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Temple presentation. Friday, May 8, 2015. The goal of the temple.
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Temple presentation Friday, May 8, 2015
The goal of the temple We are never required to make covenants except in a setting where Divine grace, the extension of Christ’s atonement, is promised to assist us in fulfilling them. With the covenants of baptism comes the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. With the covenant of sacrament comes the promise of his Spirit to be with us “always.” With the oath and covenant of the priesthood and its heavy responsibilities comes the conferral of priesthood gifts. With the solemn covenanting of temple worship comes “an endowment of power,” Christ’s power. (Truman Madsen, The Temple and the Atonement, Temples of the Ancient World, p. 74-75)
The goal of the temple We are never required to make covenants except in a setting where Divine grace, the extension of Christ’s atonement, is promised to assist us in fulfilling them. With the covenants of baptism comes the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. With the covenant of sacrament comes the promise of his Spirit to be with us “always.” With the oath and covenant of the priesthood and its heavy responsibilities comes the conferral of priesthood gifts. With the solemn covenanting of temple worship comes “an endowment of power,” Christ’s power. (Truman Madsen, The Temple and the Atonement, Temples of the Ancient World, p. 74-75)
"What is the message of the gospel? Is it that we're weak, frail sinners? That Heavenly Father is disgusted and angry with us? That Jesus is sorry he died for us because it was a real waste of the Atonement? That all the angels have decided that giving us agency was a stupid thing to do? No! The message of the scriptures is that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Paul, in trying to make his Roman converts understand this, wrote this beautiful, powerful passage: (quotes Romans 8:31-39.)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makethintercession for us. (Romans 8:31-34)
Isn't that thrilling! Doesn't this knowledge sweep away all those sneering, accusing faces? Doesn't that affirmation of love roar like a mighty wind in your ears, drowning out those scoffing, accusing voices? Paul affirms: 'For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' (Hebrews 4:15-16.)“ (Chieko Okazaki, Lighten Up! [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1993], 156 - 157.)
How would you like to have an angel touch you gently and say, “O Chieko (or O Maryanne, or O Harold), I am now come to give thee skill and understanding... for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” We say that we believe that God “will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” (Articles of Faith 9.) Revelation to the Church will come through the prophet, but doesn’t that article of faith make you ask questions? What are those great and important things? And who will he reveal them to? Could you be one of those who is struggling to “understand the matter, and consider the vision”? If you are, then you’re one of those worthy to receive an angelic visitor.
Furthermore, the promise of Joseph Smith to the Nauvoo Relief Society on 28 April 1844 was this: “Angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.” (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2d ed. rev., ed. B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932–51], 4:605.) Has this promise come true for you? Both Joseph Smith and Alma promise the ministration of angels to women. Yet such is the respect of our Heavenly Father for our agency that he will very rarely give us something for which we have not asked. What would happen, do you think, if we prayed for revelation, for knowledge, for the comfort of the ministration of angels?
But maybe there’s another question rising up to loom over you. Something like this: “Oh, isn’t it wrong to pray for such things, or even to think of such things? Aren’t these things just for the prophets? Aren’t we likely to go astray out of pride or ignorance?” Listen to the words of Moses, when Joshua heard that two men were prophesying in the camp of Israel and cried out to Moses to forbid them. Moses answered, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29.) Is it possible that we’re asking the wrong questions and limiting the operation of the Holy Ghost, cutting off the spiritual gifts that the Father wants to bestow upon us, and feeling fear rather than faith? [Pp. 177–78 in Okazaki, Chieko N. 1995. Aloha! Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Co.]
