Temple Power…

Many wonder why the Mormon culture integrates so much about families. We are a huge family church, but we are most noted for our temple building across the world. This is a commandment from God. We prepare and seek out family names that we may take to our temples and provide vital saving ordinances for them (1 Cor 15:29).

This seems very strange for others, even though all Christians in the world believe that Jesus is their Savior. The best example of vicarious work in the world. He performed the most significant and poigniant offering that has ever been or ever will be offered in the history of the world. This vicarious work enabled us as children of God to receive a gift of life and salvation (two separate things), life in the ressurection, and salvation – life as heirs of the kingdom of God along with the Savior as promised in the New Testament.

Without the specific ordinances of Baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God (Mark 16:16). God our Father wants us to return to His presence and we need these to “fulfill all righteousness” as the Savior taught. We cannot be saved without them.

We want those who had no opportunity to receive these saving ordinaces to have a choice, but seeing as they are not able to perform their own corporeal rites we do it for them and allow them to either accept or reject this work. We will not be held accountable for not doing the work because we think they may or may not want it done. That is not for us to decide, but rather their own, and the judgements of the Lord in the time of reconcilliation of all men (last judgement) will be equal, because the choice is now theirs.

We have a great opportunity to perform these rites for those who have passed on. We are making sure that they are given opportunities to grow and have the same advantages that we do. We serve them out of love because we want them to be blessed.

Yesterday we went to the Temple with a group of youth to perform these ordinances for passed family members. The youth were very touched by this work and pleased that they could provide them with happiness.

I love this work and know it to be true. God loves us all and wants us to work with those that have passed on. The blessings of our Heavenly Father are not reserved to a select few, they are for all those who will listen to his words.

Take a poll of the first time you went to the temple. Please share general experiences, as sacred experiences are inappropriate for this venue.

~ by darringfam on December 14, 2008.