Temples and Covenants

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

On Saturday, January 22, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder D. Todd Christofferson held a special training for the Stake Presidents in the Salt Lake Valley. The Utah Area Presidency and two members of the Presidency of the Seventy shared messages, but the majority of the training was given by Elders Holland and Christofferson.

It was exhilarating and yet solemn to be taught by two of the Lord’s apostles for four hours in a very personal setting. (D&C 88:74-80) As part of their presentation, Elder Christofferson explained that the worldwide growth of the church has highlighted the need for unity of the members and purity in the doctrine. He explained that the general handbook of instructions has been a tool for many years to inform and advise church leaders, but a goal of the recent revision to the handbook was to make it more transparent and available to anyone.

Another reason he gave for the revision was to include more details about the temple endowment following the approach begun a few years ago with the church’s website on temples Espanol Templos. I invite all of us, especially those preparing to go to the temple for the first time, to review this website and Chapter 27 Espanolof the handbook. These both explain in plain and simple terms the purposes behind temple worship and how they align with our faith in the Savior. Even those who have been to the temple many times could benefit from the explanations and videos to help us more easily share the wonderful truths of the temple with children, family members, or friends. I felt like this emphasis was very timely in light of our focus this year on Temple and Family History work.

Throughout the training that day, but especially toward the end, Elder Holland used the terms “vertical binding” and “horizontal binding” to refer to the covenants we make in the temple. Vertical Binding, he explained, refers to the covenants we each make with God. Horizontal Binding refers to the covenants we make with spouses, parents, and children. Temple covenants align perfectly with the two Great Commandments and are a motivational and guiding force in our lives. Elder Christofferson taught us that all of the covenants we make in the temple point to, and are made possible through the power and atonement of Jesus Christ. While I already knew this, hearing it coupled with the testimony of a modern-day apostle, was very meaningful for me.

It was such an uplifting experience to hear Elders Holland and Christofferson bear their apostolic witnesses of the Savior and extend an invitation to each of us to follow Him…

“...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

This experience strengthened my testimony and also helped me see a larger perspective of how the gospel is filling the earth one soul at a time, on both sides of the veil.

We each have a role to play.

I love you all.

President Gardner

P.S. If you have not seen this video yet, I recommend it. Youth Theme 2022

P.S.S. We would still love to receive your temple photos... Don’t forget to snap a photo next time you go and send it to me…:)

jeffgardner10@gmail.com

801-783-6381

Schedule a Temple Appointment