The Full Package

This morning I arrived at the Redlands Temple to participate in an endowment session a little more special than usual.  After showing my recommend at  the front desk and changing into white clothing, I entered the ordinance room to find it almost completely full (luckily, there was a seat for me).  Six people in attendance at this session were there to receive what I have affectionately called “the full  package” for themselves.  Of these six, however, I was there for two in particular: Nick and Annette Martinez. 

What a beautiful experience to be in the temple and participate with them in the endowment session.  As they experienced the ordinance for themselves, I was able to take a family member through.  While I was not going through the session for myself, as they were, we were all able to learn something new.  This is one of the wonderful blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ: that we are able to learn at our own pace.  I am not judged on what President Monson knows and the most recently baptized member is not judged on what I know.  In the end, like the parable of the laborers in the vineyard teaches (see Matthew 20:1-15), we all receive the same payment no matter the hour of our hire. 

As I contemplate the experience I had this morning, I can’t help but think of the 4th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “For behold the field  is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul” (verse 4).  This is a portion of the section known to the Elders and Sisters in the  mission field as "the missionary section."  The Lord declares that He has prepared the people of the earth to receive the gospel and now is time for the missionaries to reap the bounty and lay up sheaves “in store” by going out and working with their “might” to find those people who have been prepared to hear the gospel message.  I don’t know if it is still thought of in this way now, but during my missionary days, the end goal was baptism. 

Baptism, however, is not the final goal.  A person being baptized is the result of exercising faith in Christ and repenting, but the ordinance cannot be considered the final destination of our spiritual journey here in mortality.  On this subject, Nephi taught that “the gate by which [we] should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 31:17, emphasis added).  How can baptism be considered an end when Nephi describes it as the gate?  Baptism  is the end of the journey to Christ and His gospel and His Church, but it is the gateway for those so cleansed to step onto the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:18). 

Now that the sheaves have been have been harvested through baptism, an additional step needs to be taken to help the newly converted person stay on the path.  The verse that I quoted from Section 4 of the Doctrine in Covenants mentions that the sheaves should be laid “up in store,” but what does that mean?  Speaking of the baptized Lamanites, Ammon declared: “Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted” (Alma 26:5, emphasis added). 

Elder David A. Bednar taught, “The sheaves in this analogy represent newly baptized members of the Church. The garners are the holy temples. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: ‘Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should be gathered is the holy temple.’  This instruction clarifies and emphasizes the importance of sacred temple ordinances and covenants—that the sheaves may not be wasted” (Ensign, May 2009, 97, emphasis added). 

This is one of the reasons why Bishop Allen charged me with putting together a quarterly trip to the temple for the newly baptized members right after  I was set apart to the calling of ward mission leader (and why when I wondered if a trip during the 4th quarter was doable because of the holidays, he insisted I still schedule it ☺).  When I served in this same calling in our ward in Colton, Bishop Edstrom and I also tried to make a similar trip and I knew how important it is for those coming into the gospel through baptism to serve in the temple.  Being able to truly attend the temple, to not just walk the grounds but go inside and participate in the vicarious ordinances of baptism and confirmation, allows the patron to feel of the wonderful spirit that resides within the building.  I cannot stress how important active participation is.  From the day Nick and Annette attended a trip to the temple, they felt the special spirit of the House of the Lord and wanted that spirit to be a part of their lives.  Now that they have “received all the blessings the Church  has to offer” (Pres. Monson, Ensign, May 2011, 93), they will be able to walk the strait and narrow path with those additional covenants and blessings to accompany and protect them. 

This doesn’t mean that the Martinez’s (or any of us so endowed and sealed) can coast from now until the end.  The word endure suggests remaining firm and steadfast, not lazy or complacent, no matter what comes our way along the path.  Heavenly Father gives us the opportunity to return to Him.  If we remain obedient to the commandments He has given us, walk by faith, hold on to the rod with both hands, stay on the path and remain focused on the Savior, we “shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).  I am grateful I’ve been able to walk the path toward the garner (the holy temple) with Nick and Annette and I look forward to continuing along the path with my friends as I and my family travel the strait and narrow path back to Father in Heaven.