August 2010 Visiting Teaching message

The message for this month can be found at http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5211-1,00.html  and the theme for the message is

"Our Responsibility to be Worthy of Temple Worship". 

"There is a quote in the message that says, "Through His Prophets, the Lord invites those who have not yet received the blessings of the temple to do whatever may be necessary to qualify to receive them.  He invites those who have already received these blessings to return as often as possible to enjoy again the experience, to increase their vision and understanding of His eternal plan."

"Let us be worthy to have a current temple recommend.  Let us go to the temple to seal our families eternally.  Let us return to the temple as often as our circumstances will permit.  Let us give our kindred dead the opportrunity to receive the ordinances of exaltation.  Let us enjoy the spiritual strength and the revelation we receive as we attend the temple regularly.  Let us be faithful and make a keep temple covenants to receive the full blessings of the Atonement."

I have had a renewed zeal for going to the temple this past month.  My ward had been preparing for over a year to have family names to take to the temple and have a ward family temple day. When it came time to go to the temple I found out that not very many people had researched their own family to prepare names to take to the temple.  It wasn't a problem, because I had.  In fact, I had been working for months and found 500+ names of people who needed a variety of different ordinances.  I was thrilled when the youth took several hundred names of my ancestors to the temple to be baptized for the dead.  I was thrilled to hear so many sealings, inititories and endowments were done. 

Just last evening, I received a phone call from a friend who lives in my ward.  The purpose of her call was to share with me the experience she had in the temple doing work for my ancestors.  She expressed that she knew that some of my ancestors were there in the temple accepting the ordinances that were being performed for them.  She felt the spirit so strongly testify of this and it brought to her an overwhelming love for me as a friend, and past visiting teacher, but a connection to my family who she has never met. 

I too had a marvelous experience in the temple and felt very strongly the presence of some of my ancestors as I did their temple ordinances.  One of my ancestors sprit was so strong that others officiating in temple ordinances, felt her presence there too.  On one occasion, I even felt an extra set of hands placed on my head during one of the ordinances.  I knew that not only were the ordinances that I was doing for my family received, but that there was rejoicing that it they were finally getting done.  Some of these sweet women had been waiting to have their temple work done since the late 1800's.  I was so gratified to experience what felt like a million hugs of thanks being showered upon me.  It was an experience that I have heard others have, but until this moment, I had not experienced anything quite like this in the temple. 

I believe that our ancestors have waited so long to have their temple work done for them, and that we need to step up our temple service on their behalf. 

Wouldn't it be a fun visiting teaching date, if you and those you Visit Teach were able to go to the temple together, and live this months lesson, instead of just talking about it?  Women doing their part, like those during the construction of the Kirtland Temple who gave of themselves to the building of the temple walls.  Remember the story,... they gave up their china that was ground into tiny particles to be mixed with the plaster and applied to the walls of the temple so that they would glisten in the light of the sun and moon, and would beautify the appearance of the entire building.  Such a sacrifice from these sisters, and all we have to do nowdays, is to sacrifice alittle of our time, and just go to the temple and enjoy the spirit and peace and serinity within.  Think abou it.... a Visiting Teaching Temple day.

Enjoy this month of Visiting teaching, remembering that toward the end, school starts and things  get pretty hectic.  Get out and do your Visiting teaching early this month.  Enjoy!  Love, Katie G.