Lesson on the Temple
Lesson No. Seventy-Six
The Salt Lake Temple Fulfills Prophecy and is Wonderfully Unique
The Salt Lake Temple fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy – "And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..." (Isaiah 2:2-3; 2 Nephi 12:2-3). Isaiah's prophesy applies to all temples generally and to the Salt Lake Temple specifically.
“The Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains.” It took 40 years but our pioneer forefathers were determined to build the Salt Lake Temple “in the top of the mountains.”
“And shall be exalted above the hills.” People worldwide identify the Salt Lake Temple with our Church, and recognize it is an extraordinary building. Salt Lake City is built around the temple.
“All nations shall flow unto it.” Millions of people from nations across the earth visit Temple Square every year. It is a worldwide destination.
“[The Lord] will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths...” Tens of thousands of patrons worldwide attend the temple, and hundreds of thousands members listen to General Conference that is broadcast throughout the earth and originates at Temple Square.
The Salt Lake Temple is at Church Headquarters and is recognized worldwide - It is the largest temple in the Church . Prior to the current renovation it was 360,000 sq. ft (the pedometer I carried when in the presidency of the temple showed I walked about 5 miles on a shift), and it will be even bigger after the current renovation. Prior to the renovation it had about 3,500 workers, and it has been and likely will be the busiest temple in the Church. A very unique distinguishing feature is that it is where the senior Brethren hold their council meetings each week.
The Salt Lake Temple was one of the last temple to use a live endowment – For over a century the temple endowment was presented live by local temple workers. With the great increase in temples throughout the world now all temples now use a film presentation of the endowment. This was inspired by the Lord, and is a great step forward making the blessings of the temple available to faithful members worldwide. When the Salt Lake Temple renovation is completed it will have film presentation.
This slideshow displays various images of the current renovations being done to the Salt Lake Temple, the Salt Lake Temple prior to the start of the renovations, the Church Headquarters, some of the interior of the Temple, and the Cedar of Lebanon.
The Salt Lake Temple is in the process of a renovation of historical and worldwide proportions which includes the preservation of a Cedar of Lebanon tree – The attached power point and video describes this amazing renovation. Towards the end of the power point some information is provided about how a Cedar of Lebanon tree is being preserved. My grandmother, Maggie Cottom Petty, brought this tree from the Holy Land as a sapling in 1948, and give it to the Church. This tree is 75 years old and is still considered a juvenile. Cedar of Leban trees can live to be 400 years old. I believe the Salt Lake Temple and this Cedar of Lebanon will be in their place to welcome the Savior at His Second Coming.
Testimony – The temple puts us on the path that leads to Jesus Christ – The Salt Lake Temple chapel prior to the renovation was wonderfully unique. (I am hopeful that in some way these murals will be preserved after the renovation.) There was a large mural on both ends of the chapel which were designed to teach that the temple puts us on the path that leads to the Lord. The mural on the front wall showed Jesus ascending from the Mount of Olives in the presence of His Apostles. (See Acts 1:1-12) The rear mural showed a path leading from Jerusalem, passing the Garden of Gethsemane, and continuing up the Mount of Olives. It stopped at the chapel pews.
The path started again on the front mural and continued to where the Lord was ascending. Symbolically this path continued from the back of the chapel, crossing the pews where temple patrons sat, to the front of the chapel where the Lord and his apostles are. So if you are in the temple you are on the path.
These murals reminded me that we come to Christ through His atonement and by receiving temple ordinances and keeping temple covenants. I testify this is true.