The Life and Ministry of Howard W. Hunter - January 3, 2016

Sue A. led a wonderful gospel discussion as we walked through the history of President Hunter's life events.

 At the time of Howard’s birth, the Church had only one small branch in Boise. Howard’s mother was an active member of the branch who raised her children in the gospel. Of her, Howard said, “She was always faithful. … She served as president of the Primary and [Young Women]. I can remember going to church with mother, sometimes before the scheduled hour for the meetings, and then staying after so she could complete her work.” Although Howard’s father was not a member of the Church, he did not object to the family’s participation and occasionally attended sacrament meeting with them.
In addition to leading her children in Church activity, Nellie Hunter helped them build a strong religious foundation at home. “It was mother who took the lead in teaching us the gospel,” Howard recalled. “It was at her knee that we learned to pray. … I received a testimony as a boy at my mother’s knee." (The Life and Ministry of Howard W. Hunter)

• How do you approach your relationships with family members that are not very active in the Church?

“We drove to Palos Verdes and parked on the cliffs where we could watch the waves roll in from the Pacific and break over the rocks in the light of a full moon. We talked about our plans and I put a diamond ring on her finger. We made many decisions that night and some strong resolutions regarding our lives.”
Those resolutions influenced Howard to make a life-changing decision four days before the wedding. After his band performed that night, he packed up his instruments and never played again professionally. Providing music for dances and parties “was glamorous in some respects,” he said, “and I made good money,” but he felt that parts of the lifestyle were incompatible with the life he envisioned for his family. “This left a void of something I had enjoyed, [but] the decision has never been regretted,” he said years later. His son Richard observed, “I have often thought of the remarkable discipline (I call it grit) it must have taken to give up something he deeply loved because he valued something more.” (The Life and Ministry of Howard W. Hunter)

• Do you know someone who sacrificed something important to them to gain something better?

“While I was speaking to the congregation, … my father and mother came into the chapel dressed in white. I had no idea my father was prepared for his temple blessings, although Mother had been anxious about it for some time. I was so overcome with emotion that I was unable to continue to speak. President Pierce [the temple president] came to my side and explained the reason for the interruption. When my father and mother came to the temple that morning they asked the president not to mention to me that they were there because they wanted it to be a birthday surprise. This was a birthday I have never forgotten because on that day they were endowed and I had the privilege of witnessing their sealing, following which I was sealed to them.” (The Life and Ministry of Howard W. Hunter)

• Do you remember a time when you saw someone unexpectedly in the temple?

“I also invite the members of the Church to establish the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of their membership and the supernal setting for their most sacred covenants. It would be the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church be temple worthy. 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. The temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us.”(The Life and Ministry of Howard W. Hunter)

• What does the temple mean to you?  What can you do to "hasten to" it and make it a sanctuary for you?

“First of all, I would invite all members of the Church to live with ever more attention to the life and example of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially the love and hope and compassion He displayed. I pray that we might treat each other with more kindness, more courtesy, more humility and patience and forgiveness.” (The Life and Ministry of Howard W. Hunter)

Temple symbols - March 1, 2015

We had guest teacher Lynne W. speak on some of the symbols of temple worship.  Here are a few notes from her robust lesson.

What a blessing it is for us to approach the veil of the temple, in biblical times only one man could do so, and only once a year.

 Elder John A. Widtsoe said: 'There is a feeling abroad that the benefits of the temple are primarily for the dead. This is not so. While the dead, if repentant, are able through our efforts to enter into a larger salvation, yet the work itself has a most beneficial effect upon the living who serve as proxies for the dead. . . . The response of the spirit of man to the ordinances of the House of the Lord stimulates every normal power and activity and helps greatly in the accomplishment of our daily tasks; more joy enters into the daily routine of life, . . . spiritual vision. . . love. . . peace tempers the tempests of life, and we rise to higher levels of thought and action. . . In this way the temples are always places where God manifests himself to man and increases his intelligence. A temple is a place of revelation.' (Christ Manifested to His People by Marion D. Hanks)

Catherine Thomas said: 'The temple is the narrow channel through which one must pass to reenter the Lord's presence. A mighty power pulls us through that channel, and it is the sealing power of the at-one-ment of the Lord Jesus Christ. . . In scripture we can study how the ancient great ones were drawn through that narrow channel to find their heart's desire . . . This was the very search for which they were put on earth: to rend the veil of unbelief, to yield to the pull of the Savior's sealing power, to stand in the Lord's presence, encircled about in the arms of his love (Doc. & Cov. 6:20; 2 Nephi 1:15). This then is the temple endowment: having been cast out, to search diligently according to the revealed path, and at last to be clasped in the arms of Jesus (Morm 5:11).' (Temples of the Ancient World by Donald Perry)

In ancient temple worship there is evidence of that they washed, anointed, clothed, enthroned and named people in the temple as a way to focus their service to Christ.  The olive oil used for anointing in the ancient temple was the first pressing of the olives.

Paul spoke on Veils of Authority in 1 Corinthians 11: 2-13 which explains why women wear veils. 'Head' can also mean 'source' so in verse 3: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
In verse 7, "but the woman is the glory of the man." instead of the glory of God.  Only through woman could man/humanity continue.

Brigham Young said "Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels (DBY, 416)."

Temple baptistry update

The Oakland Temple has made changes to the scheduling for performing temple baptisms to put priority on families coming to the temple together.

Families can make an appointment or on a first-come basis.

Peak-demand schedule:
Tuesdays, 5pm-9pm :    Family/Walk-ins
Wednesdays, 5pm-9pm: Ward/Stake appointments
Thursdays, 5pm-9pm:    Family/Walk-ins
Fridays, 5pm-9pm:        Ward/Stake appointments
Saturdays, 5:30am-2pm: Ward/Stake appointments
Saturdays, 2pm-5pm:     Family/Walk-ins

The general schedule of the baptistry is:
Tuesdays, 5am-9pm
Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays, 7am-9pm
Saturdays, 5:30am-5pm

Patrons are also invited to consider participating at the baptistry during the non-peak demand hours.

Another change is that each ward/branch in the temple district can only schedule one appointment time during the peak-demand times each year. They will no longer be automatically 90 minutes but will instead be based on the number of patrons participating.
Units are invited to provide, when possible, a sufficient number of endowed brothers and sisters to assist in the baptistry.  For the family/walk-in time slots, as well as other times throughout the day, the temple is responsible for providing workers to assist the patrons.

Though ordinances should be performed in the proper sequence, patrons do not need to perform both baptism and confirmation ordinances on the same day.




3:40

The temple in our lives - October 12, 2014

Sue A. focused thoughts around the temple with insights from General Conference and Daughters in My Kingdom.

“Miss [Margaret] Cook … one day in conversation with me on the subject of a recent appeal for provisions, clothing, bedding and general supplies for the workmen and their families, remarked that she would be pleased to contribute needlework if it could be made available. I proffered material for her to make up, and suggested that others might feel as we did. We then [discussed] the subject of organizing a sewing society. The object of which should be to aid in the erection of the temple.

“About a dozen of the neighboring sisters by invitation met in my [home] the following Thursday.”

In that era, it was a popular practice for women to form their own organizations, often with constitutions and bylaws--sets of rules to govern the organizations. The women who met at Sarah Kimball’s home decided to establish a constitution and bylaws, and Eliza R. Snow accepted the responsibility to write them. Then the women asked Joseph Smith to review them and give his opinion of them. After the Prophet read them, he said they were “the best he had ever seen. ‘But,’ he said, ‘this is not what you want. Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and he has something better for them than a written constitution. I invite them all to meet with me and a few of the brethren … next Thursday afternoon, and I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.’”
“Something Better”: The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo. Daughters in My Kingdom

Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, “As temples are prepared for the people, the people need to prepare themselves for the temple.”²

• How do you physically prepare to get to the temple?

Make a date with someone else, lunch, go for 2+ sessions, join with 9a-6p Thursday ladies, trade childcare, go with someone in a similar life phase, work around school schedules, early Saturday morning session gets you can be back by 10am, put it on the calendar early, just go, enjoy the drive, take babysitter with you, offer a ride/meet at church with someone else.

The temple is less busy earlier in the day, earlier in the week and earlier in the month.

• How do you prepare yourself spiritually?

Listening to lds.org recordings during daily activities; as Moses talked to God we can prepare to ask Him questions, what you bring to the altar.

'In Matthew 25 we read:

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. …

“[They that were] wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

“But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

“But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, Ye know me not.”⁵

I don’t think there is anyone, especially among those with tender hearts, who doesn’t feel sad for the foolish young women. And some of us just want to say to the others, “Can’t you just share so everyone can be happy?” But think about it. This is a story the Savior told, and He is the one who calls five of them “wise” and five of them “foolish.”

As we consider this parable as a pattern for temple preparation, consider the words of a latter-day prophet who taught that “the oil of spiritual preparedness cannot be shared.”⁶ President Spencer W. Kimball helped clarify why the five “wise” young women could not share the oil in their lamps with those who were “foolish” when he said: “Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions … —these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.”⁷

Can you see the pattern of preparedness—drop by drop—that can help us as we think how we might be more diligent in our preparation to receive sacred ordinances for ourselves and others? What other small and simple things might we do to add precious spiritual drops of oil to our lamps of preparation?'
Linda K. Burton, Prepared in a Manner That Had Never Been Known, General Women's Meeting

Jane Clayson Johnson in an interview on the Mormon Channel, described a moment of choice when she chose to be modest and said we can lift others by our own example.
We can be an example.

Planning for a temple marriage - September 7, 2014

We had the Young Women join us and Wendy P. taught a lesson about the temple and attributes of a good marriage.  Though not all women will marry in this life, there are many principles in the scriptures pertaining to marriage.

And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man. Doctrine & Covenants 49:15

When Wendy was in high school a teacher asked what to look for in a good husband.  Wendy answered, "a good kisser!" Looking back she saw how there were many more important values that a partner should have.

• What are good attributes to look for in a suitable husband?

Acceptance of who I am, a sense of humor and can laugh at himself, how a son treats his mother, being kind, one who holds the priesthood, honest, trustworthy, puts other's needs before his own.

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.  Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-3

Even after over 30 years, marriage is still a work in progress.  Once sealed, a couple still needs to keep the commandments, live the gospel, go to church, pray and maintain their relationship.

Elder Russell M. Nelson said, "a temple marriage is not only between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God." (Celestial Marriage, October 2008 General Conference)

• What can you be doing to be temple ready?

Go to the temple often and build your relationship with God.

Thanks for a great lesson Wendy!

Lesson Summary November 3, 2013

Heather C lead a wonderful discussion around the general conference talk "Do We Know What We Have?" by Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the general relief society presidency. 

This past week, have you come across something you needed to do but couldn't do?
How do the ordinances and covenants empower/enable us in our daily lives?

These priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fulness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior’s Atonement. They arm sons and daughters of God with power, God’s power,⁸ and provide us with the opportunity to receive eternal life—to return to God’s presence and live with Him in His eternal family.

What covenants have we participated in?
- Baptism

We need baptism. When we are immersed in the waters of baptism, we covenant to take Christ’s name upon us, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end, that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.²

-Confirmation
We need the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through that ordinance, we can have access to the constant companionship of the Spirit. President Wilford Woodruff taught: “Every man or woman that has ever entered into the church of God and been baptized for the remission of sins has a right to revelation, a right to the Spirit of God, to assist them in their labors, in their administrations to their children, in counseling their children and those over whom they are called upon to preside. The Holy Ghost is not restricted to men, nor to apostles or prophets; it belongs to every faithful man and woman, and to every child who is old enough to receive the gospel of Christ.”³
Personal stories:
*Hilary M. shared how the Holy Ghost reminds her to be become a better person. She tells of the time she returned home from her mission and how the Holy Ghost comforted her and reminder her to love others and have charity.  
*Tori G. shared a story about a rigorous youth trek. She explained how she was strengthened during a physically weak moment by the Holy Ghost and was able to immediately feel greater strength. 

-Sacrament
We need the opportunity to renew our covenants each week as we partake of the sacrament. Latter-day prophets and apostles have taught that when we worthily partake of the sacrament, we can renew not only our baptismal covenant but “all covenants entered into with the Lord.”⁷

-Endowment
We need to receive the temple endowment. Elder M. Russell Ballard said: “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. … The endowment is literally a gift of power.”⁴
*Strengthened us in times of loneliness

-Sealing
We need the sealing ordinance, which leads to eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.”⁵ This priesthood ordinance is received only by a man and a woman together. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, “Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally.”⁶

Conclusion:
Jesus Christ is the one who makes our covenants valid. His love makes us want to be better. Try hard. Keep growing and keep going.

Thank you Heather for the wonderful lesson!

Lesson Summary: May 19, 2013

Sara G. taught the lesson this week from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 10: “Come into the Temples”

President Snow was at the dedication of the capstone of the Salt Lake Temple and served as its first temple president.

40,000 people attended the capstone ceremony with an additional 10,000 nearby, President Snow gave instruction on the hosanna shout.
"This is no ordinary order, but is—and we wish it to be distinctly understood—a sacred shout, and employed only on extraordinary occasions like the one now before us. We wish it also to be distinctly understood that we want the brethren and sisters not only to express the words, but that their hearts shall be full of thanksgiving to the God of heaven, who has accomplished, through our agency, this mighty and extraordinary labor."
"Let your hearts be filled with thanksgiving.” He demonstrated the Hosanna Shout and then said, “Now when we go before the Temple, and this shout goes forth, we want every man and every woman to shout these words to the very extent of their voices, so that every house in this city may tremble, the people in every portion of this city hear it, and it may reach to the eternal worlds.”
“Just as the hour of noon was reached, President Wilford Woodruff stepped to the front of the platform, in full view of the assembled multitude, in whose midst a solemn stillness reigned. A thrill went through the hearts of the people as he spoke:
“‘Attention, all ye house of Israel, and all ye nations of the earth! We will now lay the top stone of the Temple of our God, the foundation of which was laid and dedicated by the Prophet, Seer and Revelator Brigham Young.’
“President Woodruff then pressed an electric button, and the Temple capstone moved securely into its position. The scene that followed is beyond the power of language to describe. The venerable President of the Twelve, Apostle Lorenzo Snow, came forward and led forty thousand Saints in shouting in concert:
“‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna! to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, and amen!
“‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna! to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, and amen!
“‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna! to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, and amen!’
“Each shout was accompanied by the waving of handkerchiefs. … The eyes of thousands were moistened with tears in the fulness of their joy. The ground seemed to tremble with the volume of sound which sent forth its echoes to the surrounding hills. A grander or more imposing spectacle than this ceremony of laying the Temple capstone is not recorded in history. The hosannas had scarce ceased when the vast congregation burst forth in the glorious inspirational hymn, ‘The Spirit of God like a fire is burning.’”

• What are we saying when we say hosanna to God?
• We're asked to establish a house of prayer...How do you think of your own home? What do you desire it to be like, what do you desire to feel or experience?
• Does a temple change the neighborhood community it's built in?
• Do you feel that the covenants and blessings that you receive from the temple effect your home?

"My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."
"Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is."

"I express my undying gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the temple now being built in Rome and for all of our temples, wherever they are. Each one stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations. Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth." 

2011 April General Conference, The Holy Temple-a Beacon to the World, Thomas S. Monson

"When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them."

2005 April General Conference, Hearts Bound Together, Henry B. Eyring

May the temple bring us strength and purpose to our lives.

Lesson by Mandy W. on Temple Work and Family History

A little background on Mandy, who recently moved into our ward (and we are so happy to have her!)
-from Mesa, Arizona
-served a mission in Santiago, Chile
-Married 8 yrs with 3 kids. Oldest is Ellie (5yrs), then Noah (3yrs), and Rowena (4mo)
-Last 5 yrs in Michigan

Moved here in June and was just called to be RS Temple Coordinator.
In Mandy's words: "I am grateful to be set apart with this calling before I teach this because I truly hope to have the Spirit to help inspire people about the importance of Temple trips."

Lesson: Temple Work and Family History
Mandy started out with this short video on why we build temples.

??? What makes the temple important to you personally???
-It is a place of peace and a refuge form the outside world
-It is the greatest university known to man-- provides higher education
-To learn about life after death
-To leave our pains and trials behind as we lose ourselves in service
-To have a personal encounter with God and to hear His voice. In the temple, God and Jesus Christ speak to us and to one another, and then invite us to respond verbally to them.
-One sister shared that her life has changed since she became a temple worker. She has learned more about her relationship with Jesus Christ, about God's love for her, about the importance of sacred ordinances, and has felt deeper love for others.

The things we are taught in temples:
o Our purpose here
o Our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
o Our premortal existence
o The meaning of life and life after death

“[Temples] are a souce of spiritual power and strength. They are a place of revelation”
–Silvia H. Allred (General Conference 2008)

“The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings we
receive in the temples of God” –President Monson (April General Conference 2011)

President Monson in the Mormon Message said “It lifts us”, “It exalts us”, “Points us to Celestial
Glory”, it is a place of “tranquility, kindness, love and light”

???Why are temples important in our lives???

-Perform necessary ordinances and covenants!! AND THEY ARE NOT JUST FOR US!

I love how the book specifically adds how “[Heavenly Father] has ASKED us to perform ordinances for our ancestors in the temples” WHAT AN HONOR – He has asked us to be a part of it!

I absolutely loved the last priest shown in that Mormon Message – he said “It’s a beautiful thing . . . extending the blessings that have come to me in and through Jesus Christ. That’s a beautiful way of letting the ETERNAL mix into the temple – which, in a way, is what Christianity is all about”

???What are the ordinaces???

Temple Ordinances Seal Families Together Forever

???What does it mean to be sealed???

“Whatsoever thou shalt bind in earth shall be bound in heaven” Matt 16:19, D&C 132:7

The book “Baptism and all other ordinances prepare us for THIS sacred event” EVERYTHING IS
LEADING UP TO THE TEMPLE. Growing up we always hear about how important baptism is but it is amazing to realize that that is just the stepping stone.

Quote:
“The Atonement of Jesus Christ assures each of us that we will be resurrected and live forever. But if we are to live forever with our families in Heavenly Father’s presence, we must do all that the Savior commands us to do. This includes being baptized and confirmed and receiving the ordinances of the gospel.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have each been baptized and
confirmed by one having the proper priesthood authority. Each of us may also go to the temple to receive the saving priesthood ordinances performed there. But many of God’s children have not had these same opportunities. They lived at a time or place when the gospel was not available to them.

Heavenly Father wants all of His children to return and live with Him. For those who died without baptism or the temple ordinances, He has provided a way for this to happen. He has asked us to perform ordinances for our ancestors in the temples.”

Like that sweet man pointed out in the Mormon Message we have the chance now – and the
RESPONSIBILITY to extend “the blessings that have come to [us] in and through Jesus Christ.”

Story from the manual:
“Mario Cannamela married Maria Vitta in 1882. They lived in Tripani, Italy, where they raised a family and shared many wonderful years together. Mario and Maria did not hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ during their lifetimes. They were not baptized. They did not have the opportunity to go to the temple and be sealed together as an eternal family. At death, their marriage ended.


Over a century later a great reunion took place. Descendants of Mario and Maria went to the Los Angeles Temple, where a great-grandson and his wife knelt at an altar and served as proxies for the sealing of Mario and Maria. Tears filled their eyes as they shared in Mario and Maria’s joy.”

Many of our ancestors are among those who died without hearing about the gospel while on the earth. They now live in the spirit world (see chapter 41 in this book). There they are taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted the gospel are waiting for the temple ordinances to be performed for them. As we perform these ordinances in the temple for our ancestors, we can share their joy.

???What experiences have you had doing temple work for your ancestors???

???How do we get started???

1. Identify our ancestors.
2. Find out which ancestors need temple ordinances performed.
3. Make certain that the ordinances are performed for them.

???How has the Lord helped you or members of your family find information about your ancestors???

Additional Family History Opportunities: Participate in Family Organizations! Go to your family reunions, even if it's hard. Consider organizing a family reunion if your family doesn't regularly hold one.

CONCLUSION:

If you have children, take them to the temple! Walk around the grounds, take a picnic, and go to the Visitors Center.
If your children are 12 years old or older, they can share in these blessings by being baptized and confirmed for their ancestors.

Involve the whole family – Make the temple part of your family’s tradition!

**The Relief Society presidency would like to help you go to the temple and invites you to bring the temple more into your life. Marguerite shared that we can come "face to face with God and feel of His great love for us." Please let us know how we can help you in your efforts to go!

More on Temples from LDS.org