Today we heard from Susan W. on the topic "Temple blessings for ourselves and our ancestors". She began with the story from the manual.
In 1905, as a new Apostle, George Albert Smith toured several important Church history sites with President Joseph F. Smith and other members of the Quorum of the Twelve. One place they visited was Kirtland, Ohio, where the early Saints had built the first temple in this dispensation. “Coming in sight of the town,” Elder Smith recalled, “the first thing that greeted our vision was the beautiful temple of Kirtland. … It was there that the Prophet Joseph Smith and [Oliver Cowdery] saw the Savior upon the breastwork of the pulpit. It was there that Moses committed to them the keys of the gathering of Israel; and that Elias and Elijah came in the power and majesty of their great callings, and delivered the keys that had been committed to their care in the days of their ministry on the earth.”
As the group walked through the temple, Elder Smith thought about the devoted Saints who built it. “When we realized that the building was constructed by people in extreme poverty, how courageous men worked during the day to lay the foundations and build the walls of that structure, and then at night stood and defended it with weapons against those who had sworn that the building should never be completed, we could not help but feel that it was no wonder the Lord received their offerings and blessed them as few people have been blest upon the earth.”
She emphasized that we are unique in the knowledge of the purpose of temples: to bind together families, houses of the Lord and places that praise, worship and where God can be, place of holy ordinancess. We need to be thankful for this knowledge. One sister noted that we should fit our schedule to the temple and not the temple to our schedule.
How do we prepare to go to the temple? One sister shared that often the stressors of getting ready to go can distract from the meaning. Another sister shared that the temple is like fasting in that it is more meaningful when we go with a purpose.
Susan shared that when she was reunited with her granddaughter after many years, the first thing her granddaughter wanted to do was to go to the temple and do baptisms. She happened to have some temple cards for ancestors, including her grandmother. She and her granddaughter were able to do these names and she realized that she had to be prepared for this unexpected request. She felt blessed that it brought her closer to her granddaughter.
She shared another story about her son, who has Downs syndrome. He had requested and desired to serve a mission from the age of 19, and had approached the Bishops of his ward multiple times. After hearing a talk from President Hinkley he approached the stake president and told him that "President Hinkley says every worthy young man should go on a mission, and I am worthy." He served for 18 months at the Los Angeles temple. They came to understand the blessings of the temple at that time, from the chance to demonstrate faith, devotion and spiritual commitment to missionary opportunities as others observed the families commitment to the temple.
What blessing come from the temple? One sister shared that she has felt clarity and lack of distraction at the temple. Sometimes she goes with a purpose and feels the answers come and other times she goes without a purpose but also finds one. Another sister shared that she feels so close to the Lord in the temple and during those times she feels without a doubt that her Father in Heaven loves her and has answered her prayers. She also shared that it is particularly special to attend the temple with others for the first time, recognizing the sacred nature of the relationships we have with others. Another sister shared that she attends the temple monthly as a habit. However, she admits that she doesn't always understand the details of the ceremony. She has gained a testimony that the act of making it happen every month will allow her to learn and understand more of the sacred nature of the ceremony. She also records the name, birth year and temple for every proxy ordinances she performs.
In D&C 132:46 we learn that "that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens"
She shared the experience of being sealed to her family when her children were young and despite being active boys, they also felt the Spirit of the session. President Smith said that if we don't do our part, blessings for our ancestors will be missed.
We read from the manual:
I am here reminded of a story of two brothers who lived in a northern Utah town: The older brother, Henry, was a banker and merchant, and had ample means. The other brother, George, was a farmer, and did not have very much beyond his needs, but he had a desire to do temple work for their dead. He searched out their genealogy and went to the temple and worked for those who had passed on.
One day George said to Henry, “I think you should go down to the temple and help.”
But Henry said, “I haven’t time to do anything like that. It takes me all my time to take care of my business.” …
About a year after that, Henry called at George’s home and said, “George, I have had a dream, and it worries me. I wonder if you can tell me what it means?”
George asked, “What did you dream, Henry?”
Henry said, “I dreamed that you and I had passed from this life and were on the other side of the veil. As we went along, we came to a beautiful city. People were gathered together in groups in many places, and every place we came they shook your hand and put their arms around you and blessed you and said how thankful they were to see you, but,” he said, “they didn’t pay a bit of attention to me; they were hardly friendly. What does that mean?”
George asked, “You thought we were on the other side of the veil?”
“Yes.”
“Well, this is what I have been talking to you about. I have been trying to get you to do the work for those people who are over there. I have been doing work for many of them, but the work for many more is yet to be done. … You had better get busy, because you have had a taste of what you may expect when you get over there if you do not do your part in performing this work for them.”
… After we have been to the House of the Lord for our own blessings, let us think of our responsibility to our forebears. What will be your reception when you go on the other side? Will you be the one they will reach out to and bless throughout the ages of eternity, or will you be like the brother who was selfishly working out his problems here and letting those who could not help themselves go on without his help?
She ended with the scripture found in John 3:5, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
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