About the Apostles; Class with Laurel Lawrence 12/2/21

Pneumonic for remembering the apostles:

 

President Nelson: born 9/9/1924. He was in St Petersburg, Russia for his 89^th birthday. Someone found out he liked bread pudding and made it for him. He is 97 years old and walks like a young man. He has perfect posture, and someone said he takes 2 steps at a time when climbing stairs.

He was raised in Salt Lake City. His parents were not active, ,  he was not raised in the church but would go occasionally with a friend. They had a faithful home teacher who asked the parents if he could baptize him since his father couldn’t’. He worked to activate them his whole adult life and they finally got baptized when his father was 80 then he was made Elder and they were sealed in the temple.

He played football in high school and later as a heart surgen was able to save his coach’s wife.

He has perfect pitch

He was invited to participate in a musical in the university and was reluctant until he saw a beautiful girl named Danzel. She later sang in the Tabernacle choir and he watched the kids so she could go.

He developed a heart/lung machine that changed the medical community. He later saved President Kimball’s life.

His wife died at home while they were sitting there together. With all his medical knowledge he couldn't save her. One year later he married Wendy. She was raised in Canada.

He opened the missionary work in Eastern Europe as a new apostle so was always connected and very interested in the work there.

At 93 he still went skiing with his grandchildren every Monday and didn’t need any kind of glasses. Their immediate family of children, spouses and grandchildren is over 100 people, so when they get together they have to do it at a church building.

Whenever he and his wife traveled together, they played scrabble to keep their minds active. He has an amazing memory and remembers people’s names. He is very warm, very sensitive to less actives and wants to help them.

He is about 6’ tall.

President Oaks will be the next president of the Church. He was born in 1932 so he is 89 years old. He was named after Cyrus Dallin because his mother posed for Cyrus and loved the name. Cyrus Dallin is the man who created the Moroni statue. His father died of tuberculoso when he was 76, so he was raised by a single mother who had no source of income, so she went to school in Chicago and left the kids with their grandparents. While they were there, the grandmother had a nervous breakdown but recovered to be able to help raise then.

When he was 11 he got a job weeping the floor in a radio repair place and was fascinated with it, so at age 13 he became a radio announcer for games and other things.

He wanted to go on a mission, but with the Korean war, only one boy could go on a mission from any ward at a time. Several of the general authorities didn't serve missions for the same reason.

So he stayed in school. He went to BYU and met his wife who was an identical twin. It took him some time to be able to tell which one he was in love with.

They have 6 kids. He went to law school in Chicago. When he left, his mother told him that his father had a rule to never study on Sundays but to devote Sundays to religious study and service. He wanted to follow his father’s advice, so that’s what he did.

He taught law, became president of BYU and served on the supreme court until called to be an apostle.

She used to teach aerobics in a 5am class. (someone in the class used to go to her classes.)

At the time that June used to teach aerobics, Dallin taught Sunday School. His classes were so popular that they couldn’t get anyone to serve in Primary or anywhere else, because everyone wanted to go to Sunday School, so they would record his lessons, then pass them around. Each person was allowed to keep the recording one day than had to pass it on.

His wife died at 51. He thought it was very awkward to be a dating apostle. The Lawrence’s knew them when they lived in a building in SLC (sounds like many general authorities lived in that building. Laurel and June used to study together.

Elder Ballard is 93. He was born in SLC. He is the grandson of 2 apostles – one from his father’s side and one from his mother’s side. His parents were not active so his grandfather baptized hi. He served a mission in England. He is one a only a few general authorities who didn’t get a degree.

He sold cars and had his own dealership. His wife was in a wheel chair and Laurel used to visit her every Tuesday. All the wives took turns visiting his wife. They were a stunningly handsome couple, lie movie stars when they were young.

He would so the shopping and cooking on his time off from being an apostle, but hated to go to Costco because he always got recognized and couldn’t finish his shopping because he couldn’t leave his wife very long. People always wanted to talk to him in Costco.

After she died, he took all the wives who had served her and their husbands, rented a big van and box seats to  a Jazz game. Someone said he made cinnamon rolls for a new neighbor refugee? Who moved in nearby to welcome them.

Elder Holland is 81, born in St George. His father was not ative but mother was. When Jeffrey was 10, one day the bishop and Sunday School president came over and called Frank to teach Sunday School. He accepted the calling, put out his cigarette and never smoked again.

With his wife, Patricia, they had 3 children. She developed breathing problems and couldn’t go anywhere for a year. He prayed fervently and constantly that she not be taken. He also asked members to pray for her and she eventually recovered. The Lawrences traveled to the middle east with them. On the flight, the pilot announced that they had someone famous on the plane. Laurel thought it was amazing that the pilot thought the Hollands were that famous, but then the pilot said Brad Pitt was on the flight. People wanted his autograph and pictures, but some Philippine women went to Elder Holland to ask for a picture and he said, only if we can include my wife. (it was wise that he didn’t allow pictures of himself with other women without his wife). While Larry was a general authority seventy, he met with Jeffrey weekly. He loved their meetings.

President Eyring; he was born in New Jersey. His father was a professor at Princeton. Elder Eyring went to Harvard business school, was a professor at Stanford, a seminary teacher, then president of Ricks. His oldest son is now president of BYUI. They said the son has a great sense of humor.

They have 6 children and his wife has serious dementia. James 5:10 says people can take the apostles as examples of pain and trials. They are not exempt from anything.

President Uchtdorf: their family fled East Germany and were separated several times. He had several traumatic experiences as a child. The family joined the church while he was young.

At 19 he joined the German air force to become a fighter pilot, but he had to learn English first. He said that was the hardest thing he ever had to do.

6 years later he was a pilot for Lufthansa airlines. He married Harriette, they have 2 kids. He was a stake president twice, then called to be an apostle. He and his wife went to the United States thinking it would be a visit, but had to stay and live here. When he was made a general authority, the members in Germany were weeping for joy because they felt that meant that God had forgiven their people for Germany’s part in the war.

David Bednar was born in Oakland. His father was not a member but attended. From a young age he asked his father all the time when he would get baptized. His father said, I won’t get baptized for you or for your mother. I will get baptized when I feel it is right.

He served a mission in S Germany and still asked his dad in letters every week when he would get baptized. Finally his father wrote and asked what he had planned for a certain date because he was getting baptized that day.

He has 3 sons. He got a doctorate at Purdue, later president of Ricks. He was an apostle at age 52 – the 2^nd youngest.

Quentin Cook – his father was not active. When his older brother wanted to serve a mission, the father said he should use that time in school becoming a doctor. He really wanted to serve, and Quentin wanted to serve when he was old enough, so they prayed really hard together one night. During the night, the older brother had a dream where God told him 3 things – that Christ is the Savior of the world, the Church is true, and Joseph Smith was a prophet.

The next morning they went to their father and bore strong testimony, and the father let him go serve. On his mission he was companions with Jeffrey Holland. He later became president and CEO of California Healthcare System.

At one point his brother was the stake president and he was his counselor.

At 62 he was called to be an apostle and able to serve with Jeffrey Holland again.

Todd Christofferson. He was born in Pleasant Grove, Ut. He served a mission in Argentina. He and his wife have 5 children. He worked at nations bank and gave up a very lucrative career to be an apostle. Once a person asked how much the church pays for someone to entice someone away from  such a career. The answer was that they wouldn’t believe it if they heard the truth.

His wife keeps him on a very strict health diet. When he visited in Russia, she sent certain foods with him and sent a list of things he could and shouldn’t eat.

Neal Anderson served his mission in France. Got his MBA at Yale.

Ronald Rasband – never graduated from college. He was the Elder’s Quorum president in a student ward and the High Councilor over that ward was John Huntsman. He was so impressed with him that he offered him a job with Huntsman Chemicals in Ohio 3 months before he graduated.

They have 5 children.

Gary Stevenson served his mission in Japan. They have 4 sons. He founded Icon Fitness that manufactures the treadmills that every company sells. They said if you have or have been on a treadmill, Stevenson’s company probably built it.. he is valued among the apostles because he has a wealth of practical experience.

Dale Rendlund. His parents are from Sweden, and he served his mission in Sweden.  He went to medical school in Utah and  became a heart surgen. After their daughter was born, his wife got ovarian cancer so they can’t have more children. The daughter never married and is now past child-bearing age, so they won’t have any grandchildren.

He and his wife served in Africa. Whenever there was a mission president’s meeting, they would all get together. Dale’s wife, Ruth,  advised Laurel to clean out and organize the area office, which she did. She said it was a wonderful experience and blessing to do that. They became good friends.

Elder Gong is from California. His parents are from China. He served his mission in Taiwan. He was lecturing at the MTC when he met his future wife who was passing through on her mission. After he mission they got together.

He taught at Georgetown and John Hopkins, then became assistant President of BYU.

Elder Soares is 63, from Sao Paolo. They have 3 kids. Only he and President Uchtdorf were educated and employed in their native countries before being called as apostles

.All general authorities have had trials, less than ideal beginning situations, and loss. We need to remember to pray for our leaders

What happens after we die?

Laurel Lawrence 11/18/2021 

When people wonder where we came from, why we are here and where we go after we die, we can remember that basically, we are God’s children who have gone away to school.

In actuality, if we understand God’s plan for life, funerals are graduation exercises.

SPIRIT WORLD

At death we go to the Spirit world. The Spirit world has 2 main sections – Paradise and Spirit Prison. Spirit Prison is divided into 2 sections – school and prison.

Spirit prison is here on the earth in a different dimension – Matt 12. It is located in the heart of the earth, like just being “in the next room” from us.

Spirit world is like a big city – like L.A. there is a temple, big universities, prisons.

The gospel is taught there.

In Paradise, we continue to progress.

President Nelson’s grandfather was in bed one night and saw his father who had died. The father told him he got permission to visit. The grandfather got to ask his father a bunch of questions.

1.    What do you do there? He said he had a commission to teach the Gospels. His companion was Erastus Snow – he was very impressed to have such an impressive person for a companion.

2.    He said you can’t see us, and we can’t come here because we are too busy.

3.    What is heaven like – there is much more order there. They have councils like we do here.

4.    Is it natural to die? He said it is just like passing through this door (and motioned to the bedroom door.)

Sometimes active members are “called to die” because they are needed on the other side.

D&C 138 – Faithful elders and sisters are called to be missionaries on the other side. Some people are commissioned to keep records, some called to bring messages to people they loved in the flesh.

Hyrum’s son and his sister (Martha Ann) knew they had deceased ancestors helping them because their father ( Hyrum) died when they were so young.

Laurel knew of a sister missionary in Russia who was told when set apart as a missionary that her “angel mother” would be at her side on her mission. After she began her mission, her mother died. She said she frequently felt her mother with her and helping her.

In Paradise, we will have a rest from Satan. He can’t bother us. Once we die, he can’t touch us anymore. This is an immediate reward for the righteous dead – those who endure to the end. Also the same for children who die.

It is more important how we are when we cross the finish line than how we were during the rest of our life.

Those who never heard of the Gospel during their life will get taught in the school part of spirit prison. Satan can still influence them.

Elder Christofferson was a painter – 1893. One day he was sitting alone in his dining room. Alfred sat at his table and said he had just come from the spirit world. He said he had started attending the Mormon meetings, and told him he needed him to do their work. He told him that many in the spirit world weep because those responsible for them are careless and not doing the work in the temple that they need.

When children die and go to paradise, their spirits are at their prime – not still children. All of our spirits will look like we did in our prime.

President Jedediah Grant (called Mormon Thunder), was a counselor of Heber J Grant. He visited the spirit world 2 times before dying. He recounted that people are busy, energetic, and working in a very organized way. In the scripture that says, “My house is a house of order”, the spirit world is a room in that house.

He said that the houses and buildings are more beautiful than Solomon’s temple and the gardens are lovely, bathed in golden light.

In the spirit world, travel is easy, like lightening, with permission. If you want to go, and get permission, you can be in Jerusalem immediately.

In the spirit world, the Father and angels will come to visit and teach. All are busy preparing for the 2^nd coming.

At the 2^nd coming, the Paradise part of the spirit world  will be emptied out.

RESURRECTION

We are not the only church that believes in the resurrection, but we are the only church that teaches a literal physical resurrection.

When we are resurrected, we will not have blood. A mortal person is flesh and blood; a resurrected person is flesh and bones.

We left our heavenly home so that we could become resurrected beings. Only resurrected beings can have a fulness of joy.

Jesus was the only one who could lay down his own life and resurrect because he was half immortal. He had the power to lay down his life voluntarily.,

All will resurrect including the earth, the beats, animals, plants, etc.

The earth will be celestial, like a diamond in the sky. It will be a urim and Thummim.

D&C 88 – final judgement. By the time we get there, we will be judged because our body will be celestial, then we will get a celestial glory.

All righteous before Christ resurrected with Him  - the first fruits. It was only those who would qualify for the Celestial Kingdom.

The apostles who died after Christ are still waiting to resurrect.

There are a few who resurrected after Christ like Peter, James, and John, Moroni and Jon the revelator (had been translated). They had to be resurrected out of turn so they could restore the Priesthood, etc.

Joseph Smith has not resurrected because he is needed to t4each in spirit prison.

Those alive on the earth at the 2^nd coming will resurrect at age 100, in the twinkling of an eye. D&C 101:30, D&C 63, Brigham Young discourses, p 68.

During the millennium, the resurrection will be as common as births are now. Isaiah 64:20

Those who qualify for the Terrestrial glory will resurrect right after the first resurrection – in the afternoon, aftr all the celestial have resurrected.

Those who qualify for the Telestial will resurrect at the end of the millennium because they have to atone for their own sins and then be taught.

The sons of perdition will resurrect last then be cast out to outer darkness.

The spirits in spiritu prison are in “hell” and will have to suffer as Christ. It is a temporary outer darkness.

At the resurrection, all will come out of their graves at the same age that they died. Then they will bee restored to their perfect frame. Immediately, they will be restored to their prime with a perfect body.

Resurrected beings can pass through walls. They have uncorruptable bodies – can’t age, no sweat, no waste, etc.

The difference between the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial bodies is like the difference in brightness in a 3-way lightbulb.

The resurrected beings in the Celesital kingdom can have children.

Resurrection is an ordinance like baptism, done by one who is already resurrected. It will start with Joseph Smith, then he will be in charge of the process of helping all others get it done by one with authority. It will be very organized.

President Nelson was asked how he could believe in the resurrection, being a scientist. He said that he can believe in it BECAUSE he is a scientist. He said every body part is coded and can be put back together right.

Resurrection is a miracle, to change from a dead body to a perfect body!! Miraculous!

The Prophet Joseph said: "If we have claim on our heavenly father for anything, it is for knowledge on this important subject." (Teachings pg. 324)

Brigham Young liked to call the spirit world the "next room" or the "next apartment" because it is so close by. Our loved ones who have passed on are "not far from us"... Not far at all. Discourses of Brigham Young: 33:379  

Brigham explained further that the spirits of the righteous and the spirits of the wicked all go to the same world of spirits. However, within the spirit world, spirits are separated into different and distinct groups. (Discourses of Brigham Young pg. 376)

Joseph Smith said that as soon as our spirit leaves our body - we will be shaking hands with our family and friends on the other side. (TK p. 139)

Wilford Woodruff taught that priesthood leaders (on the other side of the veil) meet together in councils. At these councils, they decide when to extend callings to righteous men and women who are still alive on the earth. (JD 22:334)

President Joseph F. Smith beheld that "The faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel." (D&C 138:57) He explained that "righteous women, who have been endowed in the temple, are also authorized to teach the gospel in the spirit world." D&C 138:57). (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 461).

Pres. Joseph F. Smith taught that some who pass away "may have a mission given to them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth. He said - "They bring messages of love, of warning, and of instruction to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh." (Gospel Doctrine, pg. 436)

Brigham Young explained: "If we are faithful to our religion, when we go into the spirit world... Lucifer and the third part of the heavenly hosts that came with him...will have no influence over our spirits." Then Brigham asked: "Is not this an advantage? Yes!! Because the rest of the children of men (who have died) are more or less still subject to these evil spirits... Just as they were while here in the flesh."(JD 7:240)

The righteous are those people who have been baptized by authority and are faithful at the time of their death. (Doc. of Salv. II: pg. 230)

“It's how you cross the finish line that matters.” Elder Robert Hale

The Gospel Principles manual teaches us that "all spirits are in adult form", so no matter what age we are when we die - our spirits look like beautiful young adults. (pg. 242) our spirits reflect what we looked like in our prime.

Jedediah Grant observed that people in the spirit world were not floating around on clouds and playing harps as some have imagined. Instead, they were busy and energetic and productive, working in an orderly way. He was most impressed with how "perfectly" everything was organized on the other side of the veil. (Mormon Thunder - History of Jedediah Morgan Grant by Gene E. Sessions, pg. 213-215)

Pres. Grant described the buildings in the spirit world as being "more beautiful than any he had ever seen". He claimed that: "the most ordinary building in paradise was more impressive than Solomon’s famous temple". He was also impressed with the lovely gardens that he saw there. The flowers were extraordinary - with a variety of colors growing on a single stem. President Grant explained that the entire spirit world was bathed in a beautiful golden light. (Mormon Thunder, Biography of Jedediah Grant)

Brigham Young taught about travel in the spirit world, explaining that spirits move easily there. They are not hobbling along or falling down. They move "like lightning". He said that if we want to visit Jerusalem or some other place after we die- and if we receive permission - we can be there- (immediately) -looking at its streets. (JD 14:231)

Brigham assured the saints that in spirit paradise - "We will have the father to speak to us, Jesus to speak to us, and angels to speak to us." It is impossible to imagine such an amazing opportunity. (JD 14:231)

Here on earth, the Lord has asked us to hasten the work of salvation. In the spirit world, Pres. Monson taught that the saints are also hastening the work of salvation. (June Ensign 2014)

In the scriptures, mortals are sometimes referred to as "flesh and blood", but resurrected bodies are referred to as "flesh and bones." (Doc. of Salv. Vol II, pg. 285)

Restored scriptures teach that only when a person is resurrected can he have a fulness of joy! (D&C 93:33, 138:17)

Brigham Young asked: "Is Joseph glorified yet? Then he explained: "No, he is preaching to the spirits in prison. He will get his resurrection first of anyone in the kingdom, for he was the first that God chose to bring forth the work of the last days." Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 68.

Brigham Young explained that during that 1000 year period of peace [the millennium], resurrection will become a "commonplace miracle" just like birth has become.

Joseph Smith: "As concerning the resurrection, I will merely say that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young; there will not be added unto their stature one cubit... All will be raised by the power of God, having spirit in their bodies and not blood. "HC 4:555

Joseph Fielding Smith explained about those who died in "old" age: "their bodies will come up, of course, as they were laid down, but will be restored to their proper, perfect frame immediately. Old people will not look old... Scars will be removed. No one will be bent or wrinkled." Doctrines of Salvation, 2:292.

“Resurrection” Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
suggested that "proper and perfect frame" means we will be restored to our "prime". Https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2000/04/resurrection?lang=eng

Children who died as babies will be raised by righteous parents, either their own parents ---or if their parents are not worthy, they will be "adopted into the families of those who are worthy". (Doc of Salv 2:56)

MARTHA ANN’S VISION: (YOUNGER SISTER OF JOSEPH F. SMITH) SHE WAS 11

YEARS OLD WHEN HER MOTHER DIED, MAKING HER AN ORPHAN.

(dictated to her older brother, Joseph, who wrote it out in pencil)

“I saw my mother and father sitting on the white horse my father used to

ride, dressed in white robes with veils over their faces. The horse was also

clothed in white. Their hands were transparent. There feet were covered with

their robes. The horse’s feet looked beautiful standing on a pavement of gold,

smooth like glass.

My father asked me if we were all well. . . Then mother explained that she

had worried about going and leaving her children when she died. She had asked

Hyrum: “How can I leave the children?” He answered: “The children will be

taken care of” - and that he would be with them, and watch over them.

My father then told my mother she had done well by them and he was

perfectly satisfied. . . and that he would be with them from this time

henceforth and forever.

I asked my father if I had been faithful. He said, “yes, thus far.” They said I

must stay and take care of Joseph and tell him to be a good boy and tell all the

children to be good and they should soon be together again.

Mother asked me if Sister Grennels tried to get Joseph to read. I said yes.

She said she was glad and she thought the world of her for that, and she would

like him to go to school if it were possible.

I asked Mother why they wore veils. She said if they should remove them I

could not look upon them. I kissed them both through their veils. Their breath

smelled like sweet ointment. Their voices sounded like sweet music.

She said she had seen her mother and that they had a joyful time, and they all

dwelt in the same mansion.

Mother said: “Be kind to Aunt Thompson. She will soon come to us.” (Mercy

Thompson was Mary Fielding’s sister, and apparently it would soon be her time

to go. ) She then told me to tell John to be kind to her horse, Fanny, that she

would want her soon – but she was going to have one of her mother’s horses for

the present.”

Laurel Lawrence class 10/21 House of Israel, Abrahamic Covenant

Mnemonic for 12 Tribes of Israel – L.B. J’s DENIM RAGZ: Levi, Benjamin, Judah, Simeon, Dan, Ephraim, Naphtali, Issachar, Manasseh, , Reuben, Asher, Gad, Zebulun.

Laurel actually wrote it out on a piece of denim.

When Lawrence’s were in a mission in Siberia, Laurel was very lonely, so she always looked forward to the mission presidents’ seminars. One year President Nelson, who was then an apostle, was the visiting authority. He was VERY interested in the Eastern Europe area. Their son even served a mission in Moscow. However, he didn’t teach about missionary work – he taught about the House of Israel. That is his passion.

Jacob 5 is the longest book in the Book of Mormon and is all about the scattering and gathering of Israel. 

The first Patriarchs were sent to Russia after the Lawrences left. It is important that patriarchs be able to give the blessings in the people’s native language.  All patriarchal blessings are sent to Utah to be stored there. When the first 100 blessings were sent, they found that every tribe of Israel was represented in the blessings from Russia. Nelson said the lost tribes of Israel have been found in the lands of the north.

The Russian people are beautiful, literate, and educated. They have tiny apartments but all have a wealth of good books. They are very fit because they have to walk everywhere, they are not wealthy but they all own fur coats.

The older generation people are not very friendly because of growing up in communism, but the younger generations are very friendly.

6 years after their mission, Lawrences went back to Russia as general authority seventy. This time they were in Moscow instead of Siberia. The members and missionaries there were very interested in learning about the House of Israel.

All of the House of Israel is only 3% of the total population. They are known to have “believing blood”.

This is the breakdown in Russia when Lawrences were there.

When a patriarch gives a blessing, he assigns that person to one of the tribes of the House of Israel, according to inspiration. We are all inter-related, so it is common for people of the same family to be of different tribes, according to what God want your life mission focus to be. If someone is not of the House of Israel, the patriarch will say, “You will receive your blessings through Abraham.

Lehi was a descendent of Menasseh; Ishmael was a descendent of Ephriam, so when the patriarch gives a blessing to a descendent of Lehi, he will just say that they are descended from Joseph. Mulekites were of the house of Judah.

Why the gathering is so important? In the war in heaven, it was shown who the more valiant people were, and those were put in the House of Israel. The people of the House of Israel have been elected to fight on the most wicked planet.

Abraham wanted the Priesthood and asked Melchizedek for it. He wanted to be exalted and promised to be faithful. Because of his faithfulness, he was promised Posterity, Property, and Priesthood. These are the blessings of exaltation.

  

D&C 101 – we each have to have a test like Abraham. The test will be something “we don’t deserve” – that’s what makes it so hard. Abraham was called to be a witness of God. He was called to se3rve a mission en Egypt, Heron. The scriptures say that he took his converts with him when he went back home. (Genesis and P of GP) Abraham paid tithing and kept the commandments.

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, which means “Let God Prevail”, and “Soldier of God”.

The promise made to Abraham is called the Abrahamic Covenant, which is now called the new and Everlasting Covenant. Exaltation is done 2 by 2. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all exalted and made Gods.

Not all Jews are of the house of Judah. Many Jews are from Levi or Benjamin.

Prophet Joseph Smith called Elder Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and George J. Adams on a mission to Russia “to introduce the fullness of the Gospel to the people of that vast empire, and [to this] is attached some of the most important things concerning the advancement and building up of the kingdom of God in the last days, which cannot be explained at this time.” History of the Church, 6:41

“All these rewards were seemingly promised, or foreordained, before the world was. Surely these matters must have been determined by the kind of lives we had lived in that premortal spirit world. Some may question these assumptions, but at the same time they will accept without any question the belief that each one of us will be judged when we leave this earth according to his or her deeds during our lives here in mortality. Isn’t it just as reasonable to believe that what we have received here in this earth [life] was given to each of us according to the merits of our conduct before we came here?” (Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 7–8; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 5).

Join the Battalion, Help Gather Israel - President Russell M. Nelson
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2018/07/join-the-battalion-help-gather-israel?lang=eng

Read Born to Change the World.

Temples Laurel Lawrence’s class October 14 2021

The first recorded temple is Solomon’s, 1000 years before Christ. People were so excited to have a temple that they donated their jewels, etc which made it the most beautiful of all temples.

The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the 10 commandments. Only the 1 high priest could enter there.

When Jews prayed, they always faced the temple to remind them of their covenants. We are told to have a picture of a temple in our homes to remind us of our covenants.

SLC temple has a Holy of Holies, but other temples don’t. Only the prophet enters, but there are 2 chairs there.

600 years BC the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. When Jews returned 70 years later, they wanted to rebuild the temple. Herod remodeled and expanded it so it was called Herod’s temple. that’s where Jesus taught. He prophesied that the temple would be destroyed. Now all that remains is the ancient western wall. It  is considered sacred. When Jews visit it, they write prayers on little pieces of paper and insert them into small holes in the wall like our prayer roll, showing our prayer roll comes from ancient times.

Before the 2^nd coming, the Jews will rebuild their temple.

Nephi built a temple after the manner of Soloman, also Benjamin and Jesus at Bountiful record being on the temple steps.

The new commandment is to build temples all over the world. 83 of the new temples were announced by President Nelson (1/3rd)

The construction sites are holy. The workers have to not smoke, drink, swear, and no contention or arguing. One man named Stansbury worked on a temple site in Alabama (?) and was so impressed with the atmosphere while building that he investigated and joined the Church.

The first temple in the latter days was Kirtland. The blueprints or images of how it should be built were shown by vision in living glory. The rooms are 55’ by 65’. The 1^st floor was for Sunday meetings, the Thursday fast meeting. The 2^nd floor was for Priesthood meetings and the school of the prophets. The 3^rd floor had classrooms and ordinance rooms.  There were Many heavenly visitors to that temple.

  

  

The Hosanna Shout is in remembrance of when Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem and the people waved palm leaves and shouted hosanna.

Hosanna Shout - President Russell M. Nelson
  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/46nelson?lang=eng

There was no baptism for the dead and no endowment in the Kirtland temple, only initiatories.

In the Nauvoo temple God taught baptism for the dead. It had a font with 12 oxen representing the 12 tries of Israel. The Ox is the symbol of Ephesians. The early saints started doing the endowment in the upstairs of the red brick store so by the time the temple was built, there were about 80 who had been endowed and could serve as temple workers. Joseph Smith had to begin teaching the endowment in the red brick store upstairs because he would die before the Nauvoo temple was finished. Hundreds of saints went through the temple before they were driven out of Nauvoo. Those who went through were protected and none of them went inactive.

The first temple in Utah was St George. A guy was called to be a night watchman who had night blindness. He would have someone walk him to the temple, then when he entered, the whole building would be light enough that he could see. Then he would leave after his shift, and wouldn’t be able to see anything outside. Later he was a temple recorder. He was worried about his spelling and whether the names were pronounced correctly and during one session of baptisms for the dead he saw a spirit who was a 2^nd recorder, who corrected all spelling and pronunciation. D&C 128- what is recorded on earth is recorded in heaven, literally!

In 1997, the police were called and told the top of the temple was on fire. The fireman came, but there was no fire

In the San Diego temple it has 8 point stars repeated all through the building. The architect was inspired to put hundreds of 8-point stars. Later he spoke with Hugh Nibley and found out that was an ancient symbol of the Seal of Melchizedek.

Plans have already been revealed and are kept for the temple in Jerusalem. It has 24 circular and arch over center.??

One woman named Hilda King in Idaho Falls wanted to do something significant after her husband died, so she set a goal to do 20,000 endowments before she died. He got that goal and passed it. She did 105 endowments each month. She died at 94, 1 week after finishing.

Hilda Tovey Knighton King Temply Work
  https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8010302/hilda-tovey-knighton-king-temply-work

Horace Cummings recorded: “Concerning the work for the dead, [Joseph] said that in the resurrection those who had been worked for would fall at the feet of those who had done their work, kiss their feet, embrace their knees and manifest the most exquisite gratitude.” The Prophet added, “We do not comprehend what a blessing to them these ordinances are.” See statement of Horace Cummings in Lundwall, comp., The Vision, p. 141.

The plans for the Fresno temple were given to President Hinckley while he was on a plane and he wrote them on a small piece of paper or napkin.

There is a feeling of urgency to have temple work done before the 2^nd coming because every spirit wants their work done so they can be resurrected in the first resurrection. Every week President Hinckley asked temple department “how many prisoners did we release this week?”