Satisfied with Temple Worship

I had the opportunity to attend the temple. This time, as I drove up to the parking lot, my heart was filled with joy and whispered, “I am home.” I have always thought of the temple as “home.” It is a symbol of peace in a chaotic world.

“The moment we step into the house of the Lord, the atmosphere changes from the worldly to the heavenly… It is a refuge from the ills of life and a protection form the temptation.” -Elder David B. Haight

“I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” 1 Kings 9:3

This visit was a sweet experience. I felt peace, joy, and comfort. It was a great experience. It is a unique experience. Here are some of the reasons I love to see the temple:

The temple is the ultimate pick-me-up. When life is beating you down the temple can lift you up. It can remind you of God’s love for you and of your divine potential. Franklin D. Richards said, “As we do temple work, we develop a spiritual kinship with our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that brings us peace, happiness, and eternal joy.”

The temple helps to answer questions. It’s kind of like the scriptures… specific questions can get specific answers. Questioning is actually a good thing when we go to the source for the answer. If you don’t ask question, you rarely learn anything.

“Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” – D&C 88:63

The temple helps me to develop a thankful heart. The temple is a great reminder of all of the blessing God bestows to me.

The temple is meant to be talked about. It is a sacred place with sacred experiences, however, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t talk about the temple and the experiences and thoughts and lessons associated with the temple. We shouldn’t be talking about the personal details of the ordinances and covenants we make in the temple, but we can talk about the temple far more openly than we do. This visit I had the pleasure of talking about some of the things I have learned in the temple with one of my greatest friends (a friend I don’t get to spend much time with, yet I feel such a deep connection to).

I also attended the temple with a young man I have taught and mentored for several years as he went to the temple for the first time. I was reminded that there are many scriptures that teach about what goes on in the temple that can make the first temple experience less of a mystery. We need to talk more about the principles and symbols of the gospel in preparation for temple. Everyone deserves the feeling of coming “home” the first time they go to the temple. The temple is sacred, not a secret. President Brigham Young said, “Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.”