Lesson Recap: Rejoice in the Blessings of the Temple

 

We are women
of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:
Rejoice in the blessings of the temple.

We rejoice in...

• The House of the Lord, where he comes, to speak to us 
• A place to take your cares, troubles, important decisions and receive personal guidance
• Continuation of the pattern of temples (tabernacle of Moses, temple of Nephi)
• A fulfillment of scripture and prophecy
• A place of clean-ness
• Knowing we are clean and worthy
• Receiving the ordinances necessary for exaltation
• Learning, knowledge, wisdom
• 3 pillars of eternity: creation, fall, atonement
• The Endowment: instruction on how we should live
• Making covenants to greater commitment
• Being sealed in Celestial marriage
• Future generations born in the covenant as part of an eternal family
• Providing salvation for those who have passed on
• The opportunity to serve God so uniquely
• A reason to overcome difficulty, to maintain strong and vital marriages
• A common goal, being one in purpose
• Strengthened resolve to endure to the end
• Lessening of Satan's power on the earth
• Motivation for our children to live good clean lives
• The gift of perspective on life and eternity, knowing what's important
• Protection from danger
• Enabling power
• Increased meaning when death takes a loved one
• Feeling the Spirit, the joy and happiness, the peace
• Personal sanctification, “peeling away the shell of selfishness”

How to gain more benefit from temple attendance

• Understand the doctrine related to temple ordinances, especially the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
• While participating in temple ordinances, consider your relationship to Jesus Christ and His relationship to our Heavenly Father. This simple act will lead to greater understanding of the supernal nature of the temple ordinances.
• Always prayerfully express gratitude for the incomparable blessings that flow from temple ordinances. Live each day so as to give evidence to Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son of how very much those blessings mean to you.
• Schedule regular visits to the temple.
• Leave sufficient time to be unhurried within the temple walls.
• Rotate activities so that you can participate in all of the ordinances of the temple.
• Remove your watch when you enter a house of the Lord.
• Listen carefully to the presentation of each element of the ordinance with an open mind and heart.
• Be mindful of the individual for whom you are performing the vicarious ordinance. At times pray that he or she will recognize the vital importance of the ordinances and be worthy or prepare to be worthy to benefit from them.
• Recognize that much of the majesty of the sealing ordinance cannot be understood and remembered with one live experience. Substantial subsequent vicarious work permits one to understand much more of what is communicated in the live ordinances.
• Realize that a sealing ordinance is not enduring until after it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Both individuals must be worthy and want the sealing to be eternal.

Sisters, please take the time to reflect on the blessings of the temple in your lives and express your gratitude to Heavenly Father for being born in a time with such wonderful buildings and knowledge are on the earth.

Further study:
Blessings of the Temple, Robert D. Hales, Oct 2009 Ensign
Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings, Russell M Nelson, July 2001 Liahona
Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need, Richard G Scott, May 2009 Ensign
Temple topic on LDS.org


Ellen