Elder Bednar shared in his talk, "Be Still and Know that I Am God" (April 2024)how the principal purposes of sacred time and holy places is “to repeatedly focus our attention upon Heavenly Father and His plan, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, the edifying power of the Holy Ghost, and the promises associated with the sacred ordinances and covenants of the Savior’s restored gospel.” He taught, “Our homes should be the ultimate combination of both sacred time and holy place wherein individuals and families can “be still” and know that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior.”
I would like to expand upon this idea that our homes can be the ultimate combination of sacred time and holy place and thus dedicated houses of the Lord, not in every way a current temple of God functions, but in the way the presence and glory of the Lord might be there.
In April 2009 Elder Gary Stevenson invited each of us to take a virtual tour of our homes, he said, “Wherever your home may be and whatever its configuration, the application of eternal gospel principles within its walls is universal. Let’s begin. Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home. What do you see, and how do you feel? Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple? Is it clean and orderly? As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior? Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer? Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time? Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together? Can you find your personal gospel study space? Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit? Is the conversation uplifting and without contention? That concludes our tour. Perhaps you, as I, found a few spots that need some “home improvement”—hopefully not an “extreme home makeover.”
During Covid the Priesthood holders were able to administer the ordinance of the sacrament in our homes which as Pres Oaks reminded us in 2008 “The sacrament meeting is the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.”
Elder Tom Perry shared in 2010 the sacrament is the most important ordinance because we're renewing ALL other covenants. (As Now We Take the Sacrament, April 2006, Delbert L. Stapley, in Conference Report, Oct. 1965, 14; see also Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 561; The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 220.)
Elder Bednar repeated this emphasis in the 2023 Temple and Family history leadership instruction, this understanding has caused me to view the sacrament in a different light. The sacrament is an opportunity to renew all our sacred covenants which allow us the same spiritually cleansing effect of baptism and confirmation.
We have been commanded to stand in holy places and be not moved til the Lord comes (D&C 87:8), knowing how sacred and holy the sacrament is has made all the difference to me. I see in my minds eye the Saviour standing at the sacrament table or alter receiving my pledge to renew or recommit to my covenants.
President Nelson
“Great personal preparation is required for us to receive the spiritual benefit of standing in holy places. Holy places and sacred space are also distinguished by the sacrifice they require. Elder M. Russell Ballard has taught that “the word sacrifice means literally ‘to make sacred,’ or ‘to render sacred’” (“The Law of Sacrifice,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 8; Liahona, Mar. 2002, 13). The words sacred and sacrifice come from the same root. One may not have the sacred without first sacrificing something for it. There can be no sacredness without personal sacrifice. Sacrifice sanctifies the sacred.” (Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander of the Seventy, April 2003)
In the last week as I've realised the personal sacrifice it is taking and will continue to take to make our home a sacred house of God, I've felt overwhelmed as I've thought of the enormity of this task and tried to get my family on board with little success. However, the words of King Benjamin from last week's CFM inspired me as he did speak and teach with power and authority using much sharpness when prompted by the Holy Ghost. He labored with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul to establish peace in the land (Mormon 1:18) The only way he was able to have this effectual power, and thus all of us, is if we are like the sons of Mosiah in Alma 17:2-3
2… they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
After I read this, I prayed for forgiveness and for the spirit to comfort me and help me talk once again to my family. I actually didn't have the success I thought I might and quite disappointed I asked the Lord to consecrate my efforts(2 Nephi 32:9).
I left it for a couple of days focusing on my repentance and sustenance. Honestly I wondered if my righteous goals would come to fruition. Then 2 days ago I knew the spirit had worked on my hubby as he came to me with a clear understanding of what I had been asking for. He had studied D&C 109 as President Nelson had asked us to and suggested we re dedicate our home. Preparations are underway!
In the April General Conference this year Pres Nelson encouraged us to study the Kirtland temple dedicatory prayer in D&C 109. It is full of blessings and promises to those who serve in the temples, however I could not help but read it as if those promises and blessings could be ours as we strive to make our home a sacred and holy house of the Lord.
Read the promises and imagine the Lord is talking in reference to our homes.
1. That God’s glory would rest upon His people and upon the temple (see D&C 109:12–13).
2. That those who worship[or reverence] in the temple would be taught properly (see v. 14).
3. That the people would “grow up” in the Lord, receiving a fulness of the Holy Ghost (v. 15).
4. That the house of God would be all it was meant to be with no unclean thing permitted therein (see vv. 16–20, which are paraphrased from D&C 88:119–20).
5. That when the Saints transgressed, they would return quickly to the Lord (see v. 21).
6. That His servants could go forth armed with power and protected by the angels to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth (see vv. 22–23).
7. That He would establish His people forever against all the enemies who fight against them (see vv. 24–33).
8. That their sins would be forgiven (see v. 34).
9. That the powers of Pentecost would come upon them (see vv. 35–37).
10. That the servants of God would have the power of the covenant and bear testimony of it throughout the world (see vv. 38–44).
11. That the servants of God would be delivered from the calamity of the wicked and the judgments that are promised (see vv. 45–49).
12. That the Lord would have mercy on the nations of the earth, softening their hearts to prepare them for the gospel message (see vv. 54–58).
13. That stakes of Zion would be appointed so the gathering might roll forth (see v. 59). (Adapted from Sperry, Compendium, pp. 593–96.)
D&C student manual
Elder Bednar stated, “I believe the Lord’s admonition to “be still” entails much more than simply not talking or not moving. Perhaps His intent is for us to remember and rely upon Him and His power “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in.” Thus, “be still” may be a way of reminding us to focus upon the Savior unfailingly as the ultimate source of the spiritual stillness of the soul that strengthens us to do and overcome hard things.”
D&C 109:21 asks that as we repent that the blessings might be poured out of those who reverence the Lord, I believe this is what Elder Bednar is talking about with spiritual stillness.
Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy taught, “Reverence is to revere, to have a profound love and respect for Deity. In referring to God the Father, latter-day scripture reads: “Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever” (D&C 76:93)...Do not confuse reverence with being quiet. Of course there are times and places when reverence is shown by not speaking or by using hushed tones. Also, in the correct setting and circumstance, being boisterous and reverent are not conflicting. Real reverence is simply not doing anything disrespectful, demeaning, or degrading to the Godhead. It has to do with how we think, how we act, and how we speak. It relates to our integrity and the way we treat one another. The level at which we keep the covenants made in the holy ordinances is a powerful indication of our reverence.
Spencer W. Kimball, while he was Church president, counseled:
We must remember that reverence is not a somber, temporary behavior that we adopt on Sunday. True reverence involves happiness, as well as love, respect, gratitude, and godly fear. It is a virtue that should be part of our way of life. In fact, Latter-day Saints should be the most reverent people in all the earth. [We Should Be a Reverent People (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1976), 2]
Pres Nelson taught the brothers in 2021,“We have learned that one of the holiest of places on earth is the home—yes, even your home.
The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven.” You and your family have received priesthood ordinances. It is “in the ordinances [of the priesthood that] the power of godliness is manifest.” That power is available to you and your family in your own home as you keep the covenants you have made.
You may feel that there is still more you need to do to make your home truly a sanctuary of faith. If so, please do it! If you are married, counsel with your wife as your equal partner in this crucial work. There are few pursuits more important than this. Between now and the time the Lord comes again, we all need our homes to be places of serenity and security.
Attitudes and actions that invite the Spirit will increase the holiness of your home. Equally certain is the fact that holiness will vanish if there is anything in your behavior or environment that offends the Holy Spirit, for then “the heavens withdraw themselves.
Your commitment to make your home your primary sanctuary of faith should never end. As faith and holiness decrease in this fallen world, your need for holy places will increase. I urge you to continue to make your home a truly holy place 'and be not moved' from that essential goal [Doctrine and Covenants 87:8].” (What We are Learning and Will Never Forget Nelson, April 2021)
As hubby and I have discussed our plans to re-dedicate our home as a house of the Lord, we have begun the task of cleaning and preparing it but more than that, through this sacrificial process we are re-dedicating ourselves to commit to the Lord, the promises we have covenanted to and to strive to do all we can for the establishment of Zion.
In conclusion, I'd like to re-emphasise Elder Bednar is teaching us our homes should be the ultimate combination of sacred times and holy places; “If we will, we can “be still” in our holy places of worship[reverence] and know ever more surely that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior.
I pray we all may be blessed to create a house of the Lord and receive the power and glory of God in our homes to help us prepare for the establishment of Zion. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen
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