Attendees walk to 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. 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. I want to prayerfully consider what else I may need to do to ensure that my spiritual foundation is solid, strong, and firmly anchored to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Think of it as your personal, daily restoration, he said. Here are the final details about yourself to complete the picture: You are the youthful age of 25, your name is Hezekiah, you are king over Judah around 729 B.C., and your first activity, in light of the mandate, is to get the Temple of the Lord consecrated and ready for use, basically reopened for business, to use a colloquial phrase. The procedures and practices around administering the ordinances of the temple have been changed and refined under direction from the Lord, but the doctrine and the covenants found in the temple are the same. Hezekiah had a pretty overwhelming task before him. He makes it very clear that the temple will offer no protection if you are wicked. Instead, he set out with a select few governmental leaders. Heis the One who wants you to understand with great clarity exactly what you are making covenants to do. Christ comes like a thief (5:2) 9. Leaders stand at the end of 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. He keeps saying that temple ordinances are ancient. Latter-day Saints must take unprecedented measures to strengthen their spiritual foundations like the extraordinary effort to reinforce the original, pioneer-era foundation of the iconic Salt Lake Temple, President Russell M. Nelsonsaid Sunday morning. Im pretty sure the original temple endowment was revealed less by God and more by Masons. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), 5 Highlights for The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation by President Nelson, General Conference Talks with 5 Highlights. Thats some high calling! 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. Attending the temple and keeping the covenants we make there blesses us with greater understanding of Christ and increases our spiritual power. We simply have to set our eyes on what Jesus already accomplished in our place. He intends to upgrade us to a Zion-worthy group of Saints able to navigate the last days. And so we must ask ourselves, what remains? The Nation needed God, and so he decided it would start with him. The promise from the Lord is that if we are prepared, we need not experience anxiety about or during the times ahead. We cant just simply claim that we are believers in the silence of our own hearts. Paul makes it clear that God does not dwell in temples made with hands in Acts 17. Ponder these three truths: The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again. The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation | Russell M. Nelson | October 2021 General Conference General Conference 424K subscribers Subscribe 286K views 1 year ago President Russell M. Nelson. 3:1; 4:14; 6:20; 7:27; 8:1; 9:11). To each of you who has made temple covenants, I plead with you to seek prayerfully and consistently to understand temple covenants and ordinances. Is there a way to have this delivered to my inbox weekly? Deep cleaning is more than doing an exterior wipe-down. It is something I really want to dive into the next six months and how I can improve my own discipleship. Subscribe to receive shop updates, access to exclusive deals, weekly study inspiration, and more! Then I looked closer at what was being revealed. 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. 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. It feels nice to post again. But I think they have attached personal meaning to the ritual, meaning thats not inherent in the temple. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. Elder D. Todd Christofferson teaches about the love of God (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). It was more than some grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Indeed, 'whenever the Lord has had a people on the earth who will obey His word, they have been commanded to build temples.' I'm a PIMO who wants to believe, but this kind of talk just really makes it very difficult. I hope one day that will be the case. | Powered by. Everything we believe and every promise God has made to His covenant people come together in the temple. I think you'll see why the hymn "How Firm a Foundation"1 has come to have new meaning for us. See the example of the sacrament in the original post. We have been promised that if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear.This assurance has profound implications today. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. I am grateful for his direction. This conference seemed even more centered on our Savior, Jesus Christ than in conferences past. "Under the Lords direction and in answer to our prayers, recent procedural adjustments have been made. They are central to Mormon temple ordinances but are never mentioned anciently at all. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 3:2, 17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). Increased spiritual power brings with it inspiration from the Holy Ghost, which encourages to return to the temple for greater understanding and spiritual power. 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. I literally left feeling like he had just told me that I really can't trust the scriptures, the prophet, or the Lord. Yes the move has disrupted our lives quite a bit. God is pleased when we proclaim Christ in our lives, as Hezekiah and his cohorts did. The covenants we make in the temple strengthen our spiritual foundation. President Nelson invites us to have a personal, meaningful relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ almost every General Conference talk its one of my favorite topics: The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. We dont even have to flog ourselves or spill our own blood to reenter a right relationship with God. If you have made temple covenants, seek prayerfully and consistently to understand temple covenants and ordinances. (I think the prophet knows something that we may not yet understand!) Hezekiah stood in the gap for his people by saying Yes, Lord, I want to open up the highway once again to You, My God.. Let temple worship become part of the bedrock of your marriage. Have faith in what you feel drawn to teach and emphasize you were asked to give this lesson for a reason. We just need one priest, a high priest, the High Priest. Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham said the closing prayer. 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. After examining the footnotes, I have decided that President Nelson only spoke about half of his message. As we seek how to accomplish that objective more effectively, the Lord reveals more insights. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. (Matt. arrangements if needed, and follow through! Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable., A post shared by Russell M. Nelson (@russellmnelson.esp), This morning we had the privilege of hosting leaders of the @NAACP and the @UNCF at Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. Sister Susan H. Porter teaches about how we can feel the Gods love (excerpts from the October 2021 general conference). He wants you to comprehend your privileges, promises, and responsibilities. Thus was one of my favorites talks. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Over the years, Ive come to understand the importance of discerning between cultural teachings and doctrinal teachings within the Church. 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. Strive to stabilize your nations economy? it is now time that we implement extraordinary measures perhaps measures we have never taken before.. Many times, cultural teachings have crept in and disguised themselves as doctrine, which leads to perplexing situations and uncomfortable course corrections. "Temple ordinances and covenants are ancient." Empower people. When you bring your temple recommend, a contrite heart, and a seeking mind to the Lords house of learning, He will teach you. Thank you, I loved your thoughts and questions. Oh how grateful I am for a living prophet! Thanks. What do you give away? The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation By President Russell M. Nelson President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants! The problem is that you are in this same state that the Apostle Paul mentions, and that is that the things you do you dont want to do, and the things you dont want to do you do (Rom. People who repent when they fall and keep going forward. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Any other books about the temple you would recommend? Even the best videos turn a group passive, and they slow down participation so as a teacher, I would skip playing media. He might be right. Other leaders shared messages about order, straight paths and unity. Elder Vaiangina Sikahema, a General Authority Seventy, speaks 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. He will stretch us and refine us to be more like him.. All quotes by President Russell M. Nelson and in blue (unless otherwise noted). What is the Spirit prompting you to do without? The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again. You cant just simply make a pathway so you can open and close the door. When your spiritual foundation is build solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. Indeed, "whenever the Lord has had a people on the earth who will obey His word, they have been commanded to build temples." The standard works are replete with references to temple teachings, clothing, language, and more. President Nelson presents what to me seems like an eternal round: We attend the temple and receive greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. I love to teach and prepare lessons, and you have helped me in emphasizing the important highlights and teaching points for discussion in Elders Quorum. How many observe it? Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temples spires have been removed and stored, the towers are surrounded by scaffolding and the foundation exposed for the work to strengthen them. 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. The delicate sands were no match for the churning waters. President Russell M. Nelson Make Time for the Lord I love this prophet. The takeaway for me is that the Restoration is a process because WE are a process, and more fullness comes as we can handle it. I promise you that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation. All must be saved on the same principles [Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Like the ongoing renovations to the Salt Lake Temple, he invited listeners to strengthen personal spiritual foundations. If you are married and have not yet been sealed in the temple, do everything you can to take the necessary steps to be sealed together for eternity. President Nelson makes if very clear (with emphasis added) who is making the changes, and it's not him. In his first month of service, King Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple and repaired them (verse 3). He makes things clear that the world wants to muddy. We will NEED the Saviors power to weather the storms that are ahead. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. Consider how administering the sacrament has changed over the years. Possible discussion questions: Where does President Nelson say can we go to strengthen our faith? This is heavy-duty stuff. Possible questions: How do you feel about going to the temple? Why? What are your favorite ways to reinforce your gospel understanding? 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?). 232 0 obj <> endobj 264 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<288E2844543347E1A067F69EB3FBC23A><79E143DFF58F413E81A7B1BB807DFA51>]/Index[232 59]/Info 231 0 R/Length 139/Prev 525383/Root 233 0 R/Size 291/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream First, love God, live his commandments and forgive everyone. He truly believes in your divine destiny and ever since January 2018 spends a lot of time and energy prophesying how to get you there. And then, there are those miraculous moments that testify to the impossible becoming possible, as in Hezekiahs mission. President Russell M. Nelson, 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. But, wait, there is an answer, and it is also found in that same passage from the Apostle Paul: but thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, the One who can save me from my evil ways (Rom. Reopening the Temple - Usher in God's Presence. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search . Hezekiah and his entourage praised God in joyous worship because of what God did to cleanse the Temple of defilement. President Nelson pointed out that the foundation of the temple became vulnerable and used this as a metaphor for our spiritual foundation: we make think we are firmly grounded but it is actually time to take extraordinary measures to strengthen our foundation in Christ. Why is President Nelson expressing urgency with our spiritual preparedness what do you see happening in the world around you that supports his haste? 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. I'm not convinced that the forthcoming perils and pressures are going to be any worse than the perils and pressures the generations before had to endure. I don't think the people in Christ's day were ever commanded to build temples. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. Much to contemplate! Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. Invite individuals who feel comfortable to share something they wrote. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Wait, he told us to just keep going until we learn to love it. Copyright 2021 Elizabeth Burr This suggests that we have work to do to change our hearts and to become unified as the Saviors true disciples. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead. All rights reserved. I'm going to give several quotes from this talk, with commentary on each (emphasis in the original). The ultimate objective of the gathering of Israelis to bring the blessings of the temple to God's faithful children. 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. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced greatly because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly (verse 36, NLT), Rededicating Yourself to God Make It Holy and Make it Public. Now, imagine that you are tasked with getting that wreck room cleared out, and the sooner you get it cleared the better. We studied this talk in elders quorum. He said the temple will be the safest place in the Salt Lake Valley when the work is done. He could have kept his newfound passion for the Lord hidden until it was politically correct. The temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation. CBN's ministry is made possible by the support of our CBN Partners. Covenants we make there blesses us with greater understanding of Jesus Christ, you have no to! Service, King Hezekiah reopened the doors of the gathering of Israelis bring. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear with great clarity what... 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