iLove TeMpLeS

Today we went to the Oakland Temple!!! I love temples. Temples are houses of the Lord. It's a place to go learn, do sacred ordinances, to feel of God's love, for comfort, peace, and on and on. But it is the house of the Lord and you do feel light, safe, and calm when you're in the temple. All the worries, burdens, and the worldly thoughts vanishes as you enter the temple. I am so very grateful for temples and it is a great blessing Heavenly Father has given us.

In Isaiah Chapter two it says;
2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.



The words of Isaiah has been fulfilled in these last days. We have been blessed to have temples throughout the world to go learn and follow the paths we need to return to our Heavenly Father again someday. I love temples and for the blessings that we receive as we go and serve Him. "Mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion." (D&C 132:8) As we go to the temple we can receive the many revelations to know what Heavenly Father wants us to do. Our physical and temporal well-being can be sanctified as we continually go to the temple to serve our Heavenly Father.
I know that temples are the house of the Lord that we can feel of Heavenly Father's love as we go and serve Him. I know that the Spirit of God dwells in His temple...it is a home that's filled with love, comfort, peace, and refuge. I am grateful for temples and for the opportunity that I had to go and feel of my Heavenly Father's love and to draw more closer to Him. It is a place of peace and revelation. It is a place where spiritual guidance can be received for crucial decisions or concerns. The Lord has blessed me whenever I attend the temple to do sacred ordinance. And the blessings He has given me will not be limited to the time spent in the temple. When I do temple work I have been blessed in all aspects of my life. My labors in the temple will strengthen me and refine me spiritually. I know this to be true in Jesus name. Amen.

"How far is heaven?
It's not very far.
In temples of God,
It's right where we are." (Ensign October 2010; Blessings of the Temple)

I really like this poem that President Monsoon paraphrased in the article about Blessings of the Temple. It is a great blessing to have the temples here on earth where we can go and feel of our Heavenly Father's love and make covenants with Him. He goes on sharing a story about Elder Matthew Cowley. It says;
"The late Elder Matthew Cowley, who was a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, once recounted the Saturday afternoon experience of a grandfather as hand in hand he took his small granddaughter on a birthday visit-not to the zoo or to the movies but to the temple grounds. With permission of the groundskeeper, the two walked to the large doors of the temple. He suggested that she place her hand on the srurdy wall and then on the massive door. Tenderly het then said to her, "Remember that this is the day you touched the temple. One day you will go inside. " His gift to the little one was not candy or ice cream but an experience far more significant and everlasting-an appreciation of the house of the Lord. She had touched the temple, and temple had touched her."
What a beautiful touching story! As we go to the temple our faith in Jesus Christ will grow more and we will be able to bear every trial and overcome all the temptations.

Temples are places of learning. Their principal purpose is to provide ordinances necessary for the children of God to enable them to return to dwell with Him. Temple ordinances lead to the greatest blessings available throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Everything in the Church—the meetings and activities, the missionary efforts, the lessons taught and the hymns—all lead to the work done in holy temples.

One ordinance received in the temple is called the endowment. The word endowment means "gift," and the temple endowment truly is a gift from God. The ordinance consists of a series of instructions and includes covenants to live righteously and follow the requirements of the gospel. The endowment focuses on the Savior, His role in Heavenly Father's plan, and the personal commitment of each member to follow Him.

Another temple ordinance is celestial marriage. In this ordinance husband and wife are sealed to one another for eternity. A sealing performed in the temple continues forever if the husband and wife are faithful to the covenants they make.

Children born to parents who have been sealed in the temple are born in the covenant. These children automatically become part of an eternal family. Children who are not born in the covenant can also become part of an eternal family once their natural or adoptive parents have been sealed to one another. The ordinance of sealing children to parents is performed in the temple.

People who have died without these essential gospel ordinances may receive those ordinances through the work done in temples. Acting in behalf of ancestors and others who have died, Church members are baptized and confirmed, receive the endowment, and participate in the sealings of husband to wife and children to parents.

Those who enter the temple must be worthy, which means that they keep the commandments and are prepared to make and keep sacred temple covenants. In two interviews—one with a member of a bishopric or a branch president and another with a member of a stake presidency or a mission president—Church members certify their worthiness to enter the temple. In these interviews, the priesthood leader asks about the individual's personal conduct and worthiness. Those who are worthy receive a temple recommend, which allows them to enter the temple.

In addition to being a place where sacred priesthood ordinances are performed, the temple is a place of peace and revelation. It is a place where spiritual guidance can be received for crucial decisions or concerns. The Lord blesses those who attend to the sacred ordinance work in the temple. And the blessings He gives will not be limited to the time spent in the temple. Those who do temple work will be blessed in all aspects of their lives. Their labors in the temple will strengthen them and refine them spiritually.


Check this video out;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8&feature=player_embedded