After Many Days

My wife and I attended the Mt. Timpanogos temple last night and had a wonderful experience. I was reminded of a truth which should be applied to every one one of us.

Nephi shares with us how he applies the scriptures in 1 Nephi 19:23 when he states, "for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." Likewise, in the temple we are to consider ourselves as if we were Adam and Eve - in other words, it should be a personal and individual journey. It's likening and applying all of these teachings to ourselves for our "profit and learning".

After Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden, they built an altar and offered sacrifices. After many days an angel of the Lord appeared to them and asked them why they offered sacrifices? Adam responded, "I know not save the Lord commanded me." The angel then began to teach them the purpose of the sacrifice and other important doctrines. (Moses 5:4-6)

It was that experience that began a journey of progression and preparation for Adam and Eve. Additional angels appeared to them without revealing their identity to test and evaluate them, then angels returned disclosing their identity and casting out the adversary, over a period of time and other experiences they were prepared in all things to meet the Lord.

Among several interesting lessons in this endowment, I want to share just one:

Adam and Eve followed divine direction, even when they didn't know WHY they were doing it. They continued to perform this labor (offer sacrifice, with little understanding why they were doing it) for many days. For a couple who lived for more than 900 years, many days could be weeks, months, years, or decades. It was this act of faith that started a journey of progression until they were pulled into the presence of the Lord.

- How many of us obey the commandments of the Lord, even when we don't understand all the reasons?
- How many of us get impatient with the Lord, especially after MANY DAYS?
- How many of us continue to humbly seek the Lord to better understand how all things point to him?

I love the temple and all it has to offer. It points the way to Christ. It teaches us how to seek him and humbly serve him. It should remind us that he is in all things. We should patiently and humbly seek him and never weary of obeying his word, even if it requires MANY DAYS of sacrifice. What we learn in the temple is that he does hear those prayers and he will teach us when we obey his voice (D&C 93).