My Mormon Third Eye: I See… Temple Strength

Sunday, July 20, 2008

I See… Temple Strength

For anyone fortunate enough to live east of Washington DC, your temple experience starts about 20 minutes before you get there, as you round that bend on the beltway and are faced with symmetrically-framed gleaming spires of white rising majestically above the tree-lined horizon in front of you. Temple spires reaching upward remind you of your purpose for braving the traffic and gas prices; you, too, are reaching upward, seeking a heavenly experience, grasping for a peace that only God has power to grant, and your faith and prayers tell you that you may find it there.

How wonderful would life be if we knew where we were going? If we knew the end from the beginning? Wouldn’t it be easier to bear trials and afflictions if we knew why?

Every once in a while there are those who are blessed with this type of knowledge that strengthens their faith. Ammon and his missionary companions in the Book of Mormon had some measure of knowledge of what they were about to attempt: preaching the word of God to “a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and robbing and plundering them.” Lucky for them, the Lord told them the reason why they would suffer so much during their mission: “Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.”

The Celestial Room is our opportunity to taste a glimpse of eternity. If we have approached the temple with the right frame of mind, the peace, comfort and inspiration we feel there instinctively reminds us of what heaven will be like if we choose to take advantage of the atonement to get there. We enjoy the privilege of seeing the end, if only for a moment, and knowing why we must endure. Then we can go forth, armed with vivid memories of a temporary heaven, and walk through our challenges. We put one foot in front of another, and before we know it we have made it through another day, week, month, and year closer to our goal. This is temple strength.

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The Mormon Third Eye Quote of the Week

"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Priesthood Session Conference, October 2012

Why My Mormon Third Eye?

When I politely excused myself in the middle of dinner to make a bathroom stop, how did Mom know that I had uneaten peas in my pocket to flush down the toilet? When I came home late from a youth dance and slid quietly into bed to avoid waking parental units, how did Dad know, without looking at the car, that I smashed in the front bumper? When I watch my daughter play a video game, how do I know that she's not ready for her Geometry final?

Its the Third Eye. The notorious eye in the back of the head, the extra view of life that God blesses parents striving to do the right thing so they can see more of life than the children they chase after.

Our third eye also permits us to see things and feel emotions that are too refined, too far on the edge of our standard two-eyed peripheral vision to enjoy in its fullness. I've learned that I have a Mormon Third Eye; that is, as a life-long, fully-dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have unique perspective on how the doctrines of the gospel and the demands of my faith in them intersect every other part of my mortal existence to create the entertaining, self-deprecating kaleidoscope of my life.

So... for those of you bold and bored enough to read this far, every so often I'll be sharing here what my Mormon third eye sees. Third eyes are relatively huge; they see the humorous, the entertaining, the embarrassing, the beautiful, the inspirational, and even the moral and political; however, they tend to ignore the evil, depressing and destructive: there is enough of that in world already!

The Four Secrets to Successful Living

Always Go Where There is Free Food - This includes ward and work parties, wedding receptions and missionary open houses; the money you spend to buy the ingredients for the world-famous triple chocolate cake you bring doesn’t count.
Never Pay Full Price for Anything – See my posts on Black Friday escapades for more information on this.
Never, Ever Press the Red Button - Usually, if you are faced with a red button somewhere, don’t press it – it usually means trouble. For example, the red button launches the missiles. Do yourself a favor and don’t press it.
Any Problem You Face Can Be Solved With Bungee Cords and Duct Tape - Bungee cord and duct tape technology has saved many marriages and ward parties. I’m not just talking about problems with plumbing or keeping groceries from bouncing around the trunk; I know of relationship and family issues that have been solved with creative applications of these two substances.