Temple Counsel and Thoughts

 A couple of days ago the Instagram page Work and Wonder created a post about the temple and asked for any pro tips for making temple experiences more meaningful.  There were some really beautiful ideas shared and I wanted to remember some of them.

Some  of the things I shared were these:\

First and foremost, I echo President Nelson's words to go more often!  In the periods when I go often I have more positive experiences and my love for the temple grows.  Revelation flows more easily.  But...I would also say that it's like almost anything.  I have moments when I open my scriptures and receive incredible insights or answers to prayer and I am deeply impacted and edified.  But I also have times when the experience is less incredible and while I am glad I read my scriptures (or went to church or served my neighbor) it isn't always an awe-inspiring event.  That's normal.  But I think the consistency in doing those things allows my mind and heart to be prepared and gets me in the right place to be ready when the great moments come.  The temple is the same way...a lot of times it's really good but nothing spectacular...but the consistency allows for those moments when earth meets heaven and the divine envelops my soul.

When I am specifically studying or pondering something or come with a question, I am more likely to receive insights. 

Also, it's likely you have had more great experiences than you realize.  During Covid, when I was desperately missing the temple,the spirit whispered to me to write about my favorite moments in the temple.  Immediately several came to mind.  But as I began to write, more experiences came.  I ended up adding more for several days.  I felt like I was on a spiritual high for a couple of weeks after because I was remembering all the times the temple had been a refuge, a place of peace and a place where the heavens opened.

It won’t always work but when possible I try to make going to the temple a special occasion.  If I have a day off work I invite a friend to go with me and we usually have lunch together after.  Right before Covid, I asked many of my friends to attend the temple with me for my birthday.  When life is stressful I gift myself an appointment at the temple.  By making it feel like a special treat, I look forward to it and when my week feels overwhelming I am a lot less likely to cancel because instead of feeling like it’s one more thing to do, it feels like a reward for doing all the hard things.  That shift in perspective makes a difference. 

If possible, take family names.  There's something special about doing work for your own ancestors.  And if you get the chance, at some point, do every ordinance in order on the same day. The insights you gain from this are pretty incredible!

And finally study the temple outside of the temple (scriptures, conference talks, books, etc.)

Some of the other good ideas that were shared:

Nelson Spiritual Foundation

 Over the next 6 months, President Nelson has invited us to solidify our spiritual foundation.  He has asked us to study the temple as the temple draws us closer to Christ.  I'm planning to participate in Inklings (a study found on Instagram, run by Emily Freeman) as much as possible, and I also run a group on Facebook that will study the temple and work to increase our spiritual foundation.

I plan to share some of my insights or thoughts here from time to time.

This first week we are studying Mosiah 17:2 and Ezekiel 13:1-16 and Ezekiel 22:25-30.

Ezekiel 22: 26-27...warns that the priests have violated the law, profaned holy things, have no difference between holy and profane, clean and unclean.  They don't honor the Sabbath and profane God.   Leaders seek to shed blood, destroy souls, and get gain. *This seems to be happening all around us.  Many people are profane and holiness does not seem valued by most.  Evil really is called good and good evil and many people seek for gain.  These verses in chapter 22 definitely seem to describe our day.  

Ezekiel 13...Warnings are given to false prophets who prophesy out of their own hearts.  

What does "daubed with untempered mortar" mean?

I love verse 14..."and ye shall know that I am the Lord."  Oh how I wish all knew that.

Foundation:  Definitions...to set intensively, to found, to settle, consult, take counsel, establish, instruct, set, sure.

Jan Tile Help

 Jan bore her testimony today.  She was helping her granddaughter retile her tub.  Jan had never done that before and there were problems.  Jan went to Home Depot to get some materials.  She had a prompting to speak 2 men that were in the tile aisle. She asked if they knew how to tile a tub and she explained the problem.   They did that for a living and began explaining what she would need to do.  Then one of the men said he could come to show her.  She explained that while she lives here in West Valley, the tub was in Ogden.  The man drove to Ogden to show her how to do it.  She asked how much he would charge to do it and he gave her a low estimate.  So she hired him.  She bore testimony that the Lord loves her and inspired her to talk to those men. He sent the exact help she needed.

Two other thoughts were shared that I want to remember.  First, in every situation there’s a lesson and a blessing…look for both. 

And one ward member talked about the pre-existence and how we shouted for joy!  They said they weren’t sure what exactly was in the trailer but a lot must have been left out but still we must have had some idea that there would be adventure and difficulty and love and joy and heartache and yet we shouted for joy at the opportunity to come.

Rasband Things of Soul

 Oh how I love conference! I love hearing from apostles and our beloved prophet and other leaders.  It’s one of my favorite things…one of the things of my soul.

I loved Elder Rasband’s words about the things of his soul and he encouraged us to add our own 8, 9 and 10 to his list.  Definitely many of the things of my soul were on his list.  

My tentative list:

8.  Study the scriptures and have the words of Christ written on my heart.

9.  Cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day.

10.  Seek and act upon personal revelation.

But I would also probably want to include something about journaling/recording life lessons, expressing gratitude and serving others.  10 isn’t really enough!

Halloween Box of Goodies

“Orange” you glad it’s Halloween!

 I have been meaning to mail a package to Michelle but haven’t.  Then I saw this cute post of Halloween packages to send to your college student and had to make one.  Michelle came home for conference weekend so I didn’t mail it but I sent her back tonight with a box of Halloween fun…a couple of decorations and a lot of orange treats.  Hopefully she’ll like them.

I also made a similar but simpler bag for Liv Harding and a little bag for a teen that I thought could use a little surprise.

Priesthood Keys Ella/Gabby

 Ella and Gabby taught in YW today.  I helped them prepare their lesson.  I gave them a bunch of ideas and then they decided which ideas they liked and then I helped them write it out.  I probably helped more than I should have.  But they did a great job presenting the lesson.

Here's the outline we created together:

GABBY   

 

Ask for 2 volunteers.  Once you have two volunteers, explain that they will have 30 seconds to make as many bubbles as they can.  But they can’t move their bowl/table.  (Have one girl make bubbles with her cord plugged in and the other not plugged in and too far to reach to plug it in.) 

  

We are going to talk about… priesthood authority and priesthood power. We noted how both our participants had the same good intentions. Both knew what they needed to do to make the bubbles. Both had the same equipment – aprons, bowls, water, dish soap, and hand mixers. The only difference was that one had power to accomplish the task, and one did not. She tried her best with her own strength, but her efforts fell far short. I asked how this example could be applied to the variety of religions today. 

Next we opened the Doctrine & Covenants to Section 13    (Call on someone to read)   where are recorded the words spoken by John the Baptist to both Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery. Before we read, I asked them, and now I ask you, to identify as many truths concerning the priesthood of God there for the finding: 

 

“Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.” 

 

Ask the young women what they learned from the verse:  Discuss!  (*If no one answers immediately, wait for a minute.) 

In this thirteenth section, though one verse in total, we found six very important truths – 

1. The priesthood of God was given to men on the earth in modern times. 

2. The priesthood of God had been on the earth before, but had obviously been removed  because John says it would ‘never be taken again’. 

3. The priesthood of God must be conferred upon a man by someone who already has the priesthood; and under the direction, or with the permission, of Jesus Christ. 

4. The Aaronic priesthood must be held before the Melchizedek priesthood can be held. 

5. Keys – the authority to use the priesthood power –  are separate from the priesthood power itself. 

6. Ordinances of the gospel, and functions of the Church, must be performed by someone with the priesthood and the keys to use it. 

 

(This first part came from a lesson shared on Mormon Women Stand.

Gabby:   Tell the story of keys from Elder Stevenson’s in your own words. 

 

Then ask:  So what are priesthood keys?  Who can explain what a priesthood key is in their own words? 

  

Ella:  Explain that there are two talks.  The first talk is Spiritual Treasures.  It was given by President Nelson to the women of the church in 2019.  The second talk is Where Are the Keys and Authority of the Priesthood? By Elder Gary E. Stevenson.    We are going to put you into 2 groups and have you read the talk and then create a poster to explain the most important ideas you learn.   We’ll give you about 10 minutes to read the talk, discuss it and work together to create a poster. Then you’ll teach the rest of us what you learned about the priesthood from the talk. 

 

(Then give them about 10 minutes to work.  Then have them share with the whole group their poster and what they learned.) 

 

Ella:  Have someone read D&C 107:18-19 and discuss the blessings that are listed there.   

 

Watch 3 minute clip of Don’t Miss This (start at 25 minutes in and go to 28 minutes and about 15 seconds) which explains these blessings.   

 

SAY:  SO first, it is really important to understand that this isn’t just for men.  WE all receive blessings from the priesthood and ultimately, the goal is for ALL of us to become gods and goddesses, priests and priestesses, kings and queens.  The priesthood helps prepare all of us to become like God...and in verse 18, it says these blessings are for the church...not just those who are ordained to priesthood offices, but all those who make and keep covenants through baptism and then eventually temple ordinances.  ANd if we do that, then we are promised that we will receive revelation, have the ministering of angels, have truth and knowledge, and even be able to see the Savior and the Father.  Those are incredible blessings. 

 

Ella:  Give everyone a piece of chalk.  Tell them each to list 1-3 blessings they have received from the priesthood.  How has the priesthood helped them or what has the priesthood done for them?  They write these on the board.  Then you will read these out loud and see if there’s anything else that they want to add. 

 

*IF there is enough time, bear your testimony of the priesthood.