from RONALD A. RASBAND

Recommended To 

The Lord

“The Lord has called us to work in the temples with 

diligence, perseverance, and patience.” 

These seemingly similar words are actually quite different and are some of the stepping stones required as we strive to be “recommended to the Lord”.

1  |  Diligence: Steady, earnest, and energetic effort, devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking (merriam-webster.com). Think about the last time you had a desire to achieve a goal, try harder or be better. This urge gave you energy, You were willing to put in hard work to accomplish your objective. You devoted yourself to a cause that you fully believed in. Is this how you felt when you prepared to go to the temple for the first time? Maybe yes, maybe no. Whichever your answer, we all have the privilege to strive for more diligence in preparing to enter the temple. Most of us are unable to attend temples on a regular basis. This time of absence gives us the opportunity to go back to a state of commitment, energy, and diligence to prepare ourselves to once again enter into the house of the Lord. When the time comes again for regular temple attendance, let’s be fully prepared. Let’s be ready to partake of the crowning blessings bestowed in the temple. Let’s go with thankful hearts for our Father in Heaven and with a deeper conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2  | Perseverance: Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition (merriam-webster.com). Our journey to the temple does not end with our initial commitments. It is a lifelong goal that needs constant nourishment. Satan will try to tempt us away from the temple with sin, confusion, the busyness of life, or a myriad of other things. We must continue our efforts despite life’s difficulties and opposition. Our persistence and perseverance will bring us lasting joy and peace. I recently renewed my temple recommend through a zoom meeting and I was overwhelmed how quickly I felt the Spirit as soon as I started answering the interview questions. I was in my laundry room, holding the door shut to have a little bit of quiet from my kids. Despite their persistence to join me, I was able to focus on the interview and felt the Spirit so strongly. My heart was full of faith, gratitude, and comfort. The peace the temple brings is immeasurable. Even though we can’t be in the temples right now, we can absolutely feel it’s comfort as we persevere through life. “Temples, no matter where they are, rise above the ways of the world.”

3  |  Patience: The capacity or habit of being steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity (merriam-webster.com). The lyrics of the simple primary song, I Love To See The Temple, have been on my mind so much lately as I have wished and prayed to be in the temple. Waiting, no matter what the circumstance is, can be challenging. The Lord is ready to help us increase our capability to wait patiently. While we wait, let Elder Rasband’s words show us what to do, “We have been experiencing a time when temples have been closed or limited in use…Being worthy to attend the temple, however has not been suspended. Let me now emphasize, whether you have access to a temple or not, you need a current temple recommend to stay firmly on the covenant path.”

“Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts…For all this there is a reward in heaven.” 

D&C 127:4

"Attending the temple increases our understanding of the Godhead and the everlasting gospel, our commitment to live and teach truth, and our willingness to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

RONALD A. RASBAND

"Your temple recommend reflects a deep, spiritual intent that you are striving to live the laws of the Lord and love what He loves." 

RONALD A. RASBAND

INVITATION:

Remember the story of Moses, when he climbed Mount Horeb the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush. God told him, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”(Exodus 3:5) 

Elder Rasband then explains that “putting off thy shoes is letting go of worldly desires or pleasures that distract us from spiritual growth, setting aside those things which sidetrack our precious mortality, rising above contentious behavior, and seeking time to be holy.”

My invitation to you is to “put off thy shoes'' to focus on the things that really matter.

Take a quick assessment and think of things in your life that are distracting you. Now make a commitment to eliminate one distraction for one week (or maybe even a month if you have the courage). 

Now that Christmas-time is in full swing we could all use less commotion and more stillness. Maybe you’ll give up social media, maybe you’ll try not to raise your voice to loved ones, maybe you’ll take time for daily meditation, or open the scriptures instead of the news app. Whatever you choose, write it down, keep it close, and feel the relief that comes from letting worldly things go.

AFFIRMATION:

I am qualified for the stillness and peace the temple brings. I am patient with myself and the Lord, and will persevere through any obstacle to reap my heavenly rewards.