"All Will be Well Because of the Temple" Henry B Eyring
My study notes for:
All Will Be Well Because of Temple Covenants
I hope today we can gain a better understanding of the doctrine and principles being taught here, and have some ideas of how we can teach them to our families and apply them in our everyday lives.
1. Doctrine and Principles
President Boyd K. Packer: "True doctrine understood changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior" (Boyd K. Packer, "Little Children," Ensign, November 1986, pg. 17).
David A. Bednar explains: “Doctrine refers to the eternal, unchanging, and simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are also principles. Principles are doctrinally based guidelines for what we ought to do.” We also receive instruction on how we can apply these principles and doctrines to our lives. (David A Bednar , “ Teach Them to Understand, Education Week, 2019 https://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/EducationWeek/1998_06_04_Bednar.htm)
David A Bednar explains: “a gospel principle is a doctrinally based guideline for the righteous exercise of moral agency. Principles derive from broader gospel truths and provide direction and standards as we press forward on the covenant path.” (David A Bednar “The Principles of My Gospel” General Conference, April 2021 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/56bednar?lang=eng#p34)
Doctrine answers the question: Why?
Principle answers the question: What?
Application answers the question: How?
What Doctrine, Principles and Applications are found in the quote?
“These words then came clearly to my heart and mind. I said to my wife: “Kathy, whatever the outcome, all will be well because of the temple. We have made covenants with God and have been sealed as an eternal family.”At that moment, it was as if the Spirit of the Lord confirmed in our hearts and minds what we both already knew to be true: the sealing ordinances, found only in the house of the Lord and administered by proper priesthood authority, had bound us together as husband and wife, and our children had been sealed to us. There truly was no need to fear, and we were grateful later to learn that our boys were safe.”Doctrine (Why?): Plan of Salvation, Covenants: D&C 82: 10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
Principle: Faith, Temple Attendance
Application: Calm, rational, helpful, hopeful reaction to a stressful, life changing situation. OR Prayerful, Pleading, and planning, considering all the options and consequences. OR Hysteria
And this quote:
I looked up at a high white ceiling that made the room so light it seemed almost as if it were open to the sky. And in that moment, the thought came into my mind in clear words: “I have been in this lighted place before.” But then immediately there came into my mind, not in my own voice, these words: “No, you have never been here before. You are remembering a moment before you were born. You were in a sacred place like this where the Lord could come.”Brothers and sisters, I humbly testify that as we attend the temple, we can be reminded of the eternal nature of our spirits, our relationship with the Father and His divine Son, and our ultimate desire to return to our heavenly home.Doctrine: Plan of Salvation, Eternity, Pre Earth Life
Principles: Attending the Temple
Sometimes attending the temple is difficult because you aren’t easily feeling “what you are supposed to feel, and what everyone else feels”. My answer to this is study the temple covenants outside the temple, and attend more often to gain understanding.
And this quote:
It is through the sealing covenants in the temple that we can receive the assurance of loving family connections that will continue after death and last for eternity. Honoring marriage and family covenants made in temples of God will provide protection from the evil of selfishness and pride.Consistent care of brothers and sisters for each other will come only with persistent efforts to lead your family in the Lord’s way. Give children opportunities to pray for each other. Discern quickly the beginnings of discord, and positively recognize acts of unselfish service, especially to one another. When siblings pray for each other and serve each other, hearts will be softened and turned to each other and to their parents.Doctrine: Covenants, Eternity, Marriage Family.
Application: Prayer, Temple Attendence, Christlike parenting
Covenants:
A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and man. God gives the conditions for the covenant, and we agree to do what He asks us to do; God then promises us certain blessings for our obedience (see D&C 82:10).
All the saving ordinances of the priesthood are accompanied by covenants. We covenant with the Lord at baptism and renew those covenants by partaking of the sacrament. Brethren who receive the Melchizedek Priesthood enter into the oath and covenant of the priesthood. We make further covenants in the temple.
Related references: Exodus 19:5–6; Psalm 24:3–4; 2 Nephi 31:19–20; D&C 25:13
There are many different covenants from different dispensations.
Old Testament Covenants: Adam - steward of the earth, Noah -earth will never be destroyed, Abraham posterity, priesthood and land, Moses- Preparatory gospel, David- Royal Lineage
New Testament Covenants: New Covenant- Jesus Christ fulfillment of all Old Testament covenants, Everlasting Covenant - Eternity
Baptismal Covenants Mosiah 18:8–10; 2 Nephi 31:13; D&C 18:22–25; 20:37
Temple Endowment Covenants: Church Handbook 27.2 love obey serve follow become
Law of Obedience - be obedient to the Lord
Law of Sacrifice - doing all we can to support the Lord’s work and repenting with a broken heart and contrite spirit
Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - living the gospel of Jesus Christ
Law of Chastity - only being intimate with your spouse
Law of Consecration - dedicating our time and talents to the Lord (Building up his Church on the earth)
What blessings have you received or are you receiving now from living inside your temple covenants?
Specific covenant and specific blessing.
Favorite Scriptures and Quotes about the blessings of covenant living:
From President Russell M Nelson:
“The safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants!”
“Everything we believe and every promise God has made to His covenant people come together in the temple.”3
“Each person who makes covenants … in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.”4
He also taught that “once we make a covenant with God, we leave neutral ground forever. God will not abandon His relationship with those who have forged such a bond with Him. In fact, all those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy.”5
Interesting Footnotes in this talk:
#6. Qualifying to make sacred covenants is not a one-time effort but a lifetime pattern. The Lord has said it will take our full heart, might, mind, and strength.6
Doctrine and Covenants 59:5
Doctrine and Covenants
5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
#7 We have been promised, “Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us.”7
Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” 6.
The Everlasting Covenant
Liahona
Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before our covenant. Now we are bound together. Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us. Each of us has a special place in God’s heart. He has high hopes for us.
#8. Trials, challenges, and heartaches will surely come to all of us. None of us are immune from “thorns of the flesh.”9 Yet, as we attend the temple and remember our covenants, we can prepare to receive personal direction from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:7–10
New Testament
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
What does this remind me of?
Buddhism philosophy of non-attachment. Non-Attachment is the idea of engaging with experiences without being fixated on outcomes. It's about letting go of the ego's desire to cling and grasp, and instead being flexible and open to the present moment. The Buddha believed that attachment and aversion are the root of suffering, and that non-attachment can help increase peace of mind and alleviate suffering. Critics say that non-attachment lacks love and empathy.
But I think we find that the temple version of non-attachment (knowing the doctrine -plan of salvation, and practicing the principle-faith) leads to more love because it is through love that Jesus Christ overcame all and allows us to be non-attached to earthly outcomes. And all things work in our favor to those who believe in Christ.
Other Resources:
Rosemary Wixom on Latter Day Saint Women Podcast 36:30 is an interesting question and statement.
Other talks from April 2024 Conference:
Covenant Confidence Through Jesus Christ, Ulysses Soares , April 2024
Covenants and Responsibilities, Dallin H Oakes, April 2024
Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth, Neil L Anderson, April 2024
Teaching Kids:
Visit the Temple Grounds, and Take teens to the temple for Baptisms.
Conclusion:
Pres Eyring: “My dear brothers and sisters, I bear witness that there is nothing more important than honoring the covenants you have made 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. I can assure you of the same truth I shared with Kathy in the middle of the night nearly five decades ago in an Idaho Falls motel room: “No matter the outcome, all will be well because of temple covenants.” (Henry B Eyring, All Will be Well Because of Temple Covenants, April 2024)
“My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety.3 Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.” (Russell M Nelson, Becoming Exemplary Saints, Oct 2018)
5 minutes for you
Make an appointment to attend the temple.
Write down Affirmations
Journal Prompt: What blessings have you received from the covenants you are keeping right now? How can you apply this principle to a current situation you are in?
Affirmations from this talk:
I feel blessed and peaceful when I enter the sacred temple.
I am creating patterns of devotion to the Lord.
I am drawing closer to God with every covenant I keep.
No matter the outcome, I am well.
