The Following is an excerpt from Episode 3 of the podcast Follow Him, hosted by John Bytheway & Hank Smith, Guest speaker: Dr. Maclane Heward

“I want to see the temple built in a manner that it will endure through the millennium.” This is Brigham as the [Salt Lake] temple is just starting to be built.

“This is not the only temple we shall build.” And then he says this, listen to this, “There will be hundreds of them built and dedicated to the Lord.” He says this, 1863, “This temple will be known as the first temple built in the mountains by the Latterday Saints. And when the millennium is over and all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve down to the last of their posterity who come within the reach of the clemency of the gospel have been redeemed in hundreds of temples through the administration of their children as proxies for them, speaking of the Salt Lake Temple, I want the temple still to
stand as a proud monument of the faith, perseverance and industry of the saints of God in the mountains in the 19th century.”

… “To each of you who has made temple covenants. I plead with you to seek prayerfully and consistently to understand temple covenants and ordinances. Spiritual doors will open. You’ll learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for God’s angels to attend you and how to better receive direction
from heaven. Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundations.” That’s President Nelson. Here’s another one. “The Lord promised every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me and calleth on my name and obeyeth my voice and keepeth my commandments shall
see my face and know that I am. There are many different ways to see the face of Christ and there is no better place than in his holy house.” That’s Elder Andersen.

President Nelson says, “The Kirtland Temple has unusual significance in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Several events that took place there had been prophesied for millennia and were essential to the Lord’s restored church to fulfill its latter-day mission. The most important of these events occurred on Easter Sunday, April 3rd, 1836. Jesus Christ declared that He had accepted the temple as His house and made this stunning promise, “I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. This significant promise applies to every dedicated temple today.” I invite you to ponder what the Lord’s promise means for you personally. That was in April 2024 conference by President Nelson. In case you haven’t heard any of the things that we’ve previously said, I’ve got my conference edition, Ensign, from October 2024, the last conference. I just quoted April 2024.

Listen to President Nelson again. He’s just listed a bunch of temples that will be built. “My dear brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening before your eyes? I pray that you will not miss the majesty of this moment. The Lord is indeed hastening His work. What is that work? It’s restoration. Restoration of people to Him. Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace? Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil, restoration. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare a world for the second coming of the Lord.”

Skipping a few paragraphs, [President Nelson] then says, “Here is my promise to you. Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.” We ought not think that that will come without labor. Without a little bit of a quest, but the vision begins with the First Vision and is culminating with the dedication of hundreds of temples where God is inviting His people into His presence. This First Vision is powerful and beautiful, and every time we go into a temple, it is fulfillment of the First Vision. I hope that you can see this narrative arc that really pulls the whole church history together into this great moment. When President Nelson says, “My dear brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening right before our eyes?”

… Notice in President Nelson’s talk when he says, “The Lord Jesus Christ will come again.” What does he tell us to do? Get into the temples because it’s there that you learn how to overcome the world and prepare for this personal experience with him. Do I know if I’m ready for the presence of the Savior? Well, when I recall the five covenants that I make in the temple, the law of obedience, the law of sacrifice, the law of the Gospel, which requires repentance, the law of chastity, and I manage this relatively ubiquitous desire, the law of consecration, can I take everything that I have and everything that I am and dedicate it to the restoration of people to God, restoring me, my family and others to God?

If I’m working on those five things, then I can have personal confidence that I’m ready to enter into God’s presence.

https://followhim.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DC2-03-Dr.-Maclane-Heward-JSH-1-followHIM-Podcast-SHOW-NOTES.pdf

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