Come Into the Temples

Those of us who have had the gospel as part of our lives for a while have probably heard stories about special witnessess who have appeared in the Lord's temples to help further the work. Perhaps we think that the temple is where miracles happen and that we cannot be part of that. If you speak with our kind Bishop Joslin or his counselors, they will tell you that you can partake of all that the temple has to offer. You can become your own most important story.
During Patty Gustafson's lesson today, she brought out one paragraph I would like to share:
"Soon after his baptism and confirmation, Lorenzo Snow began attending meetings in the Kirtland Temple. There, with the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church leaders, he received great spiritual blessings. In his journal he reported: “There we had the gift of prophecy—the gift of tongues—the interpretation of tongues—visions and marvelous dreams were related—the singing of heavenly choirs was heard, and wonderful manifestations of the healing power, through the administrations of the Elders, were witnessed. The sick were healed—the deaf made to hear—the blind to see and the lame to walk, in very many instances. It was plainly manifest that a sacred and divine influence—a spiritual atmosphere pervaded that holy edifice.” Yes, this sounds like stories from the Bible, but we know that our Heavenly Father doesn't leave us alone just because of the time in which we live.
President Snow also had a wonderful opportunity in the true sense of the word"
           ^" Lorenzo Snow loved the Kirtland Temple, knowing that “the Son of God, in His glory, had honored it with His royal presence.” Consequently, he was awestruck when he first stood at a pulpit there to teach. “No language can describe my feelings,” he said, “when, for the first time, I stood up in one of those pulpits to address an audience—a pulpit on the breastwork of which, only a short time before, this holy Personage stood—‘his hair as white as pure snow, his eyes as a flame of fire’—where also Moses, Elias and Elijah came and committed the keys of their dispensations to Joseph Smith.” [See D&C 110.]² Can you imagine the magnitude of the feelings you could have knowing that you stood where the Savior stood? I believe we can do that when we go to the temple. As I explained to one of my grandchildren one day, "The temple is Jesus's house and if he wants to come to the earth, he can go to any one of his houses and be at home. He has a choice of about 170 places where He can abide. When you go to the temple, you don't know for certain that you are not doing as President Snow did and are standing where the Lord stood.
"We have received much wisdom and knowledge of things which astonish the world when we speak of them. We have learned that, in temples, we are able to form ties which are not dissolved at death, but which reach into eternity; sacred ties which bind families together for time and eternity." These ties include our spouse and children, as well as those who came before us in our families.
We know that part of the important work done in the temples is to make to gospel ordinances available to our ancestors. If they have not had the opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is our obligation to make those blessings accessible through our actions. Doing family history is a vital part of the gospel for all.
"We did not come into this world accidentally. We came for a special purpose, and it was undoubtedly through certain arrangements in the other life where we dwelt that we came into this life. Well, in the Temples we are accomplishing a great work in reference to our kindred dead. We have from time to time important manifestations that God approved of this labor that we are performing in our Temples. Most extraordinary manifestations have been experienced by individuals that are laboring for their ancestry. It is a mighty work that we are accomplishing. Thousands of persons have been baptized for their dead during the progress of our labors in the Temples. …"
I love those words, " We did not come into this world accidentally!" Never think that you are not important or that someone else is better at finding your family than you. The research will be time consuming and difficult at times and you will probably find a dead end in some cases, but be not daunted!
"The Savior said on a certain occasion, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God;” and He continued and made this remarkable expression: “and they that hear shall live.” [John 5:25.]
How wonderful to be able to go to the temple to receive the blessings for yourself but how great it is to serve those who made our lives possible. When we meet them again, we will feel great joy, knowing we did something to help others.
In closing, I would like to share:
"

… I am satisfied that when persons go into these temples, they do not [leave] without feeling better and with a determination in their minds to do a little better than they have done. That is the feeling we want the Saints to get. …

… Be faithful, brethren and sisters, and persevering; come to the temple and do your work there, and you will enjoy yourselves, and be better prepared to resist the unpleasantnesses of the world."

 I think any of us would love to grasp this gift of being stronger against the adversary and more comfortable in the Savior's presence.

Your ancestor hunging bloggess,

Janice