The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in . It can be harmful to the Lords latter-day work, and it can be harmful to the individual. Ask the Lord God to help you discover what defilements in your own heart need to go. We dont need to call in the Levites, as Hezekiah did. My dear brothers and sisters, thesearethe latter days. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The problem is that you are in this same state that the Apostle Paul mentions, and that is that the things you do you dont want to do, and the things you dont want to do you do (Rom. Then I looked closer at what was being revealed. Hello! The following is a summary of what he said. What a powerhouse invitation straight from the prophet to YOU. He said the temple will be the safest place in the Salt Lake Valley when the work is done. It was their job to sanctify the sanctuary of the Lord and usher the people back to worship (Ex. The Lord instructed Adam and Eve to pray, make covenants, and offer sacrifices. Ive been thinking of reading and studying two books: The Holy Temple by Boyd K. Packer and House of Glory: Finding Personal Meaning in the Temple by S. Michael Wilcox. After examining the footnotes, I have decided that President Nelson only spoke about half of his message. President Nelson pointed out that the foundation of the temple became vulnerable and used this as a metaphor for our spiritual foundation: we make think we are firmly grounded but it is actually time to take extraordinary measures to strengthen our foundation in Christ. In some instances, the spiritual stress test has shown tendencies toward contention and divisiveness. Do the possible changes make you feel apprehensive or excited? The inclusive spiritual community honors all faiths nurturing personal transformation. Can God change your life? And purifying a Temple is more than getting out the feather duster and flicking the dust off. Then have someone read this quote and start a class discussion with thought-provoking questions (some suggestions found after the quote). They also went one step further and made sure that every item that should be there in the Temple was there and that each piece was clean and ready for use (verse 18-19). Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Exact time unknown (5:1-2) 8. This is a Institutional post. He prescribed what he called an ongoing daily infusion of heavenly light regular prayer, pondering scriptures and self-introspection. To each of you who has made temple covenants, I plead with you to seek prayerfully and consistently to understand temple covenants and ordinances. We all drift from time to time, but we can get back on course. Does it need to be gutted? We will NEED to be very close to the Savior in the days ahead. The presentation of the endowment and the words of the temple covenants have changed at least twice in the last 35 years (in 1990 and again in 2019). 10 a.m. Sunday meditation followed by service featuring local musicians at 10:30. Finally, President Nelson told us to let God prevail in all aspects of our lives. I am so grateful to live in a time when we have a living prophet on the earth. They had snuffed out the lamps in the Temple, stopped offering sacrifices to God, and had closed up the doors. It has never been more important to seek personal peace.. The temple lies at the center of strengthening faith and spiritual fortitude because everything taught in the temple increases understanding of Jesus Christ. These truths I know: God, our Heavenly Father, wantsyouto choose to come home to Him. Everyone in that entourage knew exactly how King Hezekiah felt about God. We cant just simply claim that we are believers in the silence of our own hearts. Posting messages on Twitter, Facebook and . The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. President Camille N. Johnson, Primary general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Nelson gave a talk entitled The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation.In this talk he used the same analogy as Christ did when he compared the physical structure of the Salt Lake Temple to our own personal spiritual strength. And to each of you who has made temple covenants, I plead with you to seekprayerfully and consistentlyto understand temple covenants and ordinances. I need to work even harder to understand what is being taught in the temple and to see if there are places that I can improve my keeping of the covenants so that I am doing so with more exactness and honor. I love this prophet. This is His Church, restored to help you fulfill your divine destiny.. Using television and the Internet, CBN is proclaiming the Good News in 149 countries and territories, with programs and content in 67 languages. The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation. I don't think everything we believe comes together in the temple. A better comparison would be that not all temples look the same, but ordinances within are exactly the same. Strive to stabilize your nations economy? We steadily get better and upgrade towards Zion. Usually the waves remind me of constant strength and energy, but this time I was watching the effect they were having on our little beach. If you choose to live your life out of sequence, you will find life more difficult and chaotic, he said. There was no temple in New Testament times other than Herod's temple. The choir sang Come, Rejoice, Sing Praise to Him, Where Love Is, I Am a Child of God, How Firm a Foundation and Let the Mountains Shout for Joy.. Im not willing to waste any more time. Why? The Temple in the nation of Judah had become a junk room, an unused storage room filled with ungodly things. I dearly hope you get to experience the temple soon if it has been a while. Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. You have someone who wants to rent out that room, or you have someone interested in buying your house and you know they need to see that space and see it as clean as possible. President HaroldB. Lee explained why procedures, policies, and even the administration of temple ordinances continue to change within the Saviors restored Church. Your email address will not be published. Elder Renlund said contention in the church is harmful in two ways. I think Mark E. Peterson was more correct than Russell M. Nelson. We arrivedtoMaui a few days ago and have spent every evening on the beach just outside our condo. Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham said the closing prayer. Our large building features a metaphysical bookstore and supply shop, two large halls, and four classrooms. He makes things clear that the world wants to muddy. Elder Ulisses Soares teaches how we can follow the Saviors example of compassion (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). The blood was sprinkled to cleanse the nation from their sins. Capture your enemies? Consider how administering the sacrament has changed over the years. So helpful! , Under the Lords direction and in answer to our prayers, recent procedural adjustments have been made. The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation By President Russell M. Nelson President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants! These Levites were told to go in and take out the defiled things (verse 4-5). God is pleased when we proclaim Christ in our lives, as Hezekiah and his cohorts did. What are some unique anxieties of our time and how can we have courage and hope despite their difficulties? I think of that verse in Matthew 10:32 that says, "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven (NASB). We are ever moving towards more power and more significant benefit for us all. And secret names before allowing you back in heaven. We welcome these opportunities to build friendship and discuss shared initiatives that will continue to foster understanding and mutual respect. (I think the prophet knows something that we may not yet understand!) Lets go back to the story of Hezekiah. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to standstrongbecause your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable. Latter-day Saints must take unprecedented measures to strengthen their spiritual foundations like the extraordinary effort to reinforce the original, pioneer-era foundation of the iconic Salt Lake Temple, President Russell M. Nelson said Sunday morning.. All comments are moderated before being published. Elder Quentin L. Cook teaches about finding personal peace through five works of righteousness (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). "Temple covenants and the garment are not for perfect people. Have you ever tried to clean up your act by yourself? Go right to the quotes and discussion instead. President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visits with other general authorities after the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Specialties: Temple Aliyah is a Jewish Synagogue with preschool, kindergarten and Parent & Me serving Woodland Hills and the West Valley. It is something I really want to dive into the next six months and how I can improve my own discipleship. Not only that, but the group was to participate in worshipping the Lord. The results are likewise mixed, he said. In his first month of service, King Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple and repaired them (verse 3). Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable. %PDF-1.6 % How do we draw upon the Saviors power? Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the churchs 191st Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The topic of adversity continued to be common but I also felt an addition of several talks about repentance. I think this is a clear-cut example of setting up the temple as almost a surrogate for Christ. Some might even consider that the kind of senility that would warrant an arrest to the mental institution or the kind of political motive that might label you a traitor charged with treason. Elder Gary E. Stevenson teaches about the divinely appointed responsibilities of the Church (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." President Nelson is an amazing prophet. I think if the temple were as important as he is making it out to be, then the Lord would have revealed much more clearly how it was supposed to be administered and what the words of the covenants need to be. I'm going to give several quotes from this talk, with commentary on each (emphasis in the original). What a valuable lesson to be sharing with your group of Saints. President Nelson makes a distinction between covenants and core gospel truths vs. methods and procedures. There is a very distinct parallel to each of us today in this passage of Scripture because if we are Christians, then our bodies are called the temple of the Holy Spirit or the temple of the Living God or just the temple of God (see 1 Cor. I can testify with amazement, how much empowering grace settled upon my soul just being there. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. All rights reserved. "Temple ordinances and covenants are ancient. All quotes by President Russell M. Nelson and in blue (unless otherwise noted). Our hearts should house God. Sister Bonnie H. Cordon teaches youth that they are here at this time for a grand purpose in the work of God (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). My dear brothers and sisters, when renovations on the Salt Lake Temple are completed, there will be no safer place during an earthquake in the Salt Lake Valley than inside that temple. "As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Unlike the wandering test subjects, we have reliable, visible landmarks that we can use to evaluate our course, he said. When your spiritual foundation is build solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. I love to teach and prepare lessons, and you have helped me in emphasizing the important highlights and teaching points for discussion in Elders Quorum. Fill the earth with the light and warmth of compelling truths. We attend the temple and receive greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have to place our trust in God and not ourselves from that moment on. 27 Feb 2023 20:23:29 Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Reopening the Temple - Usher in God's Presence. President Nelson asked two questions in his talk that I want to spend some time really thinking on: President Nelson promised that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation. I have felt strongly the last year and a half the pull to be closer to the temple. He can rid us of all bitterness, rage, anger, debauchery, and the like when we ask for His enablement. The idea was not just to assess the newly restored Temple. God can and does work that grace in our lives when we need it most. Learning Light Foundation has been gratefully serving the Orange County spiritual community for. We look to the blood of the Lamb. Good luck as you teach or participate during your Relief Society or Elders Quorum! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Elder D. Todd Christofferson teaches about the love of God (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). He noted that the Restoration of the gospel and church is an ongoing process, and the same applies to individual lives. What are your favorite ways to reinforce your gospel understanding? October 10, 2021 The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation We arrived to Maui a few days ago and have spent every evening on the beach just outside our condo. Even the best videos turn a group passive, and they slow down participation so as a teacher, I would skip playing media. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with his wife Sister Susan Gong waves to attendees after the Sunday morning session of the 191st General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. We no longer have to do that today. I believe that president Nelson is sincere and that my EQP really feels the importance of the temple. So I ask each of you, how firm isyourfoundation? We have been promised that if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear.This assurance has profound implications today. That is not to say that all clean-up jobs are instant or that we wont ever have to get down with a toothbrush and scrub the floors of our heart. There are times when we must do the boot camp. They werent doing some PBS special about how the Temple got restored where King Hezekiah could say, Hey, look what I have done.. The reduced number of singers is designed to create physical distancing, said President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, who conducted the session. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for Gods angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. The Lord has declared that despite todays unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned how to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era. The items that remain must be repaired, organized neatly, and ready for use. And what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed? THIS. The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (emphasis mine). Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about the prophet and the temple. I think its important to see what the existence of temples lets the Church achieve. In every age, the temple has underscored the precious truth that those who make covenants with God and keep them are children of the covenant. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are free to choose who you will be and with whom you will be in the world to come! The masonic tokens and signs were made up a few hundred years ago. I bet if I asked you right now, you could tell me that you have a junk room in your house or you have a storage unit with that intent in mind. We just need one priest, a high priest, the High Priest. Over the years, Ive come to understand the importance of discerning between cultural teachings and doctrinal teachings within the Church. Heis the One who wants you to understand with great clarity exactly what you are making covenants to do. As we visit the temple often, we are reminded of the promises and blessings we receive there. The ultimate objective of the gathering of Israelis to bring the blessings of the temple to Gods faithful children. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Jesus is the Christ! The leaders of this church constantly seek direction from our Savior for guidance on making temples accessible to all members of the Lords restored church and to ensure that the truths are accurately taught and translated in every temple and language around the world. He suggested five works of righteousness to help members find peace among disputation and contention: Human beings tend to wander, a fact proved in a study that showed people without landmarks walk in circles, said Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. His plan of eternal progression is not complicated, and it honors your agency. You cant just simply make a pathway so you can open and close the door. Maybe its the place where you hoard things. He intends to upgrade us to a Zion-worthy group of Saints able to navigate the last days. "Temple ordinances and covenants are ancient. Your email address will not be published. When you bring your temple recommend, a contrite heart, and a seeking mind to the Lords house of learning, He will teach you. And it was filled with messages of FAITH and LOVE. President Nelson starts with a video that highlights the repair work underneath the Salt Lake Temple. We dont even have to flog ourselves or spill our own blood to reenter a right relationship with God. The ultimate objective of the gathering of Israel is to bring the blessings of the temple to Gods faithful children. That would be opening and repairing the door, as we saw Hezekiah do earlier. to begin building on your spiritual foundation, you have to start clearing out all the junk, all the sin, and all the unrighteousness in your life that will hinder your ultimate spiritual . What do you throw away? Even the grungiest, most unholy areas of ourselves can, given the power of the Holy Spirit and Gods focused efforts on our behalf, be completely purified and restored to working order very quickly. Or are we holed up with the lights turned off? We need the temple and Jesus. Third, exercise agency to choose righteousness. 3:1; 4:14; 6:20; 7:27; 8:1; 9:11). The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again. Begin with the temple. Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 3:2, 17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). Now is the time to develop that relationship and that understanding. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Just like major renovations are needed to reinforce the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple to withstand the forces of nature, it is now time to implement extraordinary measures to strengthen personal spiritual foundations. Wait, he told us to just keep going until we learn to love it. You are free to choose who you will beand with whom you will bein the world to come! 28:40-29:9). This He desires foralltemple patrons, no matter where they live.. He delivered the message, accompanied by striking video and other images of his visit to the renovation site in May, during the 191st Semiannual General Conference. And the Most Holy One has a mandate for you to help a nation seek His kingdom and His righteousness. The way you are going to do that is through reestablishing holy worship of God among the people. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel. In June 2018. Jesus is the Christ! You can find a list of our flairs and their definitions in section 0.6 of our rules. "Current adjustments in temple procedures, and others that will follow, are continuing evidence that the Lord is actively directing His Church.". This true story appears in 2 Chronicles 29. I was so excited for your post even as you are so busy with your move. We lost our attendance habit when the temples closed down during the pandemic, but quickly realized that we were going to have to build that habit back and are scheduled to worship there twice a month with the goal of going more often as we continue to adjust our personal lives. I hope one day that will be the case. I am talking about Jesus Christ, and He knows just how to clean out our temples (see Heb. Hewants you to have spiritual insights and awakenings youve never had before. The Nation needed God, and so he decided it would start with him. Elder Ronald A. Rasband shares some of the things of his soul and invites us to think of our own and share them (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). Seriously, the sacrament is my example of how things DON'T change. And recognize that when you meet resistance it simply means that the adversary knows the good that is about to come of it. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), 5 Highlights for The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation by President Nelson, General Conference Talks with 5 Highlights. This is His Church, restored to help you fulfill your divine destiny., . Through focused effort combined with spiritual help from his Levite laborers, Hezekiah was able to get the Temple up and running again in only 16 days (verse17). This is a prophetic warning. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you haveno need to fear. Because he knows our potential perfectly, he will take us to places we never imagined ourselves. Everything we believe and every promise God has made to His covenant people come together in the temple. President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Possible discussion questions: What is the Spirit prompting you to begin doing? Does it need repairing? on The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, House of Glory: Finding Personal Meaning in the Temple, {REVIEW} The Good and the Beautiful Science: Mammals, MRI / Hearing Screening / Genetic Testing, The Need for a Church The Berning Bunch. Only someone who talks directly to God could have that kind of wonderful stuff to say! Or, at the very least, those things aren't as important as President Nelson would have us believe. What is the Spirit prompting you to do without? If individuals are going to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, they must have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Fortify your military? The Temple had not been in use as it should have been (verses 5-8). That is increasingly difficult, said Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He asked listeners to consider how firm their spiritual foundations are and what reinforcement their spiritual lives and understanding need. What do you keep? Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! In the October 2021 General Conference, Pres. We too, may be exposed at timesvictim to the breaking waves of mortality and adversity, leaving us exhausted and stripped to the core. He can rid us . Sister Susan H. Porter teaches about how we can feel the Gods love (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). Any other books about the temple you would recommend? He is the One who wants you to experience fully His sacred ordinances. Meanwhile, the TBMs in my life hear it and are terrified about the coming perils and are doubling down. Living the Christian life is a journey. Much to contemplate! How many observe it? And thank you for pointing out the sacrament example. The wording is PRECISE and the poor kid reciting the prayer has to say it again if he slips in an extra "and" or "always". Lets get serious about our walk with the Lord. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf teaches that we can do simple things each day to renew and restore ourselves spiritually (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us withHishealing, strengthening power. This is not a new challenge but it is a critical one., First, contention weakens our collective witness to the world of Jesus Christ and the redemption that comes through His merits, mercy and grace, and everyone knows that we are not his disciples when we do not show love one to another., Second, contention is spiritually unhealthy for us as individuals.

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