Early lesson that didn't get posted.
“For many years Sister Bednar and I hosted faithful men and women as devotional speakers at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Many of these speakers were emeritus or released members of the seventy who had served as temple presidents following their service as General authorities. As we talked with these stalwart leaders, I always asked this question: ‘What have you learned as a temple President that you wish you had better understood when you were a general authority?’ As I listened to their answers, I discovered a consistent theme that would summarize as follows: ‘I have come to understand better the protection available through our temple covenants and what it means to make an acceptable offering of temple worship. There is a difference between church-attending, tithe paying members who occasionally rush into the temple to go through a session and those members who faithfully and consistently worship in the temple.”
1) When is it that most people go through the temple for the first time? Because that is when the protection is needed most, at the spiritual milestones that defines our lives – mission and marriage. Why? What are Satan’s two main focuses of attack? Family and missionary work
Show Temple wall – have them close their eyes and visualize these quotes. Their so expressive
Alma 26:5-6 (garners and protection from storm)
“If you wish this Temple built, go to work, and do all you can… Some may say, ‘I do not like to do it, for we never began to build a temple without the bells of hell beginning to ring.’ I want to hear them ring again. All the tribes of hell will be on the move… but what do you think it will amount to? You have all the time seen what it has amounted to.” Brigham Young 1861
I like to think of the scripture in Moses 1 were Moses describes Satan’s tantrum when he resists his tempting!
What do you think the bells sound like today?
Share the analogy of the world and the church as two trains speeding in opposite directions.
Can you see that? As we get more temples on the earth what is happening in the world around us? Do we need the temple more as more temples are put in up? Think of this in relation to the Brigham Young quote
“We should not be surprised by Satan’s efforts to thwart or discredit temple worship and work. The devil despises the purity in and power of the Lord’s house. And the protection available to each of us in and through temple ordinances and covenants stands as a great obstacle to the evil designs of Lucifer.”
“Please consider these verses in light of the current raging of the adversary and what we have discussed about our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and the blessings of protection promised to those who honorably hold a name and standing in the holy temple”
D&C 109:22-28
What are some of the implications of these verses?
2) What is an acceptable offering of temple worship? What makes that difference? How does our preparation and worthiness (beyond the temple recommend questions) enhance our worship and protection?
“Please cast away the things in your life that stand in the way. Please seek after the things that are of eternal consequence… [To the youth]I plead with you to be worthy, to be steadfast, and to look forward with great anticipation to the day you will receive the ordinances of the temple.”
How do we help our children do this? How do you do this?
“We do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. [Rather], we witness that we are willing to do so. That fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon and us in the [ultimate and] most important sense.” Elder Oaks
D&C 105:33 & 109:2-5 & 124:39
What do we do to show our willingness?
“The process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism id continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.” Elder Bednar
Brigham Young also said “Now is the time for labor. Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the house of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like flame unquenchable.”
How can we strengthen the fire/worship and better improve our temple visits?
“What was it that gave those early saints such strength? It was the fire of the temple covenant that burned in their hearts. It was their commitment to worship and honorably hold a name and standing in the house of the Lord. We do now and will yet face great challenges to the work of the Lord. But like the pioneers who found the place that god for them prepared, so we will fresh courage take, knowing our God will never us forsake.”
Bear testimony of the power of covenants the protection received by and through them and including the strength that comes from the fire of the covenant and its enabling power. Challenge them to seek those blessings and fan the flames through improved attendance worship and preparation.
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