Tag Archive for: temple

Wedding #30

Finally!
Over the last three years, we have received numerous wedding invitations (approximately #30 so far) from our missionaries after they return home from Belgium and the Netherlands.
Serving a mission in Europe and the location of the majority of weddings (North America) have made it impossible for us to attend any!
This weekend was different.
We made it to Sheffield to be with Lea and Harrison.
What a joy it was to be with them, their family and friends.
Early on Saturday morning, I received a rather unusual request from Harrison.

Authority

“So, my Bishop was potentially going to do a fake ceremony for us again in the evening for the guests that aren’t there in the morning, but he can’t make it now. I’m sorry it is so last minute, but would you be able to do that for us?”
Civilly, they were married in the chapel in the morning.
Eternally, they were married (sealed) in the temple in the afternoon.
And for the third time in the evening, they took their vows again with the fake imposter minister!
It was fun to be asked and fun to help out, as I shared the words of their vows again.
It got me thinking about authority and on this occasion my lack of it!
Whilst serving as a Bishop, then Stake President in the church, I had the legal authority to perform many civil marriage ceremonies. That authority ended when I was released from the position.
The authority to unite families forever in the temple is called the sealing power. It is the same power that Jesus gave to His Apostles during His ministry on earth. (Matthew 16:19.)
An eternal marriage is therefore called a sealing.
Unlike marriages that last only “until death do you part,” temple sealings ensure that death cannot separate loved ones.
I love these words from one of our church hymns #300:
“Families can be together forever
Through Heavenly Father’s plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.”
I am so grateful for our sealing in the London temple in 1994.
And I look forward to attending many more events in the years ahead.
If you want to know more about temple sealings, speak with a missionary today.

Unearthly

General Conference was a smorgasbord of spiritual instruction and renewal.
Following the instruction leads us to the covenant path and Jesus Christ.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍” was such a powerful address from President Nelson.

Memories

After his talk, a memory came to mind.
In May 1983, I turned 18, received the Melchizedek Priesthood and was ordained an Elder.
On 10th June, I joined many others on an overnight 12-hour bus journey to the London Temple, in Lingfield, Surrey.
We arrived a little tired on Saturday morning, ready to spend a day in the House of the Lord.
We live in a telestial world. Entering the temple, we symbolically enter a terrestrial world. And the celestial room in the temple allows us a little glimpse into heaven.

Endowment

Receiving your temple endowment is a very personal experience.
We receive instruction and eternal context for our mortal life.
An endowment is literally a “gift.” In this sense, the temple endowment is a gift of sacred blessings from God to each of us.
I recorded these words in my journal that day, “it was an unearthly experience”.
“Unearthly” – it was something spiritual, something deep and meaningful, directly from my soul.

Choices

That same day, I decided to serve a full-time mission and by November I was in the England London Mission.
I have never forgotten the feelings that entered my heart that day.
I made a choice, like many others have, “to take the long view, an eternal view.”
The cherished moments that day, were a few more steps on the covenant path to help me to start to “Think Celestial”.
“When you are confronted with a dilemma, think celestial!
When tested by temptation, think celestial!
When life or loved ones let you down, think celestial!
When someone dies “prematurely,” think celestial.
When someone lingers with a devastating illness, think celestial.
When the pressures of life crowd in upon you, think celestial!
As you recover from an accident or injury, think celestial!”
Call one of the missionaries today, they will help you to think celestial!
How can you think celestial?

Companion Study

Yesterday, I met at the temple with two missionaries, Megan Carroll and Emily Hodder.
I was thrilled to join them for their companion study.
In over two years, this was the first time that I’d been with a companionship for their study.
I loved it!
And to sit in the shadow of the temple too, was really special.
We opened with prayer and then began by studying together in the “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.”
I love the introduction to the booklet from the First Presidency of the church. It states in regard to the standards that they “will help protect you physically, spiritually and emotionally and help you be the disciple Jesus Christ needs you to become.”
We read, pondered, reflected and shared thoughts together.
Shortly thereafter we studied from “Adjusting to Missionary Life.”
This is a wonderful resource, that is filled with great ideas about adjusting to new situations including physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social demands during transfers, new companions, and new areas.
We enjoyed sharing a few insights with each other.
Subsequently, we then moved into preparing some ideas from the scriptures for a lesson that the missionaries were planning for a friend that evening.

Preach My Gospel – Second Edition

Afterwards, we then studied from Preach My Gospel – Second Edition, chapter 2, entitled “Search the Scriptures and Put on the Armour of God”.
We reviewed a section, shared a few quotes, and then asked each other some questions about our understanding of what it means to put on “the whole armour of God”.
Finally, we filmed a short video for the Come Follow Me App, on Ephesians 6:13 which will be shared on October 8th.
It was a very effective use of our one hour of study together.
We concluded that we learn day by day, “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30) during the time of our missionary service and throughout our life.
After our closing prayer, we even made time to capture a few pictures of our study time together.
Missionaries take an hour every day for personal study and then another hour for companion study.
I know that setting aside some time every day to search and study the scriptures will be a source of great enlightenment.
I loved it so much, I am joining another companionship this morning!
When have you been blessed in the past as you have used similar study skills?