“A Home as A Temple”

Building Your Eternal Home (October 1999)
By President Thomas S. Monson
First Counselor in the First Presidency

99990_000_003When Jesus walked the dusty pathways of towns and villages that we now reverently call the Holy Land and taught His disciples by beautiful Galilee, He often spoke in parables, in language the people understood best. Frequently, He referred to home building in relationship to the lives of those who listened.
He declared, “Every … house divided against itself shall not stand.” 1 Later He cautioned, “Behold, mine house is a house of order, … and not a house of confusion.” 2
In a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, December 27, 1832, the Master counseled, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” 3
Where could any of us locate a more suitable blueprint whereby we could wisely and properly build a house to personally occupy throughout eternity? Such a house would meet the building code outlined in Matthew—even a house built “upon a rock,” 4 a house capable of withstanding the rains of adversity, the floods of opposition, and the winds of doubt everywhere present in our challenging world.
Some might question: “But that revelation was to provide guidance for the construction of a temple. Is it relevant today?”
I would respond: “Did not the Apostle Paul declare, ‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?’” 5
Perhaps if we consider these architectural guidelines on an individual basis, we can more readily appreciate this divine counsel from the Master Builder, the Creator of the world, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our inspired blueprint first cautions that our house should be a house of prayer. The Master taught:
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray … , that they may be seen of men. …
“But thou, when thou prayest, … pray to thy Father which is in secret. …
“Use not vain repetitions. …
“After this manner … pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.” 6
This element of our blueprint can be taught to children when they are yet young. When our oldest son was about three, he would kneel with his mother and me in our evening prayer. I was serving as the bishop of the ward at the time, and a lovely lady in the ward, Margaret Lister, lay perilously ill with cancer. Each night we would pray for Sister Lister. One evening our tiny son offered the prayer and confused the words of the prayer with a story from a nursery book. He began: “Heavenly Father, please bless Sister Lister, Henny Penny, Chicken Licken, Turkey Lurkey, and all the little folks.” We held back the smiles that evening. Later we were humbled as Margaret Lister sustained a complete recovery. We do not demean the prayer of a child. After all, our children have more recently been with our Heavenly Father than have we.
Let our house be a house of prayer.
Our house should also be a house of fasting. This portion of the blueprint is personified in the account found in Isaiah titled the “True Fast.” “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? …
“To deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
The reward is then announced: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. …
“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, … and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” 7
Let our house be a house of fasting.
Our house is to be a house of faith. James recorded:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” 8
A practical application of such abiding faith is found in the spirit of Nephi and his stirring declaration: “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.” 9 He did not waver; he believed. Is there a counterpart application even today?
Some years ago I accompanied President Hugh B. Brown (1883–1975), a counselor in the First Presidency, on a tour of the Samoan Mission. The members and missionaries in American Samoa had advised us that a severe drought had imperiled their water supply to the point that our chapels and our school would of necessity be closed if rain did not soon fall. They asked us to unite our faith with theirs.
Signs of the drought were everywhere as we left the airport at Pago Pago and journeyed to the school at Mapusaga. The sun was shining brightly; not a cloud appeared in the azure blue sky. The members rejoiced as the meeting began. He who offered the opening prayer thanked our Heavenly Father for our safe arrival, knowing that we would somehow bring the desired rainfall. As President Brown rose to speak, the sun was soon shaded by gathering clouds. Then we heard the clap of thunder and saw the flash of lightning. The heavens opened. The rains fell. The drought ended.
Later at the airport, as we prepared for the short flight to Western Samoa, the pilot of the small plane said to the ground crew: “This is the most unusual weather pattern I have ever seen. Not a cloud is in the sky except over the Mormon school at Mapusaga. I don’t understand it!”
President Brown said to me: “Here’s your opportunity. Go help him understand.” I did so.
Our house surely is a house of faith.
Let our house be a house of learning. Said the Lord, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” 10 He counseled, “Come … learn of me … and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” 11 No other quest for learning promises such a profound reward.
Let our house be a house of learning.
Our house is to be a house of glory. For our house to be such, we need to be square with God, fair with others, and honest with ourselves. One cannot be one person and pretend to be another. Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, had Huckleberry Finn teach us this vital lesson. Huckleberry Finn is talking:
“It made me shiver. And I about made up my mind to pray; and see if I couldn’t try to quit being the kind of a boy I was, and be better. So I kneeled down. But the words wouldn’t come. Why wouldn’t they? It warn’t no use to try and hide it from Him. … I knowed very well why they wouldn’t come. … It was because I was playing double. I was letting on to give up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the biggest one of all. I was trying to make my mouth say I would do the right thing and the clean thing, … but deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it. You can’t pray a lie—I found that out.” 12
Someone once philosophized, “Consistency, thou art a jewel.” 13 By being consistently good, we can ensure a house of glory.
Our house is to be a house of order. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” advised Ecclesiastes, the Preacher. 14 Such is true in our lives. Let us provide time for family, time for work, time for study, time for service, time for recreation, time for self—but above all, time for Christ.
Then our house will be a house of order.
Finally, let our house be a house of God. Clean thoughts, noble purpose, a willing heart, and ready hands are all features of a house of God. He does not leave us to struggle alone but stands ever ready to help.
Some years ago, I was afforded the privilege to serve as a mission president and became intimately acquainted with more than 400 missionaries. We had one young missionary who was very ill. After weeks of hospitalization, as the doctor prepared to undertake extremely serious and complicated surgery, he asked that we send for the missionary’s mother and father. He advised there was a possibility the patient would not survive the surgery.
The parents came. Late one evening, the father and I entered a hospital room in Toronto, Canada, placed our hands upon the head of the young missionary, and gave him a blessing. What happened following that blessing was a testimony to me.
The missionary was in a six-bed ward in the hospital. The other beds were occupied by five men with a variety of illnesses. The morning of his surgery, the missionary’s bed was empty. The nurse came into the room with the breakfast these men normally ate. She took a tray over to the patient in bed number one and said, “Fried eggs this morning, and I have an extra portion for you!”
The occupant of bed number one had suffered an accident with his lawn mower. Other than an injured toe, he was well physically. He said to the nurse, “I’ll not be eating this morning.”
“All right, we shall give your breakfast to your partner in bed number two.”
As she approached that patient, he said, “I think I’ll not eat this morning.”
Each of the five men declined breakfast. The young lady exclaimed, “Other mornings you eat us out of house and home, and today not one of you wants to eat! What is the reason?”
Then the man who occupied bed number six answered: “You see, bed number three is empty. Our friend is in the operating room under the surgeon’s hands. He needs all the help he can get. He is a missionary for his church, and while we have been patients in this ward, he has talked to us about the principles of his church—principles of prayer, of faith, of fasting wherein we call upon the Lord for blessings.” He continued, “We don’t know much about the Mormon Church, but we have learned a great deal about our friend; and we are fasting for him today.”
The operation was a success. When I attempted to pay the doctor, he countered, “Why, it would be dishonest for me to accept a fee. I have never before performed surgery when my hands seemed to be guided by a Power which was other than my own. No,” he said, “I wouldn’t take a fee for the surgery which Someone on high literally helped me to perform.”
Such is the house of God.
This, then, is our building project. We are master builders of eternal houses, even temples of God. 15
“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” 16
Then the Lord, even our building inspector, may say to us, as He said when He appeared to Solomon, a builder of another day: “I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” 17
May we follow this divinely provided blueprint. May we be successful builders of our eternal homes.
Ideas for Home Teachers
1. 1.
The Lord Jesus Christ likened building our own righteous lives to building a house—particularly a house of God, a temple.
2. 2.
He has counseled us to make our own eternal homes:
o a house of prayer.
o a house of fasting.
o a house of faith.
o a house of learning.
o a house of glory.
o a house of order.
o a house of God.
3. 3.
If we do so, the Lord may say to us, “I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually” (1 Kgs. 9:3).
Notes
1. Matt. 12:25.
2. D&C 132:8.
3. D&C 88:119.
4. Matt. 7:24.
5. 1 Cor. 3:16.
6. Matt. 6:5–7, 9–13.
7. Isa. 58:6–11.
8. James 1:5–6.
9. 1 Ne. 3:7.
10. D&C 88:118.
11. Matt. 11:28–29.
12. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1985), 306–7; emphasis added.
13. The Home Book of Quotations, selected by Burton Stevenson (1934), 304.
14. Eccl. 3:1.
15. See 1 Cor. 3:16.
16. D&C 88:119.
17. 1 Kgs. 9:3.

Joyce’s Sacrament talk: 19 June 2011 “Strengthen our Families”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints emphasizes the importance of families and declares that “no other success can compensate for failure in the home.”
Topic: Strengthen our families and build family bridges of love at home Definition of strengthen=brace, bolster, or make stronger
We believe that happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that successful marriages and families are established and maintained on the principles of Faith, Prayer, Repentance, Forgiveness, Respect, Love, Compassion, Work, and wholesome activities.( The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Ensign magazine, November 2010, p.129.)
At risk are our children ages 3-16 years–our Primary age children as well as our precious youth.
How can we strengthen our families and be better builders of love? Spencer W. Kimball wrote, "Therefore I Was Taught," Ensign, Jan. 1982, p. 3).First of all, preparation for marriage and family begins in parenting in the home. We need to follow rules for building better family relationships by first be pleasing to God, free from hypocrisy, full of love and grace, full of wisdom and discernment. In other words, to study and live the principles of truth, with special attention to nurturing love and harmony within family circles.
1. How do we strengthen and build love at home as parents in the home? Joseph Smith was reared in a family which parents and children loved and respected one another. We can have this same family manner to emulate. “Lucy Mack Smith “The sweetest union and happiness pervaded our house. Neither jar nor discord disturbed our peace, and tranquility reigned in our midst.
Mormon Parenting, from bestselling authors, who lecture throughout the world on family related topics last week’s newspaper column in Mormon Times section of the Church News: Endemic among children today is a sense of entitlement, which is the opposite of a sense of responsibility. Wants are confused with needs and wherein everyone seems focused on the notion that he/ she deserves what everyone else has. Gone are the days when children expected to have to work for something, even for acclaim. The sea of change in parenting is driven by core cultural value of self- admiration and positive feelings.
Everyone is special; many children have a facebook page. They are famous in their own minds and they think they are entitled not to have limits or boundaries or discipline. And it is us parents, by not saying no and giving them what they demand, who become the ultimate enablers. Not long ago, children knew who the boss was- and it was not them. It was Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad were not your friends, Mom and Dad were parents.
As our lives get busier and busier, as both parents work, and as the disconnect grows greater between our priorities we give our children things instead of time, spoiling them as we add fuel to the entitlement fire. We give our children too much and demand too little.
How wide spread is this sense of entitlement among children? Widespead enough that every parent seems to have a close to home example of it.
Here are only two examples. Recently a father came home after a week long business trip and was greeted by his 9 year old with a big hug. That night at dinner after catch up session about what happened at home while the father was gone, my child, obviously planned quite carefully, said to his parent, ”I have to have a credit card or a cell phone. At least, one of them.”
Another child saw something he/she really wanted while the family was shopping. “No; I do not want to spend money on that,” was the reply from the parent. The child frowned, growled at the parent and said, ‘Fine, then you just give me the money and I’ll pay for it. Or, put it on my credit card.”
Next, let’s look at roles for parents- President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Most people feel that sex role, money, and children are the major tribulations in family and marriage; they are NOT! The three main problems in marriage / family are selfishness, selfishness, and selfishness – a wanting of the other to change while not changing oneself.” As we strive to improve ourselves and our families, we need to remember that the Lord wants us to have joy and happiness in our lives. Two of Satan's most effective tools are quarrels and discouragement.
Let’s take this family example: the real issue is trivial - by husband and wife- Bob and Celia- with their two children as the order of two sandwiches is placed at the same restaurant counter: one sandwich hot meatball sub and the other cold spicy Italian sub. And the problem is even deeper than the sandwiches- problem lies at the core of character. Bob wants his sandwich separate while Celia tells the sub maker to wrap both subs yet place them in one bag to take out. Arguing issues and their snapping embarrasses everyone around them. This quarrel could continue hours later. The real cause of this quarrel about nothing is sinful pride and the entire cure is repentance. Two things we as LDS can do perfectly are to repent and to forgive (Hugh W. Nibley).
Here is the sad truth about personal pride, which can be overcome by the simple love- assuming the noblest motives for the action of the beloved spouse. Analysis: the solution is not therapy for this couple , but in the sacrament. Quiet repentance of one’s own sinful pride will bring peace and joy. Analyzing a quarrel over nothing, Orson Scott Card, Mormon Times, 4 June 2011, p. 1.
Let your light shine and seek the best- the key for building better personal familyrelationships. Unity in marriage is an important foundation for rearing children successfully. If a husband and wife do not support each other, they greatly weaken their influence with their children. However, if a husband and wife are humble and strive to achieve greater unity, they can teach their children valuable lessons of goodness.
Husbands and wives honor each other by showing love, kindness, and affection. Children honor your parents by expressing gratitude to them and cherishing them throughout your lives. Parents love, support, and pray for their children bring immeasurable blessings into their children’s lives. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church- Joseph Smith.
The Lord's Way
Satan's Way
Love unfeigned—charity, caring for others' welfare despite any wrongdoing.
Physical force—being hostile and unfairly using physical strength.
Acceptance—seeing others in eternal perspective, judging with compassion.
Blame—condemning others' faults without compassion.
Integrity—being honest, a personal commitment to righteousness.
Accusation—provoking guilt, reminding people of their mistakes to punish them and justify oneself.
Persuasion—teaching with compassion, kindly pointing out advantages and disadvantages within situations.
Intimidation—ruling by fear because others are afraid of one's power.
Gentleness—soft, not treating others harshly.
Threat—expressing intent to physically or emotionally harm someone.
Trust—lovingly allowing others to exercise their agency to choose right or wrong and to accept the consequences.
Pride—self-righteously preaching moral truths and condemning others.
Responsibility—acknowledging & assuming your role in any situation including repenting for past wrongdoing.
Self-centeredness—refusing to accept responsibility for your actions.
Meekness—humility & teachable
Haughtiness—being proud & pessimistic.

Here are the values of character we can instill in building our homes of learning development of qualities of character. Let our houses have these rooms filled with these qualities of character:
2. Responsibility- tasks or chores. Simple tasks without constant reminders so the distribution of labor falls equally on all family members within the home. Show responsibility find ways to help each other.
3. Consequences- what happens when you chose to do something- is the agency positive or negative;
4. Respect is showing good manners toward each person, not just those you well know or are like you. Think of the respect word bank: recognize, appreciate, honor, prize, and admire words to use.
5. Manners and courtesy help us get along with each other. Something that is forgotten today- if you bump someone or walk in front of someone, apologize saying excuse me inside or outside your home. We are to be full of selflessness. Gratitude is when you sincerely thank people for the good things they have given you or done for you. Saying thank you creates love and harmony. Thank you someone today for the service. Those simple words: please, thank you, you are welcome are divine.
6. Sharing and take turns. Allowing some to speak by not interrupting. Aesop’s Fables: No kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
7. Service or helping others without being asked. Uplift and serve others.
8. Honesty and trust- it takes courage to tell the truth as well as trust. Truth is always uncovered in the outcome. Trust is earned. Retain both honesty and trust and friends will be numerous.
Character development and happiness is doing our part of building the kingdom of God. Prepare for and avoid family problems with these resources: Family Home Evening and our Prophets counsel:
"Most earnestly and urgently we call upon parents to assume their full responsibility for teaching and living the gospel in the home. "Families will be blessed. There will be better feelings between husband and wife, between parents and children, and among children. In such homes the Spirit of the Lord will be made manifest." 1967, Pres. David O McKay
"Do you spend as much time making your family and home successful as you do in pursuing social and professional success? Are you devoting your best creative energy to the most important unit in society--the family. 1973, Pres. Harold B. Lee:
Fathers and mothers teach your (children)the words of God...If the Saints( you) obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase, faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them.'’
Our Prophet Joseph Smith said, "Happiness(Joy) is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976], pp. 15556.)
President David O. McKay -"Parenthood ... should be held as a sacred obligation. There is something in the depths of the human soul which revolts against neglectful parenthood. God has implanted deep in the souls of parents the truth that they cannot shirk their responsibility to protect childhood and youth.
In closing, let’s each be grateful for the sacrifices others have made.
Let’s strengthen and build bridges of loving relationships at home
1. fortify our personal parental bonds with our children likewise learn more effective parenting skills.
2. improve each child’s social competencies and school performance as well as reduce any problematic behaviors, delinquency, and alcohol and drug abuse as well as cut child abuse.
We can cultivate peace by honoring one another. Be known and shown a person filled with love of God, who is anxious to bless others. In the name of Jesus Christ – amen!

Joyce Ingerson


“A Home as A Temple”

cji
6/20/11

Without confusion certain
what is our home to be
seeking what it is likened
thus Heavenly Father’s plan
prepared from the beginning
as the one building within
internal love and insight
for first our home is in us;

Therefore a Temple thus
a body filled with light
found with no lingering sin
Plan of Salvation winning
generations able to span
then to our room likened
order, virtue all able to see
when found a sheer curtain!

Leaving our personal room
opening our home around
fresh painted and clean
neatness and completeness
quiet with a sure spirit;

Others then able to inhabit
filled with love and sweetness
in our earthly home found
and our earthly family bloom!

Copyright © 2011 – cji