The Symbol of our Faith
I finished a book today. It was about symbolism on various temples from early church history. It was a fascinating read.
As I read the last chapter, I was moved by a story, and wanted to share it with you. It is actually from the February issue of the Ensign, written by Harold B. Lee (and was actually shared in the 1957 General Conference).
A watchman employed on Temple Square gave me this note:
“One morning not so long ago I was sitting at the desk of the temple gate house reading when my attention was drawn to a knock on the door. There stood two little boys, aged about seven or eight years. As I opened the door, I noticed that they were poorly dressed and had been neither washed nor combed. They appeared as if they had left home before father or mother had awakened that morning. As I looked beyond these little fellows, I saw two infants in pushcarts. In answer to my question as to what they wanted, one of the boys pointed to his little brother in the cart and replied: ‘His name is Joe. Will you shake hands with little Joe? It is little Joe’s birthday—he is two years old today, and I want him to touch the temple so when he gets to be an old man he will remember he touched the temple when he was two years old.’
“Pointing to the other little boy in the other cart, he said this: ‘This is Mark, he’s two years old, too.’ Then, with a solemn, reverent attitude rare in children so young, he asked, ‘Now can we go over and touch the temple?’ I replied: ‘Sure you can.’ They pushed their little carts over to the temple and lifted the infants up, and placed their hands against that holy building. Then as I stood there with a lump in my throat, I heard the little boy say to his infant brother, ‘Now, Joe, you will always remember when you was two years old you touched the temple.’ They thanked me and departed for home.”
The book says,
Not only did these children touch the temple but the temple had obviously touched them and had become a symbol of their faith (p. 172).
How is it with us?
Is the temple a symbol of my faith? I have found myself asking some questions.
- Do I keep myself temple worthy? (To me, this means more than just checking off the questions every couple of years, or just avoiding sin. It means seeking to really be and become more worthy in thought, word and action.)
- Do I attend the temple as often as my circumstances allow? Am I willing to sacrifice to go more?
- Do I spend time pondering the things I learn in the temple, and studying the scriptures to understand more?
- As a mother, am I seeking for ways to point my children toward the temple?
- Am I praying for help with all of the above?
Prophets have encouraged us to do as the children in the story did - to make the temple a symbol of our faith. I am recommitting to find more ways to do just that. I invite you to do the same. 
Do you have any ideas to share on how you bring (or want to bring) the spirit of the temple into your life? Clearly, attending the temple is one way, but I don’t think it’s the only one. Please share!
October 27th, 2006 11:27
If you liked that one, try his “Gate of Heaven” book, which I think is better.
Other than the usual standards of putting up pictures and going as often as possible, I tend to do a lot of temple reading and thinking. When I have a question, I explore, instead of shelving it or forgetting about it.
October 27th, 2006 13:57
I’ve been poking around in Celestial Symbols, and that’s been fun. You might want to check it out, too.
We’ve found that treating our home and daily obligations as sacred like the temple and its ordinances really does change the tenor of our whole family. Looking at the service that I give my children and my husband as every bit as sacred the service I do by proxy in the temple can not only add a sweeter, more spiritual feel to our everyday life, but it alleviates/eliminates the sense of doldrums that can often overtake wives at home.
Just taking the time to open that connection with heaven, to feel that real and consuming peace from the Holy Spirit while sitting in my living room just as I would in the celestial room pulls some of that same spirit in and makes it a part of our home.
October 27th, 2006 21:53
Thanks to both of you for your book recommendations. I am interested in checking both of them out! I agree that reading and studying about the temple helps a lot. The times that I have done that have really increased my love for and testimony of the temple.
Naiah, thanks also for your insights about bringing the sacredness of the temple home, literally. That will be something I will be thinking about a lot.
October 29th, 2006 23:06
I love that thought about the home being a temple for us. I always think about how I want my home to be a haven for my husband and children… a place where they can feel that they are not bombarded by the cares of the world…where they can feel the Spirit much easier than anywhere else. Kind of like the temple. Great reminder Naiah!
Michelle, If you keep giving me so many great books suggestions I am going to go broke! LOL But seriously thanks… I am adding this one to my list too.
October 29th, 2006 23:11
Oh Michelle, I meant to add one more thing… I had an experience today in getting my temple recommend renewal interview that was interesting in regards to talking about the symbol of our faith. I realized today how much the temple is an EXTENSION of my faith… how much I attend, when I attend, if I renew my recommend or not, how I treat my temple attendance and how much I focus on the temple in is a reflection of my own personal testimony. Has anyone else found this? How can I bring the spirit of the temple more into my life? I think it is a natural focus when my testimony is growing, exercising..when I am doing all of those things that bring me closer to the Savior…because I go there to seek Him.
It is at my blog at www.bookwormmama.blogspot.com
October 30th, 2006 01:19
Stephanie,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, particularly about your experience with your interview. Awesome. I think your thoughts are right on — in fact, more than one prophet has asked us to be worthy to hold a recommend (indeed, to hold a recommend) even if we can’t attend a temple because of distance or whatever. It is a reflection of where our testimonies are, and where are hearts are.
I have a friend who used to live in a country where there was no temple (in fact, not even a congregation with which to meet). She would regularly review the interview questions in her mind as a way to make sure she was on the right path at all times. I was very impressed with that, and have since tried to have those questions more present in my mind and heart. In fact, this is a good reminder yet again for me to do that!
October 30th, 2006 12:34
I know there is some vulnerability in the change to have the Salt Lake Temple gates open until 9pm but I am grateful for the opportunities that come with that openness. My children will always remember climbing the stone steps with their baby brother this summer.
October 31st, 2006 01:07
Téa, thanks for your thoughts. The past two evenings I have taken my children to the temple. All of this discussion of the temple and especially that quote made me realize that I haven’t done enough to get them close to a temple on a regular basis, and since we live so close to so many, I really have no excuse. All we have done is enjoy being on the grounds. Today my daughter brought her homework to do there. My children play by the fountains and just bask in being there. I figure if they have positive experiences in any way with the temple, they can have a better chance of having the temple be a part of them as they get older.
They want to go back tomorrow.
October 31st, 2006 06:19
This post and the following comments have really made me think about what our family can do to bring the blessings of the temple into our lives even when we aren’t acting as proxies for others. I will be seeing young grandchildren in the Mid-West this week, and I will definitely suggest that we take them to the nearest temple. It will be a bit a of trek, but I’m sure it will be worth the effort.
Naiah’s idea of treating our service to our family in a more sacred way has spurred me to change my attitude about many things. I am happy to serve, but I want to move from ordinary cheerful to spiritually cheerful!
October 31st, 2006 08:35
Great ideas Michelle and Roann! You have both inspired me to take our children to the temple this Saturday for our Family Fun Day! The kids will love that idea!