"Let us take a little time to meditate, to think of what we can do to improve our lives and to become better examples of what a Latter-day Saint should be. I hope that each of us will long remember what we have heard, but more importantly, what we have felt. May it become an anchor in our lives, a guide by which to live, a training time where we learned to shape our actions toward others and our attitudes toward ourselves.
I hope that each one of us will be a better husband or wife, kinder to one another, more thoughtful, more restrained in criticism, and more generous with compliments. I hope that as fathers and mothers we will strive more fully to rear our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), treating them with respect and love, giving encouragement at every opportunity and subduing our critical remarks. I hope that as sons and daughters we will be more respectful than we have been, that we will look to our parents with the knowledge that they love us, and that we will try to be more obedient in following their counsel.
Let us study the ways of the Lord, reading His life and teachings in the sacred scripture He has given us. Let us take a little time to meditate, to think of what we can do to improve our lives and to become better examples of what a Latter-day Saint should be.
NOW COMES MY FAVORITE PART OF PRESIDENT HINKLEY'S MESSAGE!
"Now, in closing, may I give you just a very brief report on temples. As of today, we have 76 in operation. That is many more than we had a few years ago. We will dedicate the Palmyra temple this coming Thursday. That will be a great occasion. The temple overlooks the Sacred Grove. Then on Sunday—next Sunday—we will dedicate the Fresno California Temple. We plan on dedicating altogether 36 new temples in the year 2000. I think we will accomplish all we set out to do. Quite a number of others in construction or announced will not be completed until 2001 or 2002.
Now, additionally, we announce at this conference that we hope to build a house of the Lord in Aba, Nigeria. Brother Pace, we may be delayed in Ghana, but we hope there will be no delay in Nigeria. Others in Asunción, Paraguay; Helsinki, Finland; Lubbock, Texas; Snowflake, Arizona; and somewhere in the Tri-Cities area of the state of Washington."
I remember distinctly the pause after President Hinkley said, "Snowflake, Arizona" and he slowly said "and somewhere in the Tri-Cities area of the state of Washington." If we hadn't been in the stake center I imagine there would have been applause, but people stood up and gasped and you could tell there was such excitement in the air. When the closing song and prayer were done everyone couldn't wait to hug each other and let the feelings roll.
For a while we all wondered where the temple would be built and I know our family was really excited about the prospect of having a temple so close to our home. As soon as the location was announced, we decided to celebrate by buying McDonalds and having a picnic on the temple grounds before building even began. The empty field wasn't fenced in yet next to the chapel on Gage Boulevard so we had a great time tromping on the new temple grounds. Our excitement continued as we went over periodically to check the progress of our temple. When the builders were doing the foundation we all wrote our names on rocks so they are now part of the foundation of the temple.
I remember standing on the hill above the temple as sprinkles of rain came down as the Angel Moroni was being hoised to the top of the temple. (We skipped school that day.) That was so cool to have that vantage point. I felt bad for those down on the bottom of the hill as we were one of the first to see the big box opened and the golden statue sitting inside and to watch as the crane was attached around him and gently put in place on top of the temple. I had the opportunity one night to put the crystal chandelier together in the larger sealing room. I stood on a tall ladder and with soft white gloves on my hands, put crystals on the hooks of the light. Another sister helped me and it was quite a privilege to do that. I still look in that room and think of it as my sealing room. (Courtney and Erin were both sealed to their spouses in that room as well.)
Then autumn came and Michael went off to BYU. We knew the temple was so very important and we wanted our kids to know that as well, so one of the week-ends of the open house we flew Michael home so he could go to the open house with us. We didn't want him to miss it. Lissie and Gary Haynes and family came up from Twin Falls, Idaho to tour the temple as well. And then another week-end later it was time for the temple dedication. We flew Michael back up to the Tri-Cities so he would be there for that. Our session was the afternoon session which was really nice as it gave a chance for the little girls, Kylee and Kaitlin, to be able to participate being too young to go to the dedication, to attend the outdoor cornerstone part of the session. Then later that afternoon we attended our assigned session and we were privileged to actually be able to be inside the temple for the dedication.
And what a fantastic dedicatory prayer as well. Here are a few highlights from President Hinkley's prayer:
"O God our Eternal Father, Thou great Elohim, Thou who art Governor of the universe and Judge of the nations, we come unto Thee in solemn and sacred prayer. We are met to dedicate another House of the Lord, a temple built to the Most High where Thy divine ordinances may be performed in behalf of the living and the dead.
On this day of dedication we are profoundly grateful unto Thee for Thy revealed plan of salvation and exaltation. We honor Thee and love Thee. We honor and love Thine Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer of the world whose great atoning sacrifice makes available to all of us the blessings of immortality and eternal life.
We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith to whom Thou didst reveal Thyself with Thy Son to part the curtains and let the light of the true gospel again shine upon the earth. We thank Thee for the coming forth of the great testament of the New World, the Book of Mormon, which is a witness of the divinity of Thy Son. We are so deeply grateful for the restoration of the holy priesthood, "that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world" (D&C 1:20). We thank Thee for the restoration of other keys, powers, and authority in this the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Now, we as Thy grateful people have erected this house. It has been visited by many thousands. They have come out of curiosity and have left with appreciation. May their hearts be inclined to Thy work and may there grow within them a desire to learn of Thy revealed truth.
And now, acting in the authority of the holy priesthood in us vested and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master, we dedicate unto Thee and unto Him this the Columbia River Washington Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wilt Thou accept of it as the offering of our hearts and our hands. Wilt Thou let Thy blessings rest down upon it that it may truly be the House of the Lord with holiness unto Thee. Wilt Thou cause that Thy Spirit may dwell here at all times and that its presence may be felt by those who serve here, be they workers or patrons. We would be pleased, dear Father, if Thou wouldst visit this Thy house and leave Thy voice of approval upon it.
Touch the hearts of Thy Saints that they may wish to come here and enjoy the blessings of peace to be found within these hallowed walls.
May there come into their minds and hearts an indelible witness of the reality of Thy plan of salvation, under which the immortality of the human soul is assured and the blessings of eternal life are promised to all who walk in faithfulness to Thee and to Thy divine will. May those who come here to be married and who kneel at the sacred altars of this temple, have implanted within them an assurance of the eternal perpetuity of their union if they will honor and respect the covenants which they make before Thee. May all who gather here be instructed in Thy ways and after Thy pattern, and take upon themselves promises eternal and binding in their nature. May a great work in behalf of the dead be carried forward in this Thy house, that there may be rejoicing on the other side of the veil.
We pray that Thou wilt smile upon Thy people and their families. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon the faithful who contribute of their time and resources according to Thy will and law. May the whole earth become as Zion as Thy work spreads among the nations."
What a beautiful home for our Heavenly Father. I love the spirit I feel when I go there and sit in the Celestial Room. I often wish I could stay there forever and bask in the spirit. About a year ago, Bishop Moon asked Brad and I to go to the temple every week. He knew that we needed to have the opportunity to feel the spirit more often and to feel Heavenly Father's great love for us. It has been a tremendous sacrifice to work out a time to go to the temple each week but we have been tremendously blessed for our sacrifice. I know the kids at home had to sacrifice as well as we occassionally went to the temple on a Friday or Saturday night. I am grateful for their willingness to allow us to attend the temple each week. We usually tried to go during the day, sometimes Brad and I went at the same time, and sometimes we went at separate times, depending on the week, but I never missed. The temple was closed for two weeks in August so I wasn't able to go those two weeks, but I did double sessions in a couple of the weeks so I would be able to have 52 sessions this past year. I have written about some of the most touching experiences in my journal as there were times I felt the spirit so strongly that I know that the sisters I was serving were present. I look forward to this next year as I do another 52.
In closing, I would like to share a two quotes. The first is by Ezra Taft Benson: "I promise you that, with increased attendance in the temples of our God, you shall receive increased personal revelation to bless your life as you bless those who have died." The second is by Thomas S. Monson, our prophet,
"To you who are worthy and able to attend the temple, I would admonish you to go often. The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments." I have a strong testimony of temples and the sealing power of the priesthood. I am so grateful to know that we can be together throughout all of eternity if we live worthy of those blessings and do all that we have been asked to do.
Remember our Family Motto: NO EMPTY CHAIRS!
