Just A Few Thoughts About Trials and Refinement

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Kintsugi ("golden joinery") or kintsukuroi ("golden repair") is the centuries-old Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with gold, silver, or platinum. The ideal behind it is that the fixed object is even more beautiful then it originally was before it was damaged.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). 

None of us go through life without facing trials. Everyone goes through them and none of us have or will ever receive a free ride through this life without going through some. Life is not easy and nor is it fair and all of us will go through our share of times were we wish we could skip ahead of the story to the “good parts” that lie ahead. Trials will come and they will range anywhere from the occasional shift in our lives that put us out of our comfort zone to outright the most heart shattering times of our lives we would not wish on anyone else.

None of us want or like having trials hit us because they show us how vulnerable we are, they flush out our weaknesses, they hurt and that hurt can be the deepest of agony. Trials always seem to come in huge waves, one right after another with little respite in-between until we are beat down and burned out. It is during these times of our lives that end up breaking us, sometimes it is physically, sometimes it is emotionally or mentally, sometimes trails break us down spiritually, and then more often than not, they seem to break us in every which way.

The beauty of life however is that we are not meant to come out the other side of our trials still broken, wounded and worse off than before. It does not matter what brought on the trial in the first place, but what matters is that you know that whatever you may face in this life isn’t meant to be a punishment but a time for God Himself to refine us through His “refiner’s fire”. He is taking us and making into something new, more pure, He is molding us into something better. Sometimes while we go through these fires we can crack and need repair and that it is ok as long as we are willing to be repaired. When we endure the fires of change and refinement we can come out better, more beautiful and sometimes unrecognizable, even to ourselves and that is why the Atonement is so important during these times.

This is why I like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, it reminds me of what the Atonement of Jesus Christ can do for us during the hard times. This centuries old practice is based on the premise that you take something beautiful that has been broken, something flawed, and repair it but not to its original state, but into something better. As a philosophy, it treats the breakage and its repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. The following quote by Korean artist Yee Sookyung drives this point home when he said:

“The master potter was trying to create the perfect piece each time, and he would discard even the ones with the slightest flaw. So I chose to create new forms from them, because perhaps, I don’t believe completely in that kind of perfection.

“To me, a piece of broken ceramic finds another piece, and they come to rely on one another. The cracks between them symbolise the wound. The work is a metaphor of the struggle of life that makes people more mature and beautiful as they overcome their sufferings.”

We always have been and always will be in the hands of the master potter Jesus Christ and he will always work on us to remove our flaws and imperfections and take the pieces left and make us into something even more beautiful then we once was before. This happens throughout our whole lives and it isn’t always pleasant, but it is needed and always worth it if we allow it and Him to mold us into His vision for us instead of allowing it to harm and scar us. Even if we have been scared, He can and will heal those scares if you allow Him, we are meant to be so much more then we currently are or once was. Let the Atonement make you whole again.

The Symbols In Your Life

There is something to be said about how easily and potent something like a picture, object, sound, smell, phrase, or song can bring back memories and remind you of things from the deepest parts of your brain. Take the above image for example. This is a picture of a beautiful rose that I had cut from one of my mom’s many rose bushes from her home. This was the first rose that bloomed after she died. Every time I see this picture I am reminded of this really hard time in my life, more importantly however is the symbolic meaning of the rose.

            For me since my mother died, roses have become a beacon of her memory, reminding me of her and her love whenever I see one because she adored them so. For her the rose reminded her of the beauty of life in sight, smell, and touch. I am thankful for having this symbolic gesture in my life because life is very busy, hectic, and often very chaotic and my mind often falls into the same flow. This is why symbols are so important for each and every one of us that have made covenants and yearn to return home to our Heavenly Father.

            Symbols have been used since the beginning to teach and to remind us of a variety of things in our lives. When you see the symbol of a giant yellow M, you think of Big Mac’s and McDonald’s restaurants. When you see the bat signal you know Gotham is being protected by Batman. Well for those who believe and worship God, the bat signal is tame in comparison of signs and symbols used to save us and allow us to return home.

            In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are always using symbols and tokens in our day to day lives for a variety of reasons ranging from reminding us of our Savior and His Atonement for us all, to symbols in the Temple used to teach us to become more like Him and have our minds expanded. We use these symbols to help us because we know how short-sighted we can be and that short-slightness can be used to lead us away.

These symbols as well as all others we see or come into contact with on a daily basis have a very big and scientifically proven impact on our minds all the way to the sub-conscious level. This is why is it extremely important to be wary of just what symbols and images you allow into your mind. Some symbols and images are used to manipulate and distort your mind into thinking certain ways and Satan is fully aware of how to use this to drive us away from God.

It is important to know what the symbols in your life mean and what they are used for. God understood the importance the symbols of our lives would be that He designed little “Easter-eggs” throughout creation and if you look hard enough, you can find them because the whole of creation testify that there is a God, that our Savior and redeemer Jesus the Christ is very real and is our light and life.

I would challenge those of you reading this to take a real good look at the symbols you see around you and what impact they are having on your mind and spirit. Are they doing you good or bad? Do you know what they really mean and just were they really came from? Below I would like to include a couple of articles I found handy on the subject.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/harnessing-the-power-of-symbols.html

http://national.deseretnews.com/article/2067/brains-reactions-to-symbols-suggest-were-hard-wired-for-god-or-not.html

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwifm5W_nb_NAhWD1x4KHWcSBzcQFggiMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abuddhistlibrary.com%2FBuddhism%2FF-%2520Miscellaneous%2FMiscellaneous%2520Buddhism%2FEssays%2FThe%2520Power%2520of%2520Symbols.doc&usg=AFQjCNHxouf_XuX-iu8txfI5m7lazdmqZg&sig2=x5gYf2hIVsGzgrHyByrpIQ&bvm=bv.125221236,d.dmo

Seeing Through Spiritual Lenses

            I have such a hard time looking at life through a spiritual lens. I believe this to be my biggest millstone in life because looking at my life through strictly natural lenses us extremely depressing. When I am not looking at life through a spiritual lens I tend to look at the worst case scenario in my trials and tribulations making them un-bearable.

            One perfect example is when my mom died because all I did was lament on her death instead of rejoicing her transition from this life to the next, from her constant pain and suffering to having a chance to reconnect with her-self and prepare for the resurrection. Instead I questioned were her spirit went and what is after this life. Instead of feeling for her spiritual presence, I was too wrapped up in her physical absence.

When I first joined the church I was able to see everything through a spiritual lens and I was able to handle even the worst moments in my life better, seeing a higher purpose then seeing it through just my own eyes which would have me believe that “stuff happens”. I honestly have no idea when I lost the ability, when I stopped using that lens, never really thought about it until today. Now I know what has been lacking and what I’ve needed in my life to help me.

Today is the day that I make a conscious effort to pick up and put on the spiritual lens I need in order to survive this life and see if for what it really is, a time of testing, refining, seeking, learning, growing, and serving. Today is the day I start looking beyond and into the enternal.

“O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.” -2^nd Nephi 9:39

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. -Romans 8:5-6

To the faithful, spirituality is a lens through which we view life and a gauge by which we evaluate it. The Apostle Paul expressed this thought in two of his letters:

“We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18.)

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5–6.)

To be spiritually minded is to view and evaluate our experiences in terms of the enlarged perspective of eternity.

Each of us has a personal lens through which we view the world. Our lens gives its special tint to all we see. It can suppress some features and emphasize others. It can also reveal things otherwise invisible. Through the lens of spirituality, we can know “the things of God” by “the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:11.) As the Apostle Paul taught, such things are “foolishness” to the “natural man.” He cannot see them “because they are spiritually discerned.” (See 1 Cor. 2:14.)

How we interpret our experiences is also a function of our degree of spirituality. Some interpret mortality solely in terms of worldly accomplishments and possessions. In contrast, we who have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ should interpret our experiences in terms of our knowledge of the purpose of life, the mission of our Savior, and the eternal destiny of the children of God. -Spirituality Dallin H. Oaks

"...and he loved her"

July 16^th marks the fifth year anniversary of my marriage and I am extremely grateful for these last five years. We have been through so much in the last five years, learned so much as well. During this time we have been able to strike out on our own having purchased our first (and current) home, as well as giving birth to two beautiful little girls who make this house a real home. We’ve been through the death of a parent, and other tragic or stress filled scenarios in our time together so I am confident to say that we have been through our fair share of good and bad but yet I feel like I lack in our marriage in a very important way.

            My wife knows that I love her; she at least tells me that she believes me when I tell her that I do and yet she has informed time and time again that she does not feel like I consider her a priority in my life. Subsequently my wife has cultivated feelings of insecurity, depression, is constantly tired, and never feels like she gets anything done. I know I am dense, however I didn’t know just how dense I was until today looking at comments on a thread I started in one of my classes where one in particular stood out in conjunction with Genesis 24:67:

I dreamed all night last night this part of this scripture: " and he loved her". This touched me in so many ways. Isaac loved Rebekah. I want to say in a physical way and in a spiritual way. As a woman it is important for a husband to "love" her.

This discussion is about the role of women and what they can do as women. I would venture to say that a woman can do more when she is loved by her husband. A woman can serve and work and give and do until she drops if she knows she is supported and loved.

Rebekah was loved. Isaac loved her. She, in return, loved him. That is how it is supposed to be. She was able to do what was asked of her and Isaac was able to fulfill his purpose because they had each other. I believe we, as husbands and wives, have the same responsibility to strengthen and lift our spouse...because in the end, it strengthens both.

            This comment really got me thinking about my role as her husband and if I am really pulling my emotional, spiritual, and physical weight. Just because I think what I am doing is sufficient does not mean it is. I think this example of Rebekah and Isaac should motivate all of us husbands into action to ensure that we are not merely loving our wives, but that we are ensuring that they know that they are loved, and support them for all they do for us.

I Know Not, Save the Lord Commanded Me

            In the beginning of mankind when Adam dwelled upon the earth he was commanded to offer sacrifices unto the Lord after being driven out of the Garden of Eden. While this portion of history is not covered in the book of Genesis but only hinted at when the Lord made coverings of skin for Adam and Eve to wear. It is also further hinted at in a Jewish pseudepigraphical book left out of cannon known as “The Life of Adam and Eve” or “The Apocalypse of Moses” when Adam is allowed to take sweet spices (to offer sacrifices) and seeds for his food (chapters 22-30).

            However in LDS theology, we have an additional book of reference known as the “Book of Moses” which is a restored translation of the first few chapters of Genesis. In it we read about a clear commandment to Adam and Eve to offer sacrifice:

4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. (Moses 5:4–5)

Initially Adam and Eve offered sacrifice simply because they were commanded to do so, but later on an angel came to explain the purpose of the law of sacrifice:

6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. (Moses 5:6–8)

            For the reader, this span of time is but just a couple of minutes of time but for Adam and Eve, they did this for some time before and angel of the Lord came to ask why they did it and Adam’s response speaks volumes, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”

            I do not know about you but for me I have always wanted and needed to know why I am to do something and not knowing eats me up inside but God does not often tell you why He wants you to do something until after you have done it. The reason why I believe is for us to be able to obtain faith, being that it is both a gift and an action. The Lord more often leads by example and having His chosen leaders doing the same. Did Adam really need to build faith or did he need to be the example to all of us, his descendants how faith is done. Why we take action when commanded, knowing that one day we WILL know why, and how, and all the mysteries in our lives and in this world will be answered.

Until then we will need faith, and we will need to take some, no, a whole lot of steps in the dark before we see the light and that is ok. If we did not need faith, we would not have things like science and religion. We would not have a choice in our lives, not really because we would already know what the road ahead had in store for us. Life would not be worthwhile and lose its flair. I hate not knowing, hate it, but I am glad that I have chosen to have faith in my life so help me through the dark time, as well as the lighter.

Choosing the right during times of affliction

 “1 O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?

 2 How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

 3 Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?

 4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil….let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.

6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.”

This comes from the beginning of Section 121 of Doctrine & Covenants; the writer of this petition to God is none other than the first prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith.

What I wish to speak to you about today is choosing the right while in the mist of afflictions. First and foremost let’s get this out into the air: Life isn’t fair; all of you know this and all of you have very much felt the sting of afflictions and trials at some time in your life, some of your lives as a whole may very well feel like one big piece of hard life pie. I know my life has had its fair share of trials and I dare say that I’ve had more times of affliction then the average Joe so I know all too well how the weight of hard times can bring you down, lose sight of yourself and the things you hold true to.

It seems like when we do lose sight it’s because our minds come to us with the following questions and we can’t seem to find answers to them that satisfy our mortal minds need for balance and in the end we end up making choices and act on impulses that get us into trouble. A few of these questions we’ve all heard and or have asked are:

Why does this have to happen to me?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

If God was real or loved me why would He let this happen?

I am a good person and I do everything asked of me, why do I still have to suffer?

And there are a million other questions we’ve all asked in our time here on earth.

I am not sure I can fully answer these questions that creep into our minds during times of trail but I do want to show you that even in your life, even in the worst situations, you can know with all your heart that you are in good company and show you that using examples from very Prophets themselves and the things they have suffered, things that no man or woman should have to. Not only that but to show you that you can come out on top, that you can be strengthened and refined by this, not broken down and destroyed.

My First example being the Prophet Joseph Smith; at the time he wrote the Sections 120-121 of D&C he was in Liberty Jail being imprisoned for variety of false allegations against him. This jail was in the basement of a house that was so small that an average sized man could not stand all the way up and would have to hunch over in order to walk around. They froze because there was no insulation and anytime they tried to start a fire they were engulfed in the smoke and could not breathe, this also being the coldest winter on record at the time. They starved more often than not and when feed, where typically given spoiled food and therefore poisoned and spent most of the time sick and delirious; out of desperation they would have to continue this cycle or starve. There was even one instance when the jailers tried to feed them the carcass of a deceased man.  Joseph Smith and the others spent months in this jail before being able to leave.

Joseph Smith went through a hell on earth and this wasn’t the first time and even though a Prophet, he wasn’t spared any of this, he suffered and was afflicted for months. This time, away from his family, cold, sick, starving, and taunted must have felt like an eternity. And the cause of all of this where false allegations against him, men lied in order to imprison and torture a good man who they didn’t understand and who they were afraid of and hated because of the church that he was the figure head for.  But out of this suffering came these Sections of D&C for us all and they are a blessing to us in these days if only we will study them and use them to help us. These sections include these very words from the Savior to the Prophet and in affect to us:

 7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

These words to the Prophet, these words to us not only are supposed to comfort but to teach us a simple truth.

Our afflictions, regardless of how long they seem are just that, “a small moment” and if we “endure it well” we will be exalted by our Father, no matter what we are going through, if you stay faithful and hold true to what you know and choose the right; it may not be immediate or even while you’re here in mortality, but it will happen if you stay strong which each and every one of you can do because you are so much stronger then you realize; you’re children of a heavenly lineage and that power is in you if you will just but tap into it,

My second example comes from Daniel the Prophet of the Old Testament. Daniel was a good and Godly man that found favor with King Darius But the presidents and princes were envious of Daniel for this and I will from Daniel Chapter 6 tell you what they did:

“ 4 …the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him….

 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree”

From there they had all they needed to get rid of Daniel knowing that he would not worshipping God under any circumstance, used this to their advantage and they eventually caught Daniel praying, and even though the King loved Daniel his hands were tied and Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den while the king spent the night fasting and not being able to sleep and from here I will continue in Daniel 6:

 “19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Because of the wickedness of the natural man that resided in those men, Daniel was made to suffer, but because he never wavered and continued to worship God and do right, he was not only saved from the lions, but he was able to convert the king and the kingdom along with it. This teaches us all a couple of very important principles one is that when afflicted, if we continuing keeping the commandments and having faith in our Father, we can be saved from even the worst situation and secondly, you never know who is watching you and your strength during hard times can bring about a conversion to others that otherwise wouldn’t be touched in any other way. I would like to back up this point with Alma Chapter 17 Verse 11:

 “11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.”

The Last example I want to talk about is a situation that Alma and Amulek where in during their ministry that found in Chapter 14:

“ 8 …they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.

 9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.

 10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

 11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.”

I remember when I first read this; it was and still is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read. This is the only time ever in my study of the scriptures that I ever came across something like this. These verses addressed a question asked by us all: Why doesn’t God do anything to help people all over the world that are starving, dying or worse. A question I’ve asked myself plenty of times in my life. Here we have two men with the Priesthood and the Spirit so strong they’ve been able to bring about many miracles and even though they wanted to do something and normally would have had the power to have done something, they very well couldn’t. These innocent and good people suffered a cruel death. It’s the same fate billions of people have suffered since Abel; it’s the same fate people are suffering this very moment. Does that mean God doesn’t care? Does that mean that we are just a game to him or any number of slanders you hear out of the mouths of those jaded in life? I declare no, He very much cares, more so and deeper than any of us can fathom. Every time one of us suffers even the worst this world can inflict on us, we are never alone. We never suffer alone, not even for a second because our Savior suffered it all; every tear shed, every heart broken, all the blood spilt He suffered through the atonement for us; and while He Himself suffered, and while we suffer, our Father in heaven weeps for us all that suffer.

Why then does he allow this suffering, I would like to refer to a couple of scripture verses in order to shed some light on this:

1^st Peter Chapter 1 Verses 7-9 says:

“ 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

The Savior Himself said these words that are captured in Matthew Chapter 5 verses 10-12:

 “10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Our Heavenly Father loves you more then you know, he very much suffers when you do. So with this said we need to know and accept that He won’t always save us from suffering and affliction. The reasons may vary, it maybe for us to learn, for us to be refined so we can be exalted, it may end up being our time to leave mortality, to be an example to others of strength or faith, or even to help heap coals on the heads of the wicked and un-repented.

This doesn’t mean that we are alone, not even for a second so we need to remember to do one thing; the right thing and we need to make that a conscious choice every second, even when we are being tried, tested or when life is unfair and we suffer for it.

Why? Because it regardless of the reason of our suffering, it really is a time for us to be tested, to show ourselves and our Father our true potential. It’s also very important for us to stay strong and to choose the right because even though He will never walk away from us, we can very much walk away from him, which leaves us alone in this world; when we do we lose the gifts of both the Spirit and the blessings of the Atonement. These two gifts can make anything you go through even a little bit more bearable then if you had to suffer it alone, trust me; I’ve suffered with and without these gifts.

In addition to these gifts, the keys to help you choose the right even in the worst of suffering are honestly very simple, it’s the things we should be doing every day, praying, and studying the scriptures, the basics you learn in primary or in your missionary discussions. In addition you also have fasting and if possible you always have the Temple. The hard thing about doing the basics while in the mist of pain is that it seems like they are the hardest things to do, but remember you are blessed in them, they give your strength and discipline, prayer is your way to vent to loving Father who listens and scriptures and the Spirit are the ways He speaks back to you.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve been through, what are you are going through. Your body, even your mind end up scared from this life, but if we use these things and continue in righteousness, our souls will never be, and one day your body and mind will not only be healed from all the hell this world put you through, but they will be perfected, you will be perfected by it and because of it. But only if you’ve let it, only if you’ve tried your best and stayed holding on to the rod of iron and choose the right.

I hope that one day; we can all be like Nephi when he said:

“…I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?”

 *Originally a talk for Sacrament meeting.

Blessings of the Temple

I want to tell all of you a little about myself while at the same time talking about the truths and blessings I have so far learned about the Holy Temple.

For most of my life I had never been inside a Temple, honestly the first twelve years I never even knew that they existed. I grew up in a family that didn’t believe in God and I had never even heard of the LDS church until we moved to Utah after Hurricane Andrew destroyed our house in Florida. As I started growing up here I had been made fun of a lot and was excluded from other kids because I wasn’t LDS, by the time I was in J.R. High and High School I hated the Church and especially its membership and fell both into the wrong crowd and ended up going to a church that used to spoon feed me Anti-LDS rhetoric so when I thought of the Temple I thought I had all the answers of what it was and what went on with them.

Honestly from the time I was a teenager until I was in my mid-twenties I thought the Temple is where Mormons showed their true colors and did evil and satanic, masonic based rituals.  I thought the symbols of the Temples had evil intentions and that the only real thing I knew was that Mormons where sealed to each other not understanding the point because I figured when you were married it was implied that you would be together forever, whatever forever meant and whatever heaven really was. To make matter worse any Mormon friends I had and their parents either wouldn’t tell me anything about the Temple and any that did made couldn’t explain it properly leaving me even more confused.

Now even though my parents never went to church and didn’t believe in God, I always have. I don’t know how or why but I’ve always had a pull that I could not explain when it came to church and religion. Somehow growing up I always managed to find people that would get me going to a church and as I became a teenager that pull increased tenfold. I studied them all, including going to church after church, a synagogue and Buddhist Temple or two and claimed membership in a non-denominational Christian church for some time in High School. Back then I even went to a Mormon church a couple of times even with my prejudice. I remember actually the first time I ever went to a sacrament meeting I applauded after someone spoke; it was dead silent and everybody stared at me, I was very embarrassed. What I didn’t know at the time is that I was having all these seeds planted in my heart. Between good people like Mr. Taft which was an old neighbor and awesome example. Seminary which I took for only half a quarter in J.R. High because I transferred out the second I found out that it was LDS. But it and time spent with Mr. Taft always made me feel good and I could feel the Light of Christ until I let my hate push it back out of me. One thing I always gave the Mormons is that the Temples they had looked really pretty and looked cool towering out of the night all lit up. I remember one time in my senior year of High School I was in Salt lake City for a conference for FCCLA which was a club that I was an officer in. All my fellow officers and my teachers where LDS and wanted to walk Temple Square which I agreed to because up until that time I had never seen it in person. Once I did I was awe struck, I almost cried and felt a peace and a love that I had never experienced. Did this help me see the light? Nope, I brushed it off because I could not let go of my hate and I thought I knew it all about the Church and how corrupt it was. I was also having a very hard time in my life because of depression and because of it I became hopeless and spent most of my young adult life living the type of life that was completely contrary to the Gospel.

                                                                                                                                   

At age twenty-five I accidentally almost killed myself and this was one of the best things that has happened in my life, because of it I had a sacred experience that turned my heart and mind back into focus of finding the church and the religion that was meant for me. So I started searching again, now mind you that being agnostic meant that I was able to form my own ideas and beliefs on everything and I wanted to find something that would fit what I already believed in. On top of this something told me to give everything a chance and to let go of the prejudices that I had formed in my life. So I did and I started looking back into everything honestly for once in my life with an open mind and heart. I did this for about a year and nothing felt right until I was talking to an LDS friend who was able to explained to me what my experience meant and then we discussed what I believed and they were able to show me that almost everything I believed where the basics of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was shocked because I knew right then that I would become a member of the Church, whether I liked it or not.

Now the whole reason why I practically gave you my life story is because I want you to know how important and how power the next story I am going to tell you is to me and how much everything about the Temple means to me.

The real turning point for me during the missionary discussions was a lesson on the Temple. I felt the Spirit as strong as I ever had and at one point they showed me a video called “Why Mormons Build Temples” and right then, I was right back to that night in Salt lake City feeling that peace and love that I felt then. I learned and was testified to a couple of things that mean more than anything and do so more every day, more on that later. I also want to say that I cried during that lesson and I cried of happiness and longing. From that day on I was determined to go to the Temple.

One of the best things to every happen to me was getting my Endowments out; from then on I’ve been hooked. The Temple has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, and has taught me more than I thought it ever would.

One of the first things I have ever learned about the Temple is that:

It is for everyone, and when I say everyone I mean those who are and those who aren’t members, those who are but have things that they need to resolve in their lives, those who don’t have issues but can’t seem to find the time or the gas money these days.

For those who aren’t members, let’s pray and fast and be friends so that one day they will see what the Gospel is in this life and if we are really blessed, we will have been a part of that process.

For those who need to resolves things in their lives. Please be brave, pray, fast, see the Bishop and sacrifice whatever you need to, to get that recommend in your hand or back in your hand. I know all too well how hard it can be to face yourself and to ask for help once you’ve gotten to a point where you need it, be brave it is worth it, Nothing worth it is ever easy and you have the support of members, angels and the very power of Heaven itself behind you.

For those who don’t think they have the time or gas or whatever other reason we think up to not go when able to. Since Ogden Temple closed this has also been me too. We are the luckiest saints around because we have so many Temples to choose from, I know times are tough and things can be rough but those who came before us sacrificed everything they had and lost two temples before they moved out west. There are others who save up their whole life and sell everything they can just to take long and sometimes dangerous trips just to go once in their whole life. What excuse do we really have in the end?

And to those who have been once and was intimidated or scared by what they saw; it is honestly over whelming at first and it’s a lot to take in. Take your time but hurry back. If you need to spend a little time to re prepare then do so, ask for help and go back and just do baptisms for the dead or other work and work yourself up. You can do it, you’re meant to be there. Don’t let your fear push out your faith.

Boyd K. Packer I think puts it best when he said:

“To all of you I say, “Come to the temple.” It may be that you look forward to the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of going there to receive your own endowment, to receive your own blessings, and to enter into your own covenants with the Lord. It may be that you have been there once or twice already. It may be that you go frequently. It may even be that you are an officiator. Whatever the circumstances may be, come to the temple.

If needed, set your lives in order; pray fervently. Start now that very difficult and sometimes very discouraging journey of repentance. Firmly resolve that you will do everything you can to aid temple work and the family history work that supports it and to assist every living soul and every soul beyond the veil in every way you can with every resource at your disposal.

Come to the temple!”

Now for some of the blessings I have had from the Temple:

Your Testimony as well as your Faith will grow by leaps and bounds, they will become stronger and will be rejuvenated every time you go, you will have Endurance against persecution and trails and you will be able to stand firm in your knowledge of the Truth when the Truth is being challenged by those who would oppose it or distort and destroy it.

President Monson also made this promise to those who will face toward the house of the Lord:

“The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.”

Another time he had this to say:

 “As we touch the temple and love the temple, our lives will reflect our faith. As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation.”

So to states these blessings again they are Testimony, Faith, Strength, Rejuvenation, Endurance, and Truth.

And these blessings don’t always come from just going and doing the work needed in the Temple. But they also come from becoming and staying worthy of the Temple. And that comes from overcoming temptation and repenting when you do make a mistake.

The blessings also come from when you’ve prepared yourself for the Temple through prayer, fasting, and study whether it is for the first or thousandth time. Every time you make sacrifice for the Temple or you have to make a sacrifice to attend. And especially when you’ve helped someone receive their blessings whether they are still alive or if you’re doing it for them after they’ve passed on.

I know these things bring blessings, I testify that I have both seen and lived it.

Peace is another blessing that comes from the Temple. The peace that you feel from the second you walk on those grounds till you leave again is something that nothing on this earth can compare to, I know this because I’ve spent my whole life trying to find that peace by any means necessary and nothing comes close to what I feel when I go. In the worst times, the biggest trails, the worst heart ache I have felt at times goes away and I can feel peace. And I know that you can to if you let it.

Jeffery R Holland spoke at a fireside once about when the Prophet Joseph Smith was in Liberty jail and how that jail became a Prison-Temple for the Prophet and this is what Elder Holland had this to say:

“You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced.”

If the Prophet Joseph Smith could have an experience that begat sections 121-123 of D&C, in this prison-temple that lacked the purity, beauty, comfort, and cleanliness of our temples. The speech and behavior of the guards and criminals who came there were anything but temple-like. Then how could we not be able to gain those same things in the very house of the Lord.

Other blessings we have that I will repeat what Elder Holland are: sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord. I won’t touch on this one much because what I have experienced in the Temple is just that, sacred and I dare not and will not repeat any of those. An example that I can share is when the Savior Himself appeared to those in the Kirkland Temple and said:

 “Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.”

And then Moses, Elias, and Elijah each appear and commit their keys and dispensations.

So now on to the two things I learned in that missionary lesson that I cherish so much.

1.     This IS the house of the Lord, this is where the veil between us and Him are at their most thin and where we can be closest to our Heavenly Father; that truth, that blessing is almost too much for my mind, I can’t of any other way to describe it besides, awe inspiring.  When I was a kid and as I started really learning about God and about Jesus Christ all I ever wanted to do was to be close to them. Being in the Temple, being that close to them is a dream come true while I am on the earth.

President Monson testified of this when he said:

“How far is heaven? I testify that in the holy temples it is not far at all—for it is in these sacred places that heaven and earth meet and our Heavenly Father gives His children His greatest blessings.”

2.     Family can be forever.  Through the blessings of proxy work and the Sealing ordnance I can help my parents get a second chance after they die, for all my life I’ve been afraid of losing my parents after they die because of the lives they lead because according to what I learned most of my life growing up is that my parents where bad people and that they would go to hell and that I would never see them again. I love the Temple because I will day have the chance to help them finally make a change if they are willing to accept it in the afterlife.

There is one last thing that I have recently learned. That the home is also a Temple; It is a Holy sanctuary where we perform the most important callings we will ever have; being a spouse and a parent. Until I was married I had never lived in a peaceful home where the Spirit of the Lord was invited. The home I grew up in was always full of contention and substance abuse and it forced me to face things and grow up in ways that no child should ever have to. I know now that I can have a Temple in the home for in my home I always want the Spirit to fill it and that my Heavenly Father knows that it’s His home too. 

One last quote from President Monson:

“The Lord has indicated that the greatest work we parents can do is performed in our homes, and our homes can be heaven, particularly when our marriages are sealed in the house of God.”

 *Originally a talk given in sacrament