At the start of 2025, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 202 dedicated temples and a total of 367 dedicated, under construction or announced houses of the Lord, spread across 42 states in the United States and nearly 80 other countries or U.S. territories.
But more important than the numbers, the locations and the physical structures themselves are the temple ordinances performed and temple covenants made by Latter-day Saints for themselves and their deceased ancestors.
Following are selected teachings and testimonies on covenants, worship and temple attendance from the 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2024.
‘Nothing will help you more’
My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit. Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing! — President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” April 2024 general conference
Emphasizing covenants with God
“The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making covenants with God. Covenants are inherent in each of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation this restored Church administers. The ordinance of baptism and its associated covenants are requirements for entrance into the celestial kingdom. The ordinances and associated covenants of the temple are requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom, which is eternal life, ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God’ (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). That is the focus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” — President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, “Covenants and Responsibilities,” April 2024 general conference
Honoring covenants
“I bear witness that there is nothing more important than honoring the covenants you make, or may make, in the temple. No matter where you are on the covenant path, I urge you to qualify and become eligible to attend the temple. Visit as frequently as circumstances will allow. Make and keep sacred covenants with God.” — President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, “All Will Be Well Because of Temple Covenants,” April 2024 general conference
Align with covenants
“That is the way covenants are — not set aside out of convenience or carelessness and not modified to fit the styles and fashions of society. In the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ, the ways of the world must be modified to align with our covenants, not the other way around.” — President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Garment of the Holy Priesthood,” September 2024 Liahona
New and higher level
“The temple is very important, and we need to make sure that we, as members of the Church, seek to have temple covenants, whether married or not married, everyone. And basing on that, we need to lift our baptismal covenant to a new and higher level. But not just in a doctrinal way, not just on a teaching level, but in practical ways, that what we learn in the temple and where we renew and make new covenants, that we fulfill them with the blood life of our human existence, that we serve each other and help each other.” — Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Temple Covenants,” Church News video, Oct. 24, 2024
Spiritual anchors
The sacred covenants and ordinances of the Savior’s restored gospel can be compared to the anchor pins and steel rods used to connect a building to bedrock. Every time we faithfully receive, review, remember and renew sacred covenants, our spiritual anchors are secured ever more firmly and steadfastly to the “rock” of Jesus Christ. — Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God,” April 2024 general conference
Return to the covenant path
My counsel for those who have in any way deviated from the covenant path is to return to the sacred scriptures, prophetic guidance, religious observance in the home and the music of faith. Every soul is precious to the Lord. We need you. The Lord needs you, and you need Him. You will always be welcome. During my many years of Church service, I have cherished the wonderful people who returned to the covenant path and then served and blessed everyone they loved or with whom they came in contact. — Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Sacred Scriptures — The Foundations of Faith,” October 2024 general conference
Covenants matter
“The covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ bring strength for all aspects of life, to deal with both the physical and the spiritual. I believe that the Saints here truly respond to what President Russell M. Nelson talks about often — the power of covenants. … Covenants matter, and their promises to God are real. And they know that His promises to them are real. They know that He fulfills His promises.” — Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church News interview during May 2024 ministry to the Africa South Area
Armed with power
The temple is literally the house of the Lord. I promise you as you come worthily and prayerfully to His holy house, you will be armed with His power, His name will be upon you, His angels will have charge over you, and you will grow up in the blessing of the Holy Ghost. … In this day of confusion and commotion, I testify that the temple is His holy house and will help preserve us, protect us and prepare us for the glorious day when, with all His holy angels, our Savior returns in majesty, power and great glory. — Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth,” April 2024 general conference
Hold fast to covenants
To the Nephites, Jesus said: “Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up” (3 Nephi 18:24). We hold up the Lord’s light when we hold fast to our covenants and when we support our living Prophet as he speaks the words of God. — Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Behold I Am he Light Which Ye Shall Hold Up,” October 2024 general conference
Covenants to follow Jesus Christ
“Live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Study the words of the prophets and learn to love your Father in Heaven. Incline your hearts to Him and strive to walk in His way. Be lifted by the ‘covenant confidence’ that Elder Ulisses Soares has described. This confidence comes from making covenants to follow Jesus Christ, knowing that the Savior will in turn strengthen and support you.” — Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Days Never To Be Forgotten,” October 2024 general conference
Justify and sanctify
“The Savior refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as ‘my Church’ because He commissioned it to accomplish His purposes — preaching His gospel, offering His ordinances and covenants, and making it possible for His power to justify and sanctify us. Without His Church, there is no authority, no preaching of revealed truths in His name, no ordinances or covenants, no manifestation of the power of godliness, no transformation into who God wants us to become, and God’s plan for His children is set at naught. The Church in this dispensation is integral to His plan.” — Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “‘This Is My Gospel’ — ‘This Is My Church,’” October 2024 general conference
Covenant belonging
“When we are still, open and reverent, we may feel the beauty, purpose and serenity of the covenant belonging the Lord offers. In sacred moments, He may let us glimpse the larger eternal reality of which our daily lives are part, where small and simple things work together for the good of givers and receivers. … Covenant belonging in Jesus Christ comforts, connects, consecrates.” — Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “All Things for Our Good,” April 2024 general conference
Covenant confidence
“Being temple bound secures us to the Savior, giving us proper direction and stability while ensuring we have covenant confidence through Jesus Christ. Therefore, all of us should intentionally enhance such binding by having our next appointment scheduled with the Lord in His holy house, whether the temple is near or far away.” — Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Covenant Confidence Through Jesus Christ,” April 2024 general conference
Covenant bond
“The veil of the temple was rent in twain when Jesus died upon the cross, symbolizing that access back to the presence of the Father had been ripped wide open — to all who will turn to Him, trust Him, cast their burdens on Him and take His yoke upon them in a covenant bond. In other words, the Father’s plan is not about roadblocks. It never was; it never will be. Are there things we need to do, commandments to keep, aspects of our natures to change? Yes. But with His grace, those are within our reach, not beyond our grasp.” — Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “God’s Intent Is To Bring You Home,” April 2024 general conference
