Who Can Ascend to the Hill of the Lord

"Who Shall Ascend into the Loma of the Lord?" Ensign, Aug. 2001, 2

In the 24th Psalm is the query, "Who shall ascend into the loma of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?" (Ps. 24:3). I believe we find the beauty and sanctity of "his holy place" equally we enter the magnificent temples of God. Under the prophetic inspiration of President Gordon B. Hinckley, we are living in the greatest day of temple building. Almost every calendar week last year a new temple was dedicated. In one month equally many as vii temples were dedicated. Never before in any age has temple construction gone frontwards on such a one thousand scale. The true-blue Saints who pay their tithes and offerings have made this possible, and each will receive eternal blessings because of his or her faithfulness. Those who take reward of the blessings of the temple will also be eternally blessed.

Each temple building is an inspiration, magnificent and beautiful in every style, merely the temple edifice lonely does not bless. The endowed blessings and divine functions—involving much that is not of this globe, such as priesthood keys—come through obedience and faithfulness to priesthood authority and covenants fabricated.

Equally we feel and meet the awesome dazzler of each temple, we run into in vision and agree in our remembrance the endless blessings that volition come up to and then many through its beingness. Still, we should remember that we have faithful leaders and Saints in parts of the world where as still they have no hallowed sanctuary in which to receive the sanctifying and cleansing ordinances of the temple. They are stake presidencies, patriarchs, loftier councilors, bishoprics, and other priesthood leaders, and a host of faithful Saints, as nonetheless unendowed, who want above all else to be sealed to their beloved parents, companions, and children. We have the blessing and the responsibleness of helping them receive the blessings of the temple. Futurity temples will in a measure be a sanctification of our devotion and labors to build the kingdom of God in our fourth dimension.

In the magnificence and splendor of our modern temples, well might we pause and reflect upon the laborers without shirts and shoes who built the Nauvoo and Kirtland Temples. Each temple that stands today is a vindication of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and a triumph for them and all of our people who suffered the devastation, the beatings, and the murders at the hands of the fell tyrants in the mobs who collection our people w.

There is triumph for lilliputian Sardius Smith, a lad of near nine years who, at the Haun'due south Mill Massacre (thirty October 1838), crawled under the bellows in the blacksmith shop to seek safety and, when discovered, was shot dead. There is triumph for Bishop Edward Partridge (1743–1840), who was seized in his home and dragged to the town square past brutal and heartless men who proceeded to cascade hot tar over his body and sprinkle it with feathers.

In the temples of the Lord, we learn obedience. We learn sacrifice. We make the vows of chastity and take our lives consecrated to holy purposes. It is possible for us to be purged and purified and to have our sins washed abroad so that we may come before the Lord equally make clean, white, and spotless as the newly fallen snow.

"Who shall arise into the hill of the Lord?" We can see in vision the almost endless hosts of the elect, the devout, the assertive who shall come to God'south holy sanctuary to seek its blessings. As they enter those hallowed halls, Nephi would remind all that "the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no retainer there; and there is none other way save it exist past the gate; for he cannot exist deceived, for the Lord God is his name" (two Ne. 9:41).

As the Saints come into the sacrosanct washing and anointing rooms and are washed, they will be spiritually cleansed. As they are anointed, they will be renewed and regenerated in soul and spirit.

We can run across in vision the endless couples in their youth and beauty coming to be married. We run across clearly the unspeakable joy on their countenances as they are sealed together and as there is sealed upon them, through their faithfulness, the blessing of the holy Resurrection, with ability to come forth in the forenoon of the First Resurrection clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. We can see unnumbered families surrounding the altar, all clothed in white, with bowed heads and clasped hands, every bit they are sealed one to another, equally though they were built-in in the new and everlasting covenant. Nosotros tin can run into the army of celestial young children with the mirth and eagerness of youth, coming to the business firm of the Lord with awe and wonder to be baptized for the dead.

We come across the vision of the heavenly hosts unnumbered whose eternal odysseys take been suspended as they wait for their vicarious work to be done, including the purification of baptism, the hallowed blessings of the endowment, and the exalting beatitude of sealings. We can see families dancing, shouting, and crying with joy in their being united in another earth.

We are grateful for the presence of the sealing ability that binds in heaven that which is bound here on world. Nosotros return thanks for and veneration to our great and humble prophet, who holds all of these keys.

"Who shall stand in his holy identify?" May there exist extended a helping hand to those who accept wavered in their religion or who have transgressed, to bring them back. After fully repenting, they will have a special need for the redemptive portion of the endowment. May they know that their sins will no more be remembered.

As nosotros recall the commandment to stand up in holy places, we should recollect that across the temple, the most sacred and holy places in all the world should be our own dwelling places. Our homes should exist committed and defended but to holy purposes. In our homes all of the security, the strengthening love, and the sympathetic agreement that we all so desperately demand should be found.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

"He that hath clean easily, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully" (Ps. 24:3–4). For "holiness becometh thine firm, O Lord, for always" (Ps. 93:five).

Ideas for Home Teachers

Some Points of Emphasis

You may wish to make these points in your dwelling house educational activity discussions:

1. What a blessing it is to live in this great day of temple building.

2. It is good to reflect on the early on laborers without shirts and shoes who built the Kirtland and Nauvoo Temples.

3. Many members however do non live most temples; we have the responsibility to help them receive temple blessings.

4. The blessings of the temple come through obedience and faithfulness to priesthood authorization and covenants fabricated.

5. In temples we learn about obedience, sacrifice, chastity, and consecrating our lives to holy purposes.

6. Beyond the temple, the nearly sacred and holy places should be our own homes, places likewise dedicated to holy purposes.

Word Helps

1. Relate your feelings about the temple.

2. Are in that location some scriptures or quotations in this article that the family might read aloud and discuss?

3. Would this discussion be better after a previsit conversation with the head of the house? Is there a message from the bishop or quorum leader?

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2001/08/who-shall-ascend-into-the-hill-of-the-lord?lang=eng