Laie Temple Centennial Devotional

Elder Scott D. Whiting

Aloha, my dear brothers and sisters. It is so good to be back in the islands among you. We love you and count ourselves truly blessed to have raised our family in Hawaii. You are forever in our hearts and we thank you for your aloha these many years.

I am humbled and honored to have been assigned to speak at this devotional commemorating the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the historic Laie Hawaii Temple. I bring you the love of President Nelson, the First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They love you and rejoice in the event that we are commemorating.

I acknowledge President and Sister Hallstrom, current president and matron, and all other temple presidents and matrons many of whom sit behind me tonight, who have served going back to William W. and Olivia S. Waddoups, the first and matron of the temple who are pictured on the screen. I, too, also acknowledge all of those who currently serve in the temple as ordinance workers, volunteers and employees, and all who have served in the temple in any capacity throughout the years. Your contributions to the gathering of scattered Israel on both sides of the veil are both commendable and invaluable.

As we celebrate this historic occasion, we cannot help but remember our own personal experiences relating to the temple. For me, there are too many memories to recount here, but the cumulation of my experiences can be expressed in this way: “It was within the walls of the Laie Hawaii Temple that I came to better understand the love of God, the power of covenants, and the thinness of the veil that separates us from our kindred dead.”

As a young man with a young family, who had just moved to Hawaii, I wrongly limited my temple attendance thinking that other life priorities were more pressing and important. The pressures of trying to meet the needs of my new employer, the needs of my wife and family, and the need to fulfill my duties in the Church all moved me to think that I could put off more frequent temple attendance. As I have matured over the years, I realize that rather than relegating the temple to a secondary, or even tertiary priority in my early life, I should have elevated more frequent temple attendance to a top priority. I think that there are some in the younger demographic who feel, perhaps as I did at the time, that temple worship is better accomplished at a season later in their life when life is less busy and hectic. Sadly, I am learning that a less busy and hectic life may be an illusion.

I am grateful for wise mentors who over the years helped me see the error of my ways. I remember with great fondness Brother Fred Kaneshiro, a member of my ward in Kailua who has since passed away, and a most faithful and dedicated temple worker and patron, who in every setting spoke of the temple and encouraged temple attendance. He helped me feel the delight and joy of the temple and instilled in me a desire to be in the temple as often as I could. His life was not one without challenges and sorrow, but his countenance only ever radiated joy, peace and the love of the Lord. His love of the temple was infectious, and I ended up becoming infected myself as I learned from his great example. He was also most instrumental in getting me and my family addicted to pineapple as he used them as calling cards and gave them to everyone he met.

While serving as a young stake president, I often had the blessing of visiting with President Wayne O. Ursenbach, former president of the temple. You may remember that President Ursenbach was small in stature, however, he looms large in my life. Whenever I would be with President Ursenbach he would teach me, often through simple questions. In hindsight, I recognize that he was teaching me in the Savior’s way. On one occasion he approached me after a stake conference and asked, “President Whiting, are you able to attend the temple regularly?” I responded with the classic deflection of, “Yes, as regularly as I can.” Well, he saw right through this and then said, “Did you know that it is easier to attend the temple every week than it is once a month?” Now, on the face of it, that did not make much sense to me. I lived in Kailua, a one-hour drive away. I had work and Church and family duties to attend to and I could not understand how it would be “easier” to attend weekly. He then taught me something that I will not forget. He said, “When we attend the temple weekly, it is a commitment, but when we attend monthly, it can become an inconvenience.” Well, he saw into my soul and pierced me with that counsel.

On another occasion, he approached me and asked, “President Whiting, do you take your children with you to the temple?” Now, at the time, I only had one daughter who had been endowed, and other than ward temple baptism trips I could not take my children to the temple with me. When I explained that to him, he quietly smiled, and said, “No, you misunderstood me,” and then while tapping his finger to his heart he clarified, “do you take your children with you to the temple.” Well, again, his counsel penetrated my soul. We have learned that when we worship in the temple, if we take a son or daughter with us in our mind and heart, Heavenly Father can give us insights into how to best raise, interact with, counsel, and teach our children. After all, who better than from their Heavenly Father, can we learn about our own children? I know that this counsel also applies to grandparents and their grandchildren.

I am grateful for mentors such as these who, while here in Hawaii, helped me better understand the power of temples and the covenants we make therein.

President Nelson is pleading with all of us to avail ourselves of the power and blessings that come from temple worship. Listen to the words he used in the October 2018 General Conference.

[quote] “My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I PLEAD with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I URGE you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy

2 house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I PROMISE YOU that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.” [close quote.]

PLEAD, URGE and PROMISE—these are powerful words when spoken by a of God. His words warn us of the need to take immediate action. Wonderfully, his words also convey promised blessings for obedience. It has been over a year since President Nelson, a prophet of God, delivered this powerful message. How have you responded? Has anything changed in your prioritization of temple worship? Perhaps our silent responses are the reason why, six months later, in the April 2019 General Conference, President Nelson delivered a pointed sermon in the General Priesthood Meeting, on the need for each of us to repent on a daily basis and change ourselves for the better.

With this counsel it is clear to see why President Nelson has announced so many new temples—even temples in remote locations where Church members are fewer in number. He understands the power of temples in the lives of the people. His desire to bring temples to the members, wherever they have gathered, despite the number of their stakes, wards and branches, is a powerful message to us all concerning the need to be in the temple regularly.

In October 2018, after announcing plans to construct 12 new temples, President Nelson taught us that, [quote] “Building and maintaining temples may not change your life but spending your time in the temple surely will.” [close quote] He then directed his remarks to those who had not been to the temple for an extended period of time, for whatever reason, and offered this invitation, [quote] “I encourage you to prepare and return [to the temple] as soon as possible. Then I invite you to worship in the temple and pray to feel deeply the Savior’s infinite love for you, that each of you may gain your own testimony that He directs this sacred and ageless work.” [close quote]

Can you feel in the words of President Nelson that he is desperately trying to prepare us for the events to come? He is imploring us to prepare ourselves against the increasing evil in the world. Much like the people of Nephi, when they were set upon in war by the Lamanites, President Nelson, like Captain Moroni, is asking us to fortify our homes, our families, and ourselves, against the invading enemy who would destroy us. Brethren of the Priesthood, it is our duty to preside, provide, AND PROTECT our families. Are we taking the necessary actions to do so? Are we living temple-centered lives and creating temple centered homes?

I am reminded of two different stories in scripture that powerfully illustrates this point. The first is the story of Abraham and Lot. Abraham was Lot’s uncle, and after Lot’s father passed away it seems that Abraham may have adopted Lot. Their relationship was very close--almost father and son-- and they traveled and worshipped together. At some point in their travels conflict developed between the herdsmen of Abraham’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. This troubled Abraham as he did not want his relationship with Lot to be impacted by this dispute. So, Abraham approached Lot and suggested that they separate and travel together no longer. In a show of great humility, he even offered Lot the first choice of which direction he would

3 desire to go. Well, Lot surveyed the land before him and chose the plain of Jordan because it was well watered, and he saw opportunity for himself. Sadly, for Lot, the dominant cities of the plain of Jordan were Sodom and Gomorrah. We read in Genesis Chapter 13 verse 12 that from that time forward, “Abraham dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” We all remember the consequences to Lot and his family as a result of this choice to pitch his tent toward what would come to be known as the most wicked city on earth.

Now, contrast that with a story we know from the . This is the story of King Benjamin, the beloved and benevolent ruler of the people of Zarahemla. Knowing that he must soon “go the way of all the earth” he conferred his kingdom upon his son Mosiah and asked that he proclaim to the people that they should gather one last time so that he could teach them and introduce Mosiah as their new king. We learn that this gathering took place at the temple, and as the people gathered, “they pitched their tents round about every man according to his family…And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple…”. This gathering around the temple is a powerful visual for me. I can see in my mind’s eye, tents encircling the temple in Zarahemla, filled with families all waiting to hear the word of the Lord as would be delivered by their beloved leader.

Pitching tents toward the temple stands in stark contrast to Lot pitching his tent toward wickedness. Brothers and sisters, have you pitched your tents facing the world and the wickedness therein or the Holy Temples? In other words, are your homes centered on the temple or centered on the world? Are your personal lives centered on the temple or centered on the world?

I share a few of the words of President Nelson, given to the Priesthood brethren in this year’s April Conference.

[quote] “When Jesus asks you and me to ‘repent,’ He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, SPEND OUR TIME, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.” He continues, “Brethren, we need to DO better and BE better because we are in a battle. The battle with sin is real. The adversary is quadrupling his efforts to disrupt testimonies and impede the work of the Lord. He is arming his minions with potent weapons to keep us from partaking of the joy and love of the Lord.”

And then he adds this powerful and perhaps painful counsel, “Brethren, we all need to repent. We need to get up off the couch, put down the remote, and wake up from our spiritual slumber. It is time to put on the full armor of God so we can engage in the most important work on earth… Your family needs your leadership and love. Your quorum and those in your ward or branch need your strength. And all who meet you need to know what a true disciple of the Lord looks like and acts like.” [close quote]

4 My dear brothers and sisters, there is no better way to protect yourself and your family than to be in the temple as often as you are able. Whether you are a young or old, a youth or a great grandparent, a single man or woman, a single parent, married, widowed, or divorced, the blessings of the temple are available to you in abundance, but you need to avail yourself of both the requirements and opportunity to be in the House of the Lord.

President Nelson taught in his first public address after being set apart and ordained as the President of the Church, the following: [quote] “As a new presidency, we want to begin with the end in mind. For this reason, we’re speaking to you today from a temple. The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in the house of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in the temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of God, that of eternal life. The ordinances of the temple and covenants you make there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family, and your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary. Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors, will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.” [close quote]

Think about the recent adjustment that allows our 11-year-old youth to advance with their age group, thus allowing 11-year-olds to now participate in proxy baptisms and confirmations. This inspired adjustment is allowing our children at earlier ages to be in the temple to receive the promised strength to overcome the evils of the world. We are seeing a great increase in the number of proxy ordinances performed by these youth who desire to be in the temple regularly.

Many of the youth who come to the temple bring their own family names. The spirit of Elijah has moved upon them and they are anxiously engaged in the gathering of scattered Israel.

It has never been easier for us to find and take family names to the temple. Our Church History Department found this photo of temple name cards dated 1921 used in the Laie Hawaii Temple. I love how they are held together by what appears to be fish hooks. Today, all we need is a smart phone and we have the power to find and bring our ancestors to the temple. There is almost no reason why you can’t be doing the work of a family member, or the family member of someone close to you, when you go to the temple. It has become that personal.

President Howard W. Hunter taught that, “There are some members who engage in temple work but fail to do family history research on their own family lines. Although they perform a divine service in assisting others, they lose a blessing by not seeking their own kindred dead as divinely directed by latter-day …I have learned that those who engage in family history research and then perform the temple ordinance work for those whose names they have found will know the additional joy of receiving both halves of the blessing.”

My wife and I decided several years ago that, if possible, we would only ever do work for family names in the temple. We knew that that meant we would need to be vigilant in finding our

5 family members and we have worked many hours to make that happen. We have learned that the full blessings of temple service are even sweeter when both halves are received.

Brothers and sisters, this is a great time in the history of the world. Temples truly dot the earth. It is anticipated that next year ground will be broken on 23 previously announced new temple sites across the world, with more in the following years. If temple worship and the power that comes to us from being inside our temples is not of the utmost importance, why are we accelerating the pace of temple building? Tell me, what other organization on earth spends as much time, energy and resources on the dead than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? And for what reason? The gathering of scattered Israel on both sides of the veil is real, it is happening, and you are part of it.

I bear you my witness that we are led by a prophet of God. I know that President Russell M. Nelson is called of God and stands as His mouth piece on earth. I sustain him, I listen to him, I strive to follow his counsel and direction. I know that by doing so I will be able to bring my family safely through these perilous times, and that we can be prepared to meet our Savior when he comes again.

I know that Smith was and is a prophet of God. I love him. I am deeply grateful for all that he did for me and my family. His life, his , his service and his sacrifice are personal to me. I know that the fruits of his labor, even the Book of Mormon, is the word of God. I know this because I have read it and re-read it. I have studied every word and continue to do so. I declare that it is true! The Holy Ghost has born witness to my soul that it is true, and I so declare it, yet again, this evening to you.

I know that the Kingdom of God is on the earth today. We are all part of it. It bears the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “The” Church of Jesus Christ. Not “another,” or “one of the,” but “the” Church of Jesus Christ. Singular, one, only!

I witness to you that the temple is indeed the House of the Lord. I express my deepest gratitude to all those who had or who have had a hand in the establishment of the House of the Lord in Laie these 100 years. What a testament it is to the faith, dedication, devotion, and sacrifice of so many over that span of years. May we all continue to approach the House of the Lord with reverence and gratitude, and may we approach it more frequently that we will avail ourselves of the power that is available to us as we gather our ancestors.

Finally, I bear you my witness that Jesus Christ lives. He is our Lord, our Master, the Savior of the world. This is His work, and how blessed we all are to be allowed to participate in His work in some small measure. I love Him, I worship Him, and I long for the day when I can be with Him again.

Of these things I testify, and, again, I leave you my love, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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