general conference

Poll – Top Things that Interfere with Regular Temple Attendance?

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Elder Richard G. Scott

Elder Richard G. Scott

In the April General Conference earlier this year Elder Richard G. Scott spoke about the temple.  He said:

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. ((Elder Scott, “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” April 2009 General Conference.))

As Elder Scott suggested, one way to succeed in attending the temple regularly is to identity those things that interfere, and either eliminate them, work around them, or correct them.

So, we come to the poll below (only visible on the website).  This poll is completely anonymous.  Feel free to explain your choices, or “other” selection, in the comments, and how you plan to overcome your interferences.

What are the top things that interfere with you attending the temple regularly? (Select up to 5 choices)

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#ldsconf LiveTweeting LDS General Conference at TempleStudy.com

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General Conference live Twitter feed

General Conference live Twitter feed

In April I liveblogged LDS General Conference.  This time around I’m just going to include the streaming video feed and the Twitter stream.  Twitter is a bigger conversation of what is going on at Conference anyways.  Members around the world will be tweeting about Conference using the hashtag #ldsconf.  Feel free to join in the conversation.  (Note: If many anti-Mormons begin jeering the hashtag too much, I will filter it.)

As I did last time, I’m changing the look of the site somewhat for Conference.  The homepage, TempleStudy.com, will become the Conference page.  I’m “dimming the lights” so that the streaming video is easier to watch.  Below the video you’ll find the same auto-updating Twitter feed following comments about Conference using the #ldsconf hashtag.

I’m looking forward to hearing the Lord’s prophet and apostles speak this weekend.  Let me know if this mashup is helpful to you, or if there’s anything you’d suggest.

The Importance of Temple Work

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The sealing power has been compared to links in a chain which bind families together eternally.

The sealing power is compared to links in a chain which bind families together eternally all the way back to our father Adam.

Last week I was asked by our bishop to present a 10-15 minute portion of a lesson today on the importance of temple work in our combined priesthood/relief society meeting.

Our stake is preparing for a “temple month” theme for January, and our meeting today was meant to inspire us to be thinking about family history, genealogy and temple work and to do more of it.  Our bishop wanted me to present some general information about the reason for the temple and why the work performed there is of such supernal import. After my part of the lesson, two sisters were to give instruction on family history work, FamilySearch, indexing, and preparing and submitting names to the temple.

Since I only had about 10 minutes, I considered carefully what I wanted to present to introduce this topic.  Below are the notes from my portion of the lesson:  [Read more…]

Liveblog: 178th Semiannual General Conference

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LDS Conference Center

LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

In my most ambitious liveblogging yet, I’m going to attempt to liveblog General Conference.  I must admit, this will probably be more of a notetaking project for me than anything else, but it might turn into something interesting and fun if we start getting other people participating online here (like you!).  You will be able to enter your name, and your comments, all live and in real-time.

Clearly, I will not be rewriting everything that is being said.  The Church’s English video stream will be embedded alongside the liveblog, so you can watch and listen while participating in a discussion and commentary about what is being said at the same time.  If you visit TempleStudy.com over the next two days the homepage will display the video and liveblog and nothing else to distract.

I am looking forward to learning at the feet of the Lord’s prophets and apostles over the next two days.  How blessed we are to live at this time, and to be instructed by prophets, seers, and revelators!

Update 10/5/08: The liveblog notes from Conference are below. Click on the circular replay button in the center below to read them.

The Iron Rod: A Warning to Religious Liberals

President Harold B. Lee - 1973

President Harold B. Lee - 1973

[Update/Disclaimer (8/1/08 8:10pm MDT):  Because of the different use of the term “liberal” that President Lee uses in this talk, in contrast to the common modern political usage, care should be taken when reading it.  President Lee’s use of “liberal” was strictly used in the sense of a standard of living the gospel, and is therefore applicable to all members regardless of political affiliations.  I personally found much good counsel for myself in the prophet’s words.]

A couple days ago, Tim Malone from the excellent blog Latter-day Commentary pointed me in the direction of a talk in 1971 by President Harold B. Lee on the subject of religious liberalism.  Last night, by random coincidence, as I made a passing remark to my father about some members in the Church who claim it improper to use the terms “the only true Church,” he immediately referred to a quote in the same talk.  Something is telling me to pay close attention to the words of President Lee.  My hope is that all the Saints would too.  This man was a living prophet of the living God:

I sincerely pray for the spirit of this great conference during the few moments that I shall stand here.

Sometime ago there appeared in the Wall Street Journal a thought-provoking article, written by an eminent theologian at the Columbia University, under the subject heading “An Antidote for Aimlessness,” which you recognize as a condition that is prevalent in the world today. I quote from this article by Rabbi Arthur Herlzterg:

“What people come to religion for, is an ultimate metaphysical hunger, and when that hunger is not satisfied, religion declines … the moment that clerics become more worldly, the world goes to hades the faster.  [Read more…]