PHOTO ESSAY
Photo Essay: President Nelson and 16 Other Prophets Invite Us to the House of the Lord
In a visit to the Houston Texas area, I came with my camera to the Temple grounds very early in the morning before the sun arose. I wanted to capture those first moments of magical light as it shone on this glorious edifice. I will leave it to the Texans to determine whether these pictures were taken before or after the flood. I also did some research and found powerful statements from all 17 prophets of this dispensation inviting us to the House of the Lord. Please read each caption and look at each image–it will brighten and lift your day. I promise. I have placed the beautiful quotes in chronological order, beginning with the Prophet Joseph, then Brother Brigham, etc. and ending with a series of excerpts from the press conference where President Russell M. Nelson gave his first message as President of the Church on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Is there something in President Nelson’s first message you missed? Come and see.
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“What was the object of gathering the … people of God in any age of the world? … The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation.” –Joseph Smith -
“What do you suppose the fathers would say if they could speak from the dead? Would they not say, ‘We have lain here thousands of years, here in this prison house, waiting for this dispensation to come?’… What would they whisper in our ears? Why, if they had the power the very thunders of heaven would be in our ears, if we could realize the importance of the work we are engaged in. All the angels in heaven are looking at this little handful of people, and stimulating them to the salvation of the human family.” —Brigham Young -
“When I visited that holy Temple, accompanied by my brethren who were with me, we experienced a sacred thrill of joy and a solemn, reverential sensation. As we entered its sacred portals, we felt that we were standing on holy ground, and experienced, with one of old, ‘Surely this is the house of God, and the gate of heaven.’” —John Taylor
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“Before you go into the Temple, … go by yourselves, in secret prayer. Offer up your prayers to the Lord, and pray that your sins may not only be forgiven, but that you may all have the Spirit of God and the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ; that the Spirit of God may be with those who will assemble in the Temple… I have the desire for the Saints to do this, for I wish to see those who go into the Temple go in with pure hearts, and that the Spirit of God may be with them, that they may enjoy themselves, that they may all feel the influence of that power.” —Wilford Woodruff
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(Concerning the Kirtland Temple) “There we had the gift of prophecy–the gift of tongues–the interpretation of tongues–visions and marvelous dreams were related–the singing of heavenly choirs was heard, and wonderful manifestations of the healing power, through the administrations of the Elders, were witnessed. The sick were healed–the deaf made to hear–the blind to see and the lame to walk, in very many instances. It was plainly manifest that a sacred and divine influence–a spiritual atmosphere pervaded that holy edifice.” —Lorenzo Snow
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“In regard to our religion, or our eternal covenants, we have no compromise to make, nor principles to barter away; they emanate from God and are founded upon the rock of eternal ages; they will live and exist when empires, powers and nations shall crumble and decay; and with the help of the Almighty we will guard sacredly our covenants and maintain our interests and be true to our God, while time exists or eternity endures.” —Joseph F. Smith
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“The salvation of the dead is one of the cardinal purposes for which the Everlasting Gospel was restored, and the Church of Jesus Christ reestablished, in this day. The phenomenal interest manifested by the Saints in this very important phase of the Savior’s redemptive mission is a most promising sign. Our temples are thronged from early morning far into the night, by those intent upon redeeming their departed ancestors and helping to forge the link that will eventually bind the Gospel dispensations and bring together all things in Christ.” —Heber J. Grant
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“We are the only people in the world who know what temples are for. Each [temple] has been built to one great eternal purpose: to serve as a House of the Lord, to provide a place sacred and suitable for the performing of holy ordinances that bind on earth as in heaven–ordinances for the dead and for the living that assure those who receive them and who are faithful to their covenants, the possession and association of their families, worlds without end, and exaltation with them in the celestial kingdom of our Father.” —George Albert Smith
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“Since repentance and baptism by water as well as by the Spirit are essential to salvation, how shall the millions who have never heard the Gospel, who have never had an opportunity either to repent or to be baptized, enter into the kingdom of God? Surely a God of love can never be satisfied if the majority of His children are outside His kingdom, dwelling eternally either in ignorance, misery or hell. Such a thought is revolting to intelligent minds.” —David O. McKay
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“I think sometimes we look at this work for the salvation of the dead rather narrowly. It is a wrong conception to think of the people for whom we are doing work in the temple of the Lord as being dead. We should think of them as living; and the living proxy but represents them in receiving the blessings which they should have received and would have received in this life had they been living in a gospel dispensation. Therefore every dead person for whom work is done in the temple is considered to be living at the time the ordinance is given.” —Joseph Fielding Smith
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“Down here on the earth outside of His sacred presence there are the things that money can buy, there are the things that we call the honors of men and the things that we strive for and seem to think are most important. But [the temple] is where we climb high above the smoke and the fog of these earthly things and we learn to read by God’s eternal stars a course that will lead us safely back home.” —Harold B. Lee
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“A basic reason for eternal marriage is that life is eternal; and marriage, to be in harmony with eternal purposes, must be consistent with life in duration…Eternal marriage is performed by the prophet of the Lord or by one of the very few to whom he has delegated the authority. It is performed in holy temples erected and dedicated for that purpose. Only such marriage transcends the grave and perpetuates the husband-wife and parent-child relationships into and through eternity.” —Spencer W. Kimball
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“No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To most of us, a temple is easily accessible, perhaps so conveniently that the blessing is taken too casually. As with other matters of faithfulness in gospel living, being married the Lord’s way takes a willingness to deny yourself ungodliness–worldliness–and a determination to do our Father’s will. By this act of faith, we show our love to God and our regard for a posterity yet unborn. As our family is our greatest source of joy in this life, so it may well be in the eternity.” —Ezra Taft Benson
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“It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of–and carry–a current temple recommend. The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of a temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individuals and as families.” —Howard W. Hunter
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“I make … a challenge for each of you this day to put your lives in order, to be worthy to go to the house of the Lord and there to partake of the blessings that are peculiarly yours. … Great are the requirements, but greater still are the blessings…Is life filled with cares for you? Do you have problems and concerns and worries? Do you want for peace in your heart and an opportunity to commune with the Lord and meditate upon His way? Go to the house of the Lord and there feel of His Spirit and commune with Him and you will know a peace that you will find nowhere else.” —Gordon B. Hinckley
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“My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service…If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing. Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is.” —Thomas S. Monson
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The remaining captions are all excerpts from President Russell M. Nelson’s first message to the Latter-day Saints at the Press Conference on January 16, 2018. “Now we must look forward to the future, with complete faith in our Lord Jesus Christ whose Church this is.”
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“As we go forward together I invite you to think about the majestic manner by which the Lord governs His Church.”
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“This is the Lord’s Church. He does not work after the manner of men.”
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“The Lord always has and always will instruct and inspire His prophets.”
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“The Lord is at the helm. We who have been ordained to bear witness of His holy name throughout the world will continue to seek to know His will and follow it.”
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“To each member of the Church I say: Keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants, will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women and children everywhere.”
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“As a new presidency we want to begin with the end in mind. For this reason we are speaking to you today from a temple.”
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“The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in a House of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in a temple, that qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life.”
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“The ordinances of the Temple and the covenants you made there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family and your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary.”
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“Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors, will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.”
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“Now, if you have stepped off the path, may I invite you with all the hope in my heart to please come back.”
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“Whatever your concerns, whatever your challenges, there’s a place for you in this, the Lord’s Church. You and generations yet unborn will be blessed by your actions now to return to the covenant path.”
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“Our Father in Heaven cherishes His children and He wants each of us to return home to Him. This is a grand goal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help each of us to come back home.”
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“I express my deep love for you, love that has grown over decades of meeting you, worshiping with you and serving you.”
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“Our divine mandate is to go to every nation, kindred tongue and people, helping to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord. This we will do, with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that He is in charge—this is His work and His Church. We are His servants.”
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“I declare my devotion to God our Eternal Father and to His Son Jesus Christ. I know them, love them, and pledge to serve Them and you with every remaining breath of my life, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” –President Russell M. Nelson
CeciliaApril 14, 2019
I saw this page only today but, still, I want to thank you for the research of the statements from all 17 prophets of this dispensation inviting us to the House of the Lord. So powerful and helpful to strenght those who need to be encouraged. Something I was looking for. Many, many thanks.
Patricia MenloveNovember 6, 2018
Love your artistic photography, but even more, I love your faith and the testimony you bear. I have also felt your faith and testimony of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as you sang of Him on our Israel trip - Jordan/Israel 2017. You are blessed with many gifts, Scot, and you are blessing us through those gifts. Thank you, Thank you for your faith and goodness. You are much loved. Patricia Menlove