hallowed and consecrated walls

I love attending the temple. For years it was our practice to attend every Saturday morning during the first session. Slowly we reversed this trend. Our excuses were many and convincing, but we have felt the lack of blessings from this choice. This, I intend to change.

Why did I enjoy getting up before the birds often in bitter cold to do this thing? Why do I want to resume this strange activity? I suppose the main reason is that I felt closer to God during those years than I feel now. A few hours of solemn worship each week are a small price to pay so that my "incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that [my] outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all [my] salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High." Doctrine and Covenants 88:120 I guess I found it easier to live the Thumper rule and speak kind words.

In this way, I was a better example of the believers. "And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days." Doctrine and Covenants 109:23

My confidence has waned and loneliness is a problem. "And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;" Doctrine and Covenants 109:22

Mostly, my health has worsened, as I stay in bed to sleep on Saturday mornings. I thought the extra sleep would help with my recovery. Instead, I feel further from God and doubt my purpose on the earth. "Therefore we plead before thee for a full and complete deliverance from under this yoke; Break it off, O Lord; break it off from the necks of thy servants, by thy power, that we may rise up in the midst of this generation and do thy work." Doctrine and Covenants 109:32-33

And then there is the condition of the world--what a difference temple going people can make in the world as we pray for the leaders of nations. Is this how we are supposed to be anxiously engaged in a good cause? Could temple worship be the key to unleashing God's power over the evils so prevalent on the earth today? Is the current state of things because many have neglected this sacred privilege and duty? Is this why people wage furiously together against us? "Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever. Remember the kings, the princes, the nobles, and the great ones of the earth, and all people, and the churches, all the poor, the needy, and afflicted ones of the earth; That their hearts may be softened when thy servants shall go out from thy house, O Jehovah, to bear testimony of thy name; that their prejudices may give way before the truth, and thy people may obtain favor in the sight of all; That all the ends of the earth may know that we, thy servants, have heard thy voice, and that thou hast sent us; That from among all these, thy servants, the sons of Jacob, may gather out the righteous to build a holy city to thy name, as thou hast commanded them." Doctrine and Covenants 109:54-58

This summer I will spend many weeks at the seashore in order to regain my strength. Additionally, I plan to spend many hours worshipping my Father and His Holy Son in the temple there. In this day when temples dot the earth, this sort of thing is available to nearly all who call themselves saints.

This temple by the sea is even more special for a personal reason. The missionary who baptized my in-laws is the temple president there. This one time young man is responsible for bringing three generations of people into the light--for turning us into a strong, loving family. Sure we would have led productive lives without the gospel, but we would not have had the strength found only in the temples of God.

President Howard W. Hunter said: “Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls. The temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us” (Ensign, Oct. 1994, 5).