Thomas S. Monson, “As We Meet Again”, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
“I have mentioned in previous conferences the progress we are making in placing temples closer to our members. Although they are readily available to many members in the Church, there are still areas of the world where temples are so distant from our members that they cannot afford the travel required to get to them. They are thus unable to partake of the sacred and eternal blessings temples provide. To help in this regard, we have available what is called the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund. This fund provides a one-time visit to the temple for those who otherwise would not be able to go to the temple and yet who long desperately for that opportunity. Any who might wish to contribute to this fund can simply write in the information on the normal contribution slip which is given to the bishop each month.”
Neil L. Andersen, "Looking Back and Looking Forward," New Era, Aug. 2009
"If we can look back through the generations, we see those who helped us to get where we are now—those who forged the way before us, whether they were members of the Church or not. And in the restored gospel we realize even more deeply our responsibility to link them to us through the ordinances of the temple. In a letter from the Prophet Joseph Smith to the members of the Church, we read: 'These are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over. . . . For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, . . . they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect' (D&C 128:15; see also verse 18)."
Thomas S. Monson, "Welcome to Conference," Ensign, May 2010
"The Church continues to grow and to move forward. The building of temples is an indication of such growth. . . . We will continue to build temples throughout the world as our membership grows. Each year millions of ordinances are performed in the temples for our deceased loved ones. May we continue to be faithful in performing such ordinances for those who are unable to do so for themselves."
Russell M. Nelson, "Generations Linked in Love," Ensign, May 2010
"Consider the spiritual connections that are formed when a young woman helps her grandmother enter family information into a computer or when a young man sees the name of his great-grandfather on a census record. When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple."
Howard W. Hunter, "Elijah the Prophet," Ensign, Dec. 1971
"Does it seem reasonable that persons who have lived upon the earth and died without the opportunity of baptism should be deprived throughout eternity? Is there anything unreasonable about the living performing the baptisms for the dead? Perhaps the greatest example of vicarious work for the dead is the Master himself. He gave his life as a vicarious atonement, that all who die shall live again and have life everlasting. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. In a similar way we can perform ordinances for those who did not have the opportunity to do them in lifetime.”
Thomas S. Monson, "Welcome to Conference," Ensign, Nov. 2009
"I love the words of President Joseph F. Smith as he spoke of temple service and of the spirit world beyond mortality. Said he, 'Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their [people] here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties' (in Conference Report, Oct. 1916, 6)."
Ezra Taft Benson, "Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also," Ensign, Apr. 1993
"We qualify for these blessings when we go with a companion to the house of the Lord and receive the sealing ordinances that bind the family unit beyond the grave. These blessings are received in no other way, for as the Lord has decreed, 'Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory' (D&C 132:21), which glory is an eternal increase (see D&C 132:19)."
Richard G. Scott, “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” Ensign, May 2009
“Fourteen years ago the Lord decided it was not necessary for my wife to live any longer on the earth, and He took her to the other side of the veil. I confess that there are times when it is difficult not to be able to turn and talk to her, but I do not complain. The Lord has allowed me, at important moments in my life, to feel her influence through the veil. . . .What a blessing to have once again on the earth the sealing authority, not only for this mortal life but for the eternities.”
Richard G. Scott, “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” Ensign, May 2009
“Because I love you, I am going to speak to you heart to heart, without mincing words. I have seen that many times individuals have made great sacrifices to go to a distant temple. But when a temple is built close by, within a short time, many do not visit it regularly. I have a suggestion: When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan. This pattern will guarantee that those who live in the shadow of a temple will be as blessed as are those who plan far ahead and make a long trip to the temple.”
David B. Haight, "Temples and Work Therein," Ensign, Nov. 1990
"John A. Widtsoe wrote: 'I believe that the busy person on the farm, in the shop, in the office, or in the household, who has his worries and troubles, can solve his problems better and more quickly in the house of the Lord than anywhere else. If he will . . . [do] the temple work for himself and for his dead, he will confer a mighty blessing upon those who have gone before, and . . . a blessing will come to him, for at the most unexpected moments, in or out of the temple will come to him, as a revelation, the solution of the problems that vex his life. That is the gift that comes to those who enter the temple properly.' Revelation also comes in receiving greater understanding of the endowment as one seeks to comprehend its meaning."
Personal Statement:
Temples are a form that God shows His love for His children. We have a way to be sealed to our families forever and live in the presence of God. We have the opportunity to help those who have already passed on to receive the necessary ordinances to live with their loved ones forever. Having this knowledge that we can have the same joys that we had with our family here and have them forever brings me great joy. Whenever I go to the Temple, I always feel great peace that I can’t feel anywhere else. I went to the temple one day and sat outside on a bench so I could just think. My life was very busy at that time and as I was sitting there, all those stressful thoughts went away. I could feel more of the Spirit. I felt so blessed at that moment because this is what I needed. I was able to accomplish everything that I needed to do and not feel so stressed about it. This is what the House of the Lord can do for anyone.
