Monkeys and the Temple

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Monkeys

When Wendy and I were in Ecuador, in the Amazonian rain forest, our guide took us to a path along the woods and told us if we were lucky we might see a monkey in the trees. We walked slowly, and quietly and finally, we saw one way up high in the trees looking at us. He was frozen and we froze. What a cool thing. None of the rest of the group was seeing this, and I knew I had to get pictures. I slowly pulled out my camera and zoomed to his position in the tree, and tried to get a good picture. I took pictures. More and more of them, hoping that I might get one that would be really good. Suddenly we saw another monkey, and then another. They were a ways up in the trees, so I kept snapping photos. It was so cool. Soon, there must have been 15-20 monkeys surrounding us. And as they got more and more confident that they could trust us, they came closer and closer to us. Now I could snap at will and get great photos of mothers with their babies. Of monkeys hanging by their tails. Of monkey jumping and running along branches. But after a while I got bored with taking photos, and I stopped taking pictures. We stood there watching them, and they watching us, until we realized that dinner was coming up, and so we left that magical place for food. Looking back, I wonder how it was that we could have left this magical place for the things of the world? It's not that the wild monkeys living in the trees were any less wondrous, but we just didn't appreciate them like we did when they were so unique and novel and they were hiding up high in the trees.

I'll bet you're wondering what this has to do with having a lovely dinner in the temple? In a lot of ways, we're like the photographer. The more rare and unique the monkey is the more we pay attention to it, we want to take pictures of it, we want to take one home. But as the monkey's begin to multiple, as they become less rare and unique and they begin to surround us, it's easy to take them for granted, and we stop holding them as precious. And when that happens, it's easy for the priorities in the world, in this case our stomachs, to become more important than the priorities of the gospel, in this case the monkey's.

The same is true of the temple. When the temple is a rare and unique place, we tend to plan, look forward, and sacrifice great hardships in order to attend. We've all heard of people in countries who have walked hours and hours just to get their temple recommend, not even knowing if they would ever be able to use it. We've also heard of people who save money their whole lives in order to attend. This isn't just true of people we will never meet. It was true for some in this room tonight. I spoke recently with Pres. Tobar who told me a woman he had helped prepare for the temple took a bus expedition to the Temple in El Salvador. They knew that there was a danger as militants/guerillas were commandeering tour busses to steal and plunder. They hoped for the best, and left on their journey. The bus was stopped and shots were fired by guerrillas as they robbed the bus. This sister lost her sight in one eye when a bullet grazed her eyebrow. The members on the bus knew there had been a risk, but sacrificed safety to receive their covenants of the Lord. They understood that the covenants of the Lord are precious and unique. No one else was hurt or killed at this dangerous scene. And all were able to continue on their journey to receive their covenants.

When we understand how sacred, rare and wonderful our covenants are, then even when we have to live in the world, we don't have any desire to become part of the world because we value too highly the gift we have received.

Do we see our temple covenants as rare and wonderful? I wonder if too often we take for granted the wondrous blessings we have as members of the church in this rare and unique valley. This place where pioneers sacrificed their lives to build. This place where Prophets have lived and led for over 150 years. This place where temples have been built in many of our communities. There is no place on the whole earth like it. This Valley is wondrous and precious. But as we live here, and as we become accustomed to the temples close by, and we attend conference sessions and see the prophets on the earth today on a regular basis, it's easy to take it all for granted.

Going back to ecuador - It's not that the monkeys are any less wondrous or any less precious. Than they were when there was only one monkey high up in the tree, but it's that we allowed ourselves to adapt to them, and take them for granted. We look past them for something else which may be more interesting.

May we not do that with the beautiful and wonderful blessings we receive when we serve in the temple. May we not look past our temple covenants to the world and seek to find something more interesting…because promises to God are the greatest blessing we will find when we see through spiritual camera lenses.

Isaiah helps us to keep in perspective the sacredness of the Temple.

Isa 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the alast days, that the bmountain of the Lord’s chouse shall be destablished in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all enations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us ago up to the bmountain of the Lord, to the chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will dteach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of eZion shall go forth the flaw, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem

And Elder Ballard reminds us to be grateful that we live here…he says

We should remember that we have faithful leaders and Saints in parts of the world where as yet they have no hallowed sanctuary in which to receive the sanctifying and cleansing ordinances of the temple. There are stake presidencies, patriarchs, high councilors, bishoprics, and other priesthood leaders, and a host of faithful Saints, as yet unendowed, who desire above all else to be sealed to their beloved parents, companions, and children.

May we see the temple as it really is. May we everyday, recognize it as the house of God. The covenant house where eternal covenants are made. That when we ascend the Hill of the Lord to return to our Father, that we might be greeted and received by him.