Keep the Temple Near

In the movie Jurassic Park there is an iconic scene where a T-Rex is chasing our heroes as they drive in their Jeep. An image of the driver looking in the sideview mirror to see the dinosaur's progress is what makes it iconic and impactful. You see the mirror and the notice emblazed on all of them: "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." As I studied one Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of the Provo, Utah temple, I looked in the side mirror, and saw basically the same thing; I decided to take a picture to effectively copy that iconic image from the film. Then the reflection came upon me: "How close is the temple really?" The better question I think would be "How close am I to the temple?"

How regularly do we attend the temple? Obviously the question doesn't only refer to physically, because there are many in this world who faithfully keep their temple covenants in mind without a temple close. Members from my mission in Mexico have to travel 10 hours by bus to reach the nearest temple. The question refers not only to how often we physically attend, but also the importance we place the temple in our hearts. Whether we have made the covenant of Marriage, or the covenants of the Endowment, or simply attend to do baptisms for the dead after having made our own sacred Baptismal covenant, the time we spend there has a particular importance, especially in this chaotic world we live in. We should ponder our own temple attendance and its effectiveness because going to the temple is a means by which we can receive specific direction, increase our overall spiritual sensitivity, and allow salvation for others beyond the veil.

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi receives a very daunting task from the Lord: he was to build a ship which would take him from the Middle East to the Americas, something that hadn't been done very often at that point of history. Looking at it like that, it's easier to understand why Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael lacked faith. Nephi did not lack faith. What he did lack was knowledge. In 1 Nephi 18:3, he shares his secret of how he gained that knowledge: "And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things." In Hebrew symbology, the mountain represents the temple--the great prophets often went up to high mountains and received the greater revelations (think Moses and the Ten Commandments). So effectively, Nephi gained his insights on how to build a ship by attending the temple. We all have been given hard tasks in this life. They may be official ones, like ones we receive at a job or in our Church callings, or they may be the difficult trials that come upon us along our journey. The temple is a place where the Spirit of the Lord dwells, and if we can go with our minds open and ready to receive revelation from Him, we will. President Ezra Taft Benson said, "I promise you that, with increased attendance in the temples of our God, you shall receive increased personal revelation to bless your life." Elder Richard G. Scott offered this counsel: "Clear from your mind all other concerns so your full attention is given to the temple experience. Occasionally, when possible, devote an entire day to temple worship. The benefits multiply greatly with unhurried temple participation." That is wise counsel.

Attending the temple with an open heart and as frequently as our circumstances permit allows us to then carry that Spirit with us with more abundance outside. Paul said, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth...Therefore, brethren [and sisters], stand fast," (2 Thessalonians 2:13,15, emphasis added). Temple attendance--whether it be to perform proxy baptisms, or initiatories, or endowments, or sealings--qualifies us for greater sensitivity to the Spirit. That qualification, in turn, allows us to be better prepared to overcome temptation, to receive clearer direction from our God, and to overcome the trials and afflictions that come upon us in life. As we "stand fast," or act on the prompting of the Spirit, we naturally purify ourselves; our will begins to coincide directly with our Heavenly Father's. This process occurred amongst the believers of the Nephites in a time of rampant wickedness: "And they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God," (Helaman 3:35, emphasis added). The best way to "yield our hearts unto God" is by making specific pacts with Him, or covenants. The temple is where we make our deepest and most sacred covenants with Him. As we act, keeping always in mind those covenants, and following the more powerful promptings we will receive as a result of regular attendance, we will see a difference in the impactful experiences that we will have. We will be amazed at what we can accomplish and what we can become.

Finally, one of the more important purposes of the temple is to perform vicarious ordinances done which allow those who have not had the opportunity to receive the Gospel in their mortal life can have that same opportunity to enjoy the blessings of keeping sacred covenants. We do the work, not taking at all into account the status of the individual--it is Christ who will judge them according to their works; we simply must fulfill our duty to our ancestors, and all will be taken care of. When you think about other vicarious acts that have been done on others' behalf, you can get a sense of the importance and impact our service in the temple has on those who have passed on. The specific one that I'm thinking of is the greatest vicarious act of all. Because we all sin, we are completely unable to redeem ourselves from the effects of those sins; we are also completely incapable of bearing the punishment that is inevitably attached to them. One who was perfect had to step in and suffer the punishment for them, that we might have an advocate; this redemption is known as the Atonement, and Christ was the One who performed it. He is our Savior. Likewise, as we go to the temple and do work for the dead, we are doing that which the individual cannot possibly do for themselves. While Christ opened the door to our ultimate salvation and exaltation, as we serve in the temple we are allowing an opening for a segment of the salvation and exaltation of those individuals. In effect, we are getting to act as saviors with Christ. Our vicarious work allows millions of souls the opportunity to progress. I like to think that when it is our time to pass on, there will be countless people waiting for us, ready to thank us for serving in the temple, and allowing them the chance to make those sacred covenants and receive the corresponding blessings. That will only happen, however, as we faithfully and regularly attend the temple.

I have had the amazing opportunity to live so near to temples. I have had the opportunity, in 3 separate stints, to serve as a temple worker in the San Diego temple. I have sacred experiences in the temple, as I know most of you have. I know the power that comes from regular temple attendance. Just like with the sideview mirror, we should take time to ponder just where we are at in terms of our temple attendance--just how close the temple is to us. That question of "What is regular attendance" is a very personal one. A lot of us have a great many things to do in this busy life. We just need to make sure that attending the temple is a priority.