Dedicate Ourselves to the Lord's Service

Yesterday was a wonderful day to see a Temple of God dedicated. The Ogden Utah Temple was closed for a few years for renovations and now it is finally complete.  Members of the church from all over the state who hold a temple recommend could feel for a small moment that they were right there in the celestial room.  I loved that feeling: sitting at the feet of prophets and apostles, hearing words of encouragement to be a part of the Lord's work of salvation, and knowing what they taught was true. Temples are sacred points where the Lord can teach us, and where He can bind our families together and to Him through covenants.   

“May I remind you that when we dedicate a house to the Lord, what we really do is dedicate ourselves to the Lord’s service."

-Joseph Fielding Smith

Being in that special meeting, I felt rededicated to do better at serving God and loving those around me.  That is exactly what the temple is all about.  In our session, Bonnie Oscarson spoke about how we should never take lightly our privilege to enter the house of the Lord.  It is a sacred opportunity to be in that peaceful place, and a blessing to extend those promises to our family members who have died.  Some things that stood out for me as I thought about the blessings of temples are-

• Temples are literally the House of the Lord and His Spirit is felt there without limitation.  Things that are taught there are only received by revelation so our best preparation and desire is needed. 
• The Lord wants to save ALL of His children, not just some.  Baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and every further covenant, are offered to all humankind ONE by ONE.  The Lord is personal and we must personally choose to follow or reject Him.  Everyone is precious to Him, and no one will be forgotten.
• We can only do the Lord's work with His help.  He has the progression and happiness of all mankind before Him and we can build something miraculous when we join hands with Him and do everything we can to be worthy of the blessings He wants to give us.

I love the temple.  When I go there, I can't even put my finger on what I learned sometimes, but I am better.  I am changed.  I want to be like the good examples in my life who have gone before me. I want to be like Jesus Christ.

A few weeks ago, we were able to take our kids up to the temple open house.  We met up with my Grandma Carter, and my parents were in town with us so it was awesome.  We had the whole crew there with lots of helpers.  I loved seeing my kids' reaction.  They were naturally more quiet, they wanted to point to the pictures depicting the Savior's life, and they could feel the special feeling of that place. If you ever have a chance to go on one of these tours, go!!!  You will know that God has something to do with that place.

Every temple "lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness, [and] moves the heavens in mighty power in our behalf."

-George Q. Cannon

Today the Lord's kingdom is a little bigger and I know someday it will fill the earth.