Latter-day Saint Life

President Uchtdorf Shares What He Did as a 21-Year-Old Fighter Pilot That Helped Him Understand the "Peace of the Priesthood"

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The temple is a sacred place where even in the most chaotic and illogical times in our lives, we can find peace in doing the Lord's work on earth. 

This peace that comes from participating in the work of salvation can only be found in the temple, and so can some of the lessons we learn as we go about our Father's work.

In a recent Facebook post, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared the powerful lessons he learned as a 21-year-old fighter pilot and how they helped him understand the "peace of the priesthood" in the temple. 

In 1962, when I was 21 years old, I had been transferred to Luke Air Force Base just west of Phoenix, Arizona, for weapons training as a fighter pilot. On Sundays I attended church, and a kind bishop called me to teach the 15- and 16-year-olds for the short time I was there. It was also during this time that I received my own temple endowment at the Mesa Temple.
Just think about it. Here I was, a 21-year-old fighter pilot learning how to use all kinds of weaponry at the Air Force gunnery range every day. In great contrast to this professional activity, I often in the evenings drove to the Mesa Temple to participate in the work of salvation for the living and the dead. The quiet sanctuary of the house of the Lord helped me to feel and understand the power, purpose, and peace of the priesthood. It helped me also to understand why soldiers love peace.
The temple is literally the house of the Lord, reserved for sacred purposes. Here we feel His presence. Here we learn about our spiritual potential as Heavenly Father’s children. Here we experience the central role of Jesus Christ in our lives. In short, the temple teaches us about the sacred purpose of life and helps us get our true physical, spiritual, and emotional bearings. #TBT

Lead image from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's Facebook page
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