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Clean Hands and a Pure Heart By President Philip Yu Chen Ho President Philip President Yu Chen Ho

n his talk “Keeping the Temple First, we must have clean hands. law they perish from that which is I Holy,” President Gordon B. Hinckley We learn from James to “cleanse good, and become miserable forever. (1910–2008) urged us to “Keep [the yourhands, ye sinners” ( James 4:8). “Wherefore, redemption cometh in Lord’s] House holy!”1 He explained in This clearly indicates to us that to have and through the Holy Messiah; for he quite some detail the questions we clean hands, we have to repent of our is full of grace and truth. have to answer when we go through sins and have our hands made clean “Behold, he offereth himself a sac- recommend interviews. These before we can enter into the house rifice for sin, to answer the ends of the questions, in a way, are the standards of the Lord. law, unto all those who have a broken we have to meet when we want to Nephi further illustrated that this heart and a contrite spirit; and unto go to the house of the Lord. We must cleansing process is only made possible none else can the ends of the law be prove worthy and obey the command- through the Atonement of Jesus Christ answered” (2 Nephi 2:5–7). ments before we can enter the house and that only through Him can we be Therefore, only those who repent of the Lord. saved from our sins. He taught: “And of their sins and who come unto Yet, another set of high standards for men are instructed sufficiently that they Christ with “a broken heart and a us to strive for in order to enter into the know good from evil. And the law is contrite spirit” will be accepted into house of the Lord was proclaimed by given unto men. And by the law no the house of the Lord. King David when he declared: “Who flesh is justified; or, by the law men are Second, we need to have a pure shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they heart. or who shall stand in his holy place? were cut off; and also, by the spiritual James further taught, “purify your “He that hath clean hands, and a hearts, ye double minded” ( James 4:8) pure heart; who hath not lifted up his and also, “let him ask in faith, nothing soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. wavering. For he that wavereth is like “He shall receive the blessing from a wave of the sea driven with the wind the Lord, and righteousness from the and tossed. God of his salvation. “For let not that man think that he “This is the generation of them that shall receive any thing of the Lord. seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob” “A double minded man is unsta- (Psalms 24:3–6). ble in all his ways” ( James 1:6–8). Here King David set forth several Therefore, unless we are pure in standards for those who seek to “as- heart and unwavering in our faith, cend into the hill of the Lord” and to we shall not receive anything of the “stand in His holy place,” i.e. seek to Lord. These verses also clarify that to enter the Lord’s temple: have a pure heart means we are to

August 2015 A1 purify our heart and single our eye and the glory of them (see Matthew after we make the covenants. The Lord and mind to the glory of God. 4:8–10). The devil knows how vul- cannot bless us if we do not fulfill our The Lord also warned us of not nerable we can be when it comes to part of the obligation in the covenant. being double minded when He taught, the glory of the world: wealth, power, But once we have fulfilled our part, the “No man can serve two masters: for ei- and fame. Time and time again we Lord is bound to bless us: “I, the Lord, ther he will hate the one, and love the are warned not to covet the treasures am bound when ye do what I say; but other; or else he will hold to the one, of this world: when ye do not what I say, ye have no and despise the other. Ye cannot serve “But wo unto the rich, who are promise” (D&C 82:10). God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). rich as to the things of the world. For Once we can meet the high stan- Satan knows our weakness well and because they are rich they despise the dards set forth by King David, we shall, has waged war on us with temptations poor, and they persecute the meek, as promised, receive blessings from of this world to drag us away from the and their hearts are upon their trea- the Lord and the righteousness of His straight and narrow path. He assaults sures; wherefore, their treasure is their salvation (see Psalm 24:5). us not only with evil or immoral god. And behold, their treasure shall We can become as one of those things, but often times with seemingly perish with them also” (2 Nephi 9:30). mentioned in the Book of Revelation: good and worthy things that we may “For we brought nothing into this “And one of the elders answered, say- be pacified and lulled away into carnal world, and it is certain we can carry ing unto me, What are these which are security (see 2 Nephi 28:21); or, with nothing out. arrayed in white robes? and whence a sense of doing good and righteous “And having food and raiment let came they? things when we only have time to us be therewith content. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou do the better or the best things in life “But they that will be rich fall knowest. And he said to me, These that have impact on our eternal well-­ into temptation and a snare, and into are they which came out of great trib- being. He assaults us with cool and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which ulation, and have washed their robes, fancy modern technologies; seemingly drown men in destruction and perdi- and made them white in the blood of meaningful and interesting data, in- tion” (1 Timothy 6:7–9). the Lamb. formation, and knowledge; even with Fourth, we are not to swear “Therefore are they before the healthy entertainment, outdoor activ- deceitfully. throne of God, and serve him day and ities, fine dining and hobbies. These This means we should not lie night in his temple: and he that sitteth seemingly good and harmless things in or bear false witness or make false on the throne shall dwell among them. life can easily consume our time, en- promises or commitments we cannot “They shall hunger no more, nei- ergy, resources and passion so he can or do not intend to keep. This par- ther thirst any more; neither shall the “leadeth [us] by the neck with a flaxen ticularly means we should not make sun light on them, nor any heat. cord, until he bindeth [us] with his covenants in the house of the Lord “For the Lamb which is in the midst strong cords forever” (2 Nephi 26:22). and not live up to what we have cov- of the throne shall feed them, and shall Third, we are not to “lift up [our] enanted to do therein. lead them unto living fountains of wa- soul unto vanity” (Psalm 24:4). It is relatively easy to make covenants ters: and God shall wipe away all tears Even our Savior was tempted with with God in the house of the Lord. Yet, from their eyes” (Revelation 7:13–17). the vanity of this world after He had without dedicated effort and firm com- Then we shall be recognized by fasted forty days when the devil of- mitment, it is rather difficult to fulfill our our Savior as “the generation of them fered Him all kingdoms of the world duties or things we have promised to do that seek him” (Psalm 24:6).

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And as we do as He has invited: be in his own time, and in his own make it happen, we all had to sacrifice “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, way, and according to his own will” a lot. We started working extra hours to

and ye shall find; knock, and it shall (D&C 88:68). In the name of Jesus save enough funds for our temple trip. be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7), Christ, amen. ◼ I started finding more clients for my we shall be blessed with the utmost work and my wife started giving extra NOTE blessing of: “and the days will come 1. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Keeping the Temple time in her work. Sacrificing together that you shall see him; for he will Holy,” Ensign, May 1990, 50; lds.org/ eventually brought our family closer, general-­conference/1990/04/keeping- ­ unveil his face unto you, and it shall the-­temple-­holy. and it helped us stretch ourselves beyond our limits further than we ever thought we could. Also, by watching us, my son started working in call cen- LOCAL NEWS ters and my daughter started saving her pocket money so that they both could also contribute to the family temple The Most Holy Place fund. And ultimately, the Lord blessed of Worship on Earth our sincere efforts by letting us visit His By Wilson Peter, New Delhi, holy house to be sealed for time and all eternity. aving been born and raised in which our Heavenly Father has given to Worthiness is so important in pre- H a Catholic Christian family, I was all of us for our safety and benefits. paring to worship in the temple. If we very much engaged in religious works We still remember that day when are not worthy, we will not be permit- and always read the Holy Bible. I am we were in our family scripture study ted to even enter the holy house of the blessed with a wonderful family of two and I read from the Old Testament Lord. We had to go through multiple beautiful children, Vishal and Vaishali, about King Solomon and how he rounds of temple interviews, which and my lovely wife, Sunita. Being a loved the Lord so much that he built helped us prepare well. There was a father, I desired that my children get up a giant temple—a house of the their education from a Catholic mis- Lord, a holy sanctuary—where sa- sionary school so they may learn more cred ceremonies and ordinances of about Christ and never get distracted the gospel were performed; a place The Peter from the path of the Lord. where the Lord visits and we can feel family My family and I joined The Church His presence. It is the most holy of of Jesus Christ of Latter-­day Saints in any place of worship on earth. New Delhi, India, in June 2003 through We could hardly even imagine that one of my friend’s reference. We are one day we would visit the temple as very grateful to him and his family that a family, but the Lord made this dream they shared the restored gospel with us come true. Because of our worthiness, and showed us the true Church. Before He prepared a way for us to receive His joining this Church, we were very much blessings. It was my wife’s dream to go surrounded by worldly temptations and to the temple and be sealed together as unable to follow the commandments a family. This came true in 2008. But to

August 2015 A3 senior missionary couple, Elder and down our faith for the temple visit. from different countries and to share Sister Crookston, who told us that if We kept on stepping forward. our testimonies with them. The six we wanted to visit the temple soon, The day when we all first entered days, August 11–16, 2014, that we got then we should put pictures of temples into the temple was one of the most to spend in the Temple in the rooms where we spend most memorable days of our whole lives. were so marvelous and unforgetta- of our time. We hung pictures of the Words cannot express how much ble. On the early Sabbath morning Hong Kong China Temple in all of our excitement, peace, and joy we felt. I of August 17, 2014, we reached our rooms, and whenever we would see was sealed to my wife in the temple home and took a small nap. After that those pictures, it strengthened our faith with proper authority and we were we went to our home branch and more and made us more goal oriented. all sealed together as a family for time bore our testimonies of the temple in Preparation is also as important as and eternity. We spent most of our sacrament meeting. The words of our worthiness. Another senior missionary time in the temple performing sacred branch president were, “Today, I can couple, Elder and Sister Pulla, who ordinances because we waited for this feel the brightness from your family.” served in the India New Delhi Mission, time for many years and now wanted That brightness is the brightness of prepared us to feel the presence of to utilize it as much as we could. The the temple which made us glow. As the Lord in the temple. As a teacher leaders and the missionary couples in we strive to remain worthy and righ- enlightens the future of the students the temple were very good and sup- teous in keeping our covenants, we by helping them gain wisdom, simi- portive. They helped us in performing can keep the same brightness with larly they educated us to understand the ordinances in the right manner. My us throughout our lives. We know the things we would need to do in the son performed around 200 baptisms that one day we will have a temple temple. They too sacrificed a lot just for the dead. We also got a chance to in India as well. to help us prepare well. Sometimes meet with the members who traveled My dear brothers and sisters, we they had to travel a long way to teach together as a family have been blessed us and sometimes even on empty with so many blessings after going to stomachs on Sundays. They made us the temple. One of the blessings which feel the Spirit in every single class and we have received is my son, Elder Peter helped us to gain firm testimonies of (Vishal), is serving his mission in the the temple. At the same time, our mis- India Bangalore Mission. We as his par- sion president and branch president ents are so blessed that our son is able put in their efforts to prepare us for the to have the opportunity that we missed. temple by their righteous examples. We know that the sacred ordinances A day before our flight, our young- which we performed in the temple are est daughter had an accident as her true and that the temple covenants are finger got into a table fan and the for eternity and cannot be broken here blades cut her finger. Her finger bled Hong Kong on earth. We would encourage you profusely and she was suffering from Temple all to prepare yourselves to enter the severe pain. We immediately took her house of the Lord and feel His Spirit to the nearby hospital and there she which we have felt. We leave this strong got stitches on her finger. Satan tried testimony in the sacred name of our us in many ways, but we never let savior Jesus Christ, amen. ◼

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Our Testimony of the Temple—Chaprayil Family By John Chaprayil, New Delhi, India

ohn Chaprayil: In 2008 one of our did temple work for our ancestors. We engraved in my mind. Since joining J family friends introduced us to felt like this effort reached heaven. Church I have learned about increasing the missionaries and we began as a “God’s work is very wonderful,” we my faith and being strong in gospel family to investigate the Church. We thought to ourselves as we arrived in from Church leaders. It is really a great were a family of three at that time: Hong Kong. We felt we arrived on the pleasure to serve in Church callings. I me, John; my wife, Silvy; and our son, day that Heavenly Father wanted us used to learn many things from Primary Emmanuel. The people who intro- to arrive. We were sealed the day we children. I love children. I need to duced the gospel to us were Suku arrived. We had the chance to meet an thank the Visakhapatnam India District Thankappan and his wife. Their life Apostle, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the presidency for giving me opportunity influenced our family. Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his to serve as district Primary president. As we studied the truth, we became wife, as they were in Hong Kong at that Since getting married I had tried closer to Heavenly Father and His Son, time. My son met his mission president, getting a passport, but I did not receive Jesus Christ. We also learned about Elder Randy D. Funk, and his wife, one. Then one Church member (Adari the Book of Mormon, which helped Sister Funk. We attended a devotional Chinna) helped me to get a birth certifi- us come close to the Lord. After we with them. We also met the temple cate and passport. Right after I received were baptized, we became missionaries president and matron, President and my passport, we started our preparation within our branch. We would go with Sister Wong. The temple is a place of for the temple. Meanwhile, we started the missionaries to help more people grace and blessings. We felt so peace- to immerse ourselves in the gospel have the same spiritual experiences ful and blessed. We love this Church more by reading the temple preparation we had. In 2010 our son served as a and we love temple work. I know that book, holding family home evening, branch missionary in New Delhi and Heavenly Father lives and loves us. I and reading general conference talks. later he served as a full-­time missionary know that through the Atonement of While reading general conference talks, in the India Bangalore Mission. We felt Jesus Christ, we can gain salvation. one quote touched our hearts which blessed by Heavenly Father; He be- Joseph Smith restored this Church. our beloved Apostle, Elder Ballard, said: stowed great blessings upon our lives. Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet “Every council . . . should be working In 2013 our son was married to another and revelator; he is leading and guiding together on ways to be more effective active member of the Church, Lavanya. this Church in this dispensation. In the in preparing our members to be wor- They planned to go to temple and be name of Jesus Christ, amen. thy to enjoy all the blessings of the sealed, but due to a passport issue it Sister Boka Lavanya: I take this Church and especially the blessings of took a bit longer. We all applied for opportunity to share our experience the temple” (“Are We Keeping Pace?” passports, and we received them. We of going to the temple. It is really a Ensign, Nov. 1998, 7). Having patience, then planned to go as a family to the great pleasure for us to attend temple. following the commandments, and temple. We departed on February 24, When I joined the Church, I used to developing Christlike attributes had 2015. It was a wonderful experience to pay attention to words like gratitude prepared us to go to the temple. My go together. Emmanuel and Lavanya for the gospel, temple covenants, and husband used to give me good com- and my wife and I were sealed. We also eternal marriage. These words remain mitments and challenges—he promised

August 2015 A5 me while dating that he would take me the temple, we felt that we were returning home from temple, we car- to temple. I used to have the desire to in heaven with angels surrounding ried all the cherished moments from go on mission, which my parents did us. When we were getting ready to temple, the devotional, and the beau- not permit but my husband said, “We receive our endowments, all of our tiful Hong Kong buildings. will serve as a missionary couple.” That memories were refreshed during the Brothers and sisters, going to impressed me a lot. But I am thankful course of the endowment session, and temple is easy, but after coming back for my parents because they allowed we forgot all our worldly things. After we will have so many temptations me to get married to a member of the the session we felt that there is a great which will make us want to break Church. When I am discouraged in my purpose to do in this life, that is noth- our relationship with our spouse. We life, my husband tells me every time that ing but missionary work, to bring the may even feel to leave the gospel and “if we place a little more patience in the gospel into people’s life. be attracted toward worldly things. I still feel that I made the right That’s why we need to listen to gen- decision to marry a Church member, eral conference talks and apply those especially a returned missionary. If principles in our lives and listen to the I had not married a Church mem- promptings of the Holy Ghost. Making ber, I might have been a less-active­ choices consistent with eternal truths member by now. When my husband will help us develop righteous char- and I were getting sealed in temple, acters, increase our faith, and give we felt that our relationship should us strength to resist temptations. We not break, but that we should love need to seek Heavenly Father’s help and share all the memories and every day, and only then will we be be together for eternity. When we qualified to be led by the Spirit to were performing proxy baptism choose the correct path. It will warn for our ancestors, we felt that our us of temptations we might not other- whole family was enjoying the wise recognize. The Chaprayil Lord’s kingdom. I saw my in-laws’­ In the temple we make eternal Family faces—they were so happy, and covenants with our Father in Heaven. I felt happy the whole time. After We make promises to Him, and in finishing all the proxy baptisms, we return He makes extraordinary prom- process and greater amount of faith in felt that we were on the correct path. ises to us. So next time you go to the Lord, our challenges will find their Day by day, during our endowment temple, whether for yourself or your way toward successful conclusions.” sessions we learned new things. We kindred dead, please pay attention Then I would feel comforted in my felt that we made the right decision to to the promises God makes to you, heart. As we try to do what the Savior go to temple. We had the opportunity His daughters and His sons. In every wants us to do, the quiet goodness of to attend a devotional in Hong Kong part of temple, the hallowed halls of our lives will strengthen, comfort, and during our temple visit and we saw God’s house are filled with comfort- inspire our family members, neighbors, our beloved Apostle, Elder Ballard, ing covenants, personal and intimate and friends. and the Asia Area Presidency. My assurance of His eternal love. We en- Finally, without further trials we husband especially was very happy courage everyone to join together to reached temple. When we entered to see his mission president. While do your part to prepare every family,

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adult, youth, and child to ultimately and friendships with those of your I promise you that as you participate be worthy to receive every temple own kind” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Of in institute and study the scriptures

blessing the gospel provides. Missions, Temples, and Stewardship,” diligently, your power to avoid temp­ We really enjoyed the Lord’s Spirit Ensign, Nov. 1995, 54). tations and receive the direction by going to the temple, and we hope I feel love when I go to institute; I of the Holy Ghost in all you do will to visit again soon. We know the feel welcomed; and I feel I am a child be increased. That is the promise I gospel is true; it is the hope of the of God. I enjoy the institute every time leave with you, in the name of Jesus world. We know Jesus died for our I attend. Christ, amen. ◼ sins and Joseph Smith restored the I learned from institute how im- gospel. We sustain our living prophet, portant it is to obey God’s command- Thomas S. Monson, and the Quorum ments; to maintain reverence in the of the Twelve Apostles and Seventies, Church; to fulfill Church callings, to who are chosen by God to lead and give time, talents, and resources for God Provides By Ramesh Turala, Madinaguda guide us in this last dispensation. We God’s service; to heed the counsels Second Ward, Hyderabad India Stake bear testimony in the name of Jesus from the prophet of God; to proclaim Christ, amen. ◼ the gospel; to pay tithes and fast ne day I had a strong impression offerings; and to serve a mission. By O to update my resume online. I attending institute I learned all these immediately acted on it. Three days things and many more things that later I got a call for an interview on have helped me walk on the right the following Saturday and again two I Love Institute path, which will lead me to live with days later, on Monday. By Nelapati Kishore, Kakinada Branch, India Rajahmundry District our Heavenly Father after this life. I went to the office and was fired. Institute will help us know the gospel It was really a hard situation for me, here are so many ways that in depth, which will help us to pre- as three of my family members de- Twe can learn the gospel in The pare for missionary service and mar- pended on me, but I did not panic or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day­ riage in the temple of the Lord. get worried. I immediately started to Saints. I took advantage of every op- “The objective of Institute is to help work on getting a new job. I knew portunity to enlarge my understand- young adults understand and rely on ing of the gospel. One of the ways I the teachings and Atonement of Jesus learned, shared, and acted upon the Christ, qualify for the blessings of gospel was by giving priority to insti- the temple, and prepare themselves, tute. I was baptized in this Church on their families, and others for eternal September 23, 2007. I started to attend life with their Heavenly Father” (“The institute class in 2008. I continue to at- Objective of Seminaries and Institutes tend institute because I love to attend of Religion,” institute.lds.org). So institute classes. friends, make a priority to attend

Institute is the place where “knowl- institute class as our prophet encour- Ramesh Turala edge of the gospel will be increased, aged each one of us to do. Think of with his wife faith will be strengthened, and you it—friends will be made, the Spirit will and daughter will enjoy wonderful associations be felt, and faith will be strengthened.

August 2015 A7 that everything was for my good (see I fulfilled my calling and did my D&C 122:7), and I trusted in the Lord visiting teaching no matter whatever that He would definitely help me with the condition was; because of this I the situation. received the award in my office. My I attended the interview and after mother is my companion in visiting one round of interviews, I was hired. teaching. As I paid tithing with a will- It all happened in a week. I won’t ing heart, God blessed our home with say this all happened because of my peace and joy. We got all the basic talent but rather because of my faith things we needed, and even more in God. than that. I know my Father in Heaven is One day when I was going home mindful of my needs as I have seen from my office, my friend told me she His mighty hand is always there for would drop me off. I said OK. I always me. I always look back and say I am sit on one side of her scooter when not worthy of the blessings I have she drives. I heard in my heart a voice received. God has blessed me with asking me to stop the scooter and sit on many wonderful things. I know I am two sides. To be honest, I ignored it. A not alone in this world. God provides second time again the Spirit prompted me everything in terms of spiritual and me to sit on two sides. Again I ignored Sister Jyothi temporal blessings. In the name of it. The third time I again felt the Spirit, I Jesus Christ, amen. ◼ listened to it and sat on both sides. Later I understood that if I had not done so so much; more than we can imagine. I would have met with a painful acci- God blesses us according to His time. dent. I was saved because of the con- I know the Book of Mormon is the stant companionship of the Holy Ghost. true word of God. I am grateful for my I Kept God First I am grateful to my Heavenly Bishop Raju who sends SMS messages By Jyothi, Madinaguda Second Ward, Hyderabad India Stake Father for the constant companion- daily regarding scriptures which really ship of the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ motivate us. When we put God first, ast month was very special to is my best friend. I mean it! I am very everything will be added unto us. I L me and to my family. I was “first” grateful to my Heavenly Father for the felt this strongly when I received the in my office. I never expected that wonderful gospel in my life. I am very award. When I got the award I re- I would be awarded “first,” even grateful to Jesus Christ for choosing membered a scripture from Matthew though I always desired to be in one me and my family to be a part of this 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of the top four positions. I received gospel. I am very grateful to God that of God, and his righteousness; and the award for “most dedicated and after 11 years my relatives came and all these things shall be added unto honest worker” in the whole office. I stayed with us, which we all enjoyed you.” I know The Church of Jesus got this because of Heavenly Father’s a lot. I am very grateful for my par- Christ of Latter-day­ Saints is the only grace. I know I am a weak person, but ents who are great examples to me. true Church upon the whole face of I was able to achieve this feat because I know Heavenly Father has a plan the earth. I say this in name of Jesus

I kept God first in my life. for each one of us. God loves us all Christ, amen. ◼ ENGLISH—INDIA

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