This month I began serving as an ordinance worker in the Bountiful Utah Temple and am seeing the temple with new perspective.  It reminds me of the first time I went to the temple for my own endowment. I had graduated from college, I was working full time, serving as a young women’s advisor in my ward, and in my free time I indulged in my passion for family history. 

 

As I learned about my ancestors and pieced together their families, I felt their desire to receive the ordinances of the temple.  While I could submit their names and perform proxy baptisms, I had not yet been endowed and could not help them beyond that point.   At the time, it was common to go to the temple when you were going on a mission or getting married.  I was doing neither but as their desire continued to be impressed on my heart, I pondered whether it was time for me to make covenants of my own so I could then reach out and bless them.  I studied Elder Packer’s book, The Holy Temple.  I read the temple preparation manual and tried to understand the covenants I would be making.  Though I knew many of my weaknesses, I felt I was ready to keep covenants.  I talked to my bishop, expressed my desire and he sent my recommendation to the stake president.  

 

As I entered the temple, my focus was so intent on what I would commit to the Lord that I was completely unprepared for what the Lord would promise to me.  I felt awe at the promises I heard and began to glimpse in greater measure the dreams of God for His children.  I felt the prayer that “…in the Lord’s holy house, the Saints would be armed with the power of God, that the name of Jesus Christ would be upon them, that His angels would have charge over them, and that they would grow up in the Lord and ‘receive the fullness of the Holy Ghost.'” (Elder Neil L. Andersen, April 2024)

 

Through the grace and merits of Jesus Christ all that the Father has can be ours as we “grow up in the Lord.” (D&C 109:15)