80- 8/19/24 TEMPLES

 Happy Birthday Emma! I hope you have a great day and Sadie and Noah spoil you a little bit. As Grandpa Miller would say, “23, you’re going to catch up to me! Save me a piece of cake!”

We love you so much and hope you feel extra special today!

This week we’ve all been studying the war chapters of Alma. It’s a testimony to me that even in these detailed chapters of strategy and war, the name Jesus Christ appears in nearly every chapter. There is so much we can learn from these people in their time of spiritual and physical struggle as they choose to turn to Christ for added power and strength.

One verse that stood out to me is found in Alma 48:7 “Moroni …. had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.”

I had the thought or the question: How are prophets today trying to prepare our minds “to be faithful unto the Lord their God”?

A talk from this last General Conference by President Oaks stood out to me. Like Moroni with the Tile of Liberty, both President Oaks and Moroni are teaching and emphasizing that as disciples of Jesus Christ, we have each made covenants with God. Therefore we each have committed to fulfilling certain responsibilities in order to honor those covenants. As they, and as we, honor those commitments and responsibilities we show our faithfulness to God, and He blesses our lives.

President Oaks’ address titled Covenants and Responsibilities began with this question: “How does your Church differ from others?”

Listen to His answer. I think it is so interesting and telling of the importance of our temple covenants.

President Oaks: “My answer to this important question has varied as I have matured and as the Church has grown. 

He emphasized why the growth of the church from its earliest years has changed his answer in how the Restored Gospel differs from other religions. He points to TEMPLES! Temples that are dotting the earth and giving all God’s children the opportunity to worship there and more importantly to make sacred covenants there.

He continued “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is constructing temples all over the world. Their purpose is to bless the covenant children of God with temple worship and with the sacred responsibilities and powers and unique blessings of being bound to Christ they receive by covenant.”

“The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making covenants with God. Covenants are inherent in each of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation this restored Church administers. The ordinance of baptism and its associated covenants are requirements for entrance into the celestial kingdom. The ordinances and associated covenants of the temple are requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom, which is eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.” That is the focus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I testify of Jesus Christ, who is the head of that Church, and invoke His blessings on all who seek to keep their sacred covenants. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

Invitation for the week. With school starting back for everyone, and new schedules are being developed, let us all make sure we are making time for the temple. Temples are dotting the Earth “preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.”

Love you all like crazy! 

Dad