Priceless Blessings of the House of the Lord

The quotes below come from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church - Ezra Taft Benson, Lesson 13. Here is the link to the lesson. I love temple! There truly are priceless blessings that come because of the temple! One of the blessings stated in the lesson is:

"There is a power associated with the ordinances of heaven—even the power of godliness—which can and will thwart the forces of evil if we will be worthy of those sacred blessings. [Our] community will be protected, our families will be protected, our children will be safeguarded as we live the gospel, visit the temple, and live close to the Lord. … God bless us as Saints to live worthy of the covenants and ordinances made in this sacred place."

That is an incredible promise from a prophet of God! Here are a few more great quotes from apostles and prophets:

"The temple is one of the best places to come to understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Seek Him there." - Richard G. Scott

David B. Haight said that temples "are one of the evidences of the divinity of our Lord's true gospel."

President Gordon B. Hinckley told us to "make a habit of going to the house of the Lord. There is no better way to ensure proper living than temple attendance.

Russell M. Nelson gave a talk about the temple in the April 2001 General Conference, here is the link for his talk. It is amazing! Reading it left me a little introspective. It helped me realize there are some things I should do differently so I can develop a more holy life and lifestyle. It is one of those talks that really opened my eyes and heart! He said some things in a way that helped me gain a deeper meaning and appreciation for the temple. It was a great reminder that it doesn't matter if we are preparing to go to the temple for the first time or if we have been going for many years, we are always in need of spiritual preparation so we worthily enter the House of the Lord. For me, it was a talk full of powerful words! One of the things that he said that was particularly insightful to me was:

"Inscribed on each temple are the words 'Holiness to the Lord.' That statement designates both the temple and its purposes as holy. Those who enter the temple are also to bear the attribute of holiness."

Elder Nelson also said, "Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families."

The most priceless blessing of the temple for me is knowing that my family will be together forever. When my daugher passed away, that knowledge brought a profound peace that passes all understanding. At a time that could have been very devastating, the temple was a place where I continued to find great peace! President Benson told us to have the temple "be a constant reminder that life is eternal and that covenants made by us in mortality can be everlasting."

I love this perspective from Boyd K. Packer:

"Life is a homeward journey for all of us, back to the presence of God in his celestial kingdom.

Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality."