STAKE TEMPLE DAY 2010

BLESSINGS ARE RECEIVED BY ATTENDING THE TEMPLE

To celebrate and usher in a new millennium in 2000, the Grand Junction Colorado West Stake had its first stakewide Temple Day at the Vernal Temple where each ward was assigned its own temple session so the saints could enjoy attendance at the temple surrounded by ward members. The tradition has been expanded as we are now assigned to the Monticello Temple.

We had another successful stake Temple Day in June of this year. I felt such peace among our members who participated and could feel their love for the Lord and each other as we served together in the temple. I continue to be impressed by the large number of temple workers from our stake who serve in the temple and their dedication in serving. They bring a special spirit to our stake as they officiate and serve on our stake Temple Day. I feel a sense of heaven when I attend the temple with stake members and see stake members as temple workers. I feel the power of prayer when I witness ward members surround the sacred altar of the temple and petition the Lord to bless those in need.

The Stake Primary organization continues to provide excellent instruction on the temple at the adjacent Monticello North Chapel. It was my privilege to address these children as they were brought to the front door of the temple and teach them about the temple and encourage them to grow up and be found worthy to enter the temple. I was pleased when I asked them questions that they had an understanding about the sacredness of the temple. Our Primary workers provide a great service in instilling in these children a love of the temple.

Many participated in temple baptisms. Other participated in the “endowment” session or sealing sessions. When we go to the temple for the first time to participate in an endowment sessions, we make sacred oaths to the Lord to keep his commandments and he promises us a place in the Celestial Kingdom if we keep our covenants. Here are some of the reasons why we need to return often to the temple.

a. We1 can’t and don’t remember all we are taught in the temple the first time we attend-we need to return so we can retain what we are taught.
b. We need to do temple work for those who died without going to the temple. It is particularly important to do the work for our own relatives. My daughter rechecked our family genealogy with the church temple records and found some ordinances were not complete. It was a special privilege to be baptized in the Monticello Temple for these relatives.
c. We renew our temple covenants when we return to the temple as we are reminded what we promised when we first went through the temple and are reminded what the Lord has promised us if we keep our temple covenants. I urge members to not only participate in “endowment sessions” but to schedule themselves for a “sealing session” and an “initiatory session.” It is in the “initiatory season” that the promises are made to us-we need to remember those promises the Lord has given us and be reminded why we wear temple garments.
d. In the temple we can cut out the world and concentrate of what things in our life are really eternal. God will inspire us in the temple of the things we need to change. It helps us prioritize our lives and concentrate of the things that really matter. I remember talking to a good friend just after he attended the temple with his spouse and all his children. His wife had a terrible disease that has now taken her life, he had lost his business because government regulation changes had destroyed its value and his house was about to be fore closured but he told me it didn’t matter-having all his family together in the Celestial Room is what really mattered and what was important.
e. The temple lis a great place to get answers to prayer. I have had many experiences of attending the temple to receive an answer to prayer and the Lord’s will has been made known to me. We need to be reverent in the temple and particularly the Celestial Room so members can communicate with Heavenly Father in prayer.
f. The temple is where we can feel and receive peace. It is where we can feel our Heavenly Father’s love. A few years ago I was very worried about a legal matter I was working on at my law practice. I needed peace in my life and told my wife we needed to go to the temple with the hope I could find peace about this situation. Just after entering the Monticello Temple I met a temple worker that had gone through a terrible experience, both legally and emotionally and had survived and weathered the storm. Upon seeing my friend, I received peace that I to would be able to survive my potential difficulty and received the peace that comes from Jesus Christ and stopped worrying about the situation The matter was concluded without difficulty, I had found my peace in the temple.

We are so blessed to be close to a temple. We are so blessed to have faithful temple workers in Monticello from our stake. Our temple is so intimate-so personal. We can worship there with our ward family. We can pray at the temple altars with those we know. We can feel our Heavenly Father’s love and feel the tenders mercies of Jesus Christ. We can be better people by attending the temple. May God bless our stake as we take advantage of the temple. I promise you that attending the temple will give you power as you face life’s difficulties. I thank you for your love and support.

President Kelly Summers