Temple Used Anciently

Exodus 25:8; 1 Kings 6:1213; Psalm 24:34; D&C 124:2644
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like those in ancient times, are holy buildings dedicated to the Lord. A temple, also called the house of the Lord, is a place where worthy Church members receive sacred ordinances and make solemn covenants with God. In these holy temples, families are sealed together forever. Although design and location vary, the work accomplished in each of the Lord's temples is the same.

Heavenly Father established a plan so that the blessings of the temple could be offered to all His children. Those people who have received their own ordinances are encouraged to return to the temple often to act as proxies for those who have died without having the opportunity of going to the temple for themselves.

When the Lord has a people on the earth ready to live His higher laws, they are commanded to build temples and are given the opportunity to receive eternal ordinances (see D&C 124:2644). Ancient temples, in both the old and new world, were considered places for the pure in heart (see Psalm 24:34) to draw closer to God and receive revelations and blessings from Him.

These sacred places were literally the house of the Lord, where He could dwell or where He could send His messengers (see Exodus 25:8; 1 Kings 6:1213).

Summary

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are holy buildings dedicated to the Lord. A temple is also called the house of the Lord. It is a place where worthy Church members receive saving ordinances and make sacred covenants with God. In temples families can be sealed together forever. Ancient temples were considered places where people could come to draw closer to God and receive revelations and blessings from Him.

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My Word: David eventually becomes the King of Israel and desires to build a permanent temple for the Lord. The Lord responds to David through Nathan, the prophet in 1 Chronicles 17 (pg. 571.) Although David is not permitted to build the temple he gathers supplies so that when his son, Solomon, becomes King all he has to do is basically build it. (Perhaps not that simply!)

David's story is bitter-sweet. Talk about the whole gambit of human experience...David does it all. One of the ideas that I had never thought about until this morning concerning David is this. Although he knew he had sinned grieviously, he repented and accepted the consequences of his sins. His consequences where awful and there wasn't just one but a series of events had been started when he sinned with Bathsheba. David acknowledges his role in the events, repents, lives with regret but never blames Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ for his circumstances. I admire him for this response.

Assignment: The Ten Commandments were the lesser law the people were asked to live by. To enter the Temple we are expected to live by a higher law (you receive that law in the temple.) How then do we prepare to enter the Temple? How are you doing with the 10 Commandments? Remember, we don't have to be perfect but we have to be at the very least trying! Every member of the Church over the age of 12 and if male holding the Priesthood, has work to do in the temple. Prepare yourself to do this work....HINT: visit with your Bishop!