How to access temple blessings while the temple is closed

by Brenden Gaskins

We just passed the seven-month mark of practicing social distancing, it has been difficult and trying to say the least. But our physical distancing from the temple does not have to mean we have to be spiritually distant. I want to share my three tips on how to access temple blessings while the temple is closed.

I received this story from a member in our stake and wanted to pass it along to you:

A sacred temple experienceI’d like to share with you an experience that I had as I attended the temple with the youth of this ward. This was a particularly special trip as it was the first time our Priests performed baptisms and acted as witnesses for the baptismal ordinance.

The experience I’m sharing is a sweet, tender mercy from the Lord. One of those short glimpses we get of what He sees.

Since the changes to baptismal participation for Aaronic priesthood holders, I have enjoyed observing the young men of the ward go to the temple and serve not only the dead but each other and the young women. One of the reasons I like these changes is that as a leader it now gives me the opportunity to sit back and observe, seek the spirit, help guide the young men as they become familiar with temple service, and the magnification of their priesthood office. On one such occasion, I had the blessing of watching one of the parents that were there as a youth leader as she watched her son’s daughter perform these sacred ordinances together, the son acting as priesthood and her daughter being baptized for the dead.

The joy that I saw on the face of that mother as she watched her children participating in this saving ordinance was so great that it brought her to tears. She sat back reverently and watched her children being saviors on Mount Zion. I can’t wait for the day that I can go to the temple with my children and watch them perform baptisms together.

I will never forget that trip to the temple because of that experience. The love parents have for children, both earthly and heavenly was evident that day and is a testimony to me that there is more to our existence than what we experience here on earth.

Our Heavenly Father knew our journey would be hard

Our mortal journey can be amazing like in this experience I just shared, but sometimes they can also be heartbreaking, disappointing, and scary.

Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. There are many ways in which we can hear the voice of the Savior, one of those ways is in the temple.

In April 2020 General Conference President Nelson said this of the temple.

“The house of the Lord is a house of learning. There the Lord teaches in His own way. There, each ordinance teaches about the Savior. There, we learn how to part the veil

and communicate more clearly with heaven. There, we learn we learn how to rebuke the adversary and draw upon the Lord’s priesthood power to strengthen us and those we love. How eager each of us should be to seek refuge there.” (Hear Him, President Russell M. Nelson General Conference)

Read the whole talk here

In his April 2015 Conference talk President Monson said:

“My brothers and sisters, in our lives we will have temptations; we will have trials and challenges… As we remember the covenants we make there [the Temple], we will be better able to overcome those temptations and to bear our trials…we can find peace.”

Click here to read the whole talk.

It’s true, as we remember the covenants we have made in the temple we will be blessed from on High, blessed to be able to overcome our temptations, trials and we will be able to find the peace we all search for.

So my message today is this, while we can’t attend the temple right now, we can…. Remember….Remember the ordinances performed and covenants made in the temple. Let me share with you three ways you can do this.

Study the ordinances performed and covenants made in the temples found in the scriptures. Remember the quote from President Nelson… Reviewing the doctrine of temple ordinances gives us an opportunity to “learn how to part the veil and communicate more clearly with heaven and learn how to rebuke the adversary and draw upon the Lord’s priesthood power to strengthen us and those we love.”

Access Temple Blessings by Remembering

Remember, think about and ponder experiences you have had while attending the temple. I love to do this! I have had so many tender moments while attending the temple, especially as I have attended with my dear sweet Lyndsey. I cherish those moments I have spent with her in the House of the Lord. When I think about them, I am buoyed up and inspired to live up to the covenants I’ve made with Heavenly Father.

Access Temple Blessings by Practicing

Practice living the ordinances as you look for ways to minister to others. I am blessed to have many great examples around me of men and women who minister to those in need. Brothers and Sisters, this is the very essence of what we learn in the temple. Ministering is the work of the Savior, it is what he did and what he is asking us to do. As we minister to each other we will see the blessings of the temple covenants come to life.

I testify that as we do these three things we will be able to feel the influence of the temple in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.