Great youth leaders taught me about the importance of the temple. My goal, as a young woman, was to marry in the temple. On January 8th, 2005 my goal became a realization and one year later my three daughters we sealed to my husband and I. Our attitudes and testimonies have a far reach by influencing our family, church family and all those in whom we have contact. Therefore, it is imperative to teach others of the blessings of the temple.
President Benson says, “The temple is an
ever-present reminder that God intends the family to be eternal. How
fitting it is for mothers and fathers to point to the temple and say to
their children, “That is the place where we were married for eternity.”
By so doing, the ideal of temple marriage can be instilled within the
minds and hearts of your children wile very young. (What I Hope You
Would Teach Your Children about the Temple April 1986) https://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/08/what-i-hope-you-will-teach-your-children-about-the-temple.p1?lang=engAs the definition of marriage and family erodes, it is imperative we teach our children the blessings of the temple. President Benson teaches, “In the peace of these lovely temples, sometimes we find solutions to the serious problems of life. Under the influence of the Spirit, sometimes pure knowledge flows to us there. Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.” (What I Hope You Would Teach Your Children about the Temple April 1986)
This is what I want to teach my children. I want them to know there is a place where the Lord has designed for us to feel peace in a chaotic world to feel His presence, receive direction and receive their blessings to return to Him.
The temple can strengthen our marriage. No matter what phase we are in or how many months or years we’ve been married we can always improve and draw closer to the Lord together.
Here are the blessings of temple attendance according to President Benson:
- You will receive the spirit of Elijah, which will turn your hearts to your spouse, to your children, and to your forebears.
- You will love your family with a deeper love than you have loved before.
- Your hearts will be turned to your fathers and theirs to you.
- You will be endowed with power from on high as the Lord has promised.
- You will receive the key of the knowledge of God. D&C 84:19
We teach them by example and by word. We can prepare them to receive the ordinances of the temple, and when appropriate, we should teach them the temptations that will come to each marriage. This is important to do so they will know not to give up, but to work with their companion and the Lord. It is my belief that we do not inform of the reality of relationships, and the work needed to be happy.
Elder Bruce C. Hafen warns of these temptations: “Every marriage is tested repeatedly by three kinds of wolves.”
- “The first wolf is natural adversity.”
- “Second, the wolf of their own imperfections will test them.”
- “The third wolf is the excessive individualism that has spawned today’s contractual attitudes.”
If we know the temptations ahead, we can better strengthen, protect, and recognize the adversary efforts. Elder Bednar says, “ We have been counseled strongly by the First Presidency to devote our best efforts to the strengthening of marriage and the home.” May we each be prayerful in our own circumstance to inquire of the Lord what more we can do to strengthen our marriage and family. (Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan, Elder David A. Bednar, June 2006)
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/06/marriage-is-essential-to-his-eternal-plan.p1?lang=eng
No comments:
Post a Comment