In a recent Church News podcast, host Sarah Weaver invited Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to talk about the importance of temples.
“Access to the power of Godliness through the covenants and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest spiritual resources and blessings that members have,” Elder Bednar said.
At the beginning of the episode, Weaver asked how Latter-day Saints should teach kids about temples. One of the main emphases in Elder Bednar’s response was to refer to the temple as the house of the Lord.
Elder Bednar has noticed that members of the Church have focused on the structure of the temple more than the ordinances done inside. He advised that parents avoid teaching that to their children.
“We simply focus on the structure and we miss what matters most, which is the connection to the resurrected and living Christ that is possible through the covenants and ordinances that are in the temple,” Elder Bednar said. “Who cares what size it is?”
He further explained that rather than separating different topics of the gospel, Latter-day Saints should connect all gospel topics back to the Father’s plan.
As the podcast continued, he provided advice on how members of the church should approach non-members about the gospel.
“… change of heart is key,” Elder Bednar said.
Elder Bednar reminded listeners that going to the temple is about placing spiritual growth as a priority and helping family members who have passed away receive the ordinance that they couldn’t while on Earth.
“I’m not sure you ever know who you are unless you know where you came from,” Elder Bednar said. “In a world where there is so much isolation and loneliness, family history work is the ultimate connection. It is about the origin. It is about the roots.”
The full podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Bookshelf Plus and the Church News website.