We now have an operating temple here in Richmond, Virginia! It is still amazing to me to say that. We moved here from California 21 years ago. For that entire time, we have been in the Washington, D.C. temple district. Twenty-one years of fighting D.C. traffic, twenty-one years of all-day stake bus trips, twenty-one years of riding with a carload of friends, leaving as soon as the school bus pulled away from the curb, hoping to get there, get a session in, then get home before the kids had been home alone for too long. I realize this is no great sacrifice compared to the distances traveled and expense incurred by other, poorer, Saints throughout the world. I think most of us here in Richmond recognized that, and were grateful for a temple just two (or three or four, depending on traffic) hours away. That is why a temple here in Richmond is such an unexpected miracle.
The temple dedication was a Pentecostal experience—at least for me. We could not be physically present in the temple that day—it’s not that large—so we attended the second dedication session virtually at our stake center. I received a number of impressions during the session as I listened to the speakers and the beautiful dedicatory prayer. One was that I should start researching my husband’s family history, since he is currently so busy with work, and that doing this would benefit not only his ancestors, but our family. Personal revelation aside, the dedication was truly inspiring. I felt uplifted and strengthened by the speakers and the Spirit. I thought I’d share three with you:
God knows where and how to find us
The first and second counselors to the temple president spoke at our session. Their wives spoke as well, and I have to say, both of the talks given by these sisters were standouts for me. The First Assistant Matron related a story of a family singing Christmas carols at a nursing home in a small town in rural Virginia. Suddenly, the mom grew tired of singing carols and led the family in singing “I Am a Child of God.” As they concluded, they heard a voice behind them say, “Alright, you found me. That’s my song!” A nurse at the medication cart in the hall had moved to this small town thinking she could run away from the Lord and His Church, but through this family, He was able to reach out to her and remind her of who she was—and that He was aware of her.
I know that God is aware of me; I’ve had too many experiences in my life and witnessed similar experiences in the lives of others to doubt it. My problem is, I forget. Or perhaps I should say that I start to believe that He is aware of me in the same way that I’m aware of my annoying neighbor across the cul-de-sac and his souped-up, noisy car, or my college roommate with whom I exchange Christmas cards. In the press of modern life, I fail to prioritize the things that lead to intimacy with Him; my prayers become rote, my scripture study superficial. There’s a reason then-Elder Eyring urged us to look for and record the instances where we see the Lord’s hand in our daily lives. It helps us see clearly how truly involved God is in our lives; it creates in us an awareness of His infinite care and loving kindness.
The Savior is reaching out to us; reach back!
The Second Assistant Matron began her talk by giving several examples of how the Savior has reached out to people in very personal ways, inviting them to reach back to Him. She pointed out that He was reaching out to each of us here in Central Virginia by gifting us His house, and that by coming often to the temple we could reach back to Him and receive the blessings that can only be found there.
Her talk reflected a major emphasis of the dedication session: the power of the temple to heal, to draw us closer to Jesus Christ, to strengthen us, and provide us with a space for revelation. More than one person quoted President Nelson’s October 2021 conference talk wherein he stated: “the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple.” I felt inspired to attend the temple as often as possible, to “reach back” to Jesus and receive the gifts He offers us there.
“The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up”
One of the General Authorities who spoke quoted Psalm 69:9: “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” I’d heard this scripture before, but had never really considered what it meant. The speaker described being “eaten up with zeal” as being “committed entirely.” I’ve pondered the meaning of this scripture a fair bit since the dedication. I’ve looked at some of the alternate translations, and I really connected with this one:
“My love for your house burns in me like a fire, and when others insulted you, they insulted me as well.” (CEV)
Beautiful, right?
It seems to me that the speaker in this psalm is saying that the temple is the symbol of the Lord Himself. Think about it: we view the temple as the intersection of heaven and earth; a sacred place worthy of the Lord’s presence. The Savior and His Atonement are at the heart of everything we do in modern temples, just as they were in the ancient temple. Temple work affords us the opportunity to become saviors on Mount Zion to those for whom we perform the ordinances. The psalm’s author feels such a devotion to the temple and what it stands for—in other words, the cause of Christ—that he identifies with Christ, taking on the scorn and abuse leveled at the Savior. In other words, a true disciple. Someone, who, like Jeremiah, can’t help but follow God, even through great tribulation because His word is planted deep within our hearts, “as a burning fire shut up in [our bones].”
This was an a-ha! moment for me. I don’t think I’d ever really, completely, connected taking upon myself the name of Christ with devoted temple service. I know, that sounds weird. How could I have missed what is so seemingly obvious? I guess I equated taking Christ’s name with acquiring His attributes. You know, like humility and charity. But, wasn’t Jesus in the temple often when He was in Jerusalem? Luke 22:53 indicates He was in the temple daily during His last week, and He told His mother she should have known He’d be “about [His] Father’s business” in the temple.
As I review my life of temple attendance—closing in on 40 years now—I can see some very bright spots where I received specific revelation or comfort, and a couple of specific times when I felt an otherworldly presence, but the main blessing that stands out to me is the feeling of being home. The feeling of being where I was meant to be, where I belonged—close to my Father and His Son. When I am unable to go (like during the Covid shut-down), I feel something missing. It’s a subtle feeling of longing, easily dismissed when the demands and distractions of life crowd my consciousness.
Perhaps this is where a lot of the power to be drawn from temple worship comes from: its ability to teach and remind us of our true identities as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. Of what covenants can do for us and for all of God’s children. Of what we’ve known and will continue to know for eternity. Toward the end of his dedicatory prayer, President Oaks asked the Lord to “[p]lease bless all who worthily serve in Thy holy temples that they may participate with joy and understanding that thy work will go forward in power to fulfill Thy purposes for all Thy children.” If we want to understand God’s work and His power, we need to worthily and regularly serve in the temple.
I’m looking forward to spending more time in our—my—new temple, pondering my status as a child of a God who knows me, with a Savior who reaches out for me, and how I can increase my zeal for Their work. Rededicating myself to Them.
Your Thoughts?
How do you see the temple?
How can we increase our zeal for the Lord’s house?
I love the experiences and feelings you shared here!