No Regrets About Temple Service (and No Boredom)

It was ironic that I passed up an opportunity to serve in the temple yesterday, and then in the Elders' Quorum today we had a lesson about temples.  During the lesson I spoke to a thought I've had before: I never regret going to the temple.  And I know I should go very soon.


I've heard the life philosophy that people should live their lives without regret.  There's potentially something laudable about this way of thinking and it could potentially also be eternally disastrous.  Regret and sorrow are an enabling and motivating factor in repentance, which is crucial to our salvation; some people ignore feelings of regret and thus never right the wrongs they commit, which is detrimental beyond mortal understanding.  However, if we're determined to do what we know is right regardless of other consequences, taking action without fear of regret could be a good thing.


A determination to do what is right is what is important.  Something I've also heard is that a way to judge our actions is by asking ourselves, "Will I regret this later?", and the other way of living with less regret is to deliberately choose to do what we know God desires of us.


There have certainly been times in the past when I knew I could go serve in the temple, but didn't feel that I wanted to.  I felt like doing other things.  Admittedly, I'm selfish, and I like to do things that are fun.  But every time I choose temple service in spite of those feelings, I'm glad I did.  I've never regretted temple service; I've never walked away saying, "Man, I wish I'd done that other thing instead."


I never walk away from the temple with more money, in better shape, or higher in the esteem of the world, but I walk away with a simple peace and certainty that I did what I should.


While I'm on the topic of "never" and the temple, I'll note that despite the fact that temple service is both very quiet and very repetitive, I'm never bored there.  Ever.  To an outsider looking in, I imagine that would be remarkable.


Last thoughts for now:
The goal, moving forward, will be for me to remember that I'll be glad I went to the temple, and use that knowledge as motivation for me to go.  I'll never have to doubt that it's a good way to use my time, and I'll never have to doubt that it's God's will.  And I'll never be bored with it.

Exact Words

Some members of the Church have a certain tradition or habit that really isn't necessary, and that I consequently avoid.  When blessing a baby and giving him or her a name, I often hear the wording like this: "and to give him a name by which he will be known on the records of the Church."  It's simply not dictated by any Church book of instructions.  It doesn't hurt, but I don't want to confuse things that are necessary and things that aren't, so I never use those words.  And I hope that people notice it and realize that they don't need to use them either.  That way we can focus on the traditions and elements of ordinances which are truly important and necessary.

Much of the time, priesthood ordinances do not use exact wording.  Any holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood, when reading the instructions for ordinances, will find key elements but rarely exact words.

But sometimes exact wording is important.  Temple ordinances, for example, use exact wording.  One thing I wonder is, other than the fact that the words have been prescribed for us, are the exact words absolutely necessary?  Perhaps not, and we know that temple ordinances have changed at times, but there are good reasons for using specific words.  A major reason is that there is much to learn from what is said during those ordinances.

Outside of the temple, I can think of two occasions when exact wording is dictated by scripture (in Doctrine and Covenants Section 20 and also in the book of Moroni): during a baptism, and when we renew our baptismal covenants with the sacrament.  Why do we use exact words then?  Is it because those exact words are necessary for the ordinance?  It seems clear that such is not the case when we review the wording used by Alma as he baptized Helam and others: "Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world."

I think along with the advantage of learning from specific wording comes the advantage of not having to think through it on the spot--we don't have to figure out what to say every week during the sacrament.  What seems to be the most important reason to me, however, is that by using the same words every time we don't distract ourselves from the ordinance itself.  Too often during regular prayers, the speaker turns to flowery and profuse speech.  If the person performing the baptism or blessing the sacrament wanted to "make it good", they could easily get lost in language that didn't really add to the ordinance at all.  Some people would even be tempted to praise the speaker, again being distracted from the ordinance itself.  The exact wording provides simplicity and focus when that is exactly what is needed as we make and renew covenants with God.

Last thoughts for now:
Making and keeping covenants with our Heavenly Father will bring us back to live with Him.  Sometimes, exactness and precision is required so that we can be most fully blessed.  I want to be precise when such precision is warranted, to keep learning throughout my life, and to stay focused on the simplicity of essential ordinances and covenants.

The Most Important Human Link

The culminating ordinance of salvation is the sealing of a husband and wife.  As with previous ordinances such as baptism and the endowment, we make covenants as we receive this ordinance.  According to the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 131, verses 1-4, if we are to enter into the highest heaven in the Celestial Kingdom, we "must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]".

It's possible and common for children to be sealed to their parents, but I've been told and it makes sense to me that the most important sealing is that between husband and wife, and that when a son or daughter is sealed to their spouse that the new sealing takes precedence.

There are at least two reasons why a sealing to a husband or wife is the most important.  Firstly, as the aforementioned passage states, those who don't enter into that covenant with their spouse "cannot have an increase" because they cannot have spirit children.  Secondly, to be sealed to a spouse is to make a covenant; that covenant, like others we make, guides us and strengthens us.  That covenant defines our sealing in a way that is different than if we are "born in the covenant" to parents who are sealed or if we are sealed to them after birth.

The covenant of a temple marriage and sealing is also something that distinguishes the marriage from other common marriages, not only because it is eternal, but because of the nature of the covenant itself.  Rather than being just a contract between two people, a sealing is a covenant that two people each make with God.  The defining relationship is that between us and Heavenly Father.  This is important in that as we each draw nearer to God we will become closer to each other, like two lines meeting at a common point.

It is also vital to remember this when one spouse fails to stay on that path.  I have counseled friends to remember this principle: if we have been hurt by an unfaithful spouse we will do well to remember that the covenant whe made was with God, and that regardless of our spouse's actions, we are still obligated to live up to our covenants, and doing so includes loving and forgiving our spouse.

Last thoughts for now:
I hope that my wife will forgive me of my mistakes, and I intend to always forgive her as well.  I'm grateful for my covenants and particularly those I have made in the holy temple of God.  I hope for everyone to find the love of God as they follow His word and I hope for everyone to enter into the everlasting covenant of marriage.

They Shouldn't Have Been Baptized

I've been a full-time missionary before, so I know how it feels. We set goals, we worked with people, we knew the truth of the Gospel and the Church and we wanted good things for others. Thus, we wanted people to be baptized. We taught them and invited them to be baptized, and they accepted and were baptized. Between those last two steps, there's an interview. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that the person is ready to make this vital covenant. Some people shouldn't make it past this interview but somehow slip through.

Maybe that doesn't sound like a problem to some people. Some missionaries don't see any baptisms during their entire mission, and even those who do still want to see more. Is it a bad thing if some people are baptized when they're not ready?

Absolutely.

In Moroni 7:39, Mormon makes it clear that some people should not be in the Church. "But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church."

That's not to say that the Gospel isn't right and true for everyone, because it is. It doesn't mean that Jesus didn't die for everyone or that God doesn't love everyone, because They did and do. But people should not join the Church until they have sufficient faith in Christ and have made changes in their lives.

Mormon himself addressed this issue in the previous chapter (Moroni 6:1-3):
"And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.
Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end."

I've seen it too many times. Maybe it's because a missionary wants to get one more baptism before he leaves, or maybe it's just general over-zealousness. People get baptized without truly having received a testimony from God of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Without that testimony, they don't have much reason to stay around. Sometimes they don't even last long enough to be confirmed.

Making and keeping covenants is the key to progressing toward eternal life. It's a tragedy for people to make serious covenants like baptism but not understand what they're doing. It's a tragedy for people to make serious covenants like baptism and then turn away from the truth.

Does that mean that kids shouldn't be baptized when they're eight years old? No. It means that parents need to teach their children well so that they'll be ready.

I don't think anyone fully understands how important their baptismal covenants are when they get baptized, but it is vital that we make covenants of our own free will, with knowledge of what we're doing, and with a real knowledge. When that isn't the case for some people, they're doing it for the wrong reasons and it hurts them.

Last thoughts for now:
The Gospel is for everyone. Baptism is for everyone. The Holy Ghost is for everyone. Temple ordinances are for everyone. The Atonement of Jesus Christ and covenants are for everyone, but we have to make ourselves ready.

Temples and Sacred Things

I like to ask people a certain question. It goes like this: "Answering in one or two words, what do you value?" I explain that their answer doesn't have to be what they value most, just something they value. It's interesting to hear people's answers. (On a side note, my answer used to be friendship, but currently I would say "commitment".)

Another good question for people (one that I've never yet asked) is, "What is sacred to you?"

There have been some who complain about temple ordinances being "secret", refusing to accept the fact that they are sacred. A woman once explained the difference by comparing the temple to another sacred thing: sexual relations between a husband and wife. The woman stated that while it was no secret what they were doing, she certainly wasn't going to talk about it to anyone. Similarly, the body itself is a temple, and while it's not secret what a body generally looks like, it's inappropriate for us to share too much of it with others.

Some people still won't understand, even in light of clear comparisons. I wonder how they would answer my second question. Some people hold nothing sacred.

Last thoughts for now:
I know I should be reserved in speaking of things that are too sacred. Of course, where the temple is concerned, it's good to remember that temples are for everyone. Everyone is invited to come to the temple; if a person is going to fulfill their purpose in living on Earth, they're going to do the same things they would do to get ready for the temple. If everyone did, it would be clear why it's not a matter of "secrets".

Paradise and Prison

I've never been certain about the barrier between Spirit Prison and Paradise. Is it two different locations, with an actual barrier or separation that keeps those who have not accepted the Gospel from those who have? Or is it just a distinction between two states of being? We certainly live in heaven or hell right now depending on what kind of people we are.

I tend to think it's probably an actual separation. When Christ was in the Sprirt World for three days, He only visited the righteous, that is, those who had truly accepted Him. But a commonly held perception of Hell combined with a distinct feature of temples gives me cause to wonder.

Many people with Christian backgrounds are told that "Hell" is a fiery, hot place, and that "Heaven" is in the clouds. The Church makes specific efforts to build temples such that fonts for proxy baptisms are located underground. Theory: the barrier between Paradise and Prison is the surface of the earth. The core of the earth is molten; anywhere under the surface is obviously dark. I think it would suffice as a place to let people suffer the pains of their own sins. When baptisms and confirmations are perfomed for the dead, the spirits would pass through the barrier in temples.

The bridging of the barrier also occurred simultaneously with the rupturing of the earth's surface (see 3 Nephi 8:18).

One might say that the classic version of "Hell" is of no importance, and I would say they're probably right. However, bits of truth, like pieces of a shattered mirror, can be found all over. Take Masonic symbols, for example.

One might also say that the location of temple baptismal fonts is just symbolic, and maybe it is. That's a lot of work for the sake of a single symbol, though, particularly when baptism already carries a lot of symbolism anyway. What symbolic meaning is really added?

Last thoughts for now:
I don't know of any prophetic statement that directly adresses this topic. It remains uncertain to me.