YOUNG ADULTS

By Elder Preparing to Enter Kent F. Richards Of the Seventy and Executive Director of the Temple Department the House of the Lord

t a temple open house, I noticed make and keep sacred covenants. Smile when some girls file behind their You are responsible to prepare and you think of the A parents through the temple. be ready. temple. It is a place They smiled as they found their The temple is important in your reflections in brides’ room mirrors. life, especially when you’re young: of power and “Remember,” their grandmother “The young man needs his place in blessing. whispered, “how special you are the temple even more than his father and how much Heavenly Father and his grandfather, who are steadied loves you.” Each girl imagined the by a life of experience; and the young time when she would return to the girl just entering life, needs the spirit, temple as a woman of faith, with influence and direction that come maturing loveliness and capacity, from participation in the temple ordi­ to receive the fulness of [His] gos­ ready to fulfill her mission on the nances.” 1 Begin now to prepare your pel” in the temple (D&C 35:12; earth. Boys who attended the open heart and mind to be able to fully emphasis added). The temple is a house also had glimpses of their receive and understand these bless­ place of power and blessing. The future blessings and responsibilities. ings (see Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20). Lord instructed the Prophet Joseph What these children felt in the Smith and the early Saints to gather temple was right. Heavenly Father Receiving the Fulness of the to Kirtland, Ohio, where they would wants to bless you. His greatest bless­ Gospel eventually build a temple. “There you ings come as you enter the temple If you will prepare yourself to shall be endowed with power from on

to receive sacred ordinances and to enter the temple, you will be “ready high” (D&C 38:32; emphasis added). PHOTOGRAPH OF REXBURG IDAHO TEMPLE

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At a recent temple open house, an exalted . . . ordinances that have been conveys the Father’s love (see Romans Apostle gathered his family around revealed to mankind.” 2 5:5). The Holy Spirit of Promise the holy altar in a sealing room. He As you receive temple ordinances, is the ratifying power of the Holy taught them that everything we do in you make solemn covenants with Ghost, which validates each covenant the Church—classes, activities, pro­ your Father only one time for yourself, eternally. grams, and meetings—prepares us to and then you will strive to abide by In order to receive the Spirit, you come to the temple altar to receive them throughout your life. Each time must enter the temple clean and pure, the sealing ordinance. The temple you enter the temple, you can feel free from any unforgiven transgres­ represents the very essence of your of His Spirit and receive additional sion. If the adversary could succeed Heavenly Father’s plan for your eter­ revelation and understanding while in any way to overcome you, it would nal happiness and progression. providing the necessary ordinances be to keep you from the temple or to for others. You will understand and entice you to go there unworthily. Preparing to Make Covenants receive assurance of your eternal For this reason, you will be invited with God existence and the unending power of to sit in a personal interview with your Your preparation to enter the your covenants. If we were not eter­ bishop or branch president, to con­ temple and make covenants doesn’t nal beings, the temple would have sider your worthiness and readiness happen quickly. It began with your no significance. You enter the temple to receive a recommend to enter the baptism and the confirming gift of and make covenants because you will temple. Be honest and trust him to the Holy Ghost and then grows with exist eternally and want to be with help you. In reality, you are determin­ prayer, scripture study, obedience, your Heavenly Father and your family ing your own standing before the Lord and service. It invites cleanliness in “never-ending happiness” (Mosiah (see D&C 109:24). You will sign your weekly as you participate in the 2:41). This assurance grows in your own recommend first. You are witness­ sacrament. It happens as you learn to own soul and is confirmed by the ing your worthiness before the Lord.3 seek forgiveness through repentance, Holy Ghost. To be worthy does not mean you as you keep standards, and as you are perfect yet. It means that your worthily carry a limited-use temple Being Worthy heart is right, that you are living the recommend. Church programs will The role of the Holy Ghost is real. commandments, and that you desire help you, but your preparation is He teaches you, purifies you, and to be better each day. personal; you are developing your worthiness, your testimony, your conversion. The Savior’s Atonement applies to you personally. As you increase your spiritual maturity, you will desire to prepare for and enter the temple. There you will receive ordinances and make cov­ enants, which are necessary steps to draw closer to your Heavenly Father. Temple ordinances are “the most

18 Ensign an individual may be washed and WHY DO WE BUILD anointed,” 4 reminiscent of the kings TEMPLES? and priests of ancient Israel being “We must gain some feeling for prepared to take their positions (see why we build temples, and why the ordinances are required of 1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13). The instruction us. Thereafter we are continually and covenants in the endowment instructed and enlightened on signify being clothed or invested with matters of spiritual importance. additional power and promises from It comes line upon line, precept God (see Luke 24:49). Perhaps the upon precept, until we gain a most beautiful symbol is the sealing fullness of light and knowledge. This becomes a great protection to ordinance, in which a couple is united us—to each of us personally. . . . in an unbreakable bond, which can “. . . No work is more spiritually last through all eternity. refining. No work we do gives us

STAINED-GLASS WINDOW, LAIE HAWAII TEMPLE LAIE HAWAII WINDOW, STAINED-GLASS The promises in the temple are rich more power. No work requires a and noble. They are the “great favors” higher standard of righteousness. Learning from Symbols and “great blessings” (3 Nephi 10:18) “Our labors in the temple In the temple, as in the scriptures, that our Father has reserved for you cover us with a shield and a protection. . . . the Lord teaches using symbols. You personally. So smile when you think “. . . If we will enter into our can find many symbols in the scrip­ of the temple. covenants without reservation or tures, such as the rock, the seed, the No matter your age, do whatever apology, the Lord will protect us. fruit, the tree of life, and the bread is necessary to be ready to receive We will receive inspiration suffi- and water of the sacrament (see, the greatest blessings your Father in cient for the challenges of life. . . . for example, 1 Nephi 11; Alma 32; Heaven offers to you. Trust how it felt “So come to the temple—come and claim your blessings.” Helaman 5:12). Baptism by immer­ when you were a child and sang, “I Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple (booklet, sion symbolizes new life, rebirth, and love to see the temple. I’m going there 2002), 37. cleanliness (see Romans 6:3–5). In someday. I’ll prepare myself while I the temple we all wear white, sym­ am young. This is my sacred duty.” 5 It bolizing purity, holiness, light, and can be true for you. ◼ equality. NOTES Some symbols in the temple are 1. John A. Widtsoe, “Temple Worship,” Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Apr. both physical and spiritual. For exam­ 1921, 91–92. KEY POINTS ple, wearing the garment is a physical 2. Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple (booklet, 2002), 1. daily reminder of the temple cov­ 3. See Joshua 24:22, 27: “Ye are witnesses • In the temple you receive ordi- against yourselves that ye have chosen you enants and the promised blessings. If the Lord, to serve him. And they said, we are nances essential to your salvation. respected and honored, the garment witnesses.” Then Joshua took a large stone • You must enter the temple clean and placed it beneath an oak, saying, “This protects us from temptations and stone [like our personal temple recommend] and pure, free from any unfor- shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard unrighteous influences. all the words.” given transgression. Each of the temple ordinances 4. Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, 1. • As in the scriptures, many of the 5. “I Love to See the Temple,” Children’s is symbolic. “In a sacred ceremony, Songbook, 95. teachings and ordinances in the temple are symbolic, allowing you to learn more and more each time you return to the temple.

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