Temples & Temple Work

What message does the restored gospel bring to the world? That God speaks to his children, and that families can and are meant to be perpetuated beyond this mortal life! What a horrifying and miserable day it would be if we realized that our families, the people we came to love and know so much, were terminated as soon as we die. How does this work? Temples! In the Lord’s sacred temples we perform the ordinances necessary to bind family relationships for time and all eternity. For this reason temples are extremely important, but they aren’t just a beautiful building to be gazed upon, they are meant to be busy!; filled with people getting sealed, and saving the dead. Additionally, the temple is the house of the Lord, when we go there we are nearest to God, and our family members who have died.

1. “Ordinances for our deceased ancestors are now performed vicariously in 141 temples throughout the world! There is no other way to offer salvation to our ancestors who died without a knowledge of the gospel!”— Elder Nelson (General Conference April 2013, Sunday Afternoon)

2. “In the temple we are prepared to and promise to live the law of consecration. Able young men begin to live this law by seeking a mission call—giving a tithing of the first years of their lives in the full-time service of the Lord. That sacrifice strengthens them to go forward to the highest covenant in life—for many, it will be to be sealed in the temple and begin an eternal family.”—Elder Hales

3. “Within the sound of my voice are individuals who have received the ordinances of the temple and for various reasons have not returned to the house of the Lord in quite some time. Please repent, prepare, and do whatever needs to be done so you can again worship in the temple and more fully remember and honor your sacred covenants.”—Elder Bednar Ensign, May 2009

4. “The fire of the covenant will burn in the heart of every faithful member of this Church who shall worship and honorably hold a name and standing in the Lord’s holy house.” —Elder Bednar Ensign, April 2009

5. "I have a suggestion: When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan."—Elder Scott Ensign, April 2009

6. "It is in the ordinances of the temple that we are placed under covenant to Him….[If] we will enter into our covenants without reservation or apology, the Lord will protect us. We will receive inspiration sufficient for the challenges of life."—Elder Packer

7. “The Church is not fully organized, in its proper order, and cannot be, until the Temple is completed, where places will be provided for the administration of the ordinances of the Priesthood.”—Joseph Smith Jr.

8. "We must build more temples, and we must build them more quickly. This is the season to build temples. They are needed, and we have the means to do so. The Lord will hold us accountable if we do not work with greater accomplishment than we are now doing."—Gordon B. Hinckley

9. "As we come unto Christ and journey to higher ground, we will desire to spend more time in His temples, because the temples represent higher ground, sacred ground."—Joseph B. Wirthlin Ensign, November 2005

10. "I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you will go to the house of the Lord, you will be blessed; life will be better for you."—President Gordon B. Hinckley July 1997