January Presidency Message

Every few months, I get the opportunity to teach a lesson in Relief Society and share a message in the newsletter. This is the one from this month.

Happy New Year!
This time of the year is always so motivating! It is evident by how many people I saw at the gym this morning at 5 a.m. There wasn’t one cardio machine available! I am like most of you, optimistically setting goals for self improvement.

As we set these goals, may we consider this quote by Robert D. Hales: “Is the benefit temporary, or will it have eternal value and significance?” As we ponder areas of improvement, do we think about the eternal consequences? Remember we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience…our soul is what we need to exercise.

One of the best places to remember who we are (a Child of God) and where we want to be (with our Father in Heaven) is in one of the beautiful temples that dot the land.
“Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls. The temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us” (Tambuli, November 1994, page 6).
One of our stake goals this past year is:
We encourage every Stake member who holds a temple recommend (including the youth) to increase his or her temple attendance, and to attend the temple with a purpose in mind. Since temple attendance is a personal matter, we ask you to individually evaluate how you can increase temple attendance for you and your family, and to set specific goals concerning your own temple worship. (If you do not have a recommend, you are encouraged to meet with Bishop Brown.)
Increasing our temple attendance will have eternal value and significance. May we resolve (to have firm determination: unwavering) to bless our lives and the lives of our families by attending the temple regularly.

For your information:
The 2nd Wednesdays of every month is ward temple night 5:45 p.m.
The 3rd Saturdays of every month is the Relief Society temple morning 8:00 a.m.