Week 87 from Mexico

Hola! How was your week? Hope you had a nice Easter. Ours was a very quiet day at church and home. Our landlords gave us a plate of goodies. They are such nice people, good landlords.

Our biggest news this week was the addition of another granddaughter. Jarom and Michele had a new baby girl on Monday. That makes three girls and two boys for them and gives us 13 granddaughters and 19 grandsons. The girls are starting to catch up. That gives us three new grandchildren to meet when we get home in August. I can hardly wait. Our family is planning a big, week long reunion after we get home and it will be fun to have them all together.

This last week was “Holy Week”, with the schools and many businesses closed. This made for an interesting week at the temple. Because some members had time off from work they came to the temple. But, that also meant that some temple workers took the time off and it made for us being very short-handed at the temple. We will be getting a new set of coordinators on Thursday night. The Bravos haven't come that last couple of weeks and Bro. Bravo called this week to say that he and his wife needed to be released as they wouldn't be able to continue. Our good stalwart workers, the Galavizes have been filling in. They come to the temple about four to five times a week, almost as much as we do. And this is with him being a bishop and her a Relief Society president.

Sister Machuca had to give a presentation on Family History to a YSA group on Thursday and I spent some time helping her prepare a display for it of her family tree on what will be a wall hanging. She is wanting to learn more about doing family history I've been helping her learn how to use New FamilySearch.

Today in church, Elder Clark gave a talk. He was gracious enough to give me a copy in English so I could follow along and know what he was saying. It was a very good talk, with some good quotes about the importance of attending the temple. I want to share a some of it with you.

Elder David A. Bednar, April 2009 general conference:
“...the process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.”

As I was looking through this talk on the Internet so I could copy and paste it here I came across this part, which wasn't in Elder Clark's talk but that I feel I should also share:

“Within the sound of my voice are individuals who should have but have not yet received the ordinances of the house of the Lord. Whatever the reason, however long the delay, I invite you to begin making the spiritual preparations so you can receive the blessings available only in the holy temple. Please cast away the things in your life that stand in the way. Please seek after the things that are of eternal consequence.”

He also quoted President Monson in his talk “The Holy Temple – A Beacon to the World” from this last conference:
“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.

“...As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.

“...may we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes. May we follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, that we might have eternal life and exaltation in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom.”

What wonderful words of counsel. I admonish you to apply them in your life. The temple is indeed a great blessing in our lives that we need to take advantage of. What better way to show our love for all that our Savior has done for us than to attend the temple as often as we can or to work towards being worthy to attend, if that is what is necessary.

May God's blessings be with you in all your endeavors. We send our love and best wishes to you.