See Yourself in the Temple
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that I understood completely how my By Elder Quentin L. Cook father felt about me.” 22 Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Alma testified to his son: “Behold, I say unto you, that it is [Christ] that surely shall come . ; yea he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people. See Yourself in “And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this the Temple people, to prepare their minds; or rather . that they may prepare the I pray that each of us will honor the Savior and make any necessary minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.” 23 changes to see ourselves in His sacred temples. That is the ministry of fathers today. God bless and make them equal to it, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ◼ NOTES he rolling forth of the Lord’s plan temples are dedicated. This is cause 1. David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: of salvation during this dispen- for us to humbly rejoice. Confronting Our Most Urgent Social sation of the fulness of times is One hundred eighty years ago, Problem (1995), 62. T 1 almost beyond comprehension. This on this very day, April 3, 1836, a 2. Blankenhorn, Fatherless America, 5. 3. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” is exemplified by President Thomas S. magnificent vision was opened to Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129. Monson’s announcement of 4 new the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver 4. “The Family: A Proclamation to the temples in this conference session. Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. World,” 129. 5. Blankenhorn, Fatherless America, 25, 26. When President Monson was called This occurred just one week after 6. See Moses 1:39. as an Apostle in 1963, there were the dedication of that temple. In this 7. See John 3:16. 12 operating temples in the world.2 vision they saw the Lord standing 8. John 15:13. 9. See Doctrine and Covenants 59:23; Moses With the dedication of the Provo City upon the breastwork of the pulpit in 6:59. Center Temple, there are now 150, and the temple. Among other things, the 10. See Doctrine and Covenants 18:34–36. there will be 177 when all announced Savior declared: 11. Doctrine and Covenants 68:25, 28. 12. Doctrine and Covenants 93:42. 13. Psalm 78:5–7. 14. Hebrews 12:6. 15. Doctrine and Covenants 121:43–44. 16. Doctrine and Covenants 83:4. 17. Blankenhorn, Fatherless America, 113. 18. Mosiah 4:14–15. 19. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” 129. 20. Luke 2:52. 21. 3 John 1:4. 22. Julian Dyke, “Thanks, Dad,” New Era, Apr. 1993, 38; Tambuli, Oct. 1994, 45. 23. Alma 39:15–16. Share Conference Scan this QR code or visit lds.org/ go/apr16conf14 to watch or share this talk. Visit lds.org/go/media516 to share other conference media. MAY 2016 97 “Let the hearts of all my people in the Temple.” As people gazed into attending to our temple responsibilities rejoice, who have, with their might, the mirror, they saw themselves in for both the living and the dead. built this house to my name. the temple. The Seniors taught the Because of the restored gospel of “For behold, I have accepted this investigators and members to picture Jesus Christ, we understand the purpose house, and my name shall be here; and themselves in the temple and make the of life, the Father’s plan of salvation for I will manifest myself to my people in necessary lifestyle changes and spiritual His children, the Savior’s redemptive mercy in this house.” 3 preparations to meet this goal. sacrifice, and the central role of families On that sacred occasion, ancient My challenge this morning is for in the organization of heaven.10 prophets appeared, including Elijah, each of us, wherever we live, to see The combination of increased num- who bestowed the keys essential for ourselves in the temple. President bers of temples and advanced technol- temple ordinances. Monson has stated: “Until you have ogy to fulfill our sacred family history We have some sense of the entered the house of the Lord and responsibilities for our ancestors makes rejoicing that is going on in Quito, have received all the blessings which this the most blessed time in all history. Ecuador; Harare, Zimbabwe; Belém, await you there, you have not obtained I rejoice in the extraordinary faith- Brazil; and Lima, Peru, both with everything the Church has to offer. The fulness of our youth in indexing and members and missionaries, based on all-important and crowning blessings finding their ancestors and then doing what happened in Bangkok, Thailand, of membership in the Church are those the baptism and confirmation work in a year ago when that temple was blessings which we receive in the the temple. You are literally among the announced. Sister Shelly Senior, wife temples of God.” 5 prophesied saviors on Mount Zion. of the then-president of the Thailand Despite the lack of righteousness Bangkok Mission, David Senior, in the world today, we live in a sacred, How Do We Prepare for the Temple? emailed family and friends to say that holy time. Prophets, with loving and We know that righteousness and after she and her husband had listened longing hearts, have described our day sanctification are essential parts of pre- to President Monson announce that for centuries.6 paring for the temple. temple, there had been “12 sleepless The Prophet Joseph Smith, citing In Doctrine and Covenants section hours and lots of tears of happiness.” both Obadiah 7 in the Old Testament 97, it reads, “And inasmuch as my They called their mission assistants at and 1 Peter 8 in the New Testament, people build a house unto me in the 11:30 p.m. and informed them. The acknowledged the great purpose of name of the Lord, and do not suffer assistants called all the missionaries. God in providing baptism for the dead any unclean thing to come into it, that The report came back that the “whole and allowing us to be saviors on Mount it be not defiled, my glory shall rest mission was awake in the middle of Zion.9 upon it.” 11 the night jumping on their beds.” Sister The Lord has prospered our people Until 1891 the President of the Senior humorously admonished family and provided the resources and pro- Church signed each temple rec- and friends, “Please don’t tell the phetic guidance so we can be valiant in ommend to protect the sanctity of Missionary Department!” 4 the temple. That responsibility was The deep spiritual response of the then delegated to bishops and stake members in Thailand was equally presidents. strong. I am confident there have been It is our great desire that members spiritual preparations in hearts and of the Church will live to be worthy of homes and manifestations from heaven a temple recommend. Please don’t see preparing the Saints where these newly the temple as some distant and perhaps announced temples will be located. unachievable goal. Working with their Sister Senior, in Thailand, had some bishop, most members can achieve special hand mirrors made for her all righteous requirements in a rela- personal teaching, especially with sis- tively short period of time if they have ters. There was a temple etched in the Specially made hand mirrors helped people in a determination to qualify and fully mirror with the wording, “See Yourself Thailand see themselves in the temple. repent of transgressions. This includes 98 SUNDAY MORNING SESSION | APRIL 3, 2016 being willing to forgive ourselves and not focus on our imperfections or sins as disqualifying us from ever entering a sacred temple. The Savior’s Atonement was accomplished for all of God’s children. His redeeming sacrifice satisfies the demands of justice for all those who truly repent. The scriptures describe this in a most beautiful fashion: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” 12 Church leaders organize stakes, They help us recognize the sacred “And I will remember [them] no wards, quorums, Church auxiliaries, covenants that connect us to all gen- more.” 13 missions, and so forth in our chapels erations that follow. This is incredibly We assure you that living righteous and other buildings. The Lord orga- significant, and it starts when you see principles will bring you and your nizes eternal families only in temples. yourself in the temple. family happiness, fulfillment, and It is clear that those with broken President Howard W. Hunter peace.14 Members, both adults and hearts and contrite spirits who have truly counseled us to “consider the majestic youth,15 self-certify their worthiness repented of their sins are completely teachings in the great dedicatory prayer when they answer the temple recom- acceptable to the Lord in His holy of the Kirtland Temple, a prayer the mend questions. The essential require- house.17 We know “God is no respecter Prophet Joseph Smith said was given ment is to increase our testimony of of persons.” 18 One of the precious things to him by revelation. It is a prayer that God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; I love about the temple is that among continues to be answered upon us indi- and the Restoration of His gospel and those who attend, there are no distinc- vidually, upon us as families, and upon to experience the ministering of the tions of wealth, rank, or position of us as a people because of the priest- Holy Ghost.