Power in the Temple

Power in the Temple

Knowledge always unlocks doors 
for God’s people. 

I gained some incredible knowledge in the temple last week, which set the stage for an amazing experience to follow.  I want to share this “key” that I discovered which unlocks a beautiful experience just waiting to happen to each of us as we attend the temple. 

I have always understood that as we serve in the temple, we are serving our dead.  We are giving them the opportunity to accept or reject the covenants that we are doing that day.  I always pray for them throughout my temple service.  I pray that they will be receptive to the ordinances done that day.  Elder Richard G Scott encourages us to, 

"Be mindful of the individual for whom you are performing the vicarious ordinance. At times pray that he or she will recognize the vital importance of the ordinances and be worthy or prepare to be worthy to benefit from them." Temple Worship by Richard G Scott

As I have studied more about prayers, I have learned that the spirit can give you the words to pray.  

24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire. ( 3 Nephi 19:24)

So, I had begun to make that my focus during my prayers—to say the words that the spirit directed me to pray. I’m not great at it, but I’m trying. During one particular day in the temple, I found my usual prayer changing. I instead prayed that this particular name would recognize how important these ordinances were to ME, and that she would desire to have them as well.

I knew at that moment that she was a quiet observer that day.  She didn’t know if this was something she wanted to accept, but she was allowed to watch as I took her name through the temple.  I was praying that she would begin to desire it as she watched me and could see the importance I placed upon these ordinances. 

Until then, I didn’t understand how connected we can be with our deceased ancestors during the temple ordinances.   As we take their name upon us in the temple, we allow them to be very, very close to us.  We can gain great insights into the life that they lived and the feelings that they are experiencing there in the temple.

Last week, while in the temple, I began by taking a few family names through the initiatory process.  Richard G Scott has taught that,