We are so blessed to have 153 temples throughout the world that fill our lives with light and bring us near our Heavenly Father. After the dedication of the Fort Collins Colorado Temple, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Dale G. Renlund shared beautiful insights about temples on Facebook.
President Uchtdorf shared:
It was a great privilege for me to be assigned by President Thomas S Monson to dedicate the Fort Collins Colorado Temple today. Every temple dedication is a very spiritual experience.
The temple has always been significant in my life. It was 54 years ago when I received my own endowment. I was young then. The world was in a state of cold war between East and West. I had just completed my training as a fighter pilot; according to Air Force records I was combat ready.
That was the time when the teachings of the temple impressed me deeply; many things were so new and unexpected. Above all I learned in the temple about divine principles that helped me to prepare for the real combat in life, and these beautiful truths have blessed me ever since.
In the temple I learned to recognize the nobleness and courage of Adam and Eve. In the temple I developed an even greater love for my dear wife. This year we will be married for 54 years. I love her very much; she is the sunshine of my life. In the temple I learned to treasure the spiritual gifts that are unique to the faithful women of the Church.
Today I invited those in the Fort Collins Colorado Temple district to prepare for and come to the temple regularly. Get a temple recommend first. If you have access to a temple, I invite you to do the same. As you do this, you can have the assurance that you will receive “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come."
Dear friends, enjoy the temple and its blessings.
Elder Renlund shared:
It was a delight to be with President and Sister Uchtdorf at the Fort Collins Colorado Temple dedication yesterday.
Many on both sides of the veil thrill today that the beautiful Fort Collins Colorado Temple is dedicated and that its use can bless them. Consider Ezekiel’s vision of the temple. A heavenly messenger showed Ezekiel a vision of a temple and the glory of God filling the temple. He saw a river of water issuing forth from the temple. This water was distinctly unusual in two ways. The first was that while it was initially a trickle, it became a mighty river that could not be crossed. This transformation occurred without any additional source of water. The second unusual aspect was that the river healed everything it touched (see Ezekiel 40–47).
These two unusual characteristics of the river represent two aspects of temple blessings. First, the water that issued forth from the temple represents the blessings that flow from the temple in sealing individuals as families. The water became deeper the farther it flowed, reminding us of the geometric growth that occurs going backward through the generations as the sealing ordinance welds them together. A similar growth occurs in families going forward through one’s offspring.
Second, the blessings of the temple, like the river water, have a remarkable healing capacity. All temples enable sealing and healing.
Blessings flow to you and your family like the power of the river spoken of by Ezekiel. And the river will grow as you continue to perform this work and teach others to do the same. You’ll find personal power—power to change, power to repent, power to learn, power to be sanctified, and power to turn the hearts of your family together and heal that which needs healing.
