181st Semi-Annual General Conference of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.Saturday Morning October 1, 2011
In April 2011 President Monson said, “My beloved brothers and sisters, may we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes.”
He talked about sacrifices of the past and several ways that we might sacrifice today by setting aside time to attend the temple regularly, searching out deceased ancestors, “bringing our life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, and having pictures of the temple where we can see them often. I wondered how I might do more – what additional sacrifice might be possible for me to make to help me remember the blessings of the temple more in my “heart” and “home”? All those things I was doing already.
In February 2011, my husband and I had accepted a call to serve as temple workers. Although willing to serve, at first we didn’t know how we could possibly dedicate every single Saturday (my husband works 40 hours a week) to temple work – when would we do yard work or other home repairs? It was explained to us that this would be like a mission and promised that the Lord would help us as we trusted him and committed to serve him first.
Our next barrier was figuring out how to extract money, each month, from an overstretched budget, to pay for the weekly 175 mile trip. Steep medical bills drain all surplus, and we already forgo eating out, movies, and other luxuries that quickly add up. We pay our tithes and offerings, and then we trust Heavenly Father to help us get by. Within a short time of saying yes to the calling, a tax error returned enough money to finish paying for a car. The payment equaled the cost of the weekly temple trip. We have witnessed miracles and blessings in temporal and spiritual matters as we have followed the prophet’s counsel to look to the temple.
We were so grateful the temple is so close. For a time we lived where the temple was about 800 miles away - a 12 hour drive. We could not afford to go often. We would save for each trip for approximately a year, or sometimes longer.
Six months later, in October 2011 President Monson again talked about temples. He opened his talk in the first session by describing his busy ‘temple schedule’. He, also, makes many sacrifices so that all members of the church may have temple blessings. I was still pondering how I might implement his suggestion to make the temple more a part of my heart and home.
In February 2011, my husband and I had accepted a call to serve as temple workers. Although willing to serve, at first we didn’t know how we could possibly dedicate every single Saturday (my husband works 40 hours a week) to temple work – when would we do yard work or other home repairs? It was explained to us that this would be like a mission and promised that the Lord would help us as we trusted him and committed to serve him first.
Our next barrier was figuring out how to extract money, each month, from an overstretched budget, to pay for the weekly 175 mile trip. Steep medical bills drain all surplus, and we already forgo eating out, movies, and other luxuries that quickly add up. We pay our tithes and offerings, and then we trust Heavenly Father to help us get by. Within a short time of saying yes to the calling, a tax error returned enough money to finish paying for a car. The payment equaled the cost of the weekly temple trip. We have witnessed miracles and blessings in temporal and spiritual matters as we have followed the prophet’s counsel to look to the temple.
We were so grateful the temple is so close. For a time we lived where the temple was about 800 miles away - a 12 hour drive. We could not afford to go often. We would save for each trip for approximately a year, or sometimes longer.
Six months later, in October 2011 President Monson again talked about temples. He opened his talk in the first session by describing his busy ‘temple schedule’. He, also, makes many sacrifices so that all members of the church may have temple blessings. I was still pondering how I might implement his suggestion to make the temple more a part of my heart and home.
He said, “First, may I mention that no Church-built facility is more important than a temple. Temples are places where relationships are sealed together to last through the eternities. ...I have mentioned in previous conferences the progress we are making in placing temples closer to our members. Although they are readily available to many members in the Church, there are still areas of the world where temples are so distant from our members that they cannot afford the travel required to get to them. They are thus unable to partake of the sacred and eternal blessings temples provide. To help in this regard, we have available what is called the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund. This fund provides a one-time visit to the temple for those who otherwise would not be able to go to the temple and yet who long desperately for that opportunity. Any who might wish to contribute to this fund can simply write in the information on the normal contribution slip which is given to the bishop each month.”
As I heard President Monson speak I knew I could do more to help others, who may long for temple blessings, to be able to attend. My husband felt the same way. We realized that we could make changes to allow us to give money to the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund. We were surprised at how easy it was to be inspired to find a way to help when that is what we wanted to do.
President Monson concluded his talk, as he often does in the opening session of conference, by asking us to listen carefully. “Now, brothers and sisters, it is my prayer that we may be filled with the Spirit of the Lord as we listen to the messages today and tomorrow and learn those things the Lord would have us know.”
As I heard President Monson speak I knew I could do more to help others, who may long for temple blessings, to be able to attend. My husband felt the same way. We realized that we could make changes to allow us to give money to the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund. We were surprised at how easy it was to be inspired to find a way to help when that is what we wanted to do.
President Monson concluded his talk, as he often does in the opening session of conference, by asking us to listen carefully. “Now, brothers and sisters, it is my prayer that we may be filled with the Spirit of the Lord as we listen to the messages today and tomorrow and learn those things the Lord would have us know.”
I can testify that when we listen carefully and obey the prophet’s counsel, we are able to hear in ways that come only through the spirit. I know Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet on earth today. As we study his teachings and desire to apply them to our lives, we will have miracles bless our life and the lives of others.
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