In his Sunday afternoon conference address, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve encouraged Latter-day Saints to take advantage of the blessings of the temple.
When he was called as a stake president, he said, he talked to a friend who had recently been released as a stake president and then served as a temple worker. The friend said, "'If I were called today to serve as a stake president, my primary focus would be on worthiness to receive and honor temple covenants. I would strive to make temple preparation the center of all that we did."
Elder Bednar said that statement had a profound impact upon his subsequent service and ministry as a stake president.
"The deepest desire of our presidency was for every member of the stake to receive the blessings of the temple, to be worthy of and to use frequently a temple recommend," he said.
Referring to the covenant of baptism that is renewed by partaking of the sacrament, including a willingness to take upon oneself the name of Jesus Christ, Elder Bednar said, "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."
He said, "There is a difference between Church-attending, tithe-paying members who occasionally rush into the temple to go through a session and those members who faithfully and consistently worship in the temple."
Elder Bednar said the covenant blessings provided through the temple are to all generations and for all eternity.
Further, he emphasized, "We should not be surprised by Satan's efforts to thwart or discredit temple worship and work. The devil despises the purity in and the power of the Lord's house. And the protection available to each of us in and through temple ordinances and covenants stands as a great obstacle to the evil designs of Lucifer."
In conclusion, Elder Bednar invited young men, young women and children to prepare for and look forward with great anticipation to the day when they will receive the ordinances of the temple. He invited those who should have but have not yet received temple ordinances to prepare and do so., and those who have received the ordinances but have not been back to the temple for quite some time to "repent, prepare and do whatever needs to be done so you can again worship in the temple and more fully remember and honor your sacred covenants."
And, finally, he said, "Within the sound of my voice are many individuals who hold current temple recommends and strive worthily to use them. I commend you for your faithfulness and for your devotion."
