A phrase from the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple gives a great insight into the purpose of a Temple: “A house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” D&C 109:8. How is the Temple a “house of glory? The definition of glory is “Renown; whatever brings honor; praise and adoration; divine happiness; height of excellence or prosperity; splendor or brilliance.”[1] Glory acquired in the Temple is based upon the fact that those who enter the House of the Lord make covenants that have eternal consequences regarding “glory, honor, immortality, eternal life, kingdoms, principalities and powers!” D&C 128:23.
“Divine Happiness” which is one definition of glory is the quest for most of humanity. Nearly all world religions have as their stated purpose the preparation of the human soul for divine happiness. They obviously differ in their approaches but Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism and all varieties of Christianity aspire to eternal happiness. The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the true authority restored to earth in the latter days will be made available to these Jainist, Buddhist, Hinduist and all of Christianity through the vicarious work performed in Temples by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We learn from the revelations of the Lord that “Whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” and this applies to both those who are living as well as our kindred dead. The vicarious work performed in the Temples of the Lord for and in behalf of our deceased was “prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world…these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. 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… Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!…Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free. “D&C 128:8, 15, 22.”
There is abundant scriptural evidence about the premortal existence that the Lord invited us consistent with our agency to come to the earth at a specific time in order to carry out specific missions. The Prophet Isaiah saw in vision his own calling. The Lord asked, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded that he would go. Isaiah 6:8. The Lord then outlined Isaiah’s mission in life which included preaching to a rebellious people. Likewise the scriptures record that Heavenly Father asked whom he should send as the Savior. Again it was an invitation and not an arbitrary decision. Jesus volunteered. Abraham 3:27. His mission was to carry out the Atonement. In those same premortal councils in Heaven you heard Heavenly Father ask who would be willing to come to this earth just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and perform a three-fold mission. The three parts of that mission included 1. Proclaiming the Gospel, 2. Helping the other members of the Church to be the best disciples of Jesus Christ they could be, and 3. Working in the various aspects of redeeming the dead with the ultimate objective being connecting families together forever. This is what you agreed to do. This is the promise you made to Heavenly Father. He trusted you because of your great ability to love Him and your love for the Savior and your love for your kindred dead and to your posterity that will issue forth to and into the Millennium.
Take a moment to ponder these things and act out of love and duty. This is not about feeling guilty and acting out of a begrudging sense of fear. It is about looking into your own soul for the love that motivated you before this world was and still exist in your heart. Come to the House of the Lord.
[1] New Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus, Book Essentials, Inc, NY, NY 1991, p.169