October 31, 2016

This week we have been trying to talk to more people, so we have been trying to walk more. We have definitely seen miracles and blessings from talking to as many people as we can. This week we have been able to share the gospel with 4 people that we just met while we were walking down the street! Not everyone we talk to is receptive, but these people were very interested and hopefully felt the Spirit while we talked to them. We were able to share the Book of Mormon with 3 of them, and all 4 of them said they would be interested in us coming back. One of them was in a hurry and we forgot to give her a Book of Mormon, so that is why we didn't get to give her one. But it was just a super cool set of experience that taught me about how important it is to open our mouths and share. 

   

Here is what I learned this week, and it is from the dedicatory prayer of the Fort Collins temple. 

"Dearest Father, forgive us our many shortcomings. Strengthen our faith and fortify us against weakness. Give us power to resist the deceits of the adversary. May love for Thee and Thy Son grow in our hearts, and may it be expressed in our kindness and love to one another as Thy covenant sons and daughters...

...We dedicate the building from the footings to the top of the steeple with its crowning figure of Moroni. Wilt Thou, O God, accept it as the gift of Thy thankful children. Wilt Thou sanctify it by Thy Holy Spirit for Thy sacred work and purposes. We dedicate the grounds with all its vegetation together with all ancillary structures...

...With gratitude and love, we dedicate the Fort Collins Colorado Temple unto Thee, and we rededicate ourselves to Thee and Thy service."

These are some snippets from that prayer, which you can find on lds.org.

I'll copy the web address here:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/fort-collins-colorado-temple-dedicatory-prayer?lang=eng

It was an amazing experience. 

The temple belonged to the people in the Temple District here, because they payed for it with their tithes and offerings. They consecrated their time, talents, and money to the building of this temple. And guess what: the temple is not perfect. It is built from fallen materials, just as we are. But the members put forth their best efforts to make the temple the best offering to the Lord that they could. Then, after the temple was dedicated, it no longer belonged to the members here. It belonged to the Lord, and as such, was sanctified and purified. It was a pure offering to the Lord because of the consecrated, though imperfect efforts of the people here.

In that same sense, our lives are imperfect, but as we consecrate them to the Lord through ordinances and covenants made through priesthood power, our lives can be sanctified and made clean through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love the symbolism here. It is so amazing, and has taught me so much about grace and about how we can come to the Lord and be perfected in Him.