See Yourself in the Temple – Quentin L. Cook – Sunday Morning
I pray that each of us will honor the Savior and make any necessary changes to see ourselves in His sacred temples.
The Power of Godliness - By Elder Kent F. Richards
Each temple is God’s holy, sacred house, and therein each of us may learn and know the powers of godliness.
SAY: My first experience in the temple was when I was 18, a few months before my mission. My friend and I went to the temple over and over again. It was a time of learning and feasting. I was told in the MTC that I need to be endowed in order to receive power from on high.
SAY: Experiences the first time?
LEARNER READINESS
READ Elder Cook
READING # 1 [Elder Cook] - The rolling forth of the Lord’s plan of salvation during this dispensation of the fulness of times is almost beyond comprehension. This is exemplified by President Thomas S. Monson’s announcement of 4 new temples in this conference session. When President Monson was called as an Apostle in 1963, there were 12 operating temples in the world. With the dedication of the Provo City Center Temple, there are now 150, and there will be 177 when all announced temples are dedicated. This is cause for us to humbly rejoice.
READ Elder Richards
READING #2 [Elder Richards] - There are more than 120,000 ordinance workers in the 150 operating temples around the world. Yet there is opportunity for even more to have this sweet experience. When President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the concept of many smaller temples throughout the world, he taught that “all ordinance workers would be local people who would serve in other capacities in their wards and stakes.” Normally, workers are called to serve for two to three years, with the possibility of extending beyond. It is not intended that once you are called, you will stay as long as you are able. Many long-serving workers carry their love for the temple with them as they are released and allow other, new workers to serve.
LEARNER INVOLVEMENT
READ Elder Richards
READING #3 [Elder Richards] - Just a few months before the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, he met with the Twelve Apostles to talk about the greatest needs the Church was facing in that very difficult time. He told them, “We need the temple more than anything else.” Surely, today in these trying times, each of us and our families need the temple more than anything else.
Q: Why did Joseph Smith say that they needed the temple more than anything else?
Q: Why do we need the temple more than anything else in our day?
Q: What are some of the reasons why we do temple work? Why do you do temple work?
READ Elder Cook
READING #4 [Elder Cook] - The Lord has prospered our people and provided the resources and prophetic guidance so we can be valiant in attending to our temple responsibilities for both the living and the dead.
Q: How does prosperity help with our responsibilities to do temple work?
Q: How can prosperity hinder us in serving the Lord by doing temple work?
Q: How do improved resources and prophetic guidance help us in attending to our temple responsibilities?
READ Elder Cook
READING #5 [Elder Cook] - The combination of increased numbers of temples and advanced technology to fulfill our sacred family history responsibilities for our ancestors makes this the most blessed time in all history. I rejoice in the extraordinary faithfulness of our youth in indexing and finding their ancestors and then doing the baptism and confirmation work in the temple. You are literally among the prophesied saviors on Mount Zion.
Q: What is it about today that we can literally fulfill prophecy and become saviors on Mount Zion?
Q: How have we been chosen to part of of this great latter-day work?
READ Elder Richards
READING #6 [Elder Richards] - As the Lord has revealed, the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood is found in the temple and its ordinances, “for therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory.” “Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.” This promise is for you and for your family.
Q: What does the Lord mean "in the ordinances there of, the power of godliness in manifest?
Q: ok, What is godliness? Moroni 10,
Q: What would power of godliness mean?
Q: What does 'manifest' mean?
Q: Why do we need to ordinances of the temple to have the power of godliness manifest in our lives?
READ D&C 84:19-22
READ Elder Richards
READING #7 [Elder Richards] - Our responsibility is to “receive” that which our Father offers. “For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power”; power to receive all that He can and will give us—now and eternally; power to become sons and daughters of God, to know “the powers of heaven,” to speak in His name, and to receive “the power of [His] Spirit.” These powers become available personally to each one of us through the ordinances and the covenants of the temple.
Q: How have you experienced power in you life? Have you experienced speaking with power and authority? How does one know that they are speaking with power and authority from God? (Elder Pederson)
SAY: Elder Richards quotes Nephi when Nephi sees our day.
READ Elder Richards
READING #8 [Elder Richards] - Nephi saw our day in his great vision: “I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”
Q: What does it mean when Nephi says that the power of the Lamb of God descended upon the saints of the church of the lamb?
Q: What must we do to have the power of the Lamb of God descend up on us? It means Alma 5:14 (receiving the image of his countenance) , D&C 121 (love), 2 Nephi 4 (trust), 2 Nephi 31 (rely)
LEARNER APPLICATION
SAY - Let's switch gears and get back to the temple.
READ Elder Cook
READING #9 [Elder Cook] - The temple is also a place of refuge, thanksgiving, instruction, and understanding, “that [we] may be perfected … in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth.” Throughout my life it has been a place of tranquility and peace in a world that is literally in commotion. It is wonderful to leave the cares of the world behind in that sacred setting.
Q: How can we apply this statement into our lives?
Q: Do you use the temple as a place of refuge?
READ Elder Cook
READING #10 [Elder Cook] - Often in the temple, and as we engage in family history research, we feel promptings and have impressions from the Holy Ghost. Occasionally in the temple the veil between us and those on the other side becomes very thin. We get additional assistance in our efforts to be saviors on Mount Zion.
READING #9 [Elder Cook] - The temple is also a place of refuge, thanksgiving, instruction, and understanding, “that [we] may be perfected … in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth.” Throughout my life it has been a place of tranquility and peace in a world that is literally in commotion. It is wonderful to leave the cares of the world behind in that sacred setting.
Q: How can we apply this statement into our lives?
Q: Do you use the temple as a place of refuge?
READ Elder Cook
READING #10 [Elder Cook] - Often in the temple, and as we engage in family history research, we feel promptings and have impressions from the Holy Ghost. Occasionally in the temple the veil between us and those on the other side becomes very thin. We get additional assistance in our efforts to be saviors on Mount Zion.
Q: What blessings can occur in our lives as we do the work of the temple?
READ Elder Richards
READING #11 [Elder Richards] -What then is our personal responsibility to be engaged in this work, both as patrons and as workers? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught the Saints in 1840 that “considerable exertion must be made, and means will be required—and as the work [to build the temple] must be hastened in righteousness, it behooves the Saints to weigh the importance of these things, in their minds, … and then take such steps as are necessary to carry them into operation; and arming themselves with courage, resolve to do all they can, and feel themselves as much interested as though the whole labor depended on themselves alone.”
Q: What then is our personal responsibility regarding the latter-day work? (weigh the importance, take steps to carry them out, have courage and resolve, feel as if the whole labor depending on them.)
READING #11 [Elder Richards] -What then is our personal responsibility to be engaged in this work, both as patrons and as workers? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught the Saints in 1840 that “considerable exertion must be made, and means will be required—and as the work [to build the temple] must be hastened in righteousness, it behooves the Saints to weigh the importance of these things, in their minds, … and then take such steps as are necessary to carry them into operation; and arming themselves with courage, resolve to do all they can, and feel themselves as much interested as though the whole labor depended on themselves alone.”
Q: What then is our personal responsibility regarding the latter-day work? (weigh the importance, take steps to carry them out, have courage and resolve, feel as if the whole labor depending on them.)
READ Elder Richards
READING #12 [Elder Richards] - Nearly 100 years ago, Apostle John A. Widtsoe taught: “We need more workers to accomplish [this] wonderful work. … We need more converts to temple work, drawn from all ages. … The time has come, … in this new temple movement, to bring into active service all the people, of all ages.
Q: How would we apply this statement in our lives?
Q: What is convert to the temple?
CONCLUSION
The temple is where we are individually endowed with power and authority to do the Lord's work on this earth. But to have this power in our lives we must first keep our covenants and have the lamb of God descend upon us. We rely wholly upon his merits (not partially) who is mighty to save.
The temple is also for doing the work for the dead. Great blessing come to those who labor as if it depended on themselves alone.
READING #12 [Elder Richards] - Nearly 100 years ago, Apostle John A. Widtsoe taught: “We need more workers to accomplish [this] wonderful work. … We need more converts to temple work, drawn from all ages. … The time has come, … in this new temple movement, to bring into active service all the people, of all ages.
Q: How would we apply this statement in our lives?
Q: What is convert to the temple?
CONCLUSION
The temple is where we are individually endowed with power and authority to do the Lord's work on this earth. But to have this power in our lives we must first keep our covenants and have the lamb of God descend upon us. We rely wholly upon his merits (not partially) who is mighty to save.
The temple is also for doing the work for the dead. Great blessing come to those who labor as if it depended on themselves alone.
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