Come to the Temple
I was originally going to post an Epilogue Part XXXVIII regarding camp, but thought I would deviate a bit from that..
This post will mostly be directed to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but for those who are not, let me explain a few things.
Disclaimer, I write for myself, and the opinions are my own.
All are welcome into our churches for Sunday worship, member or not member, all are welcome. We encourage all to come and see. I hope you do and that you will be loved by those that you visit. This is where we worship every Sunday, partaking of the Sacrament, and by so doing renewing our baptismal covenants. Want to know more? Ask, PM, I will tell you. We also are instructed in our main service called a Sacrament Meeting, and that is followed with more instruction either in Sunday School, or where we split for specific instruction into men and women groups. These buildings are also used during the week for activities for the youth and adults.
Temple worship is different. It is very different from Sunday worship. To start, only worthy members of the church may enter the temple. Here is a short tutorial from the church.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqAsesboeAs
I had thought to go into a significant dissertation on temple worship and the history of it, but just wanted to stay focused on the point of the post. The title originates in a song that was from the old City of Joseph pageant in Nauvoo IL.
There's a wondrous morning awaiting
When the battles of life are over and won
When we will turn to the gardens of glory
To dwell with the Father and with Christ His Son
Come to the temple, blessings await us
As children of God exalted we'll be
Families forever, sealed all together
In love and in joy through eternity
There's a happy reunion awaiting
Where fathers and mothers and children are found
Waiting for us, who will find them and seal them
In families forever, eternally bound
Come to the temple, blessings await us
As children of God exalted we'll be
Families forever, sealed all together
In love and in joy through eternity
There's a joyous moment awaiting
When the purpose of life we finally gain
When family to family we're linked all together
In one glorious, eternal, unending chain
Come to the temple, blessings await us
As children of God exalted we'll be
Families forever, sealed all together
In love and in joy through eternity
The music of the City of Joseph pageant was not bashful about presenting doctrine. They are lyrics worthy of Eliza or W.W. and if you know me, you know I don't joke about that. Just take a moment and ponder the lyrics of the song, and their meaning.
I cannot begin to discuss the joy that I feel in having a temple so close. I joke about how far away it is after living in Twin, but truly it is close for so many. I am truly blessed to work there, and now that I am back from camp, I have resumed my Thursday mornings. What a blessing to serve. To provide the service for those that come and worship, to do the work for their kindred dead. What was weighing on me before I went off to summer camp, is the thought of those waiting for their work to be done, that have accepted the gospel on the other side, and are trapped, waiting for a descendant to catch the spirit of Elijah (see Malachi 4:5-6), and work to join their families together.
Don't get me wrong, I know how life is. My heart goes out to those that for whatever reason cannot attend the temple. I implore you if you are not right before the Lord to get that way. I was you. I am certainly no better than you are. In fact, I would say that if I can get myself in a place to work in the temple then most can.
Right before school is a tough time. Getting supplies, getting school set up, getting that last minute vacation in, believe me, this is not meant to judge anyone. My finger points at none. Make the effort to go. Those waiting will thank you. They will kneel before you and be eternally grateful for the work you do for them.
If you don't have time to go, I get it, if circumstances keep you from going, I get that too. But all can go do their family research, and get things ready. That takes a computer and internet access. Or an app on your phone.
Here is a link to a slideshow to the above song. It contains most of the temples that I have been in, starting when I was three and I was sealed to my parents, which is the only thing I remember of that trip which included going to Disneyland. The first four or so are in order, then they are just in their randomly. Do you recognize all of them? Watching the video, I know of at least two temples (Jordan River and Bountiful) that I have attended that are not there. Oh well. How many doesn't matter. We are blessed in this land to have such an opportunity.
https://youtu.be/wtop8Wqd1bY
Blessings truly await those that come to the temple. So come!
This post will mostly be directed to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but for those who are not, let me explain a few things.
Disclaimer, I write for myself, and the opinions are my own.
All are welcome into our churches for Sunday worship, member or not member, all are welcome. We encourage all to come and see. I hope you do and that you will be loved by those that you visit. This is where we worship every Sunday, partaking of the Sacrament, and by so doing renewing our baptismal covenants. Want to know more? Ask, PM, I will tell you. We also are instructed in our main service called a Sacrament Meeting, and that is followed with more instruction either in Sunday School, or where we split for specific instruction into men and women groups. These buildings are also used during the week for activities for the youth and adults.
Temple worship is different. It is very different from Sunday worship. To start, only worthy members of the church may enter the temple. Here is a short tutorial from the church.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqAsesboeAs
I had thought to go into a significant dissertation on temple worship and the history of it, but just wanted to stay focused on the point of the post. The title originates in a song that was from the old City of Joseph pageant in Nauvoo IL.
There's a wondrous morning awaiting
When the battles of life are over and won
When we will turn to the gardens of glory
To dwell with the Father and with Christ His Son
Come to the temple, blessings await us
As children of God exalted we'll be
Families forever, sealed all together
In love and in joy through eternity
There's a happy reunion awaiting
Where fathers and mothers and children are found
Waiting for us, who will find them and seal them
In families forever, eternally bound
Come to the temple, blessings await us
As children of God exalted we'll be
Families forever, sealed all together
In love and in joy through eternity
There's a joyous moment awaiting
When the purpose of life we finally gain
When family to family we're linked all together
In one glorious, eternal, unending chain
Come to the temple, blessings await us
As children of God exalted we'll be
Families forever, sealed all together
In love and in joy through eternity
The music of the City of Joseph pageant was not bashful about presenting doctrine. They are lyrics worthy of Eliza or W.W. and if you know me, you know I don't joke about that. Just take a moment and ponder the lyrics of the song, and their meaning.
I cannot begin to discuss the joy that I feel in having a temple so close. I joke about how far away it is after living in Twin, but truly it is close for so many. I am truly blessed to work there, and now that I am back from camp, I have resumed my Thursday mornings. What a blessing to serve. To provide the service for those that come and worship, to do the work for their kindred dead. What was weighing on me before I went off to summer camp, is the thought of those waiting for their work to be done, that have accepted the gospel on the other side, and are trapped, waiting for a descendant to catch the spirit of Elijah (see Malachi 4:5-6), and work to join their families together.
Don't get me wrong, I know how life is. My heart goes out to those that for whatever reason cannot attend the temple. I implore you if you are not right before the Lord to get that way. I was you. I am certainly no better than you are. In fact, I would say that if I can get myself in a place to work in the temple then most can.
Right before school is a tough time. Getting supplies, getting school set up, getting that last minute vacation in, believe me, this is not meant to judge anyone. My finger points at none. Make the effort to go. Those waiting will thank you. They will kneel before you and be eternally grateful for the work you do for them.
If you don't have time to go, I get it, if circumstances keep you from going, I get that too. But all can go do their family research, and get things ready. That takes a computer and internet access. Or an app on your phone.
Here is a link to a slideshow to the above song. It contains most of the temples that I have been in, starting when I was three and I was sealed to my parents, which is the only thing I remember of that trip which included going to Disneyland. The first four or so are in order, then they are just in their randomly. Do you recognize all of them? Watching the video, I know of at least two temples (Jordan River and Bountiful) that I have attended that are not there. Oh well. How many doesn't matter. We are blessed in this land to have such an opportunity.
https://youtu.be/wtop8Wqd1bY
Blessings truly await those that come to the temple. So come!
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