Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Seventy-Eight 

Opposition in All Things, Including Temple Worship

Lehi taught that there is “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11) – Susan and I have had many wonderful experiences as we have worshiped and served together in the Salt Lake Temple, the Louisville Kentucky Temple, and the Jordan River Temple.  We also have felt and seen the opposition to temple worship and service that originates with Satan.  The following are examples:

Proposition 8 controversy – We began our service in the presidency of the Salt Lake Temple on November 1, 2008.  Election Day was November 4.  In this election California passed Proposition 8 which provided that only marriage between a man and a women was recognized in California.  The passage of Proposition 8 brought a great backlash against the Church.  Two examples follow:

Protest March – A few days after the election, I was presiding at the temple and activists organized a march around temple square.  Several thousand protesters marched.  Church security closed temple square and patrons could not enter or leave through the main gates.  The protesters thought they were successful in one of their purposes to restrict access to the temple.  However, they did not know of the several tunnels that access the temple underground.  We opened these tunnels and the work of the temple was uninterrupted, and there was a great outpouring of the Spirit.  This provided a remarkable contrast to the worldly protest that was going on outside.  

Anthrax Threat – The following week, again while I presided at the temple and as part of the Proposition 8 protest, the temple office opened an envelope containing white powder.  The police sealed off the temple.  Those in the temple had to stay for several hours until it was determined that it was not actually anthrax.  During this time everyone was calm and happy.   The Holy Spirit attended as we continued to do the ordinances of exaltation for people on both sides of the veil.

Opposition to temple worship can come though zoning and other land use issues – My observation is that the Church does everything possible to meet the legitimate needs of the area where a temple is proposed.  However, it is not uncommon to see objections to temples being built even when all zoning and land use requirements are met.  Sometimes the Church decides to build at a different location to avoid contention, and the original neighborhood is less because of this.

Usually, Satan provides opposition to temple worship at the individual level – This opposition usually comes in the form of failure to prioritize temple worship in our busy schedules.  It also comes in the form of individual ambivalence about the importance of temple worship.  Satan opposes temple worship through a person’s failure to be worthy of a temple recommend.

Feelings, attitudes, demeanor, etc., whether good or bad, are all amplified in the temple –   Love and kindness or abruptness and impatience are keenly felt in the temple.  Satan knows that feelings and experiences in the temple are remembered by workers and patrons alike, and they have a great impact on an individual’s attitude about the temple.  Satan wants us to be insensitive and impatient in the temple.  The Lord expects patrons and workers alike to act with love and kindness.

There are two opposing forces, the force for good and the force for evil – Many things, like the internet, sports, entertainment, etc. can be good or evil depending on how it is used.  Somethings are not inherently good or evil but if they prevent us from worshiping in the House of the Lord or in the “church of the Lamb of God” then it is of the devil.  (See 1 Nephi 14:7-13)

Testimony – We know that the Lord’s work will prevail and  that  works of men and devils will be frustrated.  (See D&C 3:1-3)  We are also seeing the fulfilment of Nephi’s prophecy concerning the covenant people of the Lord.  “And it came to pass that I Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).

In the latter days the covenant people of the Lord, who are “armed with righteousness and the power of God in great glory,” are those members of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ who have a current temple recommend and use it regularly.