdom a law that will exalt them and lift them above those who fail to keep it.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1907, 19–21)
“Do you believe that the Lord gave to us the Word of Wisdom? Do you really think that he knows what is good for us? Do you think it would please him if we would observe that law? He says it would. Do you think he meant it?: (In Conference Report, Oct. 1935, 121)
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Lord's Security Force and the Sacrament
Have you ever seen movies or television shows where the Secret Service is guarding the President of the Untied States or the security team at general conference or any other gathering the prophet or apostles are at? What are these security forces' job? To get the president or prophet to and back from whatever meeting they have safely.
When we pass the sacrament we are the Lord's security team. He has a meeting with each person in sacrament meeting and our job to get Him there safely.
Do you ever observe the behavior of the president's security team. They generally are reverent and alert. They are part of his entourage or people that travel with him. Their behavior should not reflect badly on him or distract from what the president is there to do. So it is with us passing the sacrament. Our behavior should reflect well on
the Lord and we should not distract from His purpose in being in sacrament meeting, to help them remember him, to help them keep His commandment, and to give them His Spirit. (See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77,79)
A security team is efficient is getting the president to all of the places he needs to be, so he can do his duty. However, they are not efficient to the point that it compromises his safety or mission.
When passing the sacrament we should get it out to everyone as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of reverence. If we are being efficient to the point that we are juggling the trays or the members are juggling the trays, they we compromising the delivery of the sacrament as well as the lord's mission. Our duty is to deliver the
sacrament to each person. We are to serve them and they each other. We should not have them take the tray from us and hold it with one hand while partaking with the other. The sacrament could be spilled and the reverence of the act is compromised. We are there to serve each other by holding the tray for one another. If that makes the sacrament take longer to get to everyone, then so it shall be. The sacrament is a personal thing and everyone should be allowed to have a reverent and personal experience and not be rushed.
When we pass the sacrament we are the Lord's security team. He has a meeting with each person in sacrament meeting and our job to get Him there safely.
Do you ever observe the behavior of the president's security team. They generally are reverent and alert. They are part of his entourage or people that travel with him. Their behavior should not reflect badly on him or distract from what the president is there to do. So it is with us passing the sacrament. Our behavior should reflect well on
the Lord and we should not distract from His purpose in being in sacrament meeting, to help them remember him, to help them keep His commandment, and to give them His Spirit. (See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77,79)
A security team is efficient is getting the president to all of the places he needs to be, so he can do his duty. However, they are not efficient to the point that it compromises his safety or mission.
When passing the sacrament we should get it out to everyone as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of reverence. If we are being efficient to the point that we are juggling the trays or the members are juggling the trays, they we compromising the delivery of the sacrament as well as the lord's mission. Our duty is to deliver the
sacrament to each person. We are to serve them and they each other. We should not have them take the tray from us and hold it with one hand while partaking with the other. The sacrament could be spilled and the reverence of the act is compromised. We are there to serve each other by holding the tray for one another. If that makes the sacrament take longer to get to everyone, then so it shall be. The sacrament is a personal thing and everyone should be allowed to have a reverent and personal experience and not be rushed.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Talk on the Holy Ghost Given at My Daughter's Baptism July 2, 2011
Mosiah 18:8-10
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
Before we are baptized all people have the light of Christ to guide them in a basic way, much like what some call our conscience. The feeling that tells us what is right and what is wrong.
After we are baptized we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which gives us more abundantly, as the scripture I read told us. Abundantly means that it give us a greater portion of those impressions from the Spirit if we are obedient to Heavenly Father. These impressions guide us more deeply and more specifically as we make decisions in our life.
The Holy Ghost can guide us, not just in knowing right from wrong, but in making important decisions in our life. It can also warn us of danger and tell us when something is true. Bishop Beus is a good man and would not lead you wrong, but the Holy Ghost can give you a deeper testimony of the things that he tells you, so that it may be more powerful in you.
The same with the things your teachers teach you. The more powerful these lessons are in you, the easier it is for you to make good choices and follow the commandments of God.
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
Before we are baptized all people have the light of Christ to guide them in a basic way, much like what some call our conscience. The feeling that tells us what is right and what is wrong.
After we are baptized we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which gives us more abundantly, as the scripture I read told us. Abundantly means that it give us a greater portion of those impressions from the Spirit if we are obedient to Heavenly Father. These impressions guide us more deeply and more specifically as we make decisions in our life.
The Holy Ghost can guide us, not just in knowing right from wrong, but in making important decisions in our life. It can also warn us of danger and tell us when something is true. Bishop Beus is a good man and would not lead you wrong, but the Holy Ghost can give you a deeper testimony of the things that he tells you, so that it may be more powerful in you.
The same with the things your teachers teach you. The more powerful these lessons are in you, the easier it is for you to make good choices and follow the commandments of God.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Duty - Elders Quorum Lesson
We are going to talk about duty today. I am going to ask a lot of questions in this lesson and we are going to discuss them somewhat, but for the most part they are for us to ponder in our hearts if our lives are in balance. Maybe you will find after pondering and praying about these things that you life is in balance as best you can based on your circumstance and that’s great, but let’s keep our hearts and minds open as we discuss these things today.
What are some synonyms for Duty
What are our duties
If we have agreed to teach a lesson or bring something to an activity or be at a service project, whose responsibility is it to make sure the task gets completed?
Now you might have an instance where someone doesn’t call you to remind you that you had that you had agreed to do this thing. The person who didn’t call you is accountable for your failure to do your duty, correct?
If you have a seminar that you have to attend for school or work, does your teacher or boss call you the night before to remind you or is it expected that you be a responsible for your own calendar and make sure you get there on time?
Occasionally one of our siblings will give birth to a child and there will be a subsequent baby blessing that we want to be a part of. You should skip the blessing and come teach your lesson or bring the bread you signed up to bring for the second Sunday social, true? Probably not, but whose duty is it to see that your responsibility is fulfilled, since you are going to be out of town?
If you take on an assignment, it is your responsibility to fulfill the assignment or make sure that there is someone to take your place. No matter how big or small you feel the assignment is.
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We all have a lot of responsibilities that draw on our time and sometimes some of our duties don’t get enough time devoted to them. If we are not spending enough time on some of our duties we should first determine which things are not our duty and trim them down.
What are the things that take a lot of your time that are not necessarily your duty.
After we trim the things that are not our duty then we can assess which duties are taking more time than necessary.
Are we spending too much time at work? Do we work more hours than are required just to climb the ladder of success more quickly? Often employers require us to work overtime. Sometimes we need to volunteer for overtime in order to provide for our families. We should assess if we volunteer for more overtime than we can afford to still be able to do our other duties?
Are we spending too much time with school? Are we taking more classes
than we have time or money for?
It is a worthy goal to get through school as quickly as possible or to provide financial security for our family as quickly as possible, but ponder what it means to be possible. If we are sacrificing essential parts of our life to make it possible then it should not be on our list of possibilities.
Elder Oaks stated, “We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.” (Good, Better, Best, October 2007 General Conference)
Let’s consider a couple of scriptures
Are we sacrificing some of our duties now, so that we can do our duty more easily later? Are our wives having to take on our duties because we have chosen to run faster than we have strength.
“By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
“Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
“In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) Do we find “other circumstances” that are of our own making that we could change that cause our wives to have to take on our responsibilities?
What are some duties that our wives might have to take on if we do not manage our time wisely?
Again, the proclamation states that there are other circumstances that may make it necessary for our wives to help with some of our duties. I challenge you to ponder, pray and assess what it is truly necessary.
What are some synonyms for Duty
What are our duties
- Work
- School
- Home teaching
- Fulfilling what we have agreed to do.
If we have agreed to teach a lesson or bring something to an activity or be at a service project, whose responsibility is it to make sure the task gets completed?
Now you might have an instance where someone doesn’t call you to remind you that you had that you had agreed to do this thing. The person who didn’t call you is accountable for your failure to do your duty, correct?
If you have a seminar that you have to attend for school or work, does your teacher or boss call you the night before to remind you or is it expected that you be a responsible for your own calendar and make sure you get there on time?
Occasionally one of our siblings will give birth to a child and there will be a subsequent baby blessing that we want to be a part of. You should skip the blessing and come teach your lesson or bring the bread you signed up to bring for the second Sunday social, true? Probably not, but whose duty is it to see that your responsibility is fulfilled, since you are going to be out of town?
If you take on an assignment, it is your responsibility to fulfill the assignment or make sure that there is someone to take your place. No matter how big or small you feel the assignment is.
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We all have a lot of responsibilities that draw on our time and sometimes some of our duties don’t get enough time devoted to them. If we are not spending enough time on some of our duties we should first determine which things are not our duty and trim them down.
What are the things that take a lot of your time that are not necessarily your duty.
- TV
- Video games
- Sports
After we trim the things that are not our duty then we can assess which duties are taking more time than necessary.
Are we spending too much time at work? Do we work more hours than are required just to climb the ladder of success more quickly? Often employers require us to work overtime. Sometimes we need to volunteer for overtime in order to provide for our families. We should assess if we volunteer for more overtime than we can afford to still be able to do our other duties?
Are we spending too much time with school? Are we taking more classes
than we have time or money for?
It is a worthy goal to get through school as quickly as possible or to provide financial security for our family as quickly as possible, but ponder what it means to be possible. If we are sacrificing essential parts of our life to make it possible then it should not be on our list of possibilities.
Elder Oaks stated, “We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.” (Good, Better, Best, October 2007 General Conference)
Let’s consider a couple of scriptures
- Mosiah 4:26-27
26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may awalk guiltless before God—I would that ye should bimpart of your substance to the cpoor, every man according to that which he hath, such as dfeeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and aorder; for it is not requisite that a man should run bfaster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
The scripture states that “ALL” these things must be done, but they have to be done in wisdom and order. Working 16 hours a day 7 days a week to have lots of money to impart to the poor wouldn’t leave much time for family home evening, date nights, schooling, or home teaching. - Doctrine and Covenants 10:4
4 Do not run afaster or labor more than you have bstrength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be cdiligent unto the end.
In this chapter the Lord is giving Joseph Smith a heads up about what is being done with the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon and where the work needed to go from there. One message I perceived in this verse was the Lord telling him that the work is important, so get it done at a reasonable pace. You are no good to the work if you are spent, nevertheless the work is important and be diligent.
Are we sacrificing some of our duties now, so that we can do our duty more easily later? Are our wives having to take on our duties because we have chosen to run faster than we have strength.
“By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
“Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
“In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) Do we find “other circumstances” that are of our own making that we could change that cause our wives to have to take on our responsibilities?
What are some duties that our wives might have to take on if we do not manage our time wisely?
- Providing for the family
- Gathering the family for prayer, FHE, and so forth
- Protecting the home
Again, the proclamation states that there are other circumstances that may make it necessary for our wives to help with some of our duties. I challenge you to ponder, pray and assess what it is truly necessary.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
A Temple-Motivated People - Talk
Assigned to pull from A Temple-Motivated People, by President Howard W. Hunter
My parents, my brother, and I joined the Church in Indiana when I was 14. Over the almost twenty-five years since then I have seen every state around Indiana get a temple and have seen temple after temple be announced and built in Utah.
When I heard the words Indianapolis Indiana be spoken by the prophet as he announced the new temples in last conference I was overcome with powerful emotions. Since then I have tried to comprehend what I was feeling. Even though I know that the Lord’s hand is everywhere that stakes are organized and even just where two or three are gathered in his name, it was hard to feel that Indiana was less deserving of a temple than say places like Detroit. To hear the the prophet speak the words, it was good to remember that he is aware of the saints in Indiana.
Once the temple is completed, it will still likely be closer for my parents to drive the two hours or so to go to the Chicago temple and many in the southern parts of the state will probably still go to the Louisville temple, but what an honor to have Indiana be a place that is home to a temple of the Lord.
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Many of us have small children. Here’s what a trip to the temple in most parts of Indiana looks like if you have small children. Find some one who has six to eight hours to watch your kids. Right, cause you are going to be a minimum of two hours driving to the temple and a minimum of 2 hours at the temple and a minimum of two hours driving back. If you have to go to Chicago and deal with Chicago traffic who knows what you’ll get.
Since it is embarrassing to ask someone for eight hours of their time, which will likely be on a Saturday, you will usually have to team up with another couple with small children and all go together. Might as well plan on all day for this one. Drive the two hours. One couple goes to the temple, while the other stays with the children. Then the next couple goes. After that, it has been at least six hours. The kids are screaming that they are hungry, so another 30 minutes to an hour for you to eat. After the meal that brings us to at least 7 hours and you still have at least a two hour drive home.
Now that I live in Ogden, I find my self grumbling about having to drive all the way to Bountiful when the Ogden temple get remodeled. Living in the little town I grew up in, our stake center was as far away as Bountiful is from Ogden and there was not a temple there or anywhere in between and I believe there was only one ward building between the two towns.
It is important that we do not take for granted the blessings of having temples close to us. Bountiful is still close to us.
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A friend of mine who I grew up with says that he will drive to work and have the Draper, Oquirrh Mountain, and Jordan River temples all in his view at the same time and occasionally finds himself just going through his commute and forgetting that he is so blessed to see such a wonder and a blessing of temples encompassing the valley and to live and work close to them.
How often do we drive around downtown and pass the temple without considering what we have? We have a temple not just in our state, but in our town. Our hearts should be filled with gratitude every time it only takes us a few minutes to get to the temple and anytime we get to have it near us when we are running errands.
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In speaking of the temple President Howard W Hunter stated, “It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us.”
He also said, “I would hope that every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it...” ”Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls.”
In Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 we read:
“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God”
Our homes and bodies are often referred to as being like the temple. Are we establishing houses of prayer, of fasting, of faith, of learning, of glory, and of order?
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Jesus expressed his passion for the temple, in John 2:13-16
13 ¶ And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of amoney sitting:
15 And when he had made a ascourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
What sorts of things would Jesus find in our homes or our bodies that defile the temple of His Father?
President Hunter had this to say, “To have the temple indeed be a symbol unto us, we must desire it to be so. We must live worthy to enter the temple. We must keep the commandments of our Lord. If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take His teaching and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not find it difficult to be temple worthy, to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct and belief. Whether at home or in the marketplace, whether at school or long after school is behind us, whether we are acting totally alone or in concert with a host of other people, our course will be clear and our standards will be obvious.”
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Speaking on the subject of tithing, the prophet Malachi said, “cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not dopen you the ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Just as with the principle of tithing and the covenants we have made to the Lord to pay it, I know that if we do what we have covenanted to do with regard to temple work and genealogy he will pour out blessings and improve our lives.
I know that the more engaged we are in this work, the more prosperous our nation, our city, our ward, and our homes will be. I believe that our marriages will be stronger, our children will be more valiant, and we will be more protected from temptation.
My parents, my brother, and I joined the Church in Indiana when I was 14. Over the almost twenty-five years since then I have seen every state around Indiana get a temple and have seen temple after temple be announced and built in Utah.
When I heard the words Indianapolis Indiana be spoken by the prophet as he announced the new temples in last conference I was overcome with powerful emotions. Since then I have tried to comprehend what I was feeling. Even though I know that the Lord’s hand is everywhere that stakes are organized and even just where two or three are gathered in his name, it was hard to feel that Indiana was less deserving of a temple than say places like Detroit. To hear the the prophet speak the words, it was good to remember that he is aware of the saints in Indiana.
Once the temple is completed, it will still likely be closer for my parents to drive the two hours or so to go to the Chicago temple and many in the southern parts of the state will probably still go to the Louisville temple, but what an honor to have Indiana be a place that is home to a temple of the Lord.
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Many of us have small children. Here’s what a trip to the temple in most parts of Indiana looks like if you have small children. Find some one who has six to eight hours to watch your kids. Right, cause you are going to be a minimum of two hours driving to the temple and a minimum of 2 hours at the temple and a minimum of two hours driving back. If you have to go to Chicago and deal with Chicago traffic who knows what you’ll get.
Since it is embarrassing to ask someone for eight hours of their time, which will likely be on a Saturday, you will usually have to team up with another couple with small children and all go together. Might as well plan on all day for this one. Drive the two hours. One couple goes to the temple, while the other stays with the children. Then the next couple goes. After that, it has been at least six hours. The kids are screaming that they are hungry, so another 30 minutes to an hour for you to eat. After the meal that brings us to at least 7 hours and you still have at least a two hour drive home.
Now that I live in Ogden, I find my self grumbling about having to drive all the way to Bountiful when the Ogden temple get remodeled. Living in the little town I grew up in, our stake center was as far away as Bountiful is from Ogden and there was not a temple there or anywhere in between and I believe there was only one ward building between the two towns.
It is important that we do not take for granted the blessings of having temples close to us. Bountiful is still close to us.
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A friend of mine who I grew up with says that he will drive to work and have the Draper, Oquirrh Mountain, and Jordan River temples all in his view at the same time and occasionally finds himself just going through his commute and forgetting that he is so blessed to see such a wonder and a blessing of temples encompassing the valley and to live and work close to them.
How often do we drive around downtown and pass the temple without considering what we have? We have a temple not just in our state, but in our town. Our hearts should be filled with gratitude every time it only takes us a few minutes to get to the temple and anytime we get to have it near us when we are running errands.
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In speaking of the temple President Howard W Hunter stated, “It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us.”
He also said, “I would hope that every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it...” ”Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls.”
In Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 we read:
“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God”
Our homes and bodies are often referred to as being like the temple. Are we establishing houses of prayer, of fasting, of faith, of learning, of glory, and of order?
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Jesus expressed his passion for the temple, in John 2:13-16
13 ¶ And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of amoney sitting:
15 And when he had made a ascourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
What sorts of things would Jesus find in our homes or our bodies that defile the temple of His Father?
President Hunter had this to say, “To have the temple indeed be a symbol unto us, we must desire it to be so. We must live worthy to enter the temple. We must keep the commandments of our Lord. If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take His teaching and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not find it difficult to be temple worthy, to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct and belief. Whether at home or in the marketplace, whether at school or long after school is behind us, whether we are acting totally alone or in concert with a host of other people, our course will be clear and our standards will be obvious.”
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Speaking on the subject of tithing, the prophet Malachi said, “cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not dopen you the ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Just as with the principle of tithing and the covenants we have made to the Lord to pay it, I know that if we do what we have covenanted to do with regard to temple work and genealogy he will pour out blessings and improve our lives.
I know that the more engaged we are in this work, the more prosperous our nation, our city, our ward, and our homes will be. I believe that our marriages will be stronger, our children will be more valiant, and we will be more protected from temptation.
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