Getting Us into the Temple – Getting the Temple into Us

(Parts 1 & 2)

Getting Us into the Temple – Part 1

Joel H. Johnson was a lumberman in Mill Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah.  He spent his time sawing lumber and delivering it to the tithing office. As he made his wagon trips up and down the steep canyon, he often saw the flag --- the standard of Old Glory, that had been planted on Ensign Peak. In 1850, inspired by this vision, he wrote: 

2. For God remembers still

His promise made of old

That He on Zion's hill

Truth's standard would unfold!

 

3. His house shall there be reared

His glory to display

And people shall be heard

In distant lands to say

We'll now go up and serve the Lord,

Obey His truth, and learn His word

 

In Old Testament and New Testament times, and now in our day, the temple is a sacred place, set apart from the world where sacred instruction followed by making sacred covenants to God through sacred ordinances are conducted.  These covenants, celebrated by these ordinances are not only instructive and inspirational, they are necessary for us if we are to be true heirs to Our Heavenly Father and live with Him in the eternities. This has been so in all generations of time.  It is interesting to note that in almost all cultures the concept and practice of temple worship was present – even when misunderstood, misapplied, or practiced in even evil and unhallowed ways.   In today’s modern world, neither Protestant nor Catholic theology embrace the priesthood authority or divine mandate to worship and conduct ordinances in a temple.  A few other religions accept temple worship, but it is far from the pattern set by Heaven Father.

 In true temple worship we are figuratively transported to where God dwells.  We are propelled through the six creative periods concluding with Adam and Eve’s spirits being placed in their new physical bodies.  We figuratively participate with Adam and Eve as they are “taught from on high.” What they experience --- we experience --- what they covenant --- we covenant --- what blessings they are promised --- we are promised.  As you will notice from the Old and New Testaments, and from modern revelation, the exact nature of this instruction and ordinances are not discussed – reserved only for those who come to the temple and who have qualified themselves through worthiness to enter and participate. The temple and its ordinances are available to all Church members who prepare themselves and meet key standards of worthiness. Again, we emphasize, Church membership alone is only the first step on the pathway to exaltation – the ability and capacity to live the kind of life God lives.

 A few years ago when I lived in Alpine, Utah I wanted to go to the Temple – only 10 minutes away.  Halfway there, they were putting in a huge pipe across the road just past the high school.  The road was closed and barricaded. So, I turned east toward Cedar Hills then down to the Manila turn off.  Halfway down that road, I ran into another road construction barrier.  While not completely closed, the long line of cars persuaded me to find another route by turning even further south toward Pleasant Grove, and then backtrack north to the Temple.  Would you believe it? --- I ran into yet another road closure stopping me from going to the Temple. 

 By now, I’m thinking, “Somebody doesn’t want me in the Temple today!”  On the fourth route to the Temple, I made it --- not to the session I planned, however.  I had other appointments later in the evening, so once there I rushed to get ready; I rushed to the Chapel, thankful that a session was just starting. 

Now, here comes the confession --- As I proceeded through the session, I found myself looking at my watch (which I should have left in the locker room), wondering how the temple endowment could be more efficient.  I could easily see ways to reduce the nearly 1 hour 45 minute session to an hour and fifteen minutes.  My mind drifted as I thought about other things too.  I’m afraid that I wasn’t too attentive to the grand and wonderful things that surrounded me there.  

Later, it became clear, that not only had I encountered barriers in getting into the Temple that day, but that I had created barriers in letting the Temple get into me.  Truman Madsen said it this way.  “We often talk of “going through the Temple”, but rarely do we refer to the “Temple going through us.” 

There may be some members of the Church who have encountered personal barriers in getting into the temple.  Unlike road construction barriers, these barriers to temple attendance are usually self-created.  They may include postponement of becoming worthy, distance to the temple, anger against God, his leaders, ourselves, or our judgement of others who feign righteousness and enter the Temple unworthily, waiting for a reluctant spouse, waiting for a period of mental, emotional, or spiritual turmoil to subside, so that we can “better feel the spirit.”  For others, there is no particular reason, other than “it hasn’t been convenient.”

Which one of the barriers is standing in your way today?  I testify that there is no barrier so big, no chasm so deep or wide, no veil so thick that can keep you from receiving the heavenly embrace of Our Father in Heaven that is felt in temple worship.  The personal price required to remove your barriers may be considered high, but it is small in comparison to the blessings that await.  Is today the day that you will say, like one convert said upon his conversion, “I will give away all my sins to know thee. . .” (Alma 22:18)

May we consider giving away our sins, our pride, our distractions, our complacency, our procrastination, our protestations, our fears --- whatever it is that is keeping us from getting into the Temple?  There are those in the Church who love you and will help you. There is the Father and His Son --- our Brother Jesus, who await you in that Heavenly embrace. 

Larry Doyle Crenshaw