Let's Go to the Temple

Let's go to the Temple

Since the beginning of recorded history there have been legends told of a fountain of youth. Some legends tell of its healing properties, or its ability to restore ones youthfulness. A number of notable figures throughout history have spared nothing to find it, but none of them seem to have been successful. Perhaps the most famous of these was a Spanish explorer by the name of Ponce de Leon. Several Spanish historians of the 15th century either reported of his success or humiliated him as a fraud. De Leon reportedly searched in several places, following the directions of the natives of the New World. His last exploration, and probably the most controversial one was to Florida. Some said that he found the fountain of youth, others said he never went to Florida at all. But the excitement continued and the search was carried on by others after Ponce de Leon. In fact, there are groups still today that believe in and search for the famed spring.

Wouldn't that be something; to be able to just drink the water of a spring and be young again, or to live without illness or disease.

In fact, one of the encouraging facts about the millennium is that we will live without disease or aging.

Ezekiel tells of a vision of the future latter-day temple in Jerusalem in which he saw a river coming out from under the temple that went throughout the land and everywhere the river went the land was healed and everything lived, and the water emptied into the Dead Sea and healed it, making it fresh water and filled with fish.

A few weeks ago I attended the Dallas Temple. With this talk in mind I noticed as I drove into the parking lot, the fountains that face the road. They literally appear to be flowing from under the temple. I wondered if that was just a coincidence. Then the thought entered my mind, "Of course not."

It's not hard to see the symbolism for us of Healing waters, a fountain of youth, flowing out from the temple.

The temples are filled with symbolism. As you walk through you will notice the references to the Garden of Eden everywhere. The stained glass, the carvings and plaster work, the gold leafing in the ceilings, the murals and even the carpets and furnishings all depict the garden with its perfection of creation and perpetuation of beauty and life. The temples represent the Edenic state where there is no death or suffering. Where God walks and talks with us.

Ponce de Leon and many others sought for these wondrous conditions in the fountain of youth, but, for there own selfish reasons, power, gain, etc.

So, Does the temple really offer a fountain of youth type of experience?

Elder Renlund spoke of this:

April 2018 General Conference.

"But as we participate in family history and temple work today, we also lay claim to “healing” blessings promised by prophets and apostles. Healing Blessings. These blessings are also breathtakingly amazing because of their scope, specificity, and consequence in mortality. This long list includes these blessings:"

NOTE: I think it's important to consider the consequence of these blessings as well as the blessing itself.

   " Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice;

    Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives; That can be spiritual and physical in its effects

    Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding;

    Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going;

    Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts;

    Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord;

    Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be;

    Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone;

    Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord’s help, serve others;

    Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary; and

    Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole.

If you have prayed for any of these blessings, participate in family history and temple work. As you do so, your prayers will be answered. Now, listen to this amazing statement: When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God’s children on earth are healed. There is your fountain of youth. No wonder President Russell M. Nelson, in his first message as President of the Church, declared, “Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.”

I've heard people say that they feel that their work in the temple prolongs their lives. I've reasoned through that to discover what I think is an important truth. Now, I believe that if it's time for a person to report at the veil of the spirit world, that there is no power on earth that can stop that, but I also believe that many times we leave this life sooner than we should.

That said, if you are actively researching your family and frequenting the temple with those names you can be assured that there are countless numbers of people on the other side of veil who are praying for you. They are praying that your life will be preserved so that you can find them and do that work for them. If you were in their position, wouldn’t you?

What do you think the power of such prayers might be like? What do you think Jesus Christ is willing to grant them, having worked out his infinite atonement just so that they could repent, accept this work and enter His kingdom?

Don't you know, that has to be some awesome, powerful influence in our behalf.

Once again, Elder Renlund said: "When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God’s children on earth are healed."

Now, it doesn't really matter to me if you want to believe that such blessings and promises are just spiritual in nature. After all, Jesus said that all things are spiritual to Him.(D&C 29:34-35) That just means that He doesn't relate to things from a carnal or natural perspective. That should be obvious. It's also true that the spirit is effected by the flesh and the flesh is effected by the spirit, just as the body is healed by the power of the spirit of God, or even lives at all because it has a spirit in it.

I was once asked to give a blessing to a person with terminal cancer. I wondered what the spirit would prompt me to say in such a situation. After the sealing of the anointing I usually try to clear my head and hear what the spirit is telling me to say. Sometimes it is counsel, sometimes it's not much of anything and sometimes it's a promise of recovery. In this particular blessing I could hear the promptings of the spirit before I even laid my hands upon this person's head. I promised that if this person would continue faithful, become worthy of a temple recommend and search out their ancestors and take those names to the temple, that this persons life would be spared. When I had finished giving the blessing, I explained what the promise meant and encouraged this person to be faithful. The next visit to the doctor revealed that the cancer was completely gone. The doctors proclaimed it a miracle. Three years later, this person had wondered into inactivity, had not received a temple recommend and had not research their family. The cancer returned and took this person's life within a few months.

Now I'm not saying that the temple is the cure for cancer. But it's a great illustration of the power that exists that can be wielded in our behalf when we go to the house of the Lord to do this awesome work.

Joseph Smith said that there is not a greater work for us to do is this dispensation. Malachi expressed the importance of this work by telling us that the whole plan of the redemption of man would be wasted if this work was not done.

Satan's captives, locked away with little or no hope are freed by this work. This is how the lawful captives are delivered as prophesied. This is how the adversary looses, it's how he is defeated. We take his prisoners back and leave him empty handed.

So, I started out talking about the fountain of youth. I'm not trying to paint some mystical fantasy about longevity, but rather, I would like to impress upon our minds the power of this work to heal our own troubles, whatever they may be.

I firmly believe that if we as a stake family really apply ourselves to greater effort to redeem the dead and to be in the holy temple we will experience these healing powers in our stake, and in our families. We will see greater numbers join the Lords church. We will see our inactive brothers and sisters return. We will see greater strength and commitment in the rising generation, because, they that will be with us and praying for us, will be greater than they that are working against us.

I do believe that there is great power from behind the veil in the prayers and pleadings of our families. Think of it. We have seen so many miracles as we all pray for someone, put their names on the temple rolls and plead for their lives to be spared. Can you imagine the power of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands or even millions in the spirit world looking at each of us as the one person who can set them free and provide these saving ordinances?

The temple is the solution. It is the answer. It is the treasure of all treasures. We can be better, live better, act better, feel better and serve better if we will be in the temple more.

I know it's a sacrifice, but it's suppose to be. Such blessings are not for the faint of heart, or for the very busy.