The Temple: Staying Close to the Lord

A few days ago I was asked by a member of my Relief Society presidency to prepare to share a few thoughts during our upcoming Relief Society lesson.  The lesson is based off of Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s talk, Recommended to the Lord and the question that I have been asked to respond to is “Have you done anything to stay close to the Lord and your covenants while the temples have been closed?”

Asking me this question is like opening the floodgates.  Haha.  There are so many things that I am passionate about that fall under this question.

I have had little thoughts coming to me here and there throughout the week that I’ve been jotting down but this morning I woke up before my alarm (thank you newborn prep hormones. haha) and several thoughts kept coming to me so even though I was planning on using my time differently this morning, I decided to shift gears because I just had to sit down and organize and write out my thoughts instead.

 

I want to preface this by saying that I genuinely love the temple.

This hasn’t always been the case though. 

I mean, I’ve never disliked the temple.  haha.  I had had many positive experiences with the temple.  I just didn’t feel a deep love for the temple until the last couple years…especially 2019 and early 2020.  Before that, I went mostly out of a desire to be obedient and I knew that the temple was good for me.

One day in December, 2018, during my scripture study, I had some thoughts come to me about the temple.  Here’s what I wrote in my journal…

 

“Yesterday as I was reading my scriptures, I read 3rd Nephi 11. Verse 1 says:

“And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.”

In the commentary that I am using with my study, this is what was included…

“This is the third temple mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The first one was built by Nephi, after the manner of the temple of Solomon (2 Ne 5:16), in the land of Nephi. The second one was located in Zarahemla and was the site of King Benjamin’s great sermon (Mosiah 2:1).

The third was located in Bountiful. From other passages, we know that many other temples were built and used but their specific locations are unknown (see Alma 16:13; 23:2). Therefore, we can see that the Nephites and the Lamanites were temple-building people.

Their temples were gathering places which had the same symbolic meaning of holiness and spirituality as our temples do today, but the ordinances performed therein were, up to this point, according to the Law of Moses.

Temples are gathering places for saints in all ages. “The temple of Zarahemla served as a gathering place where solemn official business was transacted. As mentioned previously, gathering at the temple was mandatory under the law of Moses:

‘Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God’ (Exodus 23:17), especially so that they could ‘hear’ the word of the Lord.” (Donald W. Parry,Temples of the Ancient World, p. 352) The temples are also a place of refuge-the best place to be in time of crisis.

Later, Mormon tells us that the number of the multitude was 2500 people (3 Ne 17:25). Undoubtedly, there were some who considered making this trek to the land of Bountiful but decided not to go. Can you imagine how sorry they were to hear of what happened that day?

Think of what they missed because they were “not in the mood” to attend the temple on that particular occasion? We never know what kind of spiritual experience is waiting for us in the temple of the Lord. There may be times when we have missed out on incredible spiritual experiences because we didn’t take the opportunity to attend the temple.

On those occasions when Satan disturbs our routine, makes temple attendance inconvenient, or otherwise places a roadblock to temple attendance, we would do well to remember the 2500 in Bountiful who were so greatly blessed because they had made the effort.” (Bryan Richards)

 

That really struck me. Usually when I don’t go to the temple (because I’m “busy” or its inconvenient or it hasn’t been that long since I went last,) I don’t really think much of it. I guess I just think that I can have a good experience at the temple, but if I’m not there, it’s not like I necessarily missed something.

But this commentary made me think. Perhaps there have been times where I could have had a special experience at the temple but I didn’t show up.”

 

After this scripture study experience, I committed to going to the temple more often.  I planned to go every other week and for the most part, I was successful with that goal.  I didn’t do as well throughout the summer months, but still went at least once a month.

I usually woke up really early (5 am) on Saturday mornings to go to the temple when it first opened.

 

I have tons of pictures from varying dates that look almost identical to this because I would always take a photo of the temple right before I went inside.

 

And then at the end of General Conference in October 2019, President Nelson told us that April 2020’s conference would be unlike any other General Conference we’ve ever had. It would be the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s first vision.

He suggested that we prepare for a unique conference in a few specific ways and then he added, “Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.”

After that invitation from the prophet, I set a goal to go to the temple every week… at least until April 2020’s General Conference.

Logistically, this goal wasn’t too complicated since I was living in Utah at the time, with an abundance of temples all around me, and the closest one was 15 minutes away from my home. But I had never attended the temple this frequently before so I knew that it would still be a good challenge for me.

Again, most of these trips to the temple were bright and early on Saturday mornings.  My love for the temple had been blossoming throughout the year of attending fairly often, but it grew even deeper during this time of attending every single week.

 

 

October 26, 2019: “One of my favorite parts about where I live is that I live so close to a temple. I feel very fortunate to live in a place that is surrounded by temples. My favorite time to go to the temple is early in the morning when it’s still dark outside. There is something symbolic about going in when its dark and coming out when its light.

The temple is a place where I find rest for my soul and respite from the storms of life. It is the place where I gain energy and power to continue on my journey home.”

 

I was able to attend the temple every week for 22 weeks in a row… and then the temples closed because of the pandemic.  I was so sad.  I was so close to meeting my goal.  I only had 3 weeks left until April’s General Conference.

Of course, the temple closing was completely out of my control so I still felt that I had done my best and I had gained a lot throughout the process.

I was sad that I hadn’t been able to make it all the way until April’s conference, but I was mostly sad to see the temples close because I had developed a genuine love for the temple.  The temple had truly become my second home and I loved being there.  I was sad to not be able to go inside again for the foreseeable future.

Leaving that particular temple behind when we moved across the country was also so sad for me.

 

So, in thinking about this question, “Have you done anything to stay close to the Lord and your covenants while the temples have been closed?”, I first, asked myself, “why do I go to the temple?”

 

I’m sure there are many reasons, but the ones that come to my mind are:

 

-to learn / gain a spiritual education, especially about the plan of salvation

-to receive essential ordinances, which arm me with power and gifts from on high, and are necessary for my salvation and exaltation

-to commune with God, receive inspiration, and seek refuge from the world

-to offer a sacrifice of my time and perform proxy ordinances for my kindred dead

 

One of these – receiving essential ordinances – is something that I have already completed, as I was endowed and sealed in 2008, and isn’t repeated in subsequent visits to the temple.  But the others on the list are repeated over and over again as I attend the temple.  

 

So have I done anything to stay close to the Lord and my covenants while the temples have been closed?

How have I brought the temple, and what it offers me, into my home?

How has my home become a temple, especially during this time?

 

“A temple is literally a house of the Lord, a holy sanctuary in which sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the living and also in behalf of the dead. A place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.” (Temple, Bible Dictionary)

 

I’d like to share my thoughts about how early morning contemplation, family history, and building a temple within have helped me to stay close to the Lord and my covenants during this time that the temple has been closed.

 

Early Morning Contemplation

 

One of the parts about the temple that I have come to love the most is it being a place to commune with God, a place to receive inspiration, and a place to seek refuge from the world.

Often during my early morning temple visits, after completing some proxy ordinance work for my deceased ancestors, I would go into the celestial room and spend quite a bit of time in there just spending time with God.  I would pray, think, ponder, meditate, seek inspiration, read scriptures, and bask in God’s presence and love.  Because it was early in the morning, there were less people in the celestial room and I felt like I got to have an even more quiet and intimate experience with me and God.

Another ritual that I had was that after I was done inside the temple, I would put in my headphones and walk around the outside of the temple for a little while, listening to music that speaks to my soul and jotting down, in my journal, any impressions or feelings that I had while attending the temple.

 

I miss these two rituals a lot.  I miss the temple.  

But I have still been able to participate in similar experiences while at home.  Both of these rituals involve contemplation and meditation.

I ran across this quote by Russell M. Nelson last night and thought it was so insightful.  I had never thought of the word contemplate like this before.

 

“My third suggestion is to contemplate. This word has deep meaning. It comes from Latin roots: con, meaning “with,” and templum, meaning “a space or place to meditate.” It is the root from which the word temple comes. If couples contemplate often—with each other in the temple—sacred covenants will be better remembered and kept. Frequent participation in temple service and regular family scripture study nourish a marriage and strengthen faith within a family. Contemplation allows one to anticipate and to resonate (or be in tune) with each other and with the Lord. Contemplation will nurture both a marriage and God’s kingdom.” (Russell M. Nelson, Nurturing Marriage, April 2006)

 

I love that.  I had never connected the word contemplate with temple before but it makes so much sense.

 

I also looked up the definition of contemplate in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary.

 

CONTEMPLATEverb transitive [Latin]

1. To view or consider with continued attention; to study; to meditate on. This word expresses the attention of the mind, but sometimes in connection with that of the eyes; as, to contemplate the heavens. More generally, the act of the mind only is intended; as, to contemplate the wonders of redemption; to contemplate the state of the nation and its future prospects.

2. To consider or have in view, in reference to a future act or event; to intend.

 

The temple is a space or place to meditate.  It is a place of communion, revelation, and refuge.

 

The temple is a sacred space where God dwells.  It is the House of the Lord.  “The house of the Lord is a house of learning. There the Lord teaches in His own way. There each ordinance teaches about the Savior. There we learn how to part the veil and communicate more clearly with heaven. There we learn how to rebuke the adversary and draw upon the Lord’s priesthood power to strengthen us and those we love. How eager each of us should be to seek refuge there.” (Russell M. Nelson)

 

So how have I brought these aspects of the temple into my home?

 

When I think of sacred, set apart spaces, I am reminded of what Jershon says about the Sabbath.  He refers to the Sabbath as a temple in time.  It is a sacred space in time each week that has been opened up for us to connect with God and renew covenants.  The Sabbath is a temple in time each week.

Because I have been participating in a daily early morning ritual for the past 6 years, I have come to realize that the early morning hours are a space in the day where the Spirit more easily influences and inspires us.  The early morning hours are like a temple in time as well, but every day.  There is just something special about that time in the day.  It feels sacred and set apart.

 

“If you are to be successful… you will need to be inspired. You will need to receive revelation. I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early. If you do, your body and mind will become rested and then in the quiet of those early morning hours, you will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time of the day.” –Harold B. Lee

 

I have found this advice from Harold B. Lee to be very true.  Over the past 6 years, in the quiet of the early morning hours, I have received more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time.

I realized recently that nearly all of my Hear Him experiences that I have recorded in the margins of my Doctrine and Covenants this year start out with something along the lines of “during my routine this morning,” or “while I was meditating this morning,” or “while I was doing my scripture study this morning,” etc.

I hear the voice of the Lord most clearly in the quiet and stillness of the early morning hours.

 

One of the aspects (which is actually overarching) of my morning ritual is meditation.  Remember, the temple is a space or place to meditate.  I think that meditation is something that we don’t implement enough in our lives, and there is a lot of depth to it that we may not always realize.

It’s one of those things where there’s more than meets the eye.  Meditation can sometimes feel hard to grasp or really understand. Sometimes it’s hard to know if we are “doing it right” or not.  I know that I’ve struggled with this before as I’ve tried to learn how to meditate.

I’ve come to realize though that meditation comes in many forms and there is a lot of flexibility with it.  There are so many different styles of meditation.  I think that’s one reason why meditation is so interesting.  Each individual may have their own personal approach (or multiple) that they take with it.

But the more I learn about meditation and seek to practice it in my life, the more I agree with David O. McKay…

 

“We pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is the meditation. Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as “a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme.” Meditation is a form of prayer. …

Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord. Jesus set the example for us. As soon as he was baptized and received the Father’s approval, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” [Matthew 3:17] Jesus [went] to what is now known as the mount of temptation. I like to think of it as the mount of meditation where, during the forty days of fasting, he communed with himself and his Father, and contemplated upon the responsibility of his great mission. One result of this spiritual communion was such strength as enabled him to say to the tempter:

“… Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt. 4:10.)

Before he gave … the beautiful sermon on the mount, he was in solitude, in communion. He did the same thing after that busy Sabbath day, when he arose early in the morning, after having been the guest of Peter. Peter undoubtedly found the guest chamber empty, and when they sought [Jesus] they found him alone. It was on that morning that Peter said:

“… All men seek for thee.” (Mark 1:37.)

Again, after Jesus had fed the five thousand he told the Twelve to dismiss the multitude, but Jesus went to the mountain for solitude. The historian says, “when the evening was come, he was there alone.” (Matt. 14:23.) Meditation! Prayer!

Let us make God the center of our lives. … To have communion with God, through his Holy Spirit, is one of the noblest aspirations of life. It is when the peace and love of God have entered the soul, when serving him becomes the motivating factor in one’s life and existence.” (David O. McKay, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay: Elements of Worship)

 

For several years, my meditation practice felt more rigid and formal.  I was trying to figure out the whole “how to do it right” thing.

But over the past few years in particular, my meditation practice has expanded and deepened and become more personal.  There is more flexibility within it now.  I now see many things that I do, especially during my morning ritual, as a form of meditation – something that turns into a door through which I pass into the presence of the Lord.  I am sure that my personal practice of meditation will continue to evolve as time goes on and I continue to learn and grow.

 

“Meditation cannot be taught, because it is something personal and private; it is the venturing of the soul into the unknown. But it can be learned by anyone who has the courage to think for himself.” (Chauncey C. Riddle)

 

I love how President David O. McKay defines meditation: “a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme.”

Just like everything worthwhile, learning how to meditate and commune with God, can take time and is often a line upon line process.  It’s personal and individual.

Like many people, when I first started learning how to meditate, I mostly used the eastern style of meditation…which isn’t a bad thing, but it felt incomplete to me.  I didn’t realize what was missing until I started learning about Christian Meditation from Brooke Snow.

 

“What makes Christ-centered meditation different from other styles of meditation?  There are many genres of meditation that can be found throughout the world.  Most people are familiar with the eastern style of meditation – which focuses on the practice of emptying the mind and detaching from the world. Christian meditation differs in a few distinct ways.  Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind and attach to God.

In his book, The Celebration of Discipline, author Richard Foster says “Eastern forms of meditation stress the need to become detached from the world.  There is an emphasis on losing personhood and individuality and merging with the cosmic mind.”

Christian meditation goes far beyond the notion of detachment.  Detachment is not enough.  We must go on to attachment.  The detachment from the confusion all around us in order to have a richer attachment to God.

While other styles of meditation can be helpful in calming the busy mind and anxious body, Christian meditation seeks for this and even more.  We aim to let go of the world and find peace in Christ.  Ultimately to commune with Him in a rich and nourishing way.”  (Brooke Snow, Christian Meditation 101, Small Seed Still App)

 

Taking Brooke Snow’s online Christian Meditation course helped me so much.  One of the greatest takeaways for me was learning how to improve my prayers – something that I had been trying to do for years and years but hadn’t found much success with.

One of the best tools that I learned from this course was prayer journaling.  Prayer journaling has strengthened and deepened my relationship with God and personal revelation so much.  I am so grateful for this tool in my life.

 

A great introduction to what Brooke teaches can be found in her free Christian Meditation mini course.

 

I have found The Small Seed Still app, where Brooke often shares meditations, to be very worthwhile as well.

 

“The helpmate of mighty prayer is meditation.” Chauncey C. Riddle wrote a great article in the March 1975 Ensign about prayer and meditation that is really helpful.  A key to revelation is meditation.

 

“Don’t get so busy that you don’t have time to meditate. Take the time. The most important testimony does not come by sight, but by the inner witness. Christ may be nearer than we have knowledge. “I am in your midst, but you do not see me. The Holy Ghost bears the sure witness. Mine eyes are upon you. The day cometh when ye shall know that I am.” [See D&C 38:7–8.]” (Harold B. Lee, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee)

 

I bring the temple into my home through taking advantage of the gift of the early morning hours and using those hours as a time to commune with the Lord.

 

 

Family History Work

One of the purposes of the temple is to turn the hearts of the fathers and children to each other.

 

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

 

In the temple, ordinance work is performed for the living and the dead and that work provides welding links in the family chain.  We are linked to one another for eternity.

While the temples have been closed (or at least not all the way open), I haven’t been able to perform proxy ordinances for my kindred dead.  But this hasn’t stopped me from doing family history work and turning my heart toward my fathers.

If you’ve been reading this blog for anytime at all, then you know that I am passionate about family history.  I love getting to know my ancestors and bringing their influence into my life.

Like I mentioned, when the announcement about the temple closures was made, I was really sad.  I decided that I would commit the time that I would have been spending in the temple, to working on family history instead.

I was really consistent with this, every week, for about the next 6 months… until I fell out of the habit (and also experienced big life changes: this pregnancy, and a cross country move).  I’d like to get back in the habit of weekly family history time.

I have experienced several family history miracles during this time that the temple has been closed.

Here are 3 posts that I wrote in April 2020 that tell about a couple of these miracles.

 

Passing the Torch: From LaRhea, to Oswald, to Me

 

Family History Miracle: Jane and Caroline

 

Jane & Alfred: The Missing Child

 

There have been several more family history miracles that we have experienced over the last year as well.  It really has been incredible.

Even though the temples have been closed, we have still felt our hearts turned to our fathers and their hearts turned to us.  We have been able to find and prepare many of our ancestors so we can do their temple work when the temples open fully.

 

 

Building at Temple Within

 

We know that the temple is The House of the Lord.  It is a place where the Lord can come to dwell on earth.

I would also define a temple as any place where God comes to earth.  It is a place where heaven and earth meet.

Of course, there are specific places (and that have specific functions like ordinance work) that are dedicated as official temples, but we also know that our bodies are temples too, and I would also say that places where sacred experiences take place become temples as well.

 

I’ve already mentioned that the bible dictionary teaches us that only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.  I, of course, believe that this refers to our literal homes, where we live, eat, sleep, work, etc.

But I also believe this is referring to our bodies/souls, which are also homes/temples for the Lord to dwell in.

 

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

 

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16)

 

Over the past 2+ years, I have been learning a lot about how to build a temple within my soul, and within my literal home.  I’ve learned so much from Marlene Peterson and The Well-Educated Heart.  The Well-Educated Heart website (and corresponding Libraries of Hope website) is seriously a treasure trove if you’re willing to dive in and collect the gems that Marlene shares in abundance (for free, I might add).  I’ve learned so much about the arts and hearts.

Marlene has been an amazing mentor to me as I have sought to build this temple within, and worked to help my children to do the same.

 

“This idea of building a temple within my heart that I have talked about elsewhere has been a life-changing concept for me. I cannot heal the damage done to my soul in this fallen world. I cannot fix most of the problems I face. But there is One who can. And if I focus on preparing a place for Him to come, and keep it clean and pure and quiet, He does come and in His love, I feel joy and peace and beauty and safety even though the sharks are still circling…The primary function of the arts is to soften and open hearts. …

…The thing about the arts is that when you are engaged in them, you are living in the moment. You are not living in the regrets of the past or the fears of the future. I think it was Emerson who said, “We are what we think about all day long.”

When your moments are filled with art that connects you to that which is good and beautiful and true, in a very real sense it goes into the very building materials of your soul. And when your soul is a place of beauty, the Spirit of the Lord will come and dwell with you and inspire you, using the very materials with which you are building your temple to teach you. The arts are some of the finest building materials you can quarry for that temple within.

The foundation stones belong to Him. After all, it is a house built for Him. It is through the arts—the stories, the pictures, the hymns, the poetry—that we best come to know Him because only these languages will reach into our hearts and enable us to see Him through spiritual eyes.

Through the arts, in words borrowed from John Taylor, our “souls are like a well-tuned harp, when [we] are touched by the spirit of inspiration there is a kindred chord in [our] bosoms, they vibrate to the touch, and [we] are filled with sacred melody.”

When we tend to the inside, the outside will take care of itself. Beautiful hearts will build a beautiful world.”

(Marlene Peterson, Building A Temple Within, Catch the Vision of the Well-Educated Heart: Volume One — Philosophy, pg. 43 in the printed copy version, or pg. 51 in the digital version)

 

Throughout the rest of this essay, Marlene goes on to talk about how the arts (music, art, poetry, story, and nature) help to soften and open our hearts and build a temple within.

 

  

The temple can’t be accessed 24/7  and as we’ve experienced over this last year, there may be times where it is completely inaccessible (except for walking around outside on the temple grounds – which I love to do as well).  I am grateful that Heavenly Father has given me so many opportunities to have temple experiences with Him, even in my own home, everyday.  

None of these things are meant to replace or reduce my time in the temple though.  They have the opposite effect actually – they draw me closer to the temple and fill me with a deep desire to go there often.  There is something extra special about the temple.  I long to be there.

“When these temporary COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, please schedule regular time to worship and serve in the temple. Every minute of that time will bless you and your family in ways nothing else can. Take time to ponder what you hear and feel when you are there. Ask the Lord to teach you how to open the heavens to bless your life and the lives of those you love and serve.” (Russell M. Nelson, Hear Him, April 2020)

“Most certainly, the adversary does not want you to understand the covenant you made at baptism or the profound endowment of knowledge and power you have received or will receive in the temple—the house of the Lord. And Satan certainly does not want you to understand that every time you worthily serve and worship in the temple, you leave armed with God’s power and with His angels having “charge over” you.” (Russell M. Nelson, Spiritual Treasures, October 2019)   

As I have sought to bring aspects of the temple into my home, I have felt the power of my covenants buoying me up during this time of chaos in the world.  I have truly experienced peace that passes all understanding.  Although I have been unable to physically attend the temple, I have continued to have many sacred experiences with the Lord.  

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