This morning, I yearned to go to the Temple! I needed the strength of the Lord!
We woke up very early. Two global meetings set the pace for the day. As full-time volunteers, the challenges are there, but we “Let God Prevail” and know, without a doubt, that “no unhallowed hand can stop the work…”. Yet, there are moments when we need that extra Power from on High to continue in Faith. I needed the POWER of Faith this morning. Normally, in moments like this, I would hasten to the Temple, the “House of the Lord”. Back home, we attended the Temple regularly and also served in the Temple for several years. We know the Joy and Power that comes from the Temple. However, that opportunity is not available to us right now as there is no Temple nearby.
What could I do? I remembered President Nelson’s prophetic words, he
encouraged us to take time out regularly to remember and ponder on our Temple Covenants when we cannot attend the Temple physically.
My eyes fell on this book our dear friends, Grant and Jeanette Hurst, had given us on their visit to India a couple of weeks ago. “THE HOLY INVITATION – Understanding Your Sacred Temple Endowment” by Anthony Sweat – exactly what I needed! I started reading with a prayer in my heart.
Under the subtitle “THIS BOOK’S INVITATION”, Anthony wrote, “One concept I refer to often is the summary definition of endowment as “the power and capacity to enter the presence of God”. To help understand this concept, Anthony shared a “perspective”. When he returned home serving the lord as a full-time volunteer, his stake president asked him a “surprising question” – “…did you hear the voice of the Savior in your service?” Anthony remembered pondering on the “sacred experiences” of his service. He wrote,“…although I had never heard the audible voice of the Savior speak aloud, I had indeed heard His voice. By the power of the Holy Ghost, I had felt His words. I remembered that the Lord had said in the scriptures that those who receive His words “For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them. Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.”
1. Anthony “responded truthfully”, “Yes, I have heard the Savior’s voice.” He continued,
The promise of the endowment – the power and capacity to enter the presence of God is very similar. Through the ordinances of the endowment, God will indeed “unveil His face unto you,” but “it shall be in His own time, and in His own way, and according to His own will” 2. I can also truthfully say that I have heard the Savior’s voice! I specifically remember as I read the book, “Drawing On The Powers of Heaven” by Grant Von Harrison, I “experimented” with the truths he declared. I gained my testimony of the Powers of Heaven by applying the principles learned. My service as a full-time volunteer to our lord changed my life as I learned the Power and Blessings of submitting my will to the Lord. These truths have governed my life since. And today, I declare that even though I was not within the walls of a Temple, I enjoyed the “promise of endowment” when the Lord himself “unveil(ed) His face unto” me and directed me to words that empowered me and bore witness again that “the Temple is the object of every activity, every lesson, every progressive step in the Church. All of our efforts … lead to the Holy Temple” 3
Notes:
1 Doctrine and Covenants 18:35-36
2 Doctrine and Covenants 88: 68
3 President Russell M. Nelson “Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple” October 2010 General conference