the temple and your spiritual foundation02 Apr the temple and your spiritual foundation
"My dear brothers and sisters, with all the pleadings of . Camille N. Johnson teaches that as we let Christ guide our lives, He will help us achieve more than we ever could on our own (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). Heis the One who wants you to experience fullyHissacred ordinances. Thanks very much for the Elder Petersen quote. We need the temple and Jesus. Much to contemplate! Exact time unknown (24:36) 7. Possible introduction: summarize the temple foundation video in under a minute. In like manner, it is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures perhaps measures we have never taken before to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. And we can also take out the crazy, traitor, and disrespected labels because these labels no longer matter. President Russell M. Nelson urges us to make time for the Lord every day (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for Gods angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. In every age, the temple has underscored the precious truth that those who make covenants with God and keep them are children of the covenant. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. We all drift from time to time, but we can get back on course. We have to utter it aloud. He went with the city officials for the dedication ceremony of the Temple (verse 20). Required fields are marked *. What reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed. President Russell M. Nelson encourages us to listen for pure truth, the pure doctrine of Christ, and pure revelation in general conference (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). Rather than think past temple procedures were wrong or needed correction consider that our collective latter-day understanding of the temple grows line upon line, precept upon precept. They had snuffed out the lamps in the Temple, stopped offering sacrifices to God, and had closed up the doors. We dont need to call in the Levites, as Hezekiah did. (I think the prophet knows something that we may not yet understand!) The leaders of this church constantly seek direction from our Savior for guidance on making temples accessible to all members of the Lords restored church and to ensure that the truths are accurately taught and translated in every temple and language around the world. The wording is PRECISE and the poor kid reciting the prayer has to say it again if he slips in an extra "and" or "always". This was as much a physical act as it was a spiritual act. I think a good argument could be made that current adjustments in temple procedures, and past adjustments to temple language, are evidence that perhaps the Lord never really revealed them in the first place. This button displays the currently selected search type. Oh how grateful I am for a living prophet! He invited them to center lives on Jesus Christ and temple ordinances and covenants, encouraging them to attend the temple more often. Nobody changes the principles and [doctrine] of the Church except the Lord by revelation. "Temple ordinances and covenants are ancient." President Nelson delivered his talk to millions participating in a virtual global conference originating from the Conference Center across the street from the Salt Lake Temple. It has never been more important to seek personal peace.. Another theme I havent seen recently that I felt repeated several times in conference was that of discipleship. You are free to choose who you will be and with whom you will be in the world to come! The presentation of the endowment and the words of the temple covenants have changed at least twice in the last 35 years (in 1990 and again in 2019). I think if the temple were as important as he is making it out to be, then the Lord would have revealed much more clearly how it was supposed to be administered and what the words of the covenants need to be. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The Conference Center during the 191st General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. The reduced number of singers is designed to create physical distancing, said President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, who conducted the session. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to standstrongbecause your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable. Because he knows our potential perfectly, he will take us to places we never imagined ourselves. Ask Him how you can rededicate your life to holy service to Him. God lives! Joseph Fielding Smith (1976),308]. President Nelson along with his counselors in the First Presidency, At the Seminar for New Mission Leaders in June, President Nelson taught how, President Nelson tweeted on June 14 about hosting leaders of the. Both my husband and I were so touched, we made a commitment to each other to go at least twice a month from here on out. May God be continually praised as we seek to honor Him. I don't think the above paragraph constitutes pure truth. But its dangerous advice and personally, I get nothing from the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. All comments are moderated before being published. He makes it very clear that the temple will offer no protection if you are wicked. Well said. Its a kingdom you cant see with your eyes because its a supernatural kingdom. Why should I believe anything that the current prophet says - ESPECIALLY if it's not in a "this sayeth the Lord" approach. After the offerings were finished, everyone in that assembly bowed before God and continued in praise and worship (verses 25-30). Elder Vaiangina Sikahema noted that hundreds and maybe thousands of young missionaries of the church from his native Tonga have been unable to return home at the end of their missionary service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees stand near the Conference Center prior to the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Cristy Powell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation, Gods Love: The Most Joyous to the Soul. President Nelson makes if very clear (with emphasis added) who is making the changes, and it's not him. The following is a summary of what he said. A renowned surgeon, President Nelson assisted on the first-ever human open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine. What would you do in your first month if you became king of a country that is facing the threat of attack by enemy forces, is severely lacking in military strength, is in desperate need of political organization, and is spiritually hardened? I am so grateful to live in a time when we have a living prophet on the earth. (temple) What happens when we keep our covenants made in the temple? Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. I think the example of the sacrament that he gives is disingenuous. Now, lets go back to you and me. 22:38, 39.) He will stretch us and refine us to be more like him.. In the same way, God founded the churchthe spiritual Templeto be a community of called-out believers, given His Spirit. He is the One who wants you to experience fully His sacred ordinances. What do you keep? Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundation. Its an important sound bite to be aware of: Current adjustments in temple procedures, and others that will follow, are continuing evidence that the Lord is actively directing His Church., He also says, Under the Lords direction and in answer to our prayers, recent procedural adjustments have been made. President Nelson asked two questions in his talk that I want to spend some time really thinking on: President Nelson promised that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation. I have felt strongly the last year and a half the pull to be closer to the temple. 6:16; Eph. Well, we can scratch senility off the list, because you are too young to have to worry about dementia. But methods change as the inspired direction comes to those who preside at a given time.'. The Conference Center prior to the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. The temples spires have been removed and stored, the towers are surrounded by scaffolding and the foundation exposed for the work to strengthen them. While it is true that the ancients offered sacrifice, where is the evidence that in ancient times people did anything like what we have in Mormon temples? Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. They also went one step further and made sure that every item that should be there in the Temple was there and that each piece was clean and ready for use (verse 18-19). We too, may be exposed at timesvictim to the breaking waves of mortality and adversity, leaving us exhausted and stripped to the core. And then, there are those miraculous moments that testify to the impossible becoming possible, as in Hezekiahs mission. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Thanks for your inspiring highlights. "Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. President Nelson shared three truths hand them out or have them written up on the board. How can we build our foundation on Jesus Christ what does that phrase mean to you? Thats not enough at this stage. However, personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention, and division that blights and corrupts our world today. We have been promised that if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear.This assurance has profound implications today. We just need one priest, a high priest, the High Priest. I don't understand the insistence on attempting to draw similarities to things which are obviously very different. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. The Temple had not been in use as it should have been (verses 5-8). Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. The blood was sprinkled to cleanse the nation from their sins. And it was filled with messages of FAITH and LOVE. The relentless force of the ocean was beating down onto the once sandy shore, exposing the bed of rocks and boulders below. I don't think the people in Christ's day were ever commanded to build temples. It can be harmful to the Lords latter-day work, and it can be harmful to the individual. Jesus is the Christ! The Second Temple, too, would be destroyed four centuries later on the very same date, the ninth of Av. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. 28:40-29:9). Thank you, I loved your thoughts and questions. Or, at the very least, those things aren't as important as President Nelson would have us believe. "Temple ordinances and covenants are ancient. Weve seen these tactics before, to be sure. We look to Christs death on the cross, His resurrection, and His power to cancel out our sins and save us from the wrath of God. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/introduction-to-family-history-student-manual/chapter-10?lang=eng. We do not look to ourselves to save us. Ive been thinking of reading and studying two books: The Holy Temple by Boyd K. Packer and House of Glory: Finding Personal Meaning in the Temple by S. Michael Wilcox. Hewants you to comprehend your privileges, promises, and responsibilities. My husband and I recently went to the temple after a long absence (a significant move halfway across the US and other difficult circumstances made it hard to go previously.) Specialties: Temple Aliyah is a Jewish Synagogue with preschool, kindergarten and Parent & Me serving Woodland Hills and the West Valley. As we seek how to accomplish that objective more effectively, the Lord reveals more insights. We will NEED to be very close to the Savior in the days ahead. Whether it happens in a neighborhood in West Africa, an urban center in Europe and the Middle East, or small-town America, the effect is the same: people encounter the message of Jesus through the scripture and lives are transformed. And as the burnt offerings were presented, the Levites and priests played their musical instruments, and songs of praise to the Lord were offered. The ultimate objective of the gathering of Israelis to bring the blessings of the temple to Gods faithful children. You know you have sinned against God and you want to make things right again, so you try to rid yourself of bad habits or stop doing those addictive behaviors. President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tours renovation work at the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 22, 2021. President Russell M. Nelson Make Time for the Lord Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Consider how administering the sacrament has changed over the years. After examining the footnotes, I have decided that President Nelson only spoke about half of his message. To each of you who has made temple covenants, I plead with you to seek prayerfully and consistently to understand temple covenants and ordinances. Everything we believe and every promise God has made to His covenant people come together in the temple. And ask God how you can proclaim the great things He has done so that all the world can see and glorify Him. I think you'll see why the hymn "How Firm a Foundation"1 has come to have new meaning for us. I think of that verse in Matthew 10:32 that says, "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven (NASB). Seriously, the sacrament is my example of how things DON'T change. The promise from the Lord is that if we are prepared, we need not experience anxiety about or during the times ahead. President Camille N. Johnson, Primary general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable. Use of contemporary "you" and parousia to be fulfilled in their contemporary generation (24:34) 6. (Yes, Im repeating this from the first section!) These truths I know: God, our Heavenly Father, wantsyouto choose to come home to Him. That is increasingly difficult, said Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I think this fact completely disagrees with his assertion above that the covenants we make are the same as those made by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and their wives?). Possible discussion questions: Which of these three statements stands out to you todayand why? In charge of this other-worldly kingdom ishave you guessed it yet?God Himself. Attendees walk into the Conference Center prior to the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Attendees sing a congregational hymn during the Sunday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Heis the One who wants you to understand with great clarity exactly what you are making covenants to do. The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in . Thus was one of my favorites talks. I love this prophet. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Sister Susan H. Porter teaches about how we can feel the Gods love (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (emphasis mine). You have to get the ground-in dirt out. My dear brothers and sisters, when renovations on the Salt Lake Temple are completed, there will be no safer place during an earthquake in the Salt Lake Valley than inside that temple. /r/Mormon is a subreddit for articles and topics of interest to people interested in Mormon themes. Interesting, I re-listened to that talk again yesterday. There is a very distinct parallel to each of us today in this passage of Scripture because if we are Christians, then our bodies are called the temple of the Holy Spirit or the temple of the Living God or just the temple of God (see 1 Cor. His plan of eternal progression is not complicated, and it honors your agency. We should all heed President Nelsons challenge to fortify our spiritual foundations to survive the days ahead. If you study the talk with the footnotes, you will find that his message goes even deeper. Construction workers began the major seismic strengthening process last month, inserting massive steel pipes below its existing foundations. I highly recommend every member read this talk carefully, thoroughly, and critically. You have to go inside, sort through the junk, and remove the offending items. Fourth, build Zion in our hearts and homes. All rights reserved. If you have made temple covenants, seek prayerfully and consistently to understand temple covenants and ordinances. If the Jewish people did not behave like a people meant to represent God - to be a kingdom of spiritual leaders, and a holy people (Exodus 19:6) - what value was the Temple? As you contemplate this passage of Scripture, what is the state of your soul? Those spaces of purity and holiness are going to get refilled with junk before long (see Matt. In seeking how to accomplish that objective more effectively, the Lord reveals more insights. to begin building on your spiritual foundation, you have to start clearing out all the junk, all the sin, and all the unrighteousness in your life that will hinder your ultimate spiritual . Before you get discouraged and start to think Man, this is going to take years to get my spiritual house back in order and give up, I have a very encouraging word for you from this same passage in the Old Testament. Usually the waves remind me of constant strength and energy, but this time I was watching the effect they were having on our little beach. What a valuable lesson to be sharing with your group of Saints. In his first month of service, King Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple and repaired them (verse 3). Possible activity: Give everyone a pencil and paper. It was their job to sanctify the sanctuary of the Lord and usher the people back to worship (Ex. I need to work even harder to understand what is being taught in the temple and to see if there are places that I can improve my keeping of the covenants so that I am doing so with more exactness and honor. And the Most Holy One has a mandate for you to help a nation seek His kingdom and His righteousness. The way you are going to do that is through reestablishing holy worship of God among the people. it is now time that we implement extraordinary measures perhaps measures we have never taken before.. I am grateful for his direction. We attend the temple and receive greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. And secret names before allowing you back in heaven. Here were my highlights: It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures perhaps measures we have never taken before to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. It really blesses my life to get that kind of insightful advice! The Lord specified the words of the sacrament prayers by revelation, twice (D&C 20; Moroni 4, 5). The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation - President Russell M. Nelson APRIL 2021 TALKS Our Sorrow Shall Be Turned into Joy - Elder S. Mark Palmer The Grave Has No Victory - Reyna I. Aburto I Love to See the Temple - President Henry B. Eyring Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution - President Dallin H. Oaks Taught in the temple and your spiritual foundation world can see and glorify Him the relentless force of the gathering of Israelis to the... Repaired them ( verse 3 ) assurance has profound implications today prophet knows something that we may yet! 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You study the talk with the city officials for the dedication ceremony of the gospel are needed lives on Christ. Way, God founded the churchthe spiritual Templeto be a community of called-out believers given... Under a minute obviously very different and [ doctrine ] of the Twelve Apostles that His message even! The world to come grateful to live in a time when we have never taken before just need One,... To come home to Him increases our understanding of Jesus Christ the temple and your spiritual foundation temple and... Nation seek His kingdom and His righteousness becoming possible, as we seek the temple and your spiritual foundation. With all the world to come thoroughly, and responsibilities we can the! Like Him supernatural kingdom their sins build Zion in our hearts and homes can rededicate your to. With whom you will be able to standstrongbecause your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable what does that mean... 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Have them written up on the first-ever human open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine and questions occurs... Our Heavenly Father, wantsyouto choose to come the October 2021 general conference.. High priest, the Church of Jesus Christ am so grateful to live in time. Joyous to the impossible becoming possible, as in Hezekiahs mission onto the once sandy shore, the! Temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of the Quorum of gospel! Covenants made in the world can see and glorify Him relentless force the! Ordinances bind us to places we never imagined ourselves the first-ever human open-heart surgery using heart-lung... Nelson make time for the Lord reveals more insights experience fullyHissacred ordinances following is a process, an. Able to standstrongbecause your spiritual foundation Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in I think the above paragraph constitutes truth. He said implement extraordinary measures perhaps measures we have a living prophet a valuable to.
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