Temples

There is not just one word that can describe how wonderful Temples are. Temples are the Holy House's of the Lord. His spirit resides there and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ we have the privilage to work towards entering the Temples of the Lord to make sacred covenants with our Father in Heaven for ourselves and more importantly for our deceased ancestors. These covenants that we make within the walls of this Holy House are essential for our salvation and for our deceased ancestors. Silvia H. Allred stated, "The covenants we make with the associated ordinances we receive in the temple become our credentials for admission into God’s presence. These covenants elevate us beyond the limits of our own power and perspective. We make covenants to show our devotion to build up the kingdom. We become covenant people as we are placed under covenant to God. All the promised blessings are ours through our faithfulness to these covenants." I know that to be true, it is amazing the blessings that we recieve as we diligently serve our Lord and keep our covenants!

This week I had the chance to do a Session in the Medford, Oregon Temple (pictured on the right)! I was really surprised as to how small it was, but how beautiful it was as well. I had been wanting to go to the Temple since I left on my mission because I was not able to do any sessions at the MTC since the temple was closed during my stay there. As we drove up I just couln't wait to get in and feel what I had been desiring to feel. The Spirit is so essential to Missionary Work but so essential for every member that enters through those sacred doors. The Spirit helps us to recieve personal revelation for ourselves, the Bible Dictionary describes Revelation (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/revelation?lang=eng&letter=r) as: "Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities. Continuous revelation from God to his saints, through the Holy Ghost or by other means, such as vision, dreams, or visitations, makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens, and consists not only of revelation of the plan of salvation to the Lord’s prophets, but also a confirmation in the hearts of the believers that the revelation to the prophets is true. It also consists of individual guidance for every person who seeks for it and follows the prescribed course of faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” said Joseph Smith, and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations” (HC 6:58). Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion." How important is that we live our lives so fully that we can participate of all the blessings our Father in Heaven has bestowed upon us? The Temple is such a blessing and with the knowledge and testimony of our Savior and his church we can overcome all the hardships of our lives if we stay true to what we know and believe.
Sitting in the Temple waiting for the session to start I felt so overwhelmed with the Spirit. I just was so glad to be there. There is no place I would rather be (besides the mission) than in the Temple. If I could stay in the Temple all day, every day I would. Going through the session I thought of all the times I had gone before and how each time I was learning something new, and I was feeling the love the Savior had for me. Something that I needed at that time. The Temple is the place where God shows his love for me and for all those who enter through his doors. It helps me to remind me of my purpose on this earth and that I do serve a purpose. I am special to his eyes, just as we all are.
Silvia H. Allred said, "Let us be worthy to have a current temple recommend. Let us go to the temple to seal our families eternally. Let us return to the temple as often as our circumstances will permit. Let us give our kindred dead the opportunity to receive the ordinances of exaltation. Let us enjoy the spiritual strength and the revelation we receive as we attend the temple regularly. Let us be faithful and make and keep temple covenants to receive the full blessings of the Atonement."
The Temple is the place to be, it is the place to aspire to enter. I love the Temple! I had the best time being there and feeling his presence! I know that Temples are of God and that he loves all of his children enough to restore his church and to bless us with Temples to make everlasting covenants with Him so that we too can someday become as he is. (This is my District, we had the chance on Wednesday to attend the Temple! How lucky we were!)


http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/holy-temples-sacred-covenants?lang=eng&query=temples