Recommended to the Lord

Ronald A Rasband

Begin the process now to become “recommended to the Lord” so that His Spirit will be with you in abundance.

Good morning, brothers and sisters. As a disciple of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I have been looking forward to gathering virtually from all corners of the world for this conference.

Oral Notes

Assignment to Durban South Africa Temple temple

People were prepared to enter the temple.

Hearts fill with love and thanks to Him. Temples rise above the world and stand as a testament to our faith.

Attending temple increases our understand of the God Head, and our understanding or the gospel, and increases our commitment to living it.

PI So attending the temple will help us to live our weak points better.

Holiness to the Lord

His spirit envelops those who attend.

His standards apply.

A recommend is not a hall pass.

Live in harmony with the teachings of the gospel.

A list of what you testify to. (temple questions)

Line up at the door of the Bishop to renew the recommend. Without the inspiration and peace promised in the temple we are taking a journey in the dark. Alluded to how the faith and lessons learned in the temple before the saints fled west in the early church. This is the same as living now in the church.

You need a temple recommend to stay on the gospel path.

10 Highlights from written talk.

Elder Rasband talking on dedicating a temple in Durban, South Africa said he will treasure the dignity of a “ so well prepared people.” Three times he mentioned they came. Listed below:

They came ready to partake of one of the crowning blessings of the Restoration: the dedication of a house of the Lord. They came with hearts filled with love for Him and His Atonement. They came filled with thanks to our Father in Heaven for providing sacred ordinances that would lead to exaltation. They came worthy.

A blessing to those who attend:

Attending the temple increases our understanding of the Godhead and the everlasting gospel, our commitment to live and teach truth, and our willingness to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Not do’s and don’ts but a honor of living in harmony:

Whether for youth or adults, your temple recommend interview is not about do’s and don’ts. A recommend is not a checklist, a hall pass, or a ticket for special seating. It has a much higher and holier purpose. To qualify for the honor of a temple recommend, you must live in harmony with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It is a blessing of your testifying and your commitment.

You have the blessing to express your testimony of the restored gospel; your willingness to sustain those whom the Lord has called to lead His Church; your faith in the doctrine of the gospel; your fulfillment of family responsibilities; and your qualities of honesty, chastity, fidelity, obedience, and observance of the Word of Wisdom, the law of tithing, and the sanctity of the Sabbath day.

Consider when Moses climbed the mountain and Jehovah appeared.

Exodus 3:5 Old Testament

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Putting off our shoes at the door of the temple is letting go of worldly desires or pleasures that distract us from spiritual growth, setting aside those things which sidetrack our precious mortality, rising above contentious behavior, and seeking time to be holy.

Talking of our physical body Elder Rasband Mentions a primary hymn and some scripture. “My Body Is a Temple,” The Children Sing (1951), no. 99.

3 Nephi 27:20 Book of Mormon

20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. 3 Nephi 27:27 Book of Mormon

27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

Wrote Sarah Rich from the rugged trail in Iowa, “If it had not been for the faith and knowledge that was bestowed upon us in that temple … , our journey would have been like … taking a leap in the dark.”9 That is what we are missing if we are going through this life alone without the inspiration and peace promised in the temple.

The next selection from the text needs a lot of context so I will Italicize the portion I want and give you all the text.

We have been experiencing a time when temples have been closed or limited in use. For President Nelson and those of us who serve at his side, the inspired decision to close the temples was “painful” and “wracked with worry.” President Nelson found himself asking, “What would I say to the Prophet Joseph Smith? What would I say to Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff and the other Presidents, on up to President Thomas S. Monson?” 11 Now, we gradually and gratefully are reopening temples for sealings and endowments on a limited scale. Being worthy to attend the temple, however, has not been suspended. Let me emphasize, whether you have access to a temple or not, you need a current temple recommend to stay firmly on the covenant path.

Another footnote Scripture to consider.

Doctrine and Covenants 127:4

4 And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven.

and

Doctrine and Covenants 127:4

Every time I highlight the last two paragraphs, the html glitches and the talk disappears. So if you want the promise you will just have to click here.