After studying, pondering, and praying about this for a few years, I am beginning to see temple power in my life. In fact, spiritual sight, or discernment, is one of the powerful blessings to come through faithful temple attendance. Discernment is “to understand or know something through the power of the Spirit” (lds.org, The Guide to the Scriptures), and the temple endowment is like an upgraded gift of the Spirit. In the temple our vision of the spiritual gifts available to us—including discernment—is expanded, and we are taught more about the principles we must live to invite those gifts into our lives now and in eternity. All of this comes through Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus does “not judge after the sight of his eyes . . . but with righteousness shall he judge” (Isaiah 11:3), so He can empower us to start to see in His way, which He said is “higher than your ways” (Isaiah 55:9).
The gift of discernment comes as the mighty, or powerful, or full-of-power change of heart (Alma 5:12) progresses in us, and the Lord’s power flows through the Holy Spirit in the temple to help that change along. It seems like I check out a pair of spiritual glasses when I attend the temple, and those glasses enable me to look at life and people differently. When I attend the temple regularly, I am able to look on others—especially my family members—and myself with more hope and compassion and less condemnation. I am able to see the Lord’s hand at work when I might otherwise fail to notice. I recognize more clearly the consequences of living or not living the principles that Jesus taught. These glasses have become more powerful over years of temple attendance.
For example, as I have studied and shared the stories of my ancestors, my temple glasses have enabled me to discern more about them. I know through the confirmation of the Spirit in my mind and heart (D&C 8:2) that many of my ancestors are aware of and love me and my family. This feeling was especially strong one day when I was scanning photos of my paternal grandmother’s parents and uploading them to Family Search. As I sat in front of the computer and looked at their eyes, I was surrounded with a powerful feeling of love from my great-grandfather Nephi and my great-grandmother Emma, both of whom died before I could get to know them. From my research I knew already that they loved their children and grandchildren, and that day I learned through the Spirit that their love extended to their great-grandchildren, including me, and to my children as well. I was reminded that both of them experienced chronic health problems in their lives, and I felt they empathized with the health challenges I experience now. I could see how they still looked on my grandma as their little girl, even though she is now old and widowed, and I felt they were pleased with my family’s efforts to cheer and honor her in this lonely time of her life.
Emma and Nephi Swenson
In the scriptures we are taught that “the faithful . . . continue their labors” (D&C 138:57) in the next life. Of course that includes missionary work for faithful elders. When we consider that President Harold B. Lee taught “the most important of the Lord’s work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home” (Strengthening the Home, pamphlet, 1973, p. 7), then we see that the important labor of strengthening family must continue even after death. Could we really believe that the loving grandmothers who come help at the birth of grandbabies, kiss boo-boos and attend the piano recitals of grandchildren, and who remember the birthdays of dozens of loved ones would just stop this labor of love at death? President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs” (Gen. Conf. Dec. 1974). We see even greater truth in his statement when we discern that God often answers our prayers for comfort, guidance and encouragement through our good family members who know and love us but have already passed on to the spirit world. Of course we do not often see these loved ones, but we may feel their words in our hearts since “angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 32:3).
The power of temple glasses has also helped me be more filled with gratitude by the lives of my ancestors. As I look at the hundreds of names on a nine generation genealogy fan chart hanging in our home, I am overwhelmed with the realization that every one of the women on that chart had to endure pregnancy and childbirth before my husband and I could have the opportunity to be born. Many of the men sacrificed physical or mental health as they fought to protect their families and country. Both women and men endured miserable voyages across the ocean in the 1600’s, 1700’s and 1800’s when they came to America to build better lives for themselves and their families—which include me. Many of our pioneer ancestors left familiar comforts, sacrificed their own health and even buried children as they journeyed across the plains to answer God’s call and gather with members of their church. Every opportunity and blessing in my life has come through their work and sacrifice. My little family today is the fruit of their labors, and I feel them encouraging me to continue to rejoice in and build on the strong foundation they have given us.
The power of discernment flowing through the Lord’s temple has enabled me to better know and love my ancestors and to feel their concern and love for me. This is a fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). Through these experiences and others, I can now say with confidence that I see the power of the temple in my life. The truths I discern with my temple glasses bring strength and joy, and I look forward to continuing to learn more of the Lord and His higher ways through the power of the temple.
