Temple Marriage - Receiving More Help/Influence from God

Why is it so important to get married in the temple? There are many answers to this question, but I'll focus on one. It gives us greater access to the priesthood and therefore influence and help of God.

The Priesthood is defined as the following in the Gospel Principles manual:

Our Heavenly Father delegates His priesthood power to worthy male members of the Church. The priesthood enables them to act in God’s name for the salvation of the human family.

It appears that the Priesthood is the following, in my words: God has incredible power. He loans some of that power/authority to people on earth who meet certain conditions (worthiness and being "ordained" or given that authority by someone else who has it).

D.C. 131 gives additional information about the Priesthood:

1In the ^acelestial glory there are three ^bheavens or degrees;

2And in order to obtain the ^ahighest, a man must enter into this^border of the ^cpriesthood [meaning the new and ^deverlastingcovenant of ^emarriage];

3And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

4He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an ^aincrease.

It appears that getting married in the temple allows one to receive the greatest of God's blessings. Just like the Priesthood is loaned to us upon certain conditions, blessings are given to us if we meet certain conditions. Being married in the temple is part of the process of receiving a greater portion of the Priesthood. I think this means that being married in the temple gives us more help and authority from God to do right. It means our families are more likely to have heavenly help. It means God can be closer to us. It means a lot of things. When we marry in the temple, worthily, we are given a greater portion of the Priesthood, which blesses us tremendously and requires more from us.

It's very important to be married there. Without this, members are limited in what their marriages and families can become and in time, are limited in what they can become.

It's been made clear that faithful members will receive all the blessings of the gospel in time, but it's important for those who can choose to be married in the best place to choose to do so.

Answers to Prayers - Don't Read too much into some answers

Oftentimes when we get inspiration or revelation about something, it's easy for us to make too many assumptions about what it means.

For example, consider Joseph in Egypt. He had dreams that suggested he would be the leader over his brothers. I doubt he or his brothers expected that to mean he would be a slave for several years in Egypt before rising to be the #2 person in all of Egypt. However, that's what happened.

Joseph Smith in D.C. 130 gives a good example of how to react to God's revelation when some things are left unclear:

14I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the^acoming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

15Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore ^alet this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.

16I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face.

17I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.

In this example, Joseph is told something very specific but does not read too much into it. He just knows that if a certain thing happens (him living to 85, which didn't come close to happening), he'll see the face of the Savior, which could be fulfilled in numerous ways.

I contrast this with myself, especially earlier in life. I remember when I was dating one girl, another girl I knew came up to me and I had an impression that she was a good person. I took that to mean I should hang out with her (which I believe is a good assumption). I also thought it might mean I would marry her. After I got to know her a little on a first date, I thought she was great and hoped that my impression meant I would marry her at some point (in part because I'd been praying for a while to "spiritually recognize" my wife which really meant: "God, please tell me who my wife is when she walks into the room." I would not recommend that prayer. I don't think God tells such things unless there's a good reason he needs to, and in my case there wasn't.)

I didn't end up marrying her, and I'm glad that I ended up with my wife and family. It's all worked out better than I could have hoped for. However, because I assumed a little too much, I worried too much and acted differently than I should have if I just simply accepted the inspiration/revelation as what it was.

In the end, I now realize a very good reason why I received the revelation I did, and I appreciate it.

Have a good day.

Our Days - All Prophets Looked Forward to Now

Many prophets had a glimpse of the future things that would happen on the earth. We know that all dispensation heads (Enoch, Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham) all had visions of the earth and what would happen on it and so did Nephi, John, the brother of Jared, and others.

Why was this necessary?

I believe it's because they needed to know how the people of their time who didn't accept the gospel would be saved. The plan of salvation requires a couple of critical events that happen(ed) at specific times in the world's history:

1) Atonement of Jesus Christ

2) Ordinances performed for all people

Many prophets saw our time when temples would be all over the earth and members would perform ordinances for those who have passed on. This helped those prophets understand how all people would have the chance to accept the gospel. Being a part of this work is a tremendous blessing as it is one of the most important works that has transpired in the history of the earth.

Notice how happy Joseph Smith is when describing this work:

21And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old ^aFather Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of ^bGabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers^cangels, from Michael or ^dAdam down to the present time, all declaring their ^edispensation, their rights, their ^fkeys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, ^gprecept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our ^hhope!

22Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. ^aCourage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into ^bsinging. Let the ^cdead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the ^dKing Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to ^eredeem them out of their ^fprison; for the prisoners shall go free.

23Let the ^amountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid^brocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the ^cmorning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and ^dimmortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

We are part of a great work. Enjoy going to the temple and performing baptisms for the dead and other ordinances for those who have passed on.

Being Comfortable, Not Defensive

Joseph Smith certainly could have been defensive about all the bad things people accused him of (e.g., being a liar, a fraud, etc.) and of the bad things that happened to him (e.g., being beaten, thrown in jail, etc.). However, it appears that he wasn't defensive at all. Here's some comments in D.C. 127 showing Joseph's attitude:

2And as for the ^aperils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the ^benvy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ^cordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God ^dknoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in ^etribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Notice that he says he was ordained "for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it." He wasn't defensive explaining himself. He said, "God knows what I've done; he's the judge." He also trusts God will deliver him.

Joseph had a lot of faith and wasn't concerned about his own safety or how others judged him. He would continue doing what was right and not worry too much about others.

It's a good lesson for us. We probably should never get defensive about the church...

Why does God Give Callings to People who End Up Doing Bad Things?

Over the course of a life-time of activity in the church, members will see people in somewhat prominent local callings make major mistakes and end up leaving the church. I personally have known a counselor in a Bishopric get excommunicated and have heard of people in even more prominent positions (Bishop, Stake President, Patriarch, Mission President) also leave the church due to major sins. One question people have is "why did God call them in the first place? Didn't he know what they would do?" Obviously, the most famous example is Judas betraying the Savior, so this is something that has always happened.

Although God certainly knew what they would do, here's a few thoughts:

1) Elder Eyring came to BYU and said that often God uses a soft hand to guide things, but his hand is there. He is very involved, but he doesn't push too hard so that we may all grow as a part of the experience and so the experience is fair.

2) God gives people chances to lead and prove themselves. He does not immediately give up on people and take away their opportunities.

In general #2 is true for everyone. People in all walks of life have numerous opportunities to come to God. This is true for nonmembers and members, your average LDS church member and even your church leaders. Here's an example from D.C. 124:

Sidney Rigdon was in the First Presidency and by many accounts wasn't healthy after a brutal beating he endured in Kirtland, Ohio. However, he did a lot of good and was a member of the First Presidency. He was also in the Carthage Jail but the judge told him that if Sidney would say he'd suffered as much as Jesus, the judge would release him. Sidney said it, so he was released. The other brethren, including the prophet and his brother stayed in jail for 6 months.

When persecution started happening in Nauvoo, Sidney contemplated moving away from the city with his family and then doing missionary work but without his family in Nauvoo. Based on what Sidney had already done poorly, some might think that he should have just been released from his calling (First Counselor in the First Presidency). However, Joseph received a revelation that gives Sidney an extra chance. God tells Sidney to stick around, to serve, and if he does, he would be healed.

Unfortunately, Sidney didn't listen. However, I like having a God lead the church who is willing to give people second chances and third chances.

103And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Sidney will serve me and be ^acounselor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise and come up and stand in the office of his calling, and humble himself before me.

104And if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering, and acknowledgments, and remain with my people, behold, I, the Lord your God, will heal him that he shall be healed; and he shall lift up his voice again on the mountains, and be a ^aspokesman before my face.

105Let him come and locate his family in the neighborhood in which my servant Joseph resides.

106And in all his journeyings let him lift up his voice as with the sound of a trump, and warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the wrath to come.

107Let him assist my servant Joseph, and also let my servant William Law assist my servant Joseph, in making a solemn^aproclamation unto the kings of the earth, even as I have before said unto you.

108If my servant Sidney will do my will, let him not remove his family unto the ^aeastern lands, but let him change their habitation, even as I have said.

109Behold, it is not my will that he shall seek to find safety and refuge out of the city which I have appointed unto you, even the city of Nauvoo.

110Verily I say unto you, even now, if he will hearken unto my voice, it shall be well with him. Even so. Amen.