Notable quotes:
“To be ‘recommended to the Lord’ is to be reminded of what is expected of a covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint.”
“Begin the process now to become ‘recommended to the Lord’ that His Spirit will be with you in abundance and His standards will bring you ‘peace of conscience.’”
“Let me emphasize, whether you have access to a temple or not, you need a current temple recommend to stay firmly on the covenant path.”
Summary points:
- A temple recommend is not a checklist or ticket for special seating. It has a higher and holier purpose.
- To be “recommended of the Lord” means striving to become like Him.
- Though temples are closed or in limited use, keep a current temple recommend.
Talk summary:
Latter-day Saint temples — all 168 of them — stand as testaments of faith in eternal life. The words “Holiness to the Lord” on the outside of a temple show that it is the Lord’s house. “He sets the standards by which we enter as His guests.”
The phrase “recommended to the Lord” puts additional perspective on being interviewed regularly by Church leaders. Rather than a hall pass or special ticket, holding a temple recommend means one lives in harmony with the teachings of the Church and is committed to living the Lord’s laws. “Your temple recommend opens the gates of heaven for you and others with rights and ordinances of eternal significance.”
During President Howard W. Hunter’s first address as 14th President of the Church, he said, “It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of — and carry — a current temple recommend.”
After hearing President Hunter that day, President Russell M. Nelson said his temple recommend “became my badge of obedience to a prophet of God.”
Though temples throughout the world are closed or in limited use due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being worthy to attend the temple has not been suspended. “Whether you have access to a temple or not, you need a current temple recommend to stay firmly on the covenant path.”
The Lord said of the Nauvoo Temple, “Let the work of my temple … be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled” (Doctrine and Covenants 127:4).
“As you strive to redouble your righteous efforts, you will feel renewed in your devotion to God the Father and Jesus Christ … and you will feel peace knowing you are ‘recommended to the Lord.’ ”
In the news:
- During a Face to Face event on Sept. 13, Elder and Sister Rasband answered questions from young adults and shared insights on the Restoration and the bicentennial proclamation.
- Elder Rasband spoke to Church News about “the power of the word of the Lord” as part of a series of articles highlighting the teachings of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Elder and Sister Rasband spoke to missionaries around the world in a devotional broadcast from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on June 4.
About the speaker:
- Before Elder Rasband was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Oct. 3, 2015, he served as a General Authority Seventy for 15 years.
- Elder Rasband has visited 138 countries in his business career and Church assignments.
- He is the only member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who has served as executive director of the Temple Department; he keeps seven painted gold shovels from temple groundbreakings in his office.
- Although he attended the University of Utah, Elder Rasband never graduated due to a business opportunity. But in 1995, he received an honorary doctorate of business and commerce from Utah Valley State College.
- Elder Rasband and his wife, Sister Melanie Twitchell Rasband, were married in the Salt Lake Temple and have five children.
Recently on social:
- In response to the Face to Face event’s venue change, Elder Rasband shared a story about his experience with his mission call as a young man.
- On Father’s Day, Elder Rasband posted about his love and gratitude for his own father and fathers everywhere.
- Following his worldwide missionary devotional, Elder Rasband posted his testimony of the “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World,” and extended an invitation to either study the proclamation or share experiences studying it.
