Dear readers: There’s a phrase that goes ‘there are no accidents’. While I don’t believe that to be universal, I have come to learn that, in retrospect, it is often true. So… what follows was also the subject a month and a half ago on February 24th. I discovered this when almost done (… it sounded strangely familiar!), so when I found the original, I put this one in the electronic trash. Then, in keeping with trying to let the Lord guide me on what to publish, it occured to me that someone out there didn’t see the first one and needs to, so here it is. (Then I titled it ‘Look to the Temple’). k
From President Russell M. Nelson’s book ‘Accomplishing the Impossible’ p.63-65
…. “President Brigham Young, shortly after he arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, touched his cane to the desert soil and proclaimed, “Here we will build the temple of our God.”38
Year by year and step by step, revelation has come to successive prophets. President Wilford Woodruff taught this concept when speaking in general conference in April 1894: “[Joseph Smith and Brigham Young] did not receive all the revelations that belong to temple work; neither did President Taylor, nor has Wilford Woodruff. There will be no end to this work until it is perfected.”39
At the dedication of the St. George Temple on January 1, 1877, the very year that President Young passed away, he said: “What do you suppose the fathers would say if they could speak from the dead? Would they not say, “We have lain here thousands of years, here in this prison house, waiting for this dispensation to come?’. . . What would they whisper in our ears? Why, if they had the power the very thunders of heaven would be in our ears, if they could but realize the importance of the work we are engaged in. All angels in heaven are looking at this little handful of people, and stimulating them to the salvation of the human family. . . When I think upon this subject, I want the tongues of seven thunders to wake up the people.”40
President Howard W. Hunter added this statement: “I invite the Latter-day Saints to look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of [their] membership. It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend.” 41
Why do we have temples? Why do we have missionaries? Why should anyone join this Church? To make life more pleasant, satisfying, uplifting? Yes, but other organizations can also do some of that. In fact we join this Church to make and keep sacred covenants that will qualify us for eternal life. We join this Church so that our families can be together forever, Only the Lord’s Church can offer these enduring blessings.
Without sealing ordinances performed for families in the temple, the whole earth would be utterly wasted! 42-(D&C 2:3, D&C 138:48) The purposes of Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement would all be frustrated.
I repeat: God simply wants His children to return to Him. For this to happen, each of us needs to make and keep sacred covenants, receive ordinances of salvation and exaltation, and be linked to both our ancestors and our posterity. Only then are we qualified to live with Deity and our families forever.
When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us.43 His law is written in our hearts.44 He is our God and we are His people.45 Committed children of the covenant remain steadfast, even in the midst of adversity. When that doctrine is deeply implanted in our hearts, even the sting of death is soothed and our spiritual stamina is strengthened.
The greatest compliment that can be earned in this life is to be known as a covenant keeper. The rewards for a covenant keeper will be realized both here and the hereafter. Scriptures declare that “ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold they are blessed in all things,… and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven,… [and] dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.”46
38. See Susa Young Gates and Leah D. Widtsoe, The Life Story of Brigham Young (1930)
39. The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham (1946), 154.
40. Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 403,404.
43. Accomplishing the Impossible, notes p.153 note 43
44. Isaiah 55:3, Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15, 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
45. Psalms 95:7, 100:3, Jeremiah 24:7, 31:33, 32:38
46. Mosiah 2:41
