Preparing for the Temple

Nine years ago, I was ordained as a high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood and began my calling as the 2nd assistant in the high priest’s group in our ward.  Honestly, it took me a few months before I felt completely comfortable with the new arrangement.  I felt a little out of place in the group at first.  I guess I had never thought of myself as “high priest material.”  I had been quite happy to be an elder and had thought I’d follow in my father’s footsteps and be an elder for a very long time.  I was seriously shocked speechless when the high councilman came to my home to inform me of the ordination and new calling (Jennifer was the one to start asking what I was expected to do and when the ordination would take place while I sat frozen on the couch for a good minute or two J).   I tried to do my best as an assistant to the group leader and hope I was more than adequate in fulfilling my assignments.  I don't quite remember how long I had the assistant calling, but one of the amazing blessings that came to me because of it was my assignment to teach the Temple Preparation class.

I still remember our first group leadership meeting when Brother Siders, the group leader, turned to me and asked if I’d ever taught the temple prep lessons before.  I had—Jennifer was my first student and I had taught a few other people as well.  “Great,” Brother Siders replied, “the job is yours.”  I’ve been teaching them ever since.  As I think of the number of ward members who have come to our home to receive these lessons as they prepared to either go for their first time or to return to the temple after a lengthy absence, Jennifer and I (she’s my co-teacher) have hosted quite a few brothers and sisters over the last 9 years.  There have been times when I thought this assignment would be given to another person (like when I was called as a counsellor in the bishopric), but even then, Bishop Meservy’s approach was: “If it ain’t broken, why fix it.”  The same thing happened after I was called as the ward mission leader.  Bishop Allen asked me if I would still be willing to continue teaching the temple prep lessons and I was more than happy to say, “Yes.”  I love the temple and am grateful to share that love with others as they prepare to partake of the amazing blessings found within the sacred walls of the House of the Lord.

Tonight, we completed the 7th lesson with Nick and Annette Martinez.  It’s been about a year and a half since I the last time I taught the class.  The previous group consisted of the young men and young woman who were preparing to enter the mission field from our ward (the sister is about ready to return home).  I have many fond memories of the different people who have taken these lessons.  All of the classes have been wonderful, but this time through has been a very special experience for me in two ways.

First, I’ve had to opportunity to work very closely with Brother Martinez since his baptism in March of last year.  Not long after he was baptized (he was actually baptized 2 weeks before Annette), Bishop Allen asked if I could put together some lessons that would help Nick and two other recently baptized brothers learn about the Aaronic Priesthood.  Interestingly (to me, anyway), I had written 3 pamphlets (lacking a better word) for Bishop Meservy while serving as a counselor detailing the duties of deacons, teachers and priests that then hadn’t been used because of the new youth lessons.  At the time, I came to the conclusion that the exercise was good for me if no one else and moved on to other things  Suddenly, I had a use for them.  With some modifications, I turned the priest’s pamphlet into the lessons Bishop Allen envisioned.  Then, when it was time for Brother Martinez to prepare for the Melchizedek Priesthood, I also taught him those lessons.  Jennifer and I have team-taught the Martinez’s in Gospel Principles class.  We’ve also been able to take them to the temple to participate in baptisms and confirmations for the dead.  With the conclusion of the temple prep lessons, Jennifer and I have been able to support them in every step along the way to this trip to the temple to receive, as President Monson declared, “everything the Church has to offer.”

Second, teaching the temple prep class has been special because of the new wrinkle I felt impressed to add to the lessons.  I’ve read and been told by the Elders that eventually the missionaries will be able to use iPads or something similar to help them teach the gospel.  With all the YouTube clips and others videos the Church has produced over the last several years, I’ve wanted to purchase a Surface tablet or pad device to enhance the Gospel Principles lessons—that particular want has been placed on the back burner for now.  However, as these temple lessons approached, I realized I could utilize our desktop computer in the way I have envisioned.

Over the years, I’ve gathered additional conference quotations from the Apostles and First Presidency about the temple in addition to those utilized in the lessons.  Most of the lesson quotes also come from conference talks.  I downloaded the talks from the Church’s website and taught myself how to cut, trim, splice and paste the quotes in order to use them as video clips in order to allow the original speaker to give those quotations instead of me reading them.  Here is a example of what I've been able to learn.  This is a quote from Elder Russell M. Nelson's April 2001 conference address (for his entire address, click here).  The picture's not as clear, but you'll get the gist of the idea.

Also, some of the New Testament verses have been turned into the Bible video series the Church has produced.  I downloaded those videos and either used them in their entirety or isolated the specific verses I wanted.  I also felt impressed to download the recent temple garment video the Church produced and include it in lesson 5 when introducing garments.

At times, the process of preparing the video clips was a frustrating experience, but through trial and error I finally got the clips put together.  I told the Martinez’s when we began the lessons that they were my test subjects and the first to get this technological enhancement.  Being a tech guy, Brother Martinez was excited to be the first to see this in action.  Now that the lessons are completed, I can say the experiment worked successfully.  I, the technological dinosaur, have learned a new tech skill.  After several lessons, the Martinez’s commented how they liked being able to hear the quotes from the speaker’s own mouth.  I liked it too as it brought in other voices besides my own and Jennifer’s into the lessons.  While there is so much about technology that has been used for bad purposes, the Church has utilized it for good.  I see how the proper use of technology can improve teaching as it offers the added dimension of sight and sound to the lesson.  To be able to add the voices of the prophets to my own is a wonderful opportunity.

One of the things I enjoy about the calling of ward mission leader is working with people who are learning the gospel and allowing it to bring greater blessings into their lives.  I also have seen the good influence the missionaries have been on Ben and Isaac.  As the months continue, there are several families that have the potential to join the Martinez’s in receiving their full temple blessings.  However, it is highly likely that the next person to take the temple prep lessons will be Benjamin.  Wow.  That will be an exciting and emotional journey.  I just hope I can get through all 7 lessons without dissolving into a blubbering mass of jelly.  I look forward to the time when the Martinez’s will be able to enter the temple to receive their endowment and to be sealed for time and all eternity.  Our Father in Heaven offers so much to us.  I am grateful I have received those blessings and am now able to teach and prepare others to obtain those blessings for themselves. J