We began our morning with a welcome from Sister Susan Reinsch, our Stake Relief Society president. Following her, we had the privilege of receiving a special welcome from President Kent Colton, the Washington DC Temple president. He provided some insights on the purposes of the temple and temple worship. He encouraged us to ponder three things as we attend the temple. First, the opportunity to be endowed with power from on high. Second, the significance of the sealing power. Third, that the temple ordinances are centered on the Atonement.
We were then blessed to be instructed by Sister Deborah Hirschi of the Savage Mill Ward. She taught us about the history of temples and temple worship beginning with ancient scriptures all the way up to our dispensation with the building of the Kirtland Temple in Ohio. She reminded us that the temple anciently and today is literally the House of the Lord. She taught us how the purposes of the temple anciently and today are the same. Temples teach the Lord's people, prepare them for His coming, sanctify them, allow them to make covenants with Him, provide a house of prayer, and point us to His Atonement. She talked about how the commandments and rituals of the ancient temple reminded the Israelites of their covenant with God, just as our current temples do for us. She taught us about specific ancient symbols in Old and New Testament temples that pointed to Christ such as the door and the stone. She reminded us that as we participate in temple ordinances and ponder the symbols there, it can help us strengthen our understanding and relationship to Christ. That just as with the people in ancient times, our temples are sacred places wherein we can receive guidance, peace and sanctification.
After those great messages, we then had time to write letters to missionaries, learn about indexing, mingle and view the exhibits in the Visitors' Center. A big THANK YOU goes to Sister Becky Harms, Brothers Scott Bullock and Clarence Johnson, Sisters Michele Van Gieson and Rosanna Hamilton for helping us with missionary writing opportunities and the indexing! For those who didn't have a chance to see what a great service opportunity indexing is, you can visit familysearch.org and learn all about it. Indexing is a significant support to all of us as we search out our ancestors to provide temple ordinances for them.
For our final hour, we were uplifted as we heard from Brother & Sister Brian and Sue Swinton, former Washington DC Temple president and matron.
Sister Swinton shared the story of Esther from the Old Testament as told by Sister Hinckley, which ended with "and they lived happily ever after". She taught us that as sisters, we are as Esther, members of the house of Israel and entitled to the blessings of that covenant and the blessings of the temple. She said that like Esther, the Lord takes us where we are and puts His arm around us to lead us along. She instructed us that the temple endowment teaches us how to get home, back to the presence of God. She reminded us that Heavenly Father loves His daughters. She said it is the Lord's desire that we get on the path and stay on the path back to Him. This is His work and His glory. (Moses 1:39) Sister Swinton encouraged us to remember that all the Lord requires of us is that we do our best, that we do all we can do. She recalled the story of the Widow's Mite and how even though what she gave appeared small, it was all she could do and was enough. She concluded her remarks by encouraging us to study D&C 109 and focus on the promises that we can go forth from the temple in His name, armed with power, with His glory round about us and with angels to have charge over us. Finally, she reminded us that our "happily ever after" is possible through making and keeping temple covenants.
Brother Swinton was our concluding speaker. He referenced President Monson's most recent General Conference talk - Blessings of the Temple and encouraged us to review it. He, like Sister Swinton, referred to D&C 109, specifically verse 13 and taught us about the significance of "crossing the threshold" of the temple. He told us that as we do so, we can feel the power of the Lord as we leave the world outside and enter the environment where the Lord can speak to us. He reiterated that it is the Lord's house and encouraged us to "just let the Spirit help us". Brother Swinton then instructed us concerning the purpose of this life and that the need for physical bodies is to be able to receive the saving ordinances of baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, endowment and sealing. He concluded by sharing the following from President Thomas S. Monson:
"If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing. Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is. Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God." (The Holy Temple - a Beacon to the World, General Conference, April 2011)
Our activity ended with a group photo taken by Sister Reagan Dickson of Eldersburg Ward and lunch. Not just any lunch, but a delicious box lunch of chicken salad on croissants with fruit, veggies, chips, and cookies. With "Come to the Temple" magnets tucked inside it was like a grown-up 'happy meal'. Although it was a bit nippy outside, most of the sisters stayed to picnic together at tables behind the Visitors' Center. Many thanks to Sister Debi Bullock from Columbia Second Ward and all the sisters on her committee.
We are so blessed to live near a temple of God. Our activity was uplifting and a sweet reminder of the blessings so close at hand and available to all who are willing to qualify. Again, we express our gratitude to all those who assisted in any way to making this activity happen.
FYI - digital copies of the group photos will be sent to ward/branch presidents and secretaries.
