11/16/2018 - Section 124:21-48


November 16, 2018
Section 124:21-48
Temple Service, Temple Importance, Keep the Commandments…Really Well, Agency,

In v’s 25-27, the saints are asked once again, to build a temple. This is the 5th temple they have been asked to build. The Kirtland Temple was completed and the Nauvoo temple was completed, but used for only a brief time. The corner stones were laid in Jackson County Missouri, Kirtland Ohio, Far West, Missouri, Adam-oni-Ahan, Missouri. This shows the importance the Lord places on having a working temple, and then doing the work within the temple. I need to remember when I go, that while it is a place of peace and learning and renewal, it is also a place where we do work for others that they cannot do for themselves. It is the most important ‘service project’ in which we could be involved. Joseph Smith said: “What was the object of gathering the Jews or the people of God in any age of the world?...The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of the kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose. One of the ordinances of the house of the Lord is baptism for the dead. God drecreed before the foundation of the world that that ordinance should be administered in a font prepared for that purpose in the house of the Lord.”  Then in v 44, the Lord states “If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy.” To me that means that my part in temple work is to labor with all my might.

Then in v 47 & 48 the Lord points out that we have our agency to follow His commandments or not. I feel it really boils done to this: That choice is not between do I want these promised blessings or not, but it is between do I want blessings or cursings. And I can assure you, I would never consciously pick cursings…thus I should simply consciously pick working toward the promised blessings.

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