As part of the Church’s initiative to simplify and focus on our Savior, the Church moved away from holding a cultural celebration the night before the dedication of the Concepcion Chile Temple and instead held a devotional. During the devotional, President Nelson spoke of the blessings of the temple and how youth can prepare for the eternal blessings that await them.
The temple is the object of every activity, every lesson and every progressive step in the Church, President Nelson said. All of the Church’s efforts to proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints and redeem the dead lead to the holy temple.
“We cannot reach God’s eternal celestial glory without the ordinances of the temple,” said President Nelson. “Obedience to sacred temple covenants qualifies us for eternal life — the greatest of all of God’s gifts to His children.”
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Anyone willing to prepare well may enter the temple, he said. “You as wonderful youth are especially welcome and wanted in the temple.”
President Nelson invited all youth to prepare spiritually for the temple by studying five topics in the Bible dictionary: “Anoint,” “Atonement,” “Covenant,” “Sacrifices,” and “Temple.”