I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE..(and love to serve there too)

I love temples..they have brought sacred experiences into my life. I have had the great blessing of singing in two temple dedications, the Logan and the Bountiful temples. It was a high spot in my life both times, with moments never to be forgotten. Now as my husband and I serve in the Manti Temple, our lives are blessed with richness and joy beyond expression. I took these pictures last week at the temple as we went there to serve, I think it's impossible to take a bad picture of the temple, it is a place of beauty, inside and out.
My daughter Lindsey suggested that I do a post on my blog about the temple, so here it is. I hope you will feel the "spirit of the temple" as you ponder on the temple here for these few moments. I hope you will "Love to see the temple"~

Say the word "TEMPLE". Say it quietly and reverently. Say it over and over again. Temple. Temple. Add the word holy. Holy Temple. Say it as though it were capitalized, no matter where it appears in the sentence. "TEMPLE."

One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. HOME. Put the words holy temple and home together, and you have described the house of the Lord."

Pres. Boyd K. Packer said; "The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, linked to their gererations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father."

A house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God...this provides insight into the type of home the Lord would have us build.

Are our homes a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple? Is it clean and orderly? Do we see uplifting images which include pictures of the temple and the Savoir? Is our bedroom a place for personal prayer? Is our gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time? Do you have a personal gospel study space? Does the music you listen to offend the spirit? Is the conversation without contention in your home? We all have need of "home improvement" I'm sure.

We need to replace leisure activities with Temple service. Our dear prophet has said; "As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us." It is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.

I am so grateful for my ancestors who left to me a strong legacy, they were true to the faith, and because of them, I am also. We are so blessed to live in a temple building dispensation..146 temples dedicated or announced so far, it is just the beginning of the Lords work. Temples will dot the earth, how wonderful!

In a recent General Conference talk given by Elder Gary E. Stevenson, he said that his grandpa told him that; "you are never lost when you can see the temple." This is SO true..the temple will provide direction for us and our families in this world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost that helps us from getting lost in the "mist of darkness."

The Temple is such a great source of strength and power in "these times" of need. It is so important for us to attend and participate in the ordinances there.

I am so grateful for the incomparable blessings that flow to me from the sacred ordinances. I love to go there, take off my watch, feel unhurried, absorb the peace.

I love to see the temple. I'm going there someday,

to feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young; This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday.

I'll cov'nant with my Father; I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place, where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I've learned this truth: A family is forever.

As a little 5 year old, my Tiffany stood at the pulpit and sang this song in sacrament meeting as the music number. She sang this solo, in the prettiest little soprano voice, I was so proud of her!

My greatest joy has been to sit by the side of a daughter in the temple, as she is about to be sealed to her eternal companion. This, is the JOY of posterity!

Ron and I love serving in the Manti Temple, we have been doing this now for two and a half years. It is such JOY to speak sacred words, to serve the Lord, as we serve his children that come there, seeking his peace. We love it so much, every time we leave, we are filled with great happiness. It is so true that, "As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us."

Serving in the temple has expanded our vision and it helps us to be closer and more focused on the "right" things. It is a blessing to our marriage and to our family, because as we go forth from his house we are armed with his power and his name is upon us.

Brigham Young said; "Now is the time for labor. Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the House of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like flame unquenchable."

We do now and will yet face great challenges to the work of the Lord. But like the pioneers who found the place which God for them prepared, so we will fresh courage take, knowing our God will never us forsake.

The house of the Lord brings us such great joy and comfort in the midst of all our sorrows and enables us to have faith in God, knowing He will guide us and sustain us in the unknown journey that lies before us. We have no reason to worry or to feel despondent, we will never be lost if we hold to the temple, because His hold on us, is "Eternal." Jesus Christ is REAL, he is our Redeemer and Savior, he directs the affairs of His church through revelation to His anointed servants. He is the Master, the Lord of this earth, he is incharge, we have no reason to worry. WE need only to follow him..GO to the Temple now~