I Love To See The Temple...

This was sent to me from a friend...a letter from someone that works at the LA Temple. I loved this!! It is very comforting knowing that a Prophet of God is here on the earth to guide us each and every day. There have been Prophets on the earth since the beginning of time. Why would God leave us here alone without one now? It's easy to answer that question...I know He wouldn't! Have a wonderful day...Bobejo :-)

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM

My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:

My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant.

After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency 's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, Sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTHRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session.

The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple . Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency. " The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the Internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the Mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!". I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead.

I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. " I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.

Your sister in Christ, Patricia A

Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship," Ensign, Feb 1979, 69–73

Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21 President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had "never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!

Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, "A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it" (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59).

This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened. Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, "summer is nigh" (Matt. 24:32 )

Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!

Sean Covey Fireside

You can only be young once but you can be immature forever! That's how Sean Covey opened up the Youth Fireside that he spoke at last night. I completely related to that because our family loves to have fun and be goofy! Todd and I took Mason to the fireside last night and I was wishing that all of my kids could be there. It was so good, I thought I'd share with you what I got out of it.

An average teenager spends 35 hours a week in front of a screen, ie; video games, computers, ipods, and TV! Isn't that amazing! What a waste of time...almost a full-time job! As a parent, it made me more aware of all the screens they spend time in front of, not just the television. He talked about how pornography is the drug of the 21st Century! I couldn't agree with him more. Our Youth are bombarded with that crap on a daily basis!

How to make smart choices and 3 scriptures that will change your life...the first scripture is: 1-Matthew 6:31-33 (FOCUS)...31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you... If things aren't working in your life, get your priorities straight!

Prayer...Alma 34: 18-26...Cry unto Him in everything you do. Involve Heavenly Father in your "game plan". 2-D&C 64:33 (SMALL THINGS)...33)Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great... Young Women try not to compare yourselves! Young Men learn to focus on a girls face, not her body. Learn to physically turn your heads from inappropriate things. Use the index in the scriptures to look up something you are struggling with. Research concludes among the Youth of all churches that "Private Religious Study" makes the biggest difference in the lives of the Youth. If Satan had a meeting with his angels, it might sound something like this...We will let them go to church, bear their testimonies, and do other good things, but we will keep their minds so busy with noise, ipods, television, computers, games, loud music in stores, always listening to music in their cars, amusement parks, etc, that they will never take the time to experience nature and get to know their Heavenly Father! That is how we will get the Youth...Very Profound, I thought! If we will take 20 minutes a day with our Savior we can spend Eternity in His presence! Loved that! His comment to the Youth is that they spend twenty minutes a day picking their toenails. :-) EVERYONE has 20 minutes a day!

3-Mosiah 2:17 (SERVICE)...And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God... We are the best the Lord has, that is why we are here now. You can find many ways to serve others. It doesn't have to be something huge. Be kind to someone who has no friends. Help someone in need. Give of your time, Smile more! Stand up for what's right!! Pray, ask is there someone I can help today?

Spencer W Kimball said something like this, (I couldn't write fast enough, if anyone knows where to find this, please tell me. I didn't have any luck!) There comes a time in everyone's life where they will have to stretch beyond anything they have ever before...

Final thoughts of the night...the 2-2-2 Rule when kissing...2 seconds, 2 hands to yourself, 2 feet on the ground. Isn't that great!!!??? I will definitely be implementing this rule in my house!

1-Let God work in your life-put Him first! 2-Most important thing of the night according to Covey, 20 minutes a day studying and pondering what you've studied, prayer...try for 30 days and see how your life changes! 3-Serve others!

It was such a great night! I loved every minute of it! So Positive!! There was so much said, but those were the highlights for me! Make it a great day!!