Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Ninety

President Lunt’s Homecoming Message

(Summary of Larry’s homecoming message given in November 2014 at the Holladay 10th Ward)

What next? – After 6 years in the Salt Lake and Louisville Temple presidencies people often ask “what next?” I will study and pray about the Book of Mormon daily, and regularly worship in the temple.

The importance of the Book of Mormon – Joseph Smith said, "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." Getting us nearer to God makes the Book of Mormon the most important book on earth. This is because the Book of Mormon best teaches the doctrine of the plan of salvation including the plan of redemption, the plan of mercy, and the plan of restoration.

The importance of temple worship – Temple worship requires three things:

1. Keeping temple covenants – Obedience is one of the most important teachings of the temple.

2. Regular participation in the ordinances of the temple – Joseph spoke of the plan of ordinances in connection with the temple. Ordinances are an essential part of the plan of salvation. In the temple we learn the plan of ordinances and receive the higher ordinances of the gospel.

3. Sacrifice – Temple worship requires sacrifice. In earlier days the saints sacrificed much to build and attend the temple. Today the sacrifice that is often required is to attend the temple regularly. Regular temple worship depends on the circumstances of our life and the proximity of the temple. For some regular temple worship may be weekly; for others it may be monthly. Each of us have the responsibility to determine how often we should attend the temple so that it is a sacrifice.

Layered paintings of Joseph Smith Jr. and the construction of the Kirtland Temple. (Image sourced from churchofjesuschrist.org)


Dedicatory Prayer of the Kirtland Temple (D&C 109) outlines the blessings of temple worship:

  1. A fullness of the Holy Ghost – Vs 15 is the only place in scripture where the term “fullness of the Holy Ghost” is used. Physics teaches that if the diameter of a conduit is increased slightly the volume that flows through that conduit is increased exponentially. The Holy Ghost is our conduit to receive spiritual gifts and power. Temple worship increases that conduit to a fullness. Temple worship will bless our marriages, our families, our callings, or work and profession, and our studies. Everything we do in righteousness is strengthened and magnified through temple worship.

  2. A house of prayer (Vs 16) – The prayer roll of the temple is a source of abundant blessings. We are encouraged to use the prayer roll. Too often we live beneath our privileges.

  3. A house of fasting (Vs 16) – In the temple we put aside the world and hunger and thrust after righteousness.

  4. House of faith (Vs 16) – In the temple we learn to see with “the eye of faith.” This term is used only in the Book of Mormon (Alma 5:15; 32:40; Ether 12:19). To see with the eye of faith is the ability to see into the future and make connections between our behavior and future consequences. The temple prepares us for the future. It helps us comprehend that our decisions have consequences for good or for evil.

  5. To “honorably hold a name and standing” in the house of the Lord (Vs 24) – A current temple recommend (“CTR”) is a standing invitation to come to the house of the Lord at our convenience.

  6. “That no weapon formed against [us] shall prosper….That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house” (Vs 25-26). Protection against evil in the world is one of the great blessings of temple worship.

The Kirtland Temple dedication concluded with the vision recorded in D&C 110 where the Lord appeared and accepted His house, and the keys of the priesthood where given to our dispensation. From this vision we learn that:

  1. Keeping temple covenants and receiving temple ordinances brings to us the full redemptive power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and we become clean before the Lord (Vs 5)

  2. In the temple the Lord manifests himself in mercy to His people as He answers their prayers (Vs 7)

  3. The keys of the priesthood held by Moses, Elias, and Elijah were given to Joseph Smith (Vs 11-16).

    I testify that all of the keys of the priesthood are held today by our living prophet. I further testify that the temple emphasizes the importance of following our living prophets and apostles, and if we do so we are given the promise of eternal life.