What We Become, Not What We Have Done

“The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done,” taught Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32. 

The Sealing

“When an individual enters into the covenant of marriage in the temple, he or she makes covenants with both God and with his or her spouse. Spouses promise faithfulness to each other and to God.”

Ensign, July 2012, 24. 

Learning about the Endowment

You can learn more about the principles behind the covenants we make in the endowment by studying the following:

-“Obedience,” Gospel Principles (2009), 200-206.

-M. Russell Ballard, “The Law of Sacrifice,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 6.

-On “the law of [the] gospel” (D&C 104:18), see Doctrine and Covenants 42.

-“The Law of Chastity,” Gospel Principles (2009), 224-32.

-D. Todd Christofferson, “Reflections on a Consecrated Life,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 16.

Ensign, July 2012, 24. 

Temples

You or someone you have contact with may wonder, “Why aren’t temples open to the public?” Latter-day Saint temples are not used for our weekly Sunday worship, where all are welcome to attend. Sacred ordinances are performed in temples. So temples are open only to baptized members who qualify themselves to receive those ordinances.

After a new temple is built, the public may tour it during an open house. After the temple is dedicated to the Lord, the public may visit the grounds, but the temple is open only to those with a valid temple recommend.

Ensign, July 2012, 24. 

Stand Tall

 “There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us . . . Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain –the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight-and how tall we will stand.”

Ezra Taft Benson, "In His Steps," Ensign, Sept 1988.

Face the Future With Hope

 “We should all face the future with hope because we know that the forces of evil will be overcome. We should all maintain a positive outlook as we face challenges because today we have the scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, priesthood authority, temples, and the support of each other as members of the Church. We should all “come off conqueror” because of prayer (D&C 10:5). And most important, we should have hope in eternal life because of the Lord’s perfect atoning sacrifice (see Moroni 7:41).

“When our priorities are right, we will live a richer and more abundant life. Putting the Lord, His kingdom, and our families first will give us the hope we need to face present and future challenges.”

Elder Jose A. Teixeira, “Facing the Future With Hope,” Ensign, July 2012, 17. 

Conquer Fear and Despair

“One of today’s great challenges is learning to conquer fear and despair in order to overcome trials and temptations. It takes only a few moments for us to open a newspaper, scroll the web, or hear a news broadcast on radio or television to be confronted with distressing accounts of crime and natural calamities that happen every day.

“Understanding the promises in scripture concerning how the Lord will conquer evil and how truth will conquer error can help us face the future with hope and optimism. In today’s world we see war, natural calamities, and economic crises. At times these events are not just things we observe from a distance but are things that affect us personally.

“There is no need for us to mourn lost worldly possessions or to fixate on the temporal, for those things can rob us of the joy of the simple, sublime things of life.”

Elder Jose A. Teixeira, “Facing the Future With Hope,” Ensign, July 2012, 16-17.