Temple Ordinances, Blessings and Responsibilities

Temple Ordinances Blessings and Responsibilities

By D. M. McAllister, Temple Recorder

A developing interest in the performance of Temple ordi- nances in behalf of the dead is manifest by the greatly increased attendance of the Latter-day Saints in the temples already erect- ed, and in the anxiety shown for early completion of the other temples now under construction. There should also be a cor- respondingly desirable interest, especially among the younger members of the Church, to procure those essential ordinances in their own behalf. It may be there are some who have not yet sought for par- ticipation in those ordinances, because not sufficiently impressed with the importance and value thereof. We desire to say to all such that the Temple ordinances are requisite to the salvation of the living and the dead. This solemn fact was clearly made known to the Church by the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said, "The question is frequently asked, 'Can we not be saved without going through with all these ordinances, etc.?' I would answer, No, not the fulness of salvation." He also declared, "All men who become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ will have to receive the fulness of the ordinances of his kingdom; and those who will not receive all the ordinances will come short of the fulness of that glory, if they do not lose the whole." (See article on this subject in the Improvement Era, September, 1917.) Living boys and girls as young as sixteen years of age may receive endowments in the Temple in their own behalf if, in each case, the character and condition of the individual is such that the bishop feels justified in issuing a recommend for that purpose. Certain it is that the bishop is always glad to be able to issue such recommends to those who, by faithfulness, prove themselves worthy of the great privilege and distinction of being permitted to enter the sacred House of the Lord. There are some members of the Church who, for lack of proper understanding of the ceremonials associated with Temple ordinances, hesitate about applying for an opportunity to engage therein, fancying, perhaps, that there may be something too dif- ficult, or objectionable, in obligations assumed, for them to com-

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ply with. Knowledge of the details of those ceremonies, etc., is imparted in the Temple only, but the testimony of tens of thou- sands of individuals who have participated in those holy ordi- nances is that everything connected therewith is heavenly in character, pure, virtuous, sublime, exalting, not difficult or ob- jectionable to comply with, only requiring obedience to the laws of God, inculcating love for him and all humanity, imparting knowledge of divine truths, and clearly showing the candidate the way to eternal life, progression and happiness, truly an ex- perience more desirable than any others obtainable in this earth- ly life. The knowledge thus imparted, and divine blessings au- thoritatively sealed, give to each individual, through faithfulness, protection from harm and danger, with increased power to resist evil and to do good, adding to their joy in this life an assurance of celestial glory in association with their loved ones hereafter. Those who receive endowments in their own behalf are then qualified to act as proxies in that and other ordinances in behalf of the dead, and may thus be numbered among the redeemed who are designated in scripture as "Saviors on Mount Zion," "joint heirs with Jesus Christ." Is it possible to conceive of a more exalted and glorious destiny? The Prophet Joseph Smith made known the great and im- portant fact that Jesus Christ himself obtained his divine power and authority "by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the House of the Lord." The New Testa- ment history refers specifically to his baptism, but there is no doubt that, in accordance with his often expressed determination to do the will of his heavenly Father in all things, he humbly, as in that instance, obeyed every other commandment, law and ordinance essential to salvation and exaltation, and set the ex- ample of need for all mankind to do the same. These things are specially submitted for the consideration of young members of the Church who are eligible, but who have not yet availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain the glorious blessings conveyed by the Temple ordinances. It does seem as if each one should be led by a most intense desire to se- cure a fulness thereof for themselves, and to impart the same to their dead kindred and friends. "The greatest responsibility in this world that God has placed upon us is to seek after our dead." This declaration was made by Joseph Smith the Prophet and all believers in the divinity of his mission, should accept their share of this great responsibility. The proper and best method to adopt for the accomplishment of this sacred and most important work can be ascertained from the circulars of instructions pertaining thereto, that are obtainable from the temples and from the Genealogical

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Society of Utah. Intense joy and satisfaction are experienced by those who actively interest themselves in the work of the salva- tion of the dead, and the genealogical research made necessary in that connection is a source of gratification also. Family records of temple work for the dead are published, simple in construc- tion, containing explicit details in regard to the compilation and proper keeping of the record, and it should be regarded as one of the most valuable books in the family library. A qualified member of the family should have it in charge, whose duty it would be to carefully enter therein the information needed con- cerning the families and individuals for whom temple work is to be or has been done. The Genealogical Society of Utah has been organized, under direction of the Presidency of the Church, expressly to assist the Latter-day Saints in the duty of securing the genealogical information that is needed for the proper; identification of their kindred and all persons in whose behalf they desire temple ordinances performed. Thousands of vol- umes of family pedigrees, and published copies of parish records of various counties, states, and countries are now in the splendid library of the society, and these are being added to continuously. The library and business offices of the society are located in the Latter-day Saints Church Office Building, 47 East South Temple street, Salt Lake City. Those who may need assistance in the matter of procuring genealogical information, or who require help in compiling and arranging their family records for temple work, can get such aid by application to the secretary of the society. The clerical labor connected with compiling and arranging family records of temple work, although it has been made as simple as possible in the form provided, is sometimes found to be difficult for any member of the family to satisfactorily perform. In view of this, and also because of the large and increasing number of families interested in temple ordinance work for the dead, it is recommended that, in each ward and branch of the Church, some young man or young woman should qualify to assist those who may need help in keeping the family records in proper shape. This might be made a fairly remunerative business in which some young woman or young man could be engaged in each ward. The proper methods of compiling and keeping such family records can be learned by almost any boy or girl who has passed the high school grade; one of the most essen- tial qualities being legibility in writing. A few hours of tutelage under one of the several expert clerks engaged in such work in the Genealogical Society Library, would, if a tutor's help was needed, qualify those desirous to learn how to correctly and satis- factorily compile and arrange family records for temple ordi-

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nance work. An additional advantage could be obtained, under such a tutor, by the candidate spending a sufficient length of time to become familiar with the methods employed in genealogical research in the library. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who, though eligible, fail to accept the ordinances available in their behalf in the House of the Lord, are guilty of voluntarily depriving themselves of a priceless blessing, freely offered by our heavenly Father for their eternal welfare. Those who can but do not actively assist in having the temple ordinances performed that are essential to the salvation of their kindred dead, by de- voting some time or means to that purpose, are neglecting a sa- cred responsibility, and are liable to be classed among the people of the world who, the Prophet Malachi declared, would be "smitten with a curse," because their hearts were not "turned to the fathers."