Doubtedly Some In That Day Who Thought...

doubtedly some in that day who thought this practice was discriminatory, but that was the word of the Lord, and it was obeyed. ¶

Temples among Latter-day Saints So modern temples constructed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints are built as houses of the Lord and are as beautiful as we can make them in a simple, dignified manner. Entrance to these temples is restricted to those who have proved their faithfulness and loyalty to God, and the temple serves as a pivotal point in our belief, being a place of revelation of the will of God to man. ¶

Importance of pre-mortal existence Let us consider the need for temples in our day. First let us consider life itself. Life on this earth is beautiful and wonderful, despite some of the terrible things that happen. A newborn infant is truly a wonder, and a little child is easy to love. Instinctively we love all little ones. But did the total life of that infant begin at birth, or will it cease at death? Reason and instinct tell us otherwise. ¶

Talents and potentials and spiritual gifts differ from child to child. ¶

Where did these differences come from? We claim they were brought here as a result of a previous life. ¶

This previous life, lived in the spirit, is the basis of the present talents and gifts that we now enjoy. A premortal existence can explain much of life and can account for the differences that we see around us in mortal life. How otherwise could God be just? — for there is no question that people differ, and there is no question in my mind but that God is just and merciful to all his children. ¶

This belief in a previous life is based on scripture. When the Lord called the prophet Jeremiah he said: ¶

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou earnest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jer. 1:5.) This doctrine of a premortal life must have been taught by Jesus, for his apostles used this teaching to ask a question: ¶

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. ¶

"And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" ¶

(John 9:1-2.) How could the man have sinned before birth unless he had lived before? Life on this earth is a gift of God given to us as a reward for previous virtue. But his disciples failed to understand that so-called curses are oftentimes blessings. Jesus reminded them of the danger of passing judgment based on mortal existence alone: ¶

"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:3.) Note that he did not rebuke them for this doctrine, but merely told them not to pass judgment on people based on what we can see and experience as mortal beings. As spirit children of God, we covenanted to agree to accept this life. But life on this earth does have a purpose, and much of what we experience in this life is based on the kind of life we led before we came here. One thing we can state with confidence: God will give an opportunity to every man to make the best use of whatever life he was assigned in his mortal station. ¶

God has made it possible for us to find on this earth the reason for existence and has given or will give every man, every woman, every child born upon this earth an opportunity to make a new and everlasting covenant with him to accept Jesus Christ as a living Lord and Savior. ¶

Life now affects life hereafter Just as this life depends upon the previous life, so this life is most important for the future, for life hereafter depends upon our life here in mortality. Jesus has shown us the actuality of the resurrection. We have overwhelming testimony of eternal life. It is not some mysterious nirvana, but an eternal life in the flesh that we will receive as individual beings. Life, therefore, follows death as dawn follows darkness, breaking forth into the light of a perfect day. What kind of life will this be for you? The ancient prophet wrote: ¶

"Now behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption." ¶

(Al. 11:45.) Action now for advantage hereafter The prophet warned us, therefore, to do something about this now, while there is time left to us, and not delay our repentance, which is the way we change from our present lives to a better way of life. He told us: ¶

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis [that is, standing before the judgment seat of God] that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." (Al. 34:34.) What he is trying to say is that although repentance later on is not impossible, it is certainly more difficult than it is right here in mortality. ¶

May I then ask you now, "What kind of a life will you have in the hereafter?" I can answer this question for you quickly. "You will have the kind of life you earned here." ¶

You chose the life you are now leading. ¶

Are you happy with it? Would you like to improve it? You can, you know. ¶

You can choose your life hereafter, and you will have to live whatever kind of life you choose. Just as this life could have been beautiful for all, had we been willing to pay the price, so life hereafter can be beautiful for all. ¶

I ask you to look around you. Will your life be beautiful? ¶

Do you love your wife or husband here? Has your marriage here been wonderful? Do you love your children— I mean really love them? Do you love your father? Your mother? ¶

Has your family life been a joyful, happy one? If not, then get started to work on it to make that life beautiful. It will take effort, to be sure, but it is worth all the work and energy it takes. ¶

If your family life has been beautiful and happy, you will want your loved ones near you hereafter. How happy could life be without those we love? Could you be happy alone? ¶

No one can, to be sure, and therefore the need for eternal companionship. ¶

I won't be happy without my family and loved ones, and neither will you, for real love should never die. ¶

How can you tie this family to you? ¶

This is the goal of priesthood genealogy. All our efforts are to seal this union right here on earth. This power was given to his apostles by the Lord when he said: ¶

"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 18:18.) These marriages cannot be united in heaven, but must be done right here on this earth. Jesus rebuked those who thought this could be done later when he said: ¶

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. ¶

"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." ¶

(Matt. 22:29-30.) This sealing must be done in temples of God erected specifically for this holy ordinance. Hence there is a need to build temples of God in our day. ¶

Research assignment to priesthood Priesthood genealogy is not just seeking records of dead ancestors alone. It involves the completion of these temple ordinances. Priesthood genealogy is a work for the living, for those who are dead shall also live again. It is to make possible family life after death that we gather these records and do this ordinance work in temples for our family members while we are still in mortality. We prove our love for our dear ones by first sealing our own family to us in the temples of God built for that purpose. Then we prove our love for our family by doing a useful service for them in their behalf — sealing them to us here on earth by the sealing power of the priesthood of God. ¶

Thus the gospel permits love to become in our lives a reality that can exist throughout all eternity. It is love and spirituality at their very best. ¶

The key to true spirituality is priesthood genealogy. We invite you to prove your love for those you hold dear. Is your grief and longing for a loved one real? Do you love a wife enough to want her with you forever? ¶

Do you love a child enough to save it? If you do, then first perfect yourselves sufficiently so you can qualify to go into the temple and there do for them the work that will bind them to you forever. ¶

God bless you to catch the spirit of Elijah, which was given in this dispensation along with the binding power to bind together the hearts of men in love one for another. This is the way life was meant to be. It is the basic doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that it is the divine method by which Jesus Christ can exalt us into the presence of God the Eternal Father, and I bear you this witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶