Light

Pictures taken dawn January 28, 2011

"May each of us so live that through our works of righteousness, and with the light of Christ in our lives, we may contribute to and see the dawning of a brighter day in a dark and troubled world, I pray..."
President N. Eldon Tanner

"Look for the Little Light", from My Turn on Earth by Carol Lynn Pearson & Lex De Azevedo

When it's hard to tell what's wrong and what's right,
When it's hard to know what to do,
When the way looks dark and you're stumbling around,
Here's a word for you.


Look for that bright little, right little light inside,
Growin' brighter day by day.
It'll show you the road that you should take,
And it will never grow dim.
Just keep in touch with your Father above,
'Cause it was lit by Him.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt.5:16

See the rest of this profound talk on "light" here.

And to read the story of fellow Temple Chaser and photographer extraordinaire...go here.

Joy in the Morning

Psalms 30:5
".......but joy cometh in the morning."

Pictures taken THIS morning at the Temple.  Also pictured...the new Stake Meetinghouse.

In counseling one of his daughters, Elder Russell M. Nelson said this of 'joy in the morning':  

"The gospel of Jesus Christ offers hope.  It declares joy to be part of our divine destiny.  And to experience joy in the morning becomes our special challenge.  The true test, is to be able to look in the mirror, first thing in the morning and feel real joy."

"My dear ones, in order to experience true joy in the morning, or at any time, at least three factors are needed.  You need to feel good about the people with home you live and work--your companions in life.  You must feel good about yourself--not in any sense of conceit, but simply a proper esteem for yourself, well deserved.  And possibly the most important, you must feel good about your relation to God and sincerely love him."

Please see Elder Nelson's talk, "Joy Cometh in the Morning", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 67 to learn about this special kind of joy.

I know I feel 'joy in the morning' when I wake to my inbox being full of these lovely photos.

I am back.  I am the Chaser.

A Temple for Indiana

I just love it when The Plan comes together.

And I love it when I hear of another temple location announced.

And I really feel for my fellow Saints....

Congratulations Indiana and to those who will be in that temple district.

Go here to witness the site of the Indiana Temple.

I Am A Temple Chaser

A gift from friends arrived today here in sunny St. George, miles away from the snow covered Kansas City Temple.

It came on a day when I really needed it.

Thank you fellow Temple Chasers.... I AM there, in heart.

Sunrise

Some stunning photos of sunrise at the Temple. 

As always, thank you Valerie Anderson for the beautiful photos.

I am changing the format of this blog.  I will only be posting current photos or information submitted by fellow Chasers.  If you have photos that you would like shown here or would like to be a contributor, please contact me through my profile.

Stick To Your Task, Stay In the Boat

Boyd was in Kansas City for the day yesterday.  And so he snapped a picture of the Temple for me on his phone.  

Not much has changed since a few days ago, when the second spire was seen being lifted into place.

And once the walls are enclosed, we won't be able to see progress moving forward ahead as quickly.  Although it will still be progressing, it might seem to be taking a long time.

I think that life is a lot like that.  

Progression takes enduring.

"Stick to your task till it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honor, power, place and praise..

Will always come to the one who stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too.

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile...

Will come life's victories, after awhile."

"What if the Apostle Paul's conversion had not been enduring?  He never would have testified as he did at the end of his ministry;  "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

"What if Jesus had wavered in His commitment to do His Father's will?  His Atonement would not have been accomplished.  The dead would not be resurrected.  The blessings of immortality and eternal life would not be.  But Jesus did endure.  During His final hour, Jesus prayed to His Father, saying, "I have glorified thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

"Some individuals want to jump "out of the boat" before reaching land.  And others, sadly, are persuaded out by companions who insist that they know more about life's perilous journey than do prophets of the Lord.  Problems often arise that are not of your own making.  Some of you may innocently find yourselves abandoned by one you trusted.  But you will never be forsaken by your Redeemer, who said, "I the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say."

"Your responsibility to endure is uniquely yours.  But you are never alone.  I testify that the lifting power of the Lord can be yours if you will "come unto Christ" and "be perfected in Him."  You will "deny yourselves of all ungodliness."  And you will "love God with all your might, mind and strength."

"The [then] living prophet of the Lord has issued a clarion call:  "I invite every one of you," said President Hinckley, "to stand on your feet and with a song in your heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom.  Together we shall stay the course and keep the faith."

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"Endure and Be Lifted Up", April 1997 General Conference

I pray that we all may "stick to our tasks, and stay in the boat."  Endure to the end, being faithful through times of discouragement and we will see progression.

Hang in there Temple Chasers.  

An EyeWitness

A couple of days ago, fellow Temple Chasers, Valerie and Tom, witnessed an exciting part of the Temple building process.  They arrived in time to see the skeleton of the second spire hoisted, lifted and secured in place.  They were able to capture this event as it transpired, with their cameras.  Video to be coming soon.

What a thrill for these Temple Chasers and what a privilege for us, that we can all witness the process of the building of the House of the Lord.

The Code of Conduct

Months ago I posted some photos similar to these, of the Contractor Code of Conduct located at the entrance to the Temple worksite.  

These photos show, up close, the rules that are to be adhered and followed by those who are building the temple and working on the temple site.  I think some of these rules could be applicable to all of us to follow as we make preparations to attend the temple.

Rule #1.  I once heard a suggestion to carry our recommends with us wherever we went, or in our wallet. That way we were always prepared to enter a Temple, wherever we went and when the opportunity arose.  And a recommend is like a type of I.D.... the ultimate I.D.  When kept current, it shows our identity as an obedient son or daughter of God.

"The Lord would be pleased if every adult member would be worthy of--and carry--a current temple recommend".

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Rule #2.  President Hinckley taught, "Be Clean" & "Everything looks better when there is cleanliness".

"Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord" D&C 133:5.  

"Thus has He spoken to us in modern revelation.  Be clean in body.  Be clean in mind.  Be clean in language.  Be clean in dress and manner." 

President Gordon B. Hinckley

The Lord's house is a house of order.  D&C 132:8  We can prepare ourselves by following the counsel found in D&C 88:119..."Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

Rule #3-4.  "You must be morally clean to enter into the holy temple."& "To enter the temple you must be a full-tithe payer and live the Word of Wisdom".  

President Howard W. Hunter

Rule #5.  Couldn't we all put on the "armor of God", daily before we go out into the world?  We can shield ourselves from the adversary by making prayer and daily scripture study a priority.  Does it make sense that we would enter a job-site and risk injury?  Then why would we allow ourselves and our families to go out unprotected? 

From Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians:  "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

"Wherefore take unto the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day...

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."

Rule #6.  Only members holding a current Temple recommend are allowed inside the Temple.  Work on getting your "contractor's badge" or recommend, that you might be 'designated'  to attend the Temple when it's completed.  

Rule #7.   "Our duty is clear.  The Savior gave us the Golden Rule:  'All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' (Matt. 7:12) "Members of the Church of Jesus Christ have a higher standard.  We are commanded to live the Golden Rule".

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"The standard...in the Church must be visibly higher than the standard...in the world."

President Harold B. Lee

Let us all strive to live the Code of Conduct outlined for us in the scriptures and through the words of our Savior as delivered through his mouthpiece...the Prophet, and prepare to be worthy to be in the Kansas City Temple.