President Hinckley sealing cornerstone
President Hinckley loved temples. He loved speaking about them, building them, dedicating them, visiting them, and doing the work therein performed. Here are some of his words and counsel:
“Every temple that this church has built has in effect stood as a monument to our belief in the immortality of the human soul, that this phase of mortal life through which we pass is part of a continuous upward climb, so to speak. And that as certain as there is life here, there will be life there,” he said in a 1999 interview. The temple, he said, “is concerned with things of immortality,” in particular the eternity of the family. “All of the ordinances which take place in the house of the Lord become expressions of our belief in that fundamental and basic doctrine,” he said. “The temple, therefore, becomes the ultimate in our system of worship. And, therefore, is of great and significant importance to us.” (Deseret News, “Mark Left on Temples, Ordinances”, January 27, 2008)
“I wish to say to everyone here, come to the temple. Live worthy to come to the temple. Live the commandments of God so that you may come to the temple. Do those things which will make you eligible to serve in the house of the Lord. It has been built for you, my brothers and sisters, that you might have the opportunity of coming here and receiving the wonderful blessings that can be had nowhere else in all the world, except in other temples, where you may be sealed together as husband and wife, where your children may be sealed to you, where you may work in behalf of your forebears, who have gone beyond. That great and marvelous and wonderfully unselfish work occurs in the house of the Lord. Come to the temple” (meeting, Aba, Nigeria, Aug. 6, 2005).
President Hinckley often spoke or wrote about the temple, in General Conference and in the Church’s magazines. Here are some links to more of his counsel regarding them:
“O That I Were an Angel, and Could Have the Wish of Mine Heart” – Oct. 2002 Conference
“The Salt Lake Temple” – Ensign, March 1993
“Why These Temples?” – Liahona, June 1992
“Keeping the Temple Holy” – Ensign, May 1990
“Temples and Temple Work” – Liahona, Oct. 1982