Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Twenty

The Temple is a House of Order

Introduction – In several places in the D&C the temple is referred to as a house of order.  (See D&C 88:119; 109:8; 132:8)  There are at least three ways the temple is a house of order.

Everything in the temple should be in order – “Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion” (D&C 132:8).  Workers and patrons alike follow a specific order and everything is presented in an orderly way.  This may be the most obvious way the temple is a house of order.  However, there are other even more significant ways that the temple is a house of order.

In the temple we covenant to order our lives - We agree with Hugh Nibley who wrote:  "What I promise to do with every covenant is to order my life and, specifically, as it is fully laid out in the Book of Moses for all the world to see, to do all that I do in the name of the Son, to "repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore (Moses 5:8)" (Eloquent Witness: Nibley on Himself, Others, and the Temple chapter 29 A House of Glory, pp. 323-339 which is part of The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley: Volume 17).

Praia Cape Verde Temple

In the temple we enter into the patriarchal order of the priesthood - At the Centennial of the Dedication of the Logan Temple President Ezra Taft Benson gave a powerful sermon entitled What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children about the Temple.  This sermon gives a profound insight to the most important way the temple is a house of order.  President Benson said: "Our Father's house is a house of order.  We go to His house to enter into that order of priesthood which will entitle us to all that the Father hath, if we are faithful" (Ensign, August 1985).

Conclusion - The primary message of President Benson's sermon is that we should teach our children and grandchildren to prepare for a celestial marriage and the patriarchal order of the priesthood.  Teach them that the patriarchal order of the priesthood "is an order of family government where a man and woman enter into a covenant with God - just as did Adam and Eve - to be sealed for eternity, to have posterity, and to do the will and work of God throughout their mortality" (Ibid).  In exchange, if we are faithful, the Father gives us all that he has.

Testimony – There is so much wickedness in the world, and if we were to follow the ways of the world our lives would “be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moroni 10:22).  This is especially true for us because we would be living contrary to the light and knowledge that we have been given.  This would give “the devil power to captivate, to bring [us] down to hell, that he may reign over [us] in his own kingdom” (2 Nephi 2:29). 

On the other hand, if we attend the temple regularly, and always keep our temple covenants, and enter into the patriarchal order of the priesthood (for some who do not have that blessing in this life, if they live worthy they will receive it in the life to come) we will receive the greatest of all blessings which is eternal life with our family.

If we stay on the covenant path, and love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves we will receive happiness, joy, and protection in this life, and exaltation in life to come. What a return on our investment of love and a willingness to order our lives by keeping our temple covenants.