For a first-timer inside a temple, what did you think? Feel free to let me know below, I'd enjoy hearing some interfaith dialogue to better understand.
The family is the essential unit in the church. I think one thing that is very interesting is the proclamation to the world on the family that was released in 1995 by the church. At the time there wasn't all this gender and gay marriage questions. And yet the prophet at the time (Gordon b hinckley) and the apostles felt inspired to release this document. I'd encourage you give that a read. To your faith journey generally, I know you're comfortable in your church but the claims made by the church of Jesus Christ are so bold that it either has to be lunacy or it has to be true. I think you're at a point you need to grapple with that. Be ye either hot or cold. I feel like you're at a time for choosing.
Some theologians see the cardinal symbolizing the Holy Spirit, combining the fire element of the Spirit's work with the energy and life found in the Spirit. Tied with the blood of Christ, the cardinal represents the eternal life-giving nature of Jesus and His ministry.
I have enjoyed many of your videos! You mentioned the idea of "grace vs. works", and I thought I'd offer some thoughts to help you avoid pitfalls I've seen others make. As you said in this video, we do not believe we are doing good works in the temple (or anywhere else, for that matter) to earn salvation. I really appreciate that you grant us that. I have heard from others (on multiple occasions) who have attempted to tell me what I believe and then tell me that I'm wrong. Good works that we do elsewhere, such as feeding the hungry, visiting those who need care, etc., have a benefit for those other people. For us, the temple is about important covenants we make with God through ordinances. These covenants are promises to Him, made on His terms, and they are not good works that benefit other people. The benefit they provide is to us by renewing our conviction to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. We do also perform these ordinances by proxy for our deceased ancestors, but we don't do so with the intent of earning salvation. The prophet Nephi taught that nothing we could do of ourselves would earn salvation, but that we rely on the grace of Christ (see 2 Nephi 25:22-27). In general, I find the "grace vs. works" argument to be a red herring that has the potential to distract disciples of Christ. We know that without Christ we are nothing, that our own actions can never be sufficient, but that our actions make our faith true and living (as mentioned in James 2), and that we'll be judged according to our works (see Revelation 20:12-13) but again that our best acts are insufficient and we all rely on Christ. Again, I mention this because I've seen people get tripped up over it, completely unnecessarily. You seem to be avoiding that, but hopefully you find my thoughts useful. Concerning sacrifice, it is not the only purpose of temples. We certainly believe that animal sacrifice in the past was important to prepare people for the arrival of the promised Messiah, and that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ during His mortal life was a "great and last sacrifice" as Amulek called it in Alma 34:14. (Feel free to read Alma 34:8-16 for a great passage about this topic.) But temples have more of a purpose than animal sacrifice, and they certainly have a wonderful purpose now that animal sacrifice has ended. When you get the opportunity, you can ask people about their experiences in temple worship and how they are blessed by it. Temples are even better after they've been dedicated. The peace and quiet inside dedicated temples is something I really appreciate. Something I also find very interesting is that when doing proxy ordinances for the deceased, it is actually very repetitive, but I have never been bored. Instead, I have simply felt good in a very simple but happy way. Thanks for respectfully exploring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the other churches you've visited. I hope you keep having good experiences with it.
I grew up in an awful situation. Lots of drugs, bad relationships, poverty and homelessness. I met with the missionaries as a teenager and have tried to give my life over to Christ through the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I discovered repentance and peace - I served a mission. Christ has done more with my life than I could have ever imagined. Starting out as an alcoholic homeless high school drop out, I have now graduated from BYU, I have a wonderful wife and four great kids and I'm living a comfortable middle-class life. Everything is different. I am so grateful for the Savior and the teachings of the living prophets! I have Hope, and my life has meaning.
You are truly an amazingly thoughtful person. From early on in life, I have had a great desire to know the truth. Once I had a piece of it, I felt compelled to follow it no matter the consequences. For me the Church of Jesus Christ of Laterday Saints has been the source. As a very young boy, I loved my Baptist church experience. I felt the witness of the Holy Ghost and discovered that Jesus is my Savior while attending summer Bible school. After my dad died at the age of 30, I had so many tough questions. I was nine then. The pastor, who I dearly loved, could not provide answers. But those answers did come, when I was 14, through visits with two young missionaries. If you find a church document called The Family, a Proclamation to the World, written by the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles, I think it will give you significant insight into Heavenly Father's feelings for all of us, His children. May God bless you in your search.
Yes, the lockers inside the Temple, where only WORTHY Mormons are allowed, all have locks on them. I guess someone might steal your shoes while you're in the Temple?@@dongrymes
I love your humble and respectful review of all these churches, especially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was born a Catholic but converted to The Church of Jesus Christ as a teenager. I was the only member of my family to join. I still can’t believe the Lord brought me to His church. I was never religious before, but when I heard about their doctrine it felt like a truth I had known in the past but somehow forgotten. Wherever your journey takes you I am grateful for your example of humility and your love of Jesus Christ. All of us Christians need to stick together and support each other in these troubling times.
That’s so similar to my experience! I was a devout Catholic who began learning with that missionaries when I was 12/13. It was like remembering something I had known long ago. I’m so glad you’re here!
if you were the only person in your family to join, what does that mean in regards to temple ordinances? Can you go to the temple alone? What about sealing? Can you make it to the celestial kingdom without being married?
My heart kind of broke at this video. I live in Bentonville and I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. I had the opportunity to be an usher at the Bentonville Temple open house. I took friends through and my family through so many times. I spent hours upon hours in the temple that week. And I loved teaching people about the significance and importance and symbolism of what they were seeing. To not have had anybody answer any questions you had is heartbreaking. I wish I could have gone thru with you! What a difference it makes knowing what you're experiencing. I hope you have been able to have a better experience at other open houses since!
I am a Latter Day Saint that has been struggling with questions about my faith. I couldn’t give you a specific reason why but this video uplifted me and made my doubts seem so small to me. Thank you for being such a light and having such an open minded attitude about our faith!!!
I used to struggle as well. I even left because of Joseph Smith. In 2021 when D&C were covered, I asked God for help I received confirmation from the Holy Ghost himself that Joseph Smith is truly a prophet.
I'm also a member of the church. And I know we are all different. But first, me, feeling the spirit of God, has always been my focus! As long as I feel the spirit in the gospel, I'm OK with not knowing everything. I don't think I personally know everything about anything in life. So I'm OK with waiting until Jesus Christ comes to know a lot more. But that's just how I go about it. I'm a Temple worker every week, and this helps me feel the spirit of God in my life, and I'm just grateful to see the many miracles of the Temple !
@@jesuschristlives2724 The problem is the Bible warns not to trust every spirit because many deceiving spirits and false prophets would pollute the world in the last days. The Bible says false Prophets would have spiritual gifts to deceive were it possible even the elect in the last days. Joseph Smith was an occult-obsessed treasure digger who did animal sacrifices (killing multiple dogs and sheep), and if there is one person who would be able to imbed demonic magic into his man-made scriptures it was Joseph Smith. The Mormon church is exactly what the Bible warned about. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young contradicted the Bible nonstop. For example, in Joseph Smith's King Follett Discourse, he says God was once a man. The Bible says God is eternal (no beginning or end) and that beside him he knows no God. If Mormons became gods do you think they could honestly say they knew no other God? Also there is zero archaeological evidence for the BoM, DNA studies prove Native Americans are Asiatic (And not from Jerusalem or Israelites who were 'cursed with dark skin' like Mormons teach). There is so much wrong with the false demonic Mormon church and people need to realize they are being brainwashed by agenda-filled Mormon leaders who know their religion is false. I do not envy Russell M Nelson's judgment day. It is not going to be pretty for false prophets. Also I hope everyone realizes this man, who made this video, is a Mormon who is making a propaganda piece funded by the Mormon Church. This video is very agenda-filled. This man will probably delete my comment when he sees it, despite all its truth, because it's against his agenda to deceive people into the false Mormon church.
@@stardustgirl2904 the Bible makes it very clear not to trust every spirit because spirits of deception, including spirits out to corrupt God's gospel would be abundant in the last days. So to focus on "any spiritual experience" you might have isn't a wise way to be in line with Christianity. Instead focus on The Bible and what it says. Remember the passage "If any man preaches another gospel to you (such as Joseph Smith) let him be accursed. Mormonism is, unfortunately, a demonic religion.
As a person who grew up in the Presbyterian church, I will always be grateful for the gospel foundation I received as a child. As I got older and had so many questions that their doctrine could not answer, I realized that there was so much more knowledge God had for us! I found my answers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have never regretted my decision to join, that was 45 years ago!
I had a similar foundation in the Presbyterian church, had some profound questions, the missionary lessons answered them in powerful ways. Baptized just over 51 years ago.
Very similar for me. Grew up in a Protestant church, converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 45 years ago. Never looked back. Faith has helped me through so many of life’s ups and downs. ❤
I was a devout Catholic who had questions that could not be answered. At age 12/13, a friend invited me to “Come and see!” and join her at her LDS worship service, so my family and I did just that. Within 3 years we had joined the Church and our stepdad was reactivated. We were sealed as a family in the temple. I served a mission, my sister and were both married in the temple, and now 25 years later, we stand in awe of my childhood best friend’s impact on our lives. He lives! His Church has been restored to the earth!
I was the same. Raised Presbyterian, had lots of questions no one could answer -- or at least not satisfactorily. But the LDS missionaries could. 19-yr old missionaries had more answers than the pastor in my Presbyterian Church. I converted and have been so much happier and more fulfilled being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
When I was 29 years old I became very ill and needed open heart surgery. I was scheduled to see Dr. Russell M. Nelson by the surgeons I worked for. That very week he was called to be a General Authority of the LDS Church so his partner did my surgery. I was glad he was called to serve but sad I didn’t have the opportunity to know him as a patient because I had heard so many great things about his work and accomplishments. I am alive today because of his insights and solutions into the type of procedure my heart needed.
I’m a convert to the church. I didn’t have any religion growing up and became a bratty atheist as a teenager. I had a baby at 16 with a 17 year old who was also a member of the church (he was obviously not living the commandments). We got married, but also did a lot of partying with drugs and alcohol. Fortunately through a miraculous experience, the Holy Ghost was able to pierce my hard heart and from that day forward I have believed in the divinity and saving power of Jesus Christ. I joined the church and my husband and I cleaned up our lives. We were sealed in the temple about 3 years after that. We have been married for 33 years, have 4 kids and 3 grandkids. Christ and His church saved my life and my family. I have never been happier!
Hold on, a protestant talking to us and about us with kindness and respect? Amazing! Thanks for the video brother, God bless you on your faith path, wherever that leads you. Your video was a breath of fresh air!
Hello David, I grew up in Utah but really didn't know that much about the Latter Day Saints except about the pioneers. Like you, I investigated many other churches. Then I was able to read the Book of Mormon which completely changed my life. The Book of Mormon answered the questions my heart and soul needed to know about the purpose of life, and gave me more insight into the mission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today I look back and am so grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my life.
I'm a convert to the Church. In my youth, I was a member of several churches: Unitarian, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist, and Catholic. But when I went into an LDS building for the first time, I felt the Holy Ghost. The clincher was when the missionaries explained the Plan of Salvation -- that hit home, and just made total sense. The emphasis on families is , not to put pressure on anyone, but to show the Lord's ideal for our happiness. Thank you for your respectful video, and I hope you are able to learn more.
Hello. My name is Les I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints imma come from Poland. I just got this feeling after watching your video about visit to the temple and I want to tell you the meaning of the bird you are seeing Some theologians see the cardinal symbolizing the Holy Spirit, combining the fire element of the Spirit's work with the energy and life found in the Spirit. Tied with the blood of Christ, the cardinal represents the eternal life-giving nature of Jesus and His ministry.
Wow, thank you for sharing this about the cardinal. My dad passed away less than a year ago and there is one to two Cardinals that come in my yard every time I’m looking out the window and Cardinals are not a part of North Texas. However, I did feel the presence of my father. And the Spirit.
What an episode! Temple visit...open heart surgery... father son sharing..Family History... Cardinals... twilight zone...divorce marriage and eternity all packed in 30 minutes. Best wishes on your spiritual journey.
Mahalo for your wonderful video. I was raised Lutheran, attended the Catholic church for a short time and was later baptized in the Baptist church. I found that all were preparatory for me to hear and accept the message of the Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its been over 30 years since my conversion, which has included the sealing of my wife and I in the Mesa, AZ Temple, the sealing of our two adopted sons there also, our daughter's sealing to her husband and now the blessing of having 4 granddaughters as part of our family, sealed for this life and eternity. We put so much love, effort and sacrifice into family relationships, because they are intended to be eternal, not "until death do we part." Youre on the right path, David. As i surrendered my will to God, and yielded to His will, I discovered what He truly wanted and had available to me. I pray for you and your journey to bring you great joy and eternal peace, brother. Mahalo again for your sincere and genuinely gracious review of your Temple experience. 🤙❤️ Aloha!
When the Phoenix Temple had its open house, I signed up as a ‘tour guide.’ We were admonished not to speak during the tour, but to let those on the tour reflect on what they were seeing. As I took my tour groups through, I began by saying that I would be happy to answer any questions they might have at the end of our tour. I also suggested that they study the paintings on the walls and consider their relationship with Jesus Christ. The most asked question 31:05 was, ‘Why does your church invest so much money & time on temples?’ My answer, ‘Temples are literally a house of God, they belong to Him. We come to the temple to worship our Heavenly Father & His son, Jesus Christ. Temple worship is the highest form of worship we can do here on earth. We make covenants & promises to to our Father, our Savior, & our spouses here. Vicarious, saving ordinances are also performed here for our dead, so that all may have the opportunity to live within family groups in the hereafter. Letting others know our beliefs & the importance of eternal families brought me great happiness & peace.
I’m a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My parents, sister and I joined in 1962, when I was 11yrs. old. My brother was in California in the Marines at that time and was never interested in the Church. What immediately struck me about the Church was the doctrine. I know that sounds odd coming from someone so young, but it’s true. I had a deeply spiritual experience when I was 10yrs. old that, I think, prepared me to accept the Church’s teachings. I had begun reading the Bible for the first time and was impressed by the way the Creation and God were explained. I mentioned my thoughts to my older sister and she began debunking it right away. She said many things our minister had explained the same thing to her in the class she attended preparing her to become an official member of the Methodist Church. Then she listed his many credentials and degrees and the fact that he was an ordained minister of the church. That was supposed to shut me down. But I had just read the explanation from the Bible and it disagreed with the minister. So that left me with one option. When I knelt by my bed to say my nighttime prayers I would ask God for His answer. And I did. And he gave me a definite answer that my understanding of that particular scripture was the right answer. And that the minister, for all his learning, knowledge and degrees was incorrect. The question was whether or not God has a physical body and if He and Jesus Christ were separate people,not just one incomprehensible thing (which in my mind I called a blob). I said nothing about this experience to anyone else but kept it to myself. It was between me and God. A year later the LDS missionaries came and taught us the discussions they used back then and, after 3 months, we were baptized into the Church. We have been active since then. My brother was never interested. They are all passed away now. It’s just my sister in law and me left from that generation. My sister in law and her and my brother’s family are not interested. My sister’s kids have all left the Church. I have 8 children and half of them are active along with me. Two of my kids were married in the temple. Two have been through the temple. One of them is married to an inactive Catholic who attends maybe three times a year. He most definitely does not like the Church, and the idea of the temple is absurd to him. And there you have it. My story about my conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.😊
I’m from Malaysia, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel uplifted, grateful and enjoyed watching your this video. I hope you can join this church, and continue to promote the goodness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through your gifted ability to articulate and inspire others through your works and social media channels.
@@williamrichards5096it's an amazing place, I'm excited for you! I have many friends there who are terrific people, who I would love to see accept the gospel of Christ someday - many of those friends are Muslim, and it is not so easy... or legal. I'm happy and grateful for you as well Eugene! Living as a latter day saint in Malaysia is interesting and quite rare, but I'm certain that your Christ-like example is beneficial and uplifting for those around you, particularly for those to whom proselytizing is not possible 🙏
So glad you got to visit one of the temples and go inside. Just two impressions… The reason you felt you were “leaving a twilight zone” rather than entering it is because we are not mortal beings just having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings, children of the living, God, that are having a mortal experience. The temple, and the ordinances inside are what connect us beyond the veil to our spiritual family, to our heavenly family, to each other. That’s why you witnessed the excitement and the enthusiasm of existing members regarding a new temple being available. They know the significance of what that structure means in terms of their eternal journey and relationships. You, yourself, felt the same impressions when examining your family history, even though you might not have been aware of it. The other impression is about your cardinal sightings. You’ve probably been told this before, but if not, God often uses things that mean something to us to show us that He is aware of us, and that He is present. He does the same thing for me when I see a hawk. It’s not an avian thing, it’s just my personal connection and love of hawks. Whenever I’m struggling, or even sometimes when I’ve had an amazing spiritual experience, without fail, I will see a hawk, soaring by, or standing atop a pole or building. This can even happen in an area where hawks are rarely if ever seen. We call these tender mercies-just ways that our Heavenly Father acknowledges us with His love and awareness of us. One personal insight I would like to share with you is this idea of eternal families. I grew up in foster homes, mostly abusive, and I’ve basically spent my entire life alone in the sense of having any type of family connections. One would think that going to a family-oriented church on Sundays would be very difficult in that regard. But the beautiful thing about the concept of eternal families is that no matter where I go to church on Sunday, my ward IS my family. I have received more love, more acceptance, and more family support from members of my wards over the years than I ever did from any family relationships I had growing up. This is not a twilight zone, this is what happens because of temples. We are sealed together as one family of God, the Eternal Father, made possible by the sacrifices and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. The last thing I would say, is perhaps to stop thinking about all of these churches with research and analysis, and start feeling with your heart. You have the light of Christ in you, as we all do, and are capable of recognizing the Holy Spirit. I’ve watched most of your videos, and it’s clear when you have felt this even though you often set it aside in favor of analysis and research. Maybe it’s time to stop visiting these churches, and actually spend some time communing with your Heavenly Father if you really want to know what He wants you to know about His Church and His Son. God bless you in this journey. 💝🙏🏻
Amen and amen. After my own heart. I could not have voiced this better. If it’s the true way home you are looking for ask God in the name of our beloved brother Jesus Christ with a sincere heart and the way WILL be shown to you. Father in Heaven loves you. ❤
@@doffydelbridge7899I think we need to use all of our abilities to learn truth; reason, research, study, faith, prayer, and the Spirit. Why leave any of them out. We can say yes to all of these avenues. Truth comes into focus when all are used. 😊
@workermannamrekrow2768 yes, evil happens in this world. I've struggled my entire life @ failed careers, failed marriages. Yet I ALWAYS come out on top with Faith, Not Fear. This is bc I've learned we're here on Earth to learn, grow, make mistakes, repent, search to feel Gods' spirit & guiding hand!! Little by little I'm making better decisions! I know this test called Life is hard, but I also know w/o a doubt that God truly cares about us, & I know I'm in the right place, in The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. I testify that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, restoring the Holy Priesthood back upon the Earth (thus, following "the dark ages"). Peter James & John, Jesus' Apostles conferred this Priesthood to righteous men in these latter days. God bless you, brother, in your search for Faith Not Fear 👍🙏🇺🇸
Yes, instead of animal sacrifice we sacrifice a broken heart and contrite spirit. The alter in the temple is the symbol of that sacrifice, our heart.❤️
Thanks for making such a non-judgmental and spiritually uplifting video. I seriously respect you a ton. I’m also a Latter Day Saint. And people like you bring me so much joy, your bringing everyone so close to Christ just by being an example of his teachings. Thanks for sharing your faithfulness with us!
Your personal story about family history struck me. “Turning the hearts of the children to their fathers”. We refer to it as the spirit of Elijah. What a beautiful thing
Malachi 4:5-6 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
@@AnneLund80 this happened in a Temple the spring of 1836 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though the family is taught as the ideal we strive for, obviously there are plenty of singles, divorced, single parent, blended, etc. and everyone has a place in God’s plan and His church! You and everyone are valid contributors to His church and kingdom no matter your current family situation! ❤
I fit into this category. I was married in the temple. After 15 years of marriage I was divorced and raising my children attending church each week without a husband/Father to be with us. Many times over the last 25 years I have found myself feeling out of place in a family focused church. Each time this discomfort shows up for me, I don’t minimize it. I let it be, and pray for the help to understand my emotions. Ultimately when I am patient with my valid feelings - I come through those times understanding that it has never been because those in my congregation have caused me to feel left out. They have always been so loving and inclusive. It is always “me” that has created those awkward insecurities. When I take the time to recognize that and work through it - I come out of it stronger. It returns to me that if I am not “one” with my worshipping congregation- “then I am not his” It’s important to recognize that there is a big group of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who are not part of a traditional nuclear family- we are all welcome here.
I'm 48 never married. Just striving to keep the covenants I already made. I have faith in Heavenly Father's plan. I just hope I can always help others feel welcome in the kingdom no matter their situation.
thank you for sharing that, however, while that is a general and a “progressive” member opinion it is not the actual doctrine. else what would be the purpose of the multimillion $ temples?. per the doctrine you don’t get to the celestial kingdom divorced, single, gay, or anything else unless sealed as a man and woman and pay 100% tithing and obey the word of wisdom and many other requirements to even enter the temple. say it as it is.
Something that I love about visiting the Temple is that we change our clothes to dress in all white - that means that you cannot distinguish who is rich or poor since we are all equal in the sight of our heavenly father. We even took off our watches and leave our phones in those lockers. You may not know but in different parts of the Bible reference is made to white garments, for example: 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from him from the book of life, and I will confess his name from him before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5(NASB)
One day in an endowment session in the Salt Lake Temple, I realized that there was an apostle participating as a patron in the session too. I only realized it when he stood beside me during the prayer. It was humbling to so clearly experience the principle of all being equal in God's eyes. God is no respecter of persons. When every person in the temple is clothed in white, I find that they are all beautiful as countenances shine with the spirit and radiate love and peace. Dressing in white elevates the sacredness and reverence of the temple experience.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I generally avoid videos from "non-members"because I just don't want the negativity that I'm sure I'll hear. But your video caught my attention for some reason and I'm very glad I watched it. Thank you so much for your respect and care. It's obvious to me that you are truly seeking answers. I grew up in the church and struggled as a young adult because all around me people my age were getting married and I'd grown up wanting that in my own life as well. But here I was in my 30s and still single. Having been raised with the concept of eternal families my whole life, that was a very hard pill to swallow. I did end up getting married at 39, but the years leading up to that were hard. However, the eternal concept of family makes it easier because we are connected eternally with not just our own spouse and children - if we have that - but also with our core family of parents and siblings. The temple helps to make that possible as the ordinances performed there are to unite families eternally. I appreciate your journey and pray that you continue on your pathway. God bless you on your journey.
I raised my boys Catholic. In adulthood the eldest joined LDS. I really enjoy visiting and attending his church. I agree completely about the family focus. It also has amazing online library.
@@user-wg5dm6oc3t These people have made their choices based on seeking and receiving revelation from God. To offer up some correction for you, the founder of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, became a freemason later in his life, and it did not conflict with his discipleship. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not "mirror the freemasons"; it does share a few symbols, but to make too large a comparison is simply incorrect. You can actually learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by talking with its members or by visiting the Church's official web site; essentially everything you find will be independent of similarity to freemasonry.
@@user-wg5dm6oc3t According to God, the church consists of ALL those who’ve trusted & believed in Jesus ALONE for salvation. It’s not some organization like catholics have been taught. And it’s definitely not the ones who bow to statues, worship mary, etc.
Hi David, I am a Latter Day Saint. We also believe that the body is a temple for our spirit. The buildings that we call "temples" are created to create a space to do spiritual "work" and to have an space where we can free of the wordly issues. Where our spirit can find the peace that any other space can't gives us due to much negative energy. It is the house of the Lord not our house. Thank you for being so respectful.
Good comment. Also good to realize that Peter and the 12 used the temple after Christ’s resurrection showing that the building still had purpose. At the end of the millennium, their use will no longer be required, I suppose.
They are being built in preparation for the Second Coming and the tremendous temple work that will be done during that time!! They are a portal with heaven with ties to eternity. Why should they not reflect the divine and be entered by consecrated members? All parts of temples were not open to just anyone in the Bible.
Your comments about the church is exactly what I felt when I visited the church for the first time. I had already studied many other religions before and none of them gave the feeling of celestial Union and heavenly belonging as I feel as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.
l grew up in the Presbyterian church and had so many questions that their doctrine could not answer, I attended a quaker meeting for 12 years but still felt there had to be more, as I felt incomplete! I too found my answers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and l have never regretted my decision to join, that was almost 20 years ago!
@@godisreality7014God through His Word and Holy Spirit have led me and many others to this church, and these temples. Nice try. Why do you try and put doubt in peoples testimonies of Jesus Christ? We have the same Saviour buddy why are you coming at the people on your team🤦♂️🤦♂️
My husband and I just finished watching. We really enjoyed hearing about your experience. He is a newly baptized member, (raised pentecostal) , looking forward to getting his Endowment and attending the temple with me. Just last weekend we had to wonderful opportunity to attend the open house of the Moses Lake Temple, in Moses Lake, Washington. It was Beautiful. ❤ I was saddened to hear you didn't have a guide to explain the rooms and what they are for. We attend the temple wearing Sunday clothing, and change into white clothing. That is an important thing we do, because we come from all walks of life and experiences, but when we enter the temple, we all are equal.. We all wear white.. And are there to serve, with love in our hearts. Also.. I wonder if the protester outside the temple, was actually a member trying to share truth instead of the hate that's yelled at us. Here's my question to "Christians" who bash and torment Any religion that they disagree with.. Why do they attack others in the first place? Aren't we to follow Jesus's example? His teachings? Did he ever yell at anyone? Did he raise his voice? Did he condemn the adultress and join those who wanted her stoned? I, as an lds.. Convert, let people believe what they want. I love everyone. I am behind everyone who truly trying to follow Jesus's example. ❤ Anyway.. I'm glad we came upon your video. I'd never heard of your channel. 😊 I hope you continue asking questions.. And find your answers. I found mine. ❤
God bless you David. All of your YT followers who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feel a strong kinship to you and we so appreciate your YT channel. Your respect, honest efforts, and humility make you a true friend to us. All your YT videos have been so meaningful to me personally and I feel a great sense of gratitude to you. May I suggest that the next time you are near a working (currently operating) temple, that you simply go sit on its lawn, be still, and wait to sense the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's still, small voice there, at God's House, will give you so much peace and understanding. Again, thank you for your humble efforts and may God continue to bless you.
❤ Love your counsel, there is a big difference between a consecrated Temple and a not consecrated Temple, hard to explain to our LDS friends the difference between the two.
I was a protestant who had searched many religions for truth. I had read the Bible many times and felt that no church had an understanding of scripture. No minister or priest had an answer to the many incredible teachings in Corinthians. Many told me to ignore Revelations. My first meeting with two young humble missionaries I knew I had found the truth. This church took every word in scripture as God's instructions. Thank you for sharing your insights. ❤🙏🏼
I am a hospice chaplain and therapist, but also a member of the LDS church. The faith of the people I work for, most of them non LDS Christians, amazes me everyday. As I pray and hold hands with them, share stories and observe their faithfulness to correct principles I am overwhelmed by a sense of peace. I don’t worry about where they are going when they die, unlike my Jehovah’s Witness grandmother who had a genuine fear that my soul was going to be lost forever because I was not JW. Ironically, my daughter completed her temple work a few years ago. I am grateful to be part of a faith tradition that offers the opportunity for continuing education and eternal progression…for everyone. Also, a LOT of the patients see cardinals and often attribute the sightings to loved ones who have passed. 😍
It's such an inspiration to follow your journey. I may be wrong, but I understand many Evangelical pastors spend quite a bit of time telling their flock how evil the LDS church is. This breaks my heart, I can't imagine feeling that way about my Evangelical cousins, but I understand why that background would make you hesitant to open your heart to our understanding of God's plan. It might help you to listen to another YT podcaster named David Alexander. He was an Evangelical for 47 years and just joined the LDS church a couple of months ago. Hopefully he can speak to your concerns far better than I can. God bless.
David Alexander is truly called to bear witness, no doubt. He has survived false heresay and come to see through it since he knows what it’s like to be one who ignorantly participated in it, well-meaning as he intended to be. Now that absolutely horrifies him. 47 years is a long time to be looking feverishly in every place for the truth except for just one. Lol🥹, especially when you sincerely want to know where the truth is, and he was very sincerely searching- he just feared looking in the one place where it turned out to be for him, and all due to the toxic tongue. Every prophet suffered that, and Christ suffered being disbelieved, so…
Brother, I was 35 before I got married to my eternal companion and best friend. I have 5 kids now and blessed beyond measure. I to was married before to an abusive wife and she did a lot of damage to me for a long time. However, I forgave her and grateful for all my experiences even the really hard ones. Anyway keep doing what you are doing ...its good
Loved your remarks. I have been a temple worker for many years and love serving in the temple, we learn and love the mission and blessings we can receive from the atonement of Jesus Christ. Our purpose in life and our potential because of the remarkable grace and gift of the atonement I love the blessings I have received from serving there. Wish you well Carol
I was 28 yrs old when I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I first sat foot in a Ward/Church I felt the Holy Spirit so strong it was an amazing feeling of peace and joy I had never felt like that before. It was a fast and Testimony Sunday meeting people were getting up and and going to the pulpit one by one bearing their Testimonies my heart was softening as I heard them speak and I also loved the Hymns they sang they were uplifting ❤️ ever since 1983 I embraced the gospel with all my heart through thick and thin. I read the Book of Mormon and prayed and asked if it is true and I felt in my heart and mind that it is TRUE! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is the Church Jesus Christ organized when he walked upon the earth🥰‼️ Thank you so much young man for respecting the Church and for not mocking it. May the Lord bless you with his Holy Spirit so that you too will find the TRUTH. Please contact the Missionaries they'll answer your questions. You are in my prayers in Jesus Christ Amen🙏🙏🙏🙏 ❤️ ❤‼️
My daughter (from Boise) is a sister missionary in the Bentonville Mission. She was facilitating the tours through the temple! She and he companion helped Elder Bednar with the early tours. I have appreciated ur channel and was very pleased to hear that you took the time to take a tour!
It's interesting that you mention that you didn't necessarily get/feel a spiritual experience, yet you went on to describe all of the things that touched you and impressed you. Having spiritual experiences is one thing, recognizing them is another. Typically, spiritual experiences are very personal and quiet sacred teachings specifically just for you from heavenly father. You are absolutely receiving and learning from your spiritual experiences. Very good video, thanks for sharing.
We are totally a "families can be together forever" church. My husband is a convert to the church. We were married at 19 been together 44 years. Our marriage/children and each other is everything to us. It's a commitment. Our eternal marriage is very important to us. I think the difference in people of faith is that divorce never crosses their minds. I really appreciate your candid comments!
Let’s look at this logically. If my whole family loves and serves the Lord will we not all be together in heaven? Why then would we need to be “sealed” in a temple?
@@lindaharding2057 We really don't know many details about our eternal, post-mortal existence, so it might be hard to answer that "why" question, but logically, God wouldn't tell us to do it if it wasn't important. Covenants are required by God, and I think it is fair to ask God why He requires things, but He is the one we should be asking. From Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
@@00Fisher00 Well I respectfully disagree that God said any such thing. Please correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve never come across anything like you’re saying in either the old or New Testament.
I've loved watching your series on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. VERY nicely, and RESPECTFULLY done!!! Thank you!!! I am a convert to the church, back in 1985! I deem that too be the single most important decision I've ever made. Life isn't always easy, however, it's always great with Heavenly Father! You may consider coming to St. George, Utah to go through the Temple Open House here. It is the oldest Temple in our church. It's MUCH larger than the Bentonville Temple and, i suspect it'll be guided somewhat compared to your experience in Arkansas. The Open House starts the 15th of September and runs through the 11th of November. Much longer than the Bentonville Temple. Even if tickets are not available, you'll be allowed to attend, so not to worry about that. I look forward to a video on your experience in the oldest Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David. Thank you so very much for the experiences and insights that you expressed, not only about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but about your own life. Like others who have shared comments, my respect for your candor and fairness in sharing your observations about this faith are sincerely offered. I first became acquainted with the Church more than 5 decades ago as a teenager when our family visited Hemisphere '68, in San Antonio Texas. Not long after that, I joined the Church along with my parents and sisters, and we began a pathway that included the sealing of our family several years later. It would be disingenuous of me to imply that life was all roses, and that we all lived happily ever after. But I can say that our lives were definitely better, and I will never look back or go back to what it was before. My wife and I then married in the temple, and raised our children in the faith. Many, but not all of them have stuck with it, and for the most part, we are a close knit family despite any differences. My love for them is not now, nor has it ever been, based on our agreement (or lack of agreement) in religious preferences. But you know, when we read of the prophets and their families in the Bible, many if not most of them had some serious trials and challenges. My wife passed through the veil seven years ago, and it is the promise of eternal togetherness that motivates me to be true to her and the covenants that she and I made together with God in his holy house. I believe that the family-centeredness of the Church and the temple is in large part due to its Christ-centeredness. I can also state that I have the utmost regard for people of all faiths, who exemplify brotherly kindness in their daily walk, believing as I do, that we are all children of the same Father, and His heavenly home is where we all want to be. My apologies for this unintended lengthy response. With kind regards, Mike
I love your openness to new experiences. I was serving in the temple recently and had an amazing spiritual witness of God’s love and knowledge of all His children and how he knows all of them by name. It was so profound.
Brother, as members of the LDS church, my husband and i have been married 43 years. I cannot speak to every reason the divorce rate is lower in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but ONE of the most important reasons is that we are building a marriage relationship to last for eternity. Anything of value worth having, is worth working for and cannot be achieved overnight. Eternal perspective, forgiveness and repentance are key to lasting marriage relationships.
Man, I think it's fair to say a few occurrences can be coincidences, but when you've had many, it has to be something else! Wishing you the best in your journey 🙏🏻
David, there are no coincidences, your grandfather is the Cardinal meeting you as you have attended these church meetings, General Conference and the Bentonville, Arkansas Temple. Angels seen and unseen are accompanying you to these beautiful experiences with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I grew up in the church, and have stayed an active member my whole life. My husband and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary soon. One of the reasons members of the church stay together is because of the covenants and commitments they make in the temple when they are married. We believe in the sanctity of marriage and the importance of families. We do have some friends who have never married, who are active members of the church. They contribute much through serving in callings in the church, and are loved by the members of our ward. We believe in Christ's atonement and resurrection, and we love Him. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's Church.
I’m lds. I love the church and one of the focal points is that we all are a family through our Heavenly Father. He sent His Son to atone for us to have the opportunity to overcome physical and spiritual death and return to their presence. I love that you’ve studied many faiths and that you share a positive outlook. I’ve looked into other religions as well and find more love for them as I understand their devotion to Christ. Well made video.
What beautiful wisdom and humble insight, brother. Your respect of our LDS faith had me crying. It’s such a breath of fresh air. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I left an evangelical church 26 years ago to become LDS. Best decision of my life. The truth is deeper, the Spirit stronger and the authority comes straight from God. Best wishes on your spiritual journey. I’d encourage you to open a discussion with the missionaries sometime soon 🙏 It may pleasantly surprise you.
You might like to read a document the church released in 1995 called “The Family: A Proclamation to the world” to better understand our viewpoint and understanding of families.
I am a Latter Day Saint. I really enjoyed your video, and I admire your open mindedness about the temples and their importance in our lives. We do have Wards specifically for young single adults. We are all children of God. We all belong. ❤ That being said, I also have a beautiful single daughter. 😉
I’ve loved watching your videos over the last year or so, David. I am a Latter-day saint and appreciate your respect and perspective. It is so refreshing! I’m also a 30-something divorced woman with no children and although sometimes I feel very aware of my singleness, I love that our “wards”/congregations are like families. Anyway, I love what you share here! I’ve recently been learning more about Evangelicals and Messianic Jews. It’s beautiful learning about commonalities and differences with other Christians.
Great insights, especially into Snow White! Have you listened to David Alexander's channel? His is about his 47 years as an evangelical, and his path to Baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was Baptist, but was always searching for truth when I found the Church. I love that God has a plan for all, even those who died without hearing of Christ. Best wishes on your journey!
Thank you for visiting and thank you for being a sincere and serious person. Temples are beautiful and I am spiritually nourished whenever I visit and worship. The temples today are not as similar to the ancient Israel temples in terms of function, but they resemble them in the fact that they are separate from the World. This temple concept is seen when Jesus went out to the desert for 40 days/nights and communed with God and Angels, when Moses went up to the mountain to commune with God or when Jesus and His apostles went to the Mount of transfiguration. Solomon built a temple to honor God and to set apart a place away from the World to commune with God. That's what the temples today represent. A place separate from the World that allows for communion with God and the Holy Spirit and a sacred place to make sacred promises with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
I appreciate your kindness when learning and visiting our church and related buildings. I think it's what this world needs. We should all look for the good in our neighbors no matter who they are. I am my self a lifelong member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and i appreciate when people not of my faith share their experiences and share their beliefs. In this case it helps me to better understand the beliefs of Prodistants and other mainstream Christians. Thank you for your kindness and respect while visiting.
Really enjoyed watching this one! My husband and I have enjoyed such a happy union throughout life together while raising our 6 precious children because of the blessings of Temple work that Lord has given.
I am a LDS member. Being a member has been the best, the best experience in my life! I also spend much time in the temple. It gives me so much peace and joy to be in the temple. The more I live as a faithful member, the more I realize that Christ leads this church. I pray that you find what you are searching for! God Bless!
David, I been watching you videos for a couple of weeks and I love your videos, I've been called on an lds mission to rancagua chile, and watching your videos has been a blessing for me. One of my biggest concerns with a mission has been that I've been afraid that people would not listen to me or that people would shun me for my beliefs. But watching your videos has shown me that there are people who are interested in the church and that will listen to me. Thank you for your videos and God bless you.
Elder, you are called to bear a life affirming message to the world. Your personal popularity has nothing to do with it. If your message is rejected you will be in the company of many other great teachers. Thirsty people will be grateful to receive living water. God will bless you, because you are sacrificing for His children.
I grew up in 3 different religions; born into catholic faith, raised in early childhood Pentacostal. As an early teen mom switched our family to Lutheran. By 17, I wasn't attending any church. When I was 23, I met a friend, who had recently been baptized LDS. I asked her about the little blue book I saw her reading. She introduced me to two missionaries, (Elders). They gave me my own copy of The Book of Mormon. The book immediately answered several questions I had about the gospel, and the people living on the American continent. It has now been thirty one and a half years since I was baptized LDS. Although I have still had many unpleasant and even bad things happen to me, I have endured all these with the help of my Savior Jesus Christ. I testify that God placed us here on earth in families to love and care for each other. I also testify of the divinity of the Bible and The Book Of Mormon. I declare this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
Do you understand the symbolism of cardinals? I have had so many loved ones pass away, including two of my children. I absolutely believe your deceased loved ones are still a part of your life, and in a sense the cardinals could just be there as a comfort to let you know they are aware of you and want to convey that. I have made many Christmas ornaments with the cardinal in memory of those we have had to say goodbye to in this mortal life. To me, it is a symbol that we are still connected. There is still a bond. And the Temple is the place where those bonds are sealed! I am really impressed with your perspective on family and society. I think your understanding of Temples is actually pretty connected to my own understanding. There are just more precepts going from Adam and Eve and their fall, and the gift of protection God gives them all the way through to the gift of His Son. There continues more from there. So though I am not sure how to explain it, I would just say that your understanding seems very aligned to my understanding of the significance of Temples. The answer about families staying together more among Latter-day Saints? I haven't studied that out, and I don't know all the statistics you noted with other denominations. But tied to the Temple is the commitment that one makes to serve God and others above self. And the Covenant of that individual between self, God, and spouse that also includes promises to children all do make a very powerful bond to help to minimize the break up of families. Being more selfless plays an important part in overcoming pride and learning Charity (see 1 Corinthians 13 for the many attributes that would strengthen marriage and family), and if you are very self absorbed or selfish, I do think you are so much more susceptible to the enticings that turn you away from devotion, love, humility, and all those fruits you are speaking of. I was born into a family where marriage started in the Temple, but was later dissolved both from the legal standpoint (divorce) and spiritually (Temple cancellation). And I understand how harmful broken families are for children, individuals, and society. And because of that, I was very focused on wanting Temple Covenants as part of my own marriage and life. I do not know how well I have done, but I am still happily married and am looking forward to eternity with my husband and family. I so appreciate your sensitivity to the relationship of Elder Holland and his wife, and for your tender thoughts about praying for him. I agree with him, that Heaven will not be Heaven without family. BTW, that book you received is quite a gift! From my understanding, it is out of print. During my teens, I was somewhat rebellious (in part in trying to reconcile that brokeneness my family went through). When I decided to consider that perhaps that wasn't the best course, I was loaned that book. I read it and I was really then motivated to repent and truly learn to follow Christ in living His Gospel. I wish I had a copy still! So if you decide to part with it, I'd be happy to purchase it from you. :) Warmly as Your Sister and Friend in Christ, Marie (~plaid)
Being a widow and while my husband was alive he never joined the church but I do have a hope of being sealed in the temple to . I also want to say that it is a a family focus but for a single member they are also a family member because we are all brothers and sisters. And a single member is a valuable soul and through the different callings they have can bless those around them.
Thank you for your open-minded and humble video. I admire your honest and concerted search for truth. As an adolescent I rejected my protestant upbringing and religion in general. But at the beginning of my 3rd year in college, I happened into a situation in which I was suddenly exposed to half a dozen or more members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a daily basis. At first I was critical of their religion generally, but I was surprised that they listened to my objections and often shared new ideas about my objections. As time went on, I could intellectually see that there was a sort of rational harmony in their doctrine that had evaded me. Long story short, I resolved my doubts, received a testimony of Jesus Christ, and became a member of the Church by the end of that school year. That was over 50 years ago, and I can honestly say that in all those years I've never questioned nor regretted that choice.
This week, I have the honor and privilege of being my oldest son's escort as he "goes through" the temple for the first time. (Going through means receiving specific ordinances for one's self.) Over the last couple of weeks (and to an extent, throughout his life), we've taken time to explain to him the significance of the various temple ordinances, including the opportunity to make solemn covenants with God and the blessings associated with those covenants. Interestingly enough, you touched on some of the exact concepts that are taught during one of the temple ceremonies, specifically regarding the fall of Adam, the need for a savior, the Atonement and resurrection of Christ, and subsequent redemption offered to all who choose to accept Him and live by His teachings. The Lord is preparing you and using you to further His work. Don't discount the cardinals, or anything other patterns you discover. Those are specific cues to you, because He knows exactly how to reach & teach you.
It would be so amazing to see you interview David Alexander!! He was just baptized 4-5 months ago and was an Evangelical Christian for 47 years, he has an interesting perspective
With due respect, David Alexander mostly talks nonsense. E.g. the claim that there are 45000 Christian denominations is simply untrue, and him repeating it a hundred times does not make it factual. David Alexander might be eloquent, but he is not knowledgeable.
It has been so delightful to hear your experience of a temple open house. I have always been a Latter Day Saint but had never attended a temple open house until recently with my grandson. I’m sorry you didn’t have tour guides to help you understand better what takes place there. We had tour guides all the way through in the Saratoga Springs temple in Utah but maybe that isn’t the case in all areas. I really was impressed with your comments and appreciated your honest and sincere observations. I think what you are doing is really very special. Thanks and my best wishes to you-
Temple open houses can feel busy, I remember that feeling as a child, but I also remember feeling cleanliness. I love that feeling. I learned not long ago in a temple parking garage, that the cleaners of the temple I attend, take time to dust the pipes that run through the always very clean parking garage. It is kept swept and cleaned regularly. The parking floor is even shined every so often. That feels important to me. Not building worship, but I feel it shows gratitude and respect for sacred space in a busy world. I really appreciate your insightful observations that many tend to look into phones for individual happiness like Snow White’s mirror. Great comparison. Thank you! As you shared your understanding of temples of the past, as a frequent temple attender in the present, I feel that temples commanded to be built by God today help us learn to sacrifice our wills and hearts to God. A spiritually higher law than sacrificing animals. I learn in a temple how to spiritually make a more holy temple of my body that you mentioned is to be a temple. I have felt the fruit of keeping promises to God that I make in temples that help me to elevate my mind, to better care for my body, to keep my heart teachable, to help my marriage and… help me as an individual in all my personal efforts to improve in all aspects of my life. The temple helps make me more “one” within, and “one” without. I feel heaven there and my service there always helps me take a little heaven back to my home and my community. D Todd Christofferson (an apostle) said in a talk in April 2023 general conference. “Unity does not require sameness, but it does require harmony.” In the temple I worship with people married and unmarried, all of us as individuals with difficult life and family situations but the temple helps me learn how to be in harmony with myself and others and God. It seems a beautiful instrument to help me make a more joyful noise to the Lord. Thanks for asking good questions.
Thanks for your thoughtful review and comments! The focus on describing your experience and feelings without overt judgement one way or the other was refreshing. As Christians, we all have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate. Let's focus on the love of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I appreciate your kind evaluation. I have many friends and coworkers who are good and faithful people who belong to other churches. We come together on the things we have in common- our belief in and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. I get upset when anyone “trashes” other churches. I might not believe the same, but as one of the Articles of Faith in the LDS church states, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” In the Doctrine & Covenants it states what Joseph Smith was told by Jesus Christ: “Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.” There is so much contention in the world today. We Christians need to come together in love and our mutual allegiance to Jesus Christ.
I'm glad you were able to visit! I live in the Bentonville area and I was volunteering that day you went so we may have crossed paths. I was standing by the sealing and instruction rooms near the end of the tour. Other than the sister missionaries at the beginning, everyone else on the tour were local volunteers from the youth helping with shoe coverings to the guides throughout the tour to the parking attendants. I think the best way to view the "works" of the temple is the same way we should view the baptism of Jesus Christ. Why was he baptized if he was perfect? To fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). We are not perfect so we certainly have the need to be baptized which is an ordinance (acts that have spiritual meanings such as our inner commitment to follow Christ). Like baptism, the other works in the temple are ordinances that we perform to fulfill all righteousness for ourselves and on behalf of our ancestors who did not have the chance to perform those ordinances for themselves while living. Performing these vicarious works for our family that never had the chance allows them the opportunity choose to accept the ordinances for themselves and helps to turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers (Malachi 4:6). I love the temple because of what it means for my faith and family!
David, love the videos. I can only speak for myself but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has blessed my life in countless ways. It is truly God's church built on the foundation of the authority of apostles and prophets receiving direction from Christ. As I've built my life on that foundation I've received the fruits of love and respect from my wife and children and peace in this world.
you said that you never cared for your ancestry before. This is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah, that says that the hearts of the children will be turned to their fathers. The Holy Spirit is working on you.
I'm a life long member. But I believe our heavenly Father used you to remind me of something sacred. One of his tender mercies. It won't seem big to anyone else, probably, but brought me to tears. I love that he uses simple everyday messages to let me know that he knows me.
I’ve visited inside three different Temples…and prayed in every room for open eyes and hearts for all who would later be in there to be sensitive to the true Holy Spirit’s voice
As I’ve gotten older I see more and more personal significance to the temple symbols and ceremonies. Bringing my own sacrifice to the temple - like in olden times might have been a lamb or a dove - of self denial, i.e. a broken heart and a contrite spirit, makes me ready to hear and see what is being offered me - forgiveness and deeper awe and commitment to Christ and his purposes. Parentage and progeny are woven into all of it. For how could any of us be here or have hope of anything hereafter, without consideration of family - of those who got us here and those for whom we’ve provided this gift of mortal life?
Love the video!! I don’t know if you ever look at these comments but, by the way I am a Latter-day Saint biblical scholar studying at BYU right now. I would love to answer any questions you have about latter-day saint temples and latter-day saint theology!! I love your faith journey and seeing you approach things from your own background and perspective!
How do you explain how Joseph Smith died? The physical evidence doesn’t line up with what John Taylor and Willard Richard has stated. None of those men were shot by Muskets. They were clearly shot by smaller caliber pistols.
As a catholic convert to the church in my late 20's (almost 35 years ago) I've learned over the years the Holy Ghost whispers softly yet directly to those willing to listen. You, my friend, should listen ❤
When I spend time in Jesus, I am happy. When I forget him, I notice I am not happy. It's that simple. I go to the temple, church, scriptures, prayer, music... these bring me back unto Christ and I am at peace again over turmoil. The temple brings me peace. And with that peace, I feel joy. Who better to want with me feeling that, then those I love most...
You are on the right path. I promise you what you are experiencing is the power of God. The Spirit is testifying to you boldly and personally exactly what you need and when and how you need it. He knows you. Keep asking and keep exploring. He will open your mind, heart and understanding. I grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I've been having these same experiences my entire life. It's almost inexplicable. It's miraculous. The happiness you've seen and felt is real. You too can have it. Don't deny it. Believe it. The reason people find so much joy in the church is because of the fruits of the Spirit. In the temple we make sacred covenants with God that bind our fanilies together forever. With those covenants comes power, peace, and protection. All of it leads to true joy. Keep learning. Love you brother.
I’ve been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since 1973. I used to think, as I drove to the temple, that I was so relieved and looked forward to leaving “reality” behind for a couple hours. After years of that, and as I learn more, I now know I’m leaving the world (temporary stuff) for actual reality (what’s actually important) for those few hours. Huge shift.
I’m a married 41-year-old Catholic turned Latter-day Saint. My husband and I have no children. While at one time we felt out of place, we have since grown to know that the only place for us is the LDS Church. There is room for absolutely everyone in the Church and our shared identity as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ outweighs any differences we have. And as we studied in church this last Sunday, our differences are necessary as part of the body of Christ. Thank you so much for your earnest, heartfelt sharing of experience. Also, my gorgeous sister-in-law is single, beautiful, hilarious, and intelligent. You two should meet! 😊
Senior at BYU-I, marriage and family science major here. Hi! While Latter-day Saints have our share of difficult problems concerning divorce and everything else, I've come to understand that the horizon line, if you will, for anybody drives marital outcomes to a great extent. So if you see your marriage as something just there to fill your needs like everything else in consumer culture, that's how you'll treat it. If you make promises to each other death til you part, you'll treat it that way. If you make promises to God and each other...and there is no end, you're married for eternity, that's how Latter-day Saints treat it. Take that away and our divorce rate would, I think, jump to at least 25%. If you visit a temple's sealing room there are always mirrors on the opposing walls to quietly illustrate this idea. Thanks so much for your work and videos!
Glad you were able to come see our beautiful temple. Loved seeing the shots of the flowers in your video. I'm glad we hardly had any protesters at the open house. Thank you for coming!
I’m a convert to the church and I really like some of the things you say one thing I found was amazing was how close all the families were and how they all seem to be so serious about their faith and they lived a day in and day out. And I found that to be true since I join the church it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me. I think you’re out amazing journey. Thanks for sharing it.
David, I really like your videos, and your humble willingness to learn. I highly recommend that you find another temple open house and go with one of your LDS friends who will be able to explain and answer questions during the tour. The intent by the temple administrators, I think, was that most visitors would be accompanied by a member. If you do this, your tour will be a lot longer and informative as you pause in each room and discuss things with your friend. Best wishes!
As a life long LDS member I love hearing of your experiences, your honest perspective and respectful manner. I have even had a few "oh yeah" moments where the penny has dropped in my own understanding. I don't think there's one answer regarding lower divorce rates but for me it's the eternal nature of our relationships that were nurturing here on earth. From family history to connect us to our annsestors, to our own children and most importantly our spouses.
As a member of the church of Jesus Christ OLDS, I love watching your videos. Look for ways the lord is answering your prayers that may not be in the way you expected. God will always lead you in the right direction
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I also am older and single, AND I can relate to your comment about not belonging in church because I AM older AND single.
I loved this video so much. Your experiences were very special and I appreciate your willingness to share them. In our church, it's common to refer to those small, sweet coincidences as "tender mercies". I felt the Spirit this whole video. As a member, I and many others really feel that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is so beautiful and joyful and sacred and true. It's light shines forth and its fruit is precious because it is the Lord's. And though you may not have been able to feel the peace of the temple, a greater peace is multiplied there once it is dedicated. I would invite you to go to visit the temple grounds of a dedicated temple and just dwell there for a time, pondering on the things you saw on the temple tour. I have enjoyed when I have done that myself. You are wonderful and I pray that God will continue to bless you and guide you in all things. Love you, dear brother.
David, it’s said that the veil between the spirit world and our world is very thin. Your great grandparents know the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth in families being sealed together and are drawing you to the LDS faith. I felt the spirit testify of this thought and had to share it.
As a huge fan of the Twilight Zone and an adult convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, I have to let you know how much I enjoyed this video. That TZ reference and clip had me literally laughing out loud. I appreciate your sincerity in this video. You should probably attend another open house, but have a member with you to give you a personal tour. Right now the Saint George Temple is having an Open House. It is a historic temple and this is a once in a life time opportunity for people. If you need a guide, my famiy would love to help you on this tour should you go to St George. Or if not, please go again with a member to explain the rooms as you walk through the temple. God bless you, Brother.
Appreciated your thoughts on the temple visit! Great personal stories to go along with the experience. It’s also refreshing how polite and respectful you are about the LDS teachings.
For a first-timer inside a temple, what did you think? Feel free to let me know below, I'd enjoy hearing some interfaith dialogue to better understand.
The family is the essential unit in the church. I think one thing that is very interesting is the proclamation to the world on the family that was released in 1995 by the church. At the time there wasn't all this gender and gay marriage questions. And yet the prophet at the time (Gordon b hinckley) and the apostles felt inspired to release this document. I'd encourage you give that a read. To your faith journey generally, I know you're comfortable in your church but the claims made by the church of Jesus Christ are so bold that it either has to be lunacy or it has to be true. I think you're at a point you need to grapple with that. Be ye either hot or cold. I feel like you're at a time for choosing.
Some theologians see the cardinal symbolizing the Holy Spirit, combining the fire element of the Spirit's work with the energy and life found in the Spirit. Tied with the blood of Christ, the cardinal represents the eternal life-giving nature of Jesus and His ministry.
I have enjoyed many of your videos! You mentioned the idea of "grace vs. works", and I thought I'd offer some thoughts to help you avoid pitfalls I've seen others make. As you said in this video, we do not believe we are doing good works in the temple (or anywhere else, for that matter) to earn salvation. I really appreciate that you grant us that. I have heard from others (on multiple occasions) who have attempted to tell me what I believe and then tell me that I'm wrong. Good works that we do elsewhere, such as feeding the hungry, visiting those who need care, etc., have a benefit for those other people. For us, the temple is about important covenants we make with God through ordinances. These covenants are promises to Him, made on His terms, and they are not good works that benefit other people. The benefit they provide is to us by renewing our conviction to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. We do also perform these ordinances by proxy for our deceased ancestors, but we don't do so with the intent of earning salvation. The prophet Nephi taught that nothing we could do of ourselves would earn salvation, but that we rely on the grace of Christ (see 2 Nephi 25:22-27). In general, I find the "grace vs. works" argument to be a red herring that has the potential to distract disciples of Christ. We know that without Christ we are nothing, that our own actions can never be sufficient, but that our actions make our faith true and living (as mentioned in James 2), and that we'll be judged according to our works (see Revelation 20:12-13) but again that our best acts are insufficient and we all rely on Christ. Again, I mention this because I've seen people get tripped up over it, completely unnecessarily. You seem to be avoiding that, but hopefully you find my thoughts useful.
Concerning sacrifice, it is not the only purpose of temples. We certainly believe that animal sacrifice in the past was important to prepare people for the arrival of the promised Messiah, and that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ during His mortal life was a "great and last sacrifice" as Amulek called it in Alma 34:14. (Feel free to read Alma 34:8-16 for a great passage about this topic.) But temples have more of a purpose than animal sacrifice, and they certainly have a wonderful purpose now that animal sacrifice has ended. When you get the opportunity, you can ask people about their experiences in temple worship and how they are blessed by it.
Temples are even better after they've been dedicated. The peace and quiet inside dedicated temples is something I really appreciate. Something I also find very interesting is that when doing proxy ordinances for the deceased, it is actually very repetitive, but I have never been bored. Instead, I have simply felt good in a very simple but happy way.
Thanks for respectfully exploring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the other churches you've visited. I hope you keep having good experiences with it.
🌺🌹🌺….Perhaps…
your
great-grandfather
is
sending you
cardinals
because he has
something
for you to do for him
or someone
he loves. 🕊 Perhaps, you
Thank for this detail.
I grew up in an awful situation. Lots of drugs, bad relationships, poverty and homelessness. I met with the missionaries as a teenager and have tried to give my life over to Christ through the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I discovered repentance and peace - I served a mission. Christ has done more with my life than I could have ever imagined. Starting out as an alcoholic homeless high school drop out, I have now graduated from BYU, I have a wonderful wife and four great kids and I'm living a comfortable middle-class life. Everything is different. I am so grateful for the Savior and the teachings of the living prophets! I have Hope, and my life has meaning.
You are truly an amazingly thoughtful person. From early on in life, I have had a great desire to know the truth. Once I had a piece of it, I felt compelled to follow it no matter the consequences. For me the Church of Jesus Christ of Laterday Saints has been the source.
As a very young boy, I loved my Baptist church experience. I felt the witness of the Holy Ghost and discovered that Jesus is my Savior while attending summer Bible school. After my dad died at the age of 30, I had so many tough questions. I was nine then. The pastor, who I dearly loved, could not provide answers. But those answers did come, when I was 14, through visits with two young missionaries. If you find a church document called The Family, a Proclamation to the World, written by the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles, I think it will give you significant insight into Heavenly Father's feelings for all of us, His children. May God bless you in your search.
Incredible
Why do the lockers in the dressing rooms have locks on them?
Yes, the lockers inside the Temple, where only WORTHY Mormons are allowed, all have locks on them. I guess someone might steal your shoes while you're in the Temple?@@dongrymes
Don
Locks are in the dressing room so people don’t steal your shit. Hshshshs this guy. Hahaha
I love your humble and respectful review of all these churches, especially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was born a Catholic but converted to The Church of Jesus Christ as a teenager. I was the only member of my family to join. I still can’t believe the Lord brought me to His church. I was never religious before, but when I heard about their doctrine it felt like a truth I had known in the past but somehow forgotten. Wherever your journey takes you I am grateful for your example of humility and your love of Jesus Christ. All of us Christians need to stick together and support each other in these troubling times.
That’s so similar to my experience! I was a devout Catholic who began learning with that missionaries when I was 12/13. It was like remembering something I had known long ago. I’m so glad you’re here!
I’m the only member in my family too.
@@latter-daysaintbatman2679 That’s because you’re an orphan. Right, Batman?
Amen!
That is, I completely agree with your words.
I really liked this video wish Him the best on his search for truth ❤
if you were the only person in your family to join, what does that mean in regards to temple ordinances? Can you go to the temple alone? What about sealing? Can you make it to the celestial kingdom without being married?
My heart kind of broke at this video. I live in Bentonville and I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. I had the opportunity to be an usher at the Bentonville Temple open house. I took friends through and my family through so many times. I spent hours upon hours in the temple that week. And I loved teaching people about the significance and importance and symbolism of what they were seeing. To not have had anybody answer any questions you had is heartbreaking. I wish I could have gone thru with you! What a difference it makes knowing what you're experiencing. I hope you have been able to have a better experience at other open houses since!
I am a Latter Day Saint that has been struggling with questions about my faith. I couldn’t give you a specific reason why but this video uplifted me and made my doubts seem so small to me. Thank you for being such a light and having such an open minded attitude about our faith!!!
I used to struggle as well. I even left because of Joseph Smith. In 2021 when D&C were covered, I asked God for help I received confirmation from the Holy Ghost himself that Joseph Smith is truly a prophet.
I'm also a member of the church. And I know we are all different.
But first, me, feeling the spirit of God, has always been my focus! As long as I feel the spirit in the gospel, I'm OK with not knowing everything. I don't think I personally know everything about anything in life. So I'm OK with waiting until Jesus Christ comes to know a lot more. But that's just how I go about it. I'm a Temple worker every week, and this helps me feel the spirit of God in my life, and I'm just grateful to see the many miracles of the Temple !
@@jesuschristlives2724 The problem is the Bible warns not to trust every spirit because many deceiving spirits and false prophets would pollute the world in the last days. The Bible says false Prophets would have spiritual gifts to deceive were it possible even the elect in the last days. Joseph Smith was an occult-obsessed treasure digger who did animal sacrifices (killing multiple dogs and sheep), and if there is one person who would be able to imbed demonic magic into his man-made scriptures it was Joseph Smith. The Mormon church is exactly what the Bible warned about. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young contradicted the Bible nonstop. For example, in Joseph Smith's King Follett Discourse, he says God was once a man. The Bible says God is eternal (no beginning or end) and that beside him he knows no God. If Mormons became gods do you think they could honestly say they knew no other God? Also there is zero archaeological evidence for the BoM, DNA studies prove Native Americans are Asiatic (And not from Jerusalem or Israelites who were 'cursed with dark skin' like Mormons teach). There is so much wrong with the false demonic Mormon church and people need to realize they are being brainwashed by agenda-filled Mormon leaders who know their religion is false. I do not envy Russell M Nelson's judgment day. It is not going to be pretty for false prophets.
Also I hope everyone realizes this man, who made this video, is a Mormon who is making a propaganda piece funded by the Mormon Church. This video is very agenda-filled. This man will probably delete my comment when he sees it, despite all its truth, because it's against his agenda to deceive people into the false Mormon church.
@@stardustgirl2904 the Bible makes it very clear not to trust every spirit because spirits of deception, including spirits out to corrupt God's gospel would be abundant in the last days. So to focus on "any spiritual experience" you might have isn't a wise way to be in line with Christianity. Instead focus on The Bible and what it says. Remember the passage "If any man preaches another gospel to you (such as Joseph Smith) let him be accursed. Mormonism is, unfortunately, a demonic religion.
We”ll always question our faith. That’s the beauty of God and Jesus Christ….how we deal with that is on us.
As a person who grew up in the Presbyterian church, I will always be grateful for the gospel foundation I received as a child. As I got older and had so many questions that their doctrine could not answer, I realized that there was so much more knowledge God had for us! I found my answers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have never regretted my decision to join, that was 45 years ago!
I had a similar foundation in the Presbyterian church, had some profound questions, the missionary lessons answered them in powerful ways. Baptized just over 51 years ago.
Very similar for me. Grew up in a Protestant church, converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 45 years ago. Never looked back. Faith has helped me through so many of life’s ups and downs. ❤
I was a devout Catholic who had questions that could not be answered. At age 12/13, a friend invited me to “Come and see!” and join her at her LDS worship service, so my family and I did just that. Within 3 years we had joined the Church and our stepdad was reactivated. We were sealed as a family in the temple. I served a mission, my sister and were both married in the temple, and now 25 years later, we stand in awe of my childhood best friend’s impact on our lives. He lives! His Church has been restored to the earth!
🥰
I was the same. Raised Presbyterian, had lots of questions no one could answer -- or at least not satisfactorily. But the LDS missionaries could. 19-yr old missionaries had more answers than the pastor in my Presbyterian Church. I converted and have been so much happier and more fulfilled being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
When I was 29 years old I became very ill and needed open heart surgery. I was scheduled to see Dr. Russell M. Nelson by the surgeons I worked for. That very week he was called to be a General Authority of the LDS Church so his partner did my surgery. I was glad he was called to serve but sad I didn’t have the opportunity to know him as a patient because I had heard so many great things about his work and accomplishments. I am alive today because of his insights and solutions into the type of procedure my heart needed.
That’s a wonderful, inspiring testimony. Thank you!
I’m a convert to the church. I didn’t have any religion growing up and became a bratty atheist as a teenager. I had a baby at 16 with a 17 year old who was also a member of the church (he was obviously not living the commandments). We got married, but also did a lot of partying with drugs and alcohol. Fortunately through a miraculous experience, the Holy Ghost was able to pierce my hard heart and from that day forward I have believed in the divinity and saving power of Jesus Christ. I joined the church and my husband and I cleaned up our lives. We were sealed in the temple about 3 years after that. We have been married for 33 years, have 4 kids and 3 grandkids. Christ and His church saved my life and my family. I have never been happier!
Love this
What a testimony! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, amazing story!
🥰❤
That’s incredible!
Hold on, a protestant talking to us and about us with kindness and respect? Amazing!
Thanks for the video brother, God bless you on your faith path, wherever that leads you.
Your video was a breath of fresh air!
Your glade called our beliefs of the devil.
That sarcastic jab was just so loving and Christ-like of you. 🙄
I’ve found most people to be respectful and kind.
@@Sirach144what’s a ‘glade’ ?even your cruel jabs don’t make sense
Hello Saints is a whole channel of a protestant being kind and respectful
Hello David, I grew up in Utah but really didn't know that much about the Latter Day Saints except about the pioneers. Like you, I investigated many other churches. Then I was able to read the Book of Mormon which completely changed my life. The Book of Mormon answered the questions my heart and soul needed to know about the purpose of life, and gave me more insight into the mission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today I look back and am so grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my life.
Beautiful testimony. Thank you for sharing it!🙂
I'm a convert to the Church. In my youth, I was a member of several churches: Unitarian, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist, and Catholic. But when I went into an LDS building for the first time, I felt the Holy Ghost. The clincher was when the missionaries explained the Plan of Salvation -- that hit home, and just made total sense. The emphasis on families is , not to put pressure on anyone, but to show the Lord's ideal for our happiness. Thank you for your respectful video, and I hope you are able to learn more.
Oh and how does one receive salvation?
Thank you for praying for elder Holland he is in the hospital right now.
Too bad that Holland is a racist and homophobic "human being".
He wants to be with his wife. May he be happy…
Hello. My name is Les
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints imma come from Poland. I just got this feeling after watching your video about visit to the temple and I want to tell you the meaning of the bird you are seeing
Some theologians see the cardinal symbolizing the Holy Spirit, combining the fire element of the Spirit's work with the energy and life found in the Spirit. Tied with the blood of Christ, the cardinal represents the eternal life-giving nature of Jesus and His ministry.
Thank you Les for this. As an outdoorsman, I'll never take for granted expressions of the Creator's influence in nature, and in His children's lives.
Thank you
Wow, thank you for sharing this about the cardinal. My dad passed away less than a year ago and there is one to two Cardinals that come in my yard every time I’m looking out the window and Cardinals are not a part of North Texas. However, I did feel the presence of my father. And the Spirit.
excellent, thank you for illustrating that, so useful to understand symbols. Im sure you are right.
It can also be a symbol of a loved one who has passed away, or a guardian angel.
What an episode! Temple visit...open heart surgery... father son sharing..Family History... Cardinals... twilight zone...divorce marriage and eternity all packed in 30 minutes. Best wishes on your spiritual journey.
Mahalo for your wonderful video. I was raised Lutheran, attended the Catholic church for a short time and was later baptized in the Baptist church. I found that all were preparatory for me to hear and accept the message of the Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its been over 30 years since my conversion, which has included the sealing of my wife and I in the Mesa, AZ Temple, the sealing of our two adopted sons there also, our daughter's sealing to her husband and now the blessing of having 4 granddaughters as part of our family, sealed for this life and eternity. We put so much love, effort and sacrifice into family relationships, because they are intended to be eternal, not "until death do we part." Youre on the right path, David. As i surrendered my will to God, and yielded to His will, I discovered what He truly wanted and had available to me. I pray for you and your journey to bring you great joy and eternal peace, brother. Mahalo again for your sincere and genuinely gracious review of your Temple experience. 🤙❤️ Aloha!
When the Phoenix Temple had its open house, I signed up as a ‘tour guide.’ We were admonished not to speak during the tour, but to let those on the tour reflect on what they were seeing. As I took my tour groups through, I began by saying that I would be happy to answer any questions they might have at the end of our tour. I also suggested that they study the paintings on the walls and consider their relationship with Jesus Christ.
The most asked question 31:05 was, ‘Why does your church invest so much money & time on temples?’ My answer, ‘Temples are literally a house of God, they belong to Him. We come to the temple to worship our Heavenly Father & His son, Jesus Christ. Temple worship is the highest form of worship we can do here on earth. We make covenants & promises to to our Father, our Savior, & our spouses here. Vicarious, saving ordinances are also performed here for our dead, so that all may have the opportunity to live within family groups in the hereafter.
Letting others know our beliefs & the importance of eternal families brought me great happiness & peace.
I’m a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My parents, sister and I joined in 1962, when I was 11yrs. old. My brother was in California in the Marines at that time and was never interested in the Church.
What immediately struck me about the Church was the doctrine. I know that sounds odd coming from someone so young, but it’s true. I had a deeply spiritual experience when I was 10yrs. old that, I think, prepared me to accept the Church’s teachings. I had begun reading the Bible for the first time and was impressed by the way the Creation and God were explained. I mentioned my thoughts to my older sister and she began debunking it right away. She said many things our minister had explained the same thing to her in the class she attended preparing her to become an official member of the Methodist Church. Then she listed his many credentials and degrees and the fact that he was an ordained minister of the church.
That was supposed to shut me down. But I had just read the explanation from the Bible and it disagreed with the minister. So that left me with one option. When I knelt by my bed to say my nighttime prayers I would ask God for His answer. And I did. And he gave me a definite answer that my understanding of that particular scripture was the right answer. And that the minister, for all his learning, knowledge and degrees was incorrect. The question was whether or not God has a physical body and if He and Jesus Christ were separate people,not just one incomprehensible thing (which in my mind I called a blob).
I said nothing about this experience to anyone else but kept it to myself. It was between me and God.
A year later the LDS missionaries came and taught us the discussions they used back then and, after 3 months, we were baptized into the Church. We have been active since then. My brother was never interested.
They are all passed away now. It’s just my sister in law and me left from that generation. My sister in law and her and my brother’s family are not interested. My sister’s kids have all left the Church. I have 8 children and half of them are active along with me. Two of my kids were married in the temple. Two have been through the temple. One of them is married to an inactive Catholic who attends maybe three times a year. He most definitely does not like the Church, and the idea of the temple is absurd to him.
And there you have it. My story about my conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.😊
I’m from Malaysia, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel uplifted, grateful and enjoyed watching your this video. I hope you can join this church, and continue to promote the goodness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through your gifted ability to articulate and inspire others through your works and social media channels.
My daughter served her mission in the Singapore Malaysia mission. She's been home 6 years I believe. Her name is Emili Egan.
I'm headed to that mission as well! Very excited
@@williamrichards5096it's an amazing place, I'm excited for you! I have many friends there who are terrific people, who I would love to see accept the gospel of Christ someday - many of those friends are Muslim, and it is not so easy... or legal.
I'm happy and grateful for you as well Eugene! Living as a latter day saint in Malaysia is interesting and quite rare, but I'm certain that your Christ-like example is beneficial and uplifting for those around you, particularly for those to whom proselytizing is not possible 🙏
So glad you got to visit one of the temples and go inside. Just two impressions… The reason you felt you were “leaving a twilight zone” rather than entering it is because we are not mortal beings just having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings, children of the living, God, that are having a mortal experience. The temple, and the ordinances inside are what connect us beyond the veil to our spiritual family, to our heavenly family, to each other. That’s why you witnessed the excitement and the enthusiasm of existing members regarding a new temple being available. They know the significance of what that structure means in terms of their eternal journey and relationships. You, yourself, felt the same impressions when examining your family history, even though you might not have been aware of it.
The other impression is about your cardinal sightings. You’ve probably been told this before, but if not, God often uses things that mean something to us to show us that He is aware of us, and that He is present. He does the same thing for me when I see a hawk. It’s not an avian thing, it’s just my personal connection and love of hawks. Whenever I’m struggling, or even sometimes when I’ve had an amazing spiritual experience, without fail, I will see a hawk, soaring by, or standing atop a pole or building. This can even happen in an area where hawks are rarely if ever seen. We call these tender mercies-just ways that our Heavenly Father acknowledges us with His love and awareness of us.
One personal insight I would like to share with you is this idea of eternal families. I grew up in foster homes, mostly abusive, and I’ve basically spent my entire life alone in the sense of having any type of family connections. One would think that going to a family-oriented church on Sundays would be very difficult in that regard. But the beautiful thing about the concept of eternal families is that no matter where I go to church on Sunday, my ward IS my family. I have received more love, more acceptance, and more family support from members of my wards over the years than I ever did from any family relationships I had growing up. This is not a twilight zone, this is what happens because of temples. We are sealed together as one family of God, the Eternal Father, made possible by the sacrifices and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The last thing I would say, is perhaps to stop thinking about all of these churches with research and analysis, and start feeling with your heart. You have the light of Christ in you, as we all do, and are capable of recognizing the Holy Spirit. I’ve watched most of your videos, and it’s clear when you have felt this even though you often set it aside in favor of analysis and research. Maybe it’s time to stop visiting these churches, and actually spend some time communing with your Heavenly Father if you really want to know what He wants you to know about His Church and His Son. God bless you in this journey. 💝🙏🏻
Yes, just ask Laurie Vallow Daybell and her most recent and murderous husband Chad Daybell.
Very well said. You can’t know the truth going at it from an intellectual viewpoint. You have to seek the Lord’s guidance through the Spirit.
Amen and amen. After my own heart. I could not have voiced this better. If it’s the true way home you are looking for ask God in the name of our beloved brother Jesus Christ with a sincere heart and the way WILL be shown to you. Father in Heaven loves you. ❤
@@doffydelbridge7899I think we need to use all of our abilities to learn truth; reason, research, study, faith, prayer, and the Spirit. Why leave any of them out. We can say yes to all of these avenues. Truth comes into focus when all are used. 😊
@workermannamrekrow2768 yes, evil happens in this world. I've struggled my entire life @ failed careers, failed marriages. Yet I ALWAYS come out on top with Faith, Not Fear. This is bc I've learned we're here on Earth to learn, grow, make mistakes, repent, search to feel Gods' spirit & guiding hand!! Little by little I'm making better decisions! I know this test called Life is hard, but I also know w/o a doubt that God truly cares about us, & I know I'm in the right place, in The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. I testify that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, restoring the Holy Priesthood back upon the Earth (thus, following "the dark ages"). Peter James & John, Jesus' Apostles conferred this Priesthood to righteous men in these latter days. God bless you, brother, in your search for Faith Not Fear 👍🙏🇺🇸
I heard of a Jewish boy going through an LDS temple and he realized that the alter was where we put our hearts, our selves as an offering to God.
That is so sweet!!
Yes, instead of animal sacrifice we sacrifice a broken heart and contrite spirit. The alter in the temple is the symbol of that sacrifice, our heart.❤️
I am grateful for your willingness to come and share your experience as a Protestant. ❤ We need more of this amongst Christians.
Thanks for making such a non-judgmental and spiritually uplifting video. I seriously respect you a ton. I’m also a Latter Day Saint. And people like you bring me so much joy, your bringing everyone so close to Christ just by being an example of his teachings. Thanks for sharing your faithfulness with us!
Your personal story about family history struck me. “Turning the hearts of the children to their fathers”. We refer to it as the spirit of Elijah. What a beautiful thing
Malachi 4:5-6
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
@@AnneLund80 this happened in a Temple the spring of 1836
Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though the family is taught as the ideal we strive for, obviously there are plenty of singles, divorced, single parent, blended, etc. and everyone has a place in God’s plan and His church! You and everyone are valid contributors to His church and kingdom no matter your current family situation! ❤
Amen
I fit into this category. I was married in the temple. After 15 years of marriage I was divorced and raising my children attending church each week without a husband/Father to be with us.
Many times over the last 25 years I have found myself feeling out of place in a family focused church. Each time this discomfort shows up for me, I don’t minimize it. I let it be, and pray for the help to understand my emotions. Ultimately when I am patient with my valid feelings - I come through those times understanding that it has never been because those in my congregation have caused me to feel left out. They have always been so loving and inclusive. It is always “me” that has created those awkward insecurities. When I take the time to recognize that and work through it - I come out of it stronger. It returns to me that if I am not “one” with my worshipping congregation- “then I am not his”
It’s important to recognize that there is a big group of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who are not part of a traditional nuclear family- we are all welcome here.
I'm 48 never married. Just striving to keep the covenants I already made. I have faith in Heavenly Father's plan. I just hope I can always help others feel welcome in the kingdom no matter their situation.
thank you for sharing that, however, while that is a general and a “progressive” member opinion it is not the actual doctrine. else what would be the purpose of the multimillion $ temples?. per the doctrine you don’t get to the celestial kingdom divorced, single, gay, or anything else unless sealed as a man and woman and pay 100% tithing and obey the word of wisdom and many other requirements to even enter the temple. say it as it is.
@@goldilocks8388 Christians are called to love. That's how it is supposed to be.
Something that I love about visiting the Temple is that we change our clothes to dress in all white - that means that you cannot distinguish who is rich or poor since we are all equal in the sight of our heavenly father. We even took off our watches and leave our phones in those lockers. You may not know but in different parts of the Bible reference is made to white garments, for example: 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from him from the book of life, and I will confess his name from him before My Father and before His angels.”
Revelation 3:5(NASB)
One day in an endowment session in the Salt Lake Temple, I realized that there was an apostle participating as a patron in the session too. I only realized it when he stood beside me during the prayer. It was humbling to so clearly experience the principle of all being equal in God's eyes. God is no respecter of persons. When every person in the temple is clothed in white, I find that they are all beautiful as countenances shine with the spirit and radiate love and peace. Dressing in white elevates the sacredness and reverence of the temple experience.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I generally avoid videos from "non-members"because I just don't want the negativity that I'm sure I'll hear. But your video caught my attention for some reason and I'm very glad I watched it. Thank you so much for your respect and care. It's obvious to me that you are truly seeking answers. I grew up in the church and struggled as a young adult because all around me people my age were getting married and I'd grown up wanting that in my own life as well. But here I was in my 30s and still single. Having been raised with the concept of eternal families my whole life, that was a very hard pill to swallow. I did end up getting married at 39, but the years leading up to that were hard. However, the eternal concept of family makes it easier because we are connected eternally with not just our own spouse and children - if we have that - but also with our core family of parents and siblings. The temple helps to make that possible as the ordinances performed there are to unite families eternally. I appreciate your journey and pray that you continue on your pathway. God bless you on your journey.
I raised my boys Catholic. In adulthood the eldest joined LDS. I really enjoy visiting and attending his church. I agree completely about the family focus. It also has amazing online library.
I am also an eldest who parents raised Catholic and I joined the LDS Church. We are legion 😁
Both catholic & lds are cults. Run! Both will lead you to hell!
@@user-wg5dm6oc3t These people have made their choices based on seeking and receiving revelation from God. To offer up some correction for you, the founder of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, became a freemason later in his life, and it did not conflict with his discipleship. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not "mirror the freemasons"; it does share a few symbols, but to make too large a comparison is simply incorrect. You can actually learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by talking with its members or by visiting the Church's official web site; essentially everything you find will be independent of similarity to freemasonry.
@@user-wg5dm6oc3t Both churches are great.
@@user-wg5dm6oc3t According to God, the church consists of ALL those who’ve trusted & believed in Jesus ALONE for salvation. It’s not some organization like catholics have been taught. And it’s definitely not the ones who bow to statues, worship mary, etc.
Hi David, I am a Latter Day Saint. We also believe that the body is a temple for our spirit. The buildings that we call "temples" are created to create a space to do spiritual "work" and to have an space where we can free of the wordly issues. Where our spirit can find the peace that any other space can't gives us due to much negative energy. It is the house of the Lord not our house. Thank you for being so respectful.
Good comment. Also good to realize that Peter and the 12 used the temple after Christ’s resurrection showing that the building still had purpose. At the end of the millennium, their use will no longer be required, I suppose.
They are being built in preparation for the Second Coming and the tremendous temple work that will be done during that time!! They are a portal with heaven with ties to eternity. Why should they not reflect the divine and be entered by consecrated members? All parts of temples were not open to just anyone in the Bible.
Your comments about the church is exactly what I felt when I visited the church for the first time. I had already studied many other religions before and none of them gave the feeling of celestial Union and heavenly belonging as I feel as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.
l grew up in the Presbyterian church and had so many questions that their doctrine could not answer, I attended a quaker meeting for 12 years but still felt there had to be more, as I felt incomplete! I too found my answers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and l have never regretted my decision to join, that was almost 20 years ago!
Only God through His Word and Holy Spirit can give you the truth, not a church, a temple or a meeting.
@@godisreality7014God through His Word and Holy Spirit have led me and many others to this church, and these temples. Nice try. Why do you try and put doubt in peoples testimonies of Jesus Christ? We have the same Saviour buddy why are you coming at the people on your team🤦♂️🤦♂️
@@Crikey420 Jesus Christ is God. Man cannot be a "god". Your "church" is satanic.
My husband and I just finished watching. We really enjoyed hearing about your experience. He is a newly baptized member, (raised pentecostal) , looking forward to getting his Endowment and attending the temple with me.
Just last weekend we had to wonderful opportunity to attend the open house of the Moses Lake Temple, in Moses Lake, Washington.
It was Beautiful. ❤ I was saddened to hear you didn't have a guide to explain the rooms and what they are for.
We attend the temple wearing Sunday clothing, and change into white clothing. That is an important thing we do, because we come from all walks of life and experiences, but when we enter the temple, we all are equal.. We all wear white.. And are there to serve, with love in our hearts.
Also.. I wonder if the protester outside the temple, was actually a member trying to share truth instead of the hate that's yelled at us.
Here's my question to "Christians" who bash and torment Any religion that they disagree with.. Why do they attack others in the first place? Aren't we to follow Jesus's example? His teachings? Did he ever yell at anyone? Did he raise his voice? Did he condemn the adultress and join those who wanted her stoned?
I, as an lds.. Convert, let people believe what they want. I love everyone. I am behind everyone who truly trying to follow Jesus's example. ❤
Anyway.. I'm glad we came upon your video. I'd never heard of your channel. 😊
I hope you continue asking questions.. And find your answers. I found mine. ❤
God bless you David.
All of your YT followers who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feel a strong kinship to you and we so appreciate your YT channel. Your respect, honest efforts, and humility make you a true friend to us. All your YT videos have been so meaningful to me personally and I feel a great sense of gratitude to you.
May I suggest that the next time you are near a working (currently operating) temple, that you simply go sit on its lawn, be still, and wait to sense the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's still, small voice there, at God's House, will give you so much peace and understanding.
Again, thank you for your humble efforts and may God continue to bless you.
❤ Love your counsel, there is a big difference between a consecrated Temple and a not consecrated Temple, hard to explain to our LDS friends the difference between the two.
and in foyer area waiting room, no recommend needed to go in and feel the peace and love and quiet.
so refreshing to see someone show so much respect towards another faith - we need more of this in our world. Peace and love
I was a protestant who had searched many religions for truth. I had read the Bible many times and felt that no church had an understanding of scripture. No minister or priest had an answer to the many incredible teachings in Corinthians. Many told me to ignore Revelations. My first meeting with two young humble missionaries I knew I had found the truth. This church took every word in scripture as God's instructions. Thank you for sharing your insights. ❤🙏🏼
I am a hospice chaplain and therapist, but also a member of the LDS church. The faith of the people I work for, most of them non LDS Christians, amazes me everyday. As I pray and hold hands with them, share stories and observe their faithfulness to correct principles I am overwhelmed by a sense of peace. I don’t worry about where they are going when they die, unlike my Jehovah’s Witness grandmother who had a genuine fear that my soul was going to be lost forever because I was not JW. Ironically, my daughter completed her temple work a few years ago. I am grateful to be part of a faith tradition that offers the opportunity for continuing education and eternal progression…for everyone. Also, a LOT of the patients see cardinals and often attribute the sightings to loved ones who have passed. 😍
It's such an inspiration to follow your journey. I may be wrong, but I understand many Evangelical pastors spend quite a bit of time telling their flock how evil the LDS church is. This breaks my heart, I can't imagine feeling that way about my Evangelical cousins, but I understand why that background would make you hesitant to open your heart to our understanding of God's plan. It might help you to listen to another YT podcaster named David Alexander. He was an Evangelical for 47 years and just joined the LDS church a couple of months ago. Hopefully he can speak to your concerns far better than I can. God bless.
I love David Alexander! He is amazing!
David Alexander is truly called to bear witness, no doubt. He has survived false heresay and come to see through it since he knows what it’s like to be one who ignorantly participated in it, well-meaning as he intended to be. Now that absolutely horrifies him. 47 years is a long time to be looking feverishly in every place for the truth except for just one. Lol🥹, especially when you sincerely want to know where the truth is, and he was very sincerely searching- he just feared looking in the one place where it turned out to be for him, and all due to the toxic tongue. Every prophet suffered that, and Christ suffered being disbelieved, so…
David Alexander is a great example to me
I have been very inspired by David Alexander's 47-year search for truth and the joy he now feels in the church of Jesus Christ if Latter-day Saints.
Brother, I was 35 before I got married to my eternal companion and best friend. I have 5 kids now and blessed beyond measure. I to was married before to an abusive wife and she did a lot of damage to me for a long time. However, I forgave her and grateful for all my experiences even the really hard ones. Anyway keep doing what you are doing ...its good
Loved your remarks. I have been a temple worker for many years and love serving in the temple, we learn and love the mission and blessings we can receive from the atonement of Jesus Christ. Our purpose in life and our potential because of the remarkable grace and gift of the atonement I love the blessings I have received from serving there. Wish you well Carol
I was 28 yrs old when I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I first sat foot in a Ward/Church I felt the Holy Spirit so strong it was an amazing feeling of peace and joy I had never felt like that before. It was a fast and Testimony Sunday meeting people were getting up and and going to the pulpit one by one bearing their Testimonies my heart was softening as I heard them speak and I also loved the Hymns they sang they were uplifting ❤️ ever since 1983 I embraced the gospel with all my heart through thick and thin. I read the Book of Mormon and prayed and asked if it is true and I felt in my heart and mind that it is TRUE! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is the Church Jesus Christ organized when he walked upon the earth🥰‼️ Thank you so much young man for respecting the Church and for not mocking it. May the Lord bless you with his Holy Spirit so that you too will find the TRUTH. Please contact the Missionaries they'll answer your questions. You are in my prayers in Jesus Christ Amen🙏🙏🙏🙏 ❤️ ❤‼️
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, but in fact is covered in worms. (Is 14.11)
My daughter (from Boise) is a sister missionary in the Bentonville Mission. She was facilitating the tours through the temple! She and he companion helped Elder Bednar with the early tours.
I have appreciated ur channel and was very pleased to hear that you took the time to take a tour!
It's interesting that you mention that you didn't necessarily get/feel a spiritual experience, yet you went on to describe all of the things that touched you and impressed you. Having spiritual experiences is one thing, recognizing them is another. Typically, spiritual experiences are very personal and quiet sacred teachings specifically just for you from heavenly father. You are absolutely receiving and learning from your spiritual experiences.
Very good video, thanks for sharing.
Yes, the Still Small Voice gives recognition of all truth. If you feel that recognition, yes, the Spirit id bearing witness.
We are totally a "families can be together forever" church. My husband is a convert to the church. We were married at 19 been together 44 years. Our marriage/children and each other is everything to us. It's a commitment. Our eternal marriage is very important to us. I think the difference in people of faith is that divorce never crosses their minds. I really appreciate your candid comments!
Let’s look at this logically. If my whole family loves and serves the Lord will we not all be together in heaven? Why then would we need to be “sealed” in a temple?
@@lindaharding2057 We really don't know many details about our eternal, post-mortal existence, so it might be hard to answer that "why" question, but logically, God wouldn't tell us to do it if it wasn't important. Covenants are required by God, and I think it is fair to ask God why He requires things, but He is the one we should be asking. From Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Jesus of the BIBLE never taught that. NEVER taught that we can become gods. That is the very reason Satan, a sarif angel, was kicked out.
@@00Fisher00 Well I respectfully disagree that God said any such thing. Please correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve never come across anything like you’re saying in either the old or New Testament.
😅
I've loved watching your series on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. VERY nicely, and RESPECTFULLY done!!! Thank you!!!
I am a convert to the church, back in 1985! I deem that too be the single most important decision I've ever made. Life isn't always easy, however, it's always great with Heavenly Father!
You may consider coming to St. George, Utah to go through the Temple Open House here. It is the oldest Temple in our church. It's MUCH larger than the Bentonville Temple and, i suspect it'll be guided somewhat compared to your experience in Arkansas.
The Open House starts the 15th of September and runs through the 11th of November. Much longer than the Bentonville Temple.
Even if tickets are not available, you'll be allowed to attend, so not to worry about that.
I look forward to a video on your experience in the oldest Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David. Thank you so very much for the experiences and insights that you expressed, not only about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but about your own life. Like others who have shared comments, my respect for your candor and fairness in sharing your observations about this faith are sincerely offered. I first became acquainted with the Church more than 5 decades ago as a teenager when our family visited Hemisphere '68, in San Antonio Texas. Not long after that, I joined the Church along with my parents and sisters, and we began a pathway that included the sealing of our family several years later. It would be disingenuous of me to imply that life was all roses, and that we all lived happily ever after. But I can say that our lives were definitely better, and I will never look back or go back to what it was before. My wife and I then married in the temple, and raised our children in the faith. Many, but not all of them have stuck with it, and for the most part, we are a close knit family despite any differences. My love for them is not now, nor has it ever been, based on our agreement (or lack of agreement) in religious preferences. But you know, when we read of the prophets and their families in the Bible, many if not most of them had some serious trials and challenges. My wife passed through the veil seven years ago, and it is the promise of eternal togetherness that motivates me to be true to her and the covenants that she and I made together with God in his holy house. I believe that the family-centeredness of the Church and the temple is in large part due to its Christ-centeredness. I can also state that I have the utmost regard for people of all faiths, who exemplify brotherly kindness in their daily walk, believing as I do, that we are all children of the same Father, and His heavenly home is where we all want to be. My apologies for this unintended lengthy response. With kind regards, Mike
I love your openness to new experiences. I was serving in the temple recently and had an amazing spiritual witness of God’s love and knowledge of all His children and how he knows all of them by name. It was so profound.
Brother, as members of the LDS church, my husband and i have been married 43 years. I cannot speak to every reason the divorce rate is lower in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but ONE of the most important reasons is that we are building a marriage relationship to last for eternity. Anything of value worth having, is worth working for and cannot be achieved overnight. Eternal perspective, forgiveness and repentance are key to lasting marriage relationships.
Man, I think it's fair to say a few occurrences can be coincidences, but when you've had many, it has to be something else! Wishing you the best in your journey 🙏🏻
David, there are no coincidences, your grandfather is the Cardinal meeting you as you have attended these church meetings, General Conference and the
Bentonville, Arkansas Temple. Angels seen and unseen are accompanying you to these beautiful experiences with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I grew up in the church, and have stayed an active member my whole life. My husband and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary soon. One of the reasons members of the church stay together is because of the covenants and commitments they make in the temple when they are married. We believe in the sanctity of marriage and the importance of families. We do have some friends who have never married, who are active members of the church. They contribute much through serving in callings in the church, and are loved by the members of our ward. We believe in Christ's atonement and resurrection, and we love Him. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's Church.
Pray, pray and pray! The spirit will guide you!! I love how you are finding the restored gospel. The temple is a refuge from the storm all around us!!
I’m lds. I love the church and one of the focal points is that we all are a family through our Heavenly Father. He sent His Son to atone for us to have the opportunity to overcome physical and spiritual death and return to their presence. I love that you’ve studied many faiths and that you share a positive outlook. I’ve looked into other religions as well and find more love for them as I understand their devotion to Christ. Well made video.
What beautiful wisdom and humble insight, brother. Your respect of our LDS faith had me crying. It’s such a breath of fresh air. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I left an evangelical church 26 years ago to become LDS. Best decision of my life. The truth is deeper, the Spirit stronger and the authority comes straight from God. Best wishes on your spiritual journey. I’d encourage you to open a discussion with the missionaries sometime soon 🙏 It may pleasantly surprise you.
You might like to read a document the church released in 1995 called “The Family: A Proclamation to the world” to better understand our viewpoint and understanding of families.
Your comments on Snow White and the “mirror mirror” in relation to our cell phones really gave me great pause. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, what a highly applicable insight into our modern world and our modern lives. Thank you for that!
I am a Latter Day Saint. I really enjoyed your video, and I admire your open mindedness about the temples and their importance in our lives.
We do have Wards specifically for young single adults. We are all children of God. We all belong. ❤
That being said, I also have a beautiful single daughter. 😉
I’ve loved watching your videos over the last year or so, David. I am a Latter-day saint and appreciate your respect and perspective. It is so refreshing! I’m also a 30-something divorced woman with no children and although sometimes I feel very aware of my singleness, I love that our “wards”/congregations are like families.
Anyway, I love what you share here! I’ve recently been learning more about Evangelicals and Messianic Jews. It’s beautiful learning about commonalities and differences with other Christians.
It was very nice of you to pray for Elder Holland.
Great insights, especially into Snow White! Have you listened to David Alexander's channel? His is about his 47 years as an evangelical, and his path to Baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was Baptist, but was always searching for truth when I found the Church. I love that God has a plan for all, even those who died without hearing of Christ. Best wishes on your journey!
Thank you for visiting and thank you for being a sincere and serious person. Temples are beautiful and I am spiritually nourished whenever I visit and worship. The temples today are not as similar to the ancient Israel temples in terms of function, but they resemble them in the fact that they are separate from the World. This temple concept is seen when Jesus went out to the desert for 40 days/nights and communed with God and Angels, when Moses went up to the mountain to commune with God or when Jesus and His apostles went to the Mount of transfiguration. Solomon built a temple to honor God and to set apart a place away from the World to commune with God. That's what the temples today represent. A place separate from the World that allows for communion with God and the Holy Spirit and a sacred place to make sacred promises with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
I appreciate your kindness when learning and visiting our church and related buildings. I think it's what this world needs. We should all look for the good in our neighbors no matter who they are. I am my self a lifelong member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and i appreciate when people not of my faith share their experiences and share their beliefs. In this case it helps me to better understand the beliefs of Prodistants and other mainstream Christians. Thank you for your kindness and respect while visiting.
Protestants
Really enjoyed watching this one! My husband and I have enjoyed such a happy union throughout life together while raising our 6 precious children because of the blessings of Temple work that Lord has given.
I am a LDS member. Being a member has been the best, the best experience in my life! I also spend much time in the temple. It gives me so much peace and joy to be in the temple. The more I live as a faithful member, the more I realize that Christ leads this church. I pray that you find what you are searching for! God Bless!
David, I been watching you videos for a couple of weeks and I love your videos, I've been called on an lds mission to rancagua chile, and watching your videos has been a blessing for me. One of my biggest concerns with a mission has been that I've been afraid that people would not listen to me or that people would shun me for my beliefs. But watching your videos has shown me that there are people who are interested in the church and that will listen to me. Thank you for your videos and God bless you.
Elder, you are called to bear a life affirming message to the world. Your personal popularity has nothing to do with it. If your message is rejected you will be in the company of many other great teachers. Thirsty people will be grateful to receive living water. God will bless you, because you are sacrificing for His children.
I admire your sincerity in how you search for understanding and truth with an open heart and mind. Good for you!
I grew up in 3 different religions; born into catholic faith, raised in early childhood Pentacostal. As an early teen mom switched our family to Lutheran. By 17, I wasn't attending any church. When I was 23, I met a friend, who had recently been baptized LDS. I asked her about the little blue book I saw her reading. She introduced me to two missionaries, (Elders). They gave me my own copy of The Book of Mormon. The book immediately answered several questions I had about the gospel, and the people living on the American continent.
It has now been thirty one and a half years since I was baptized LDS. Although I have still had many unpleasant and even bad things happen to me, I have endured all these with the help of my Savior Jesus Christ. I testify that God placed us here on earth in families to love and care for each other. I also testify of the divinity of the Bible and The Book Of Mormon. I declare this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
Do you understand the symbolism of cardinals? I have had so many loved ones pass away, including two of my children. I absolutely believe your deceased loved ones are still a part of your life, and in a sense the cardinals could just be there as a comfort to let you know they are aware of you and want to convey that. I have made many Christmas ornaments with the cardinal in memory of those we have had to say goodbye to in this mortal life. To me, it is a symbol that we are still connected. There is still a bond. And the Temple is the place where those bonds are sealed!
I am really impressed with your perspective on family and society. I think your understanding of Temples is actually pretty connected to my own understanding. There are just more precepts going from Adam and Eve and their fall, and the gift of protection God gives them all the way through to the gift of His Son. There continues more from there. So though I am not sure how to explain it, I would just say that your understanding seems very aligned to my understanding of the significance of Temples.
The answer about families staying together more among Latter-day Saints? I haven't studied that out, and I don't know all the statistics you noted with other denominations. But tied to the Temple is the commitment that one makes to serve God and others above self. And the Covenant of that individual between self, God, and spouse that also includes promises to children all do make a very powerful bond to help to minimize the break up of families. Being more selfless plays an important part in overcoming pride and learning Charity (see 1 Corinthians 13 for the many attributes that would strengthen marriage and family), and if you are very self absorbed or selfish, I do think you are so much more susceptible to the enticings that turn you away from devotion, love, humility, and all those fruits you are speaking of.
I was born into a family where marriage started in the Temple, but was later dissolved both from the legal standpoint (divorce) and spiritually (Temple cancellation). And I understand how harmful broken families are for children, individuals, and society. And because of that, I was very focused on wanting Temple Covenants as part of my own marriage and life. I do not know how well I have done, but I am still happily married and am looking forward to eternity with my husband and family. I so appreciate your sensitivity to the relationship of Elder Holland and his wife, and for your tender thoughts about praying for him. I agree with him, that Heaven will not be Heaven without family.
BTW, that book you received is quite a gift! From my understanding, it is out of print. During my teens, I was somewhat rebellious (in part in trying to reconcile that brokeneness my family went through). When I decided to consider that perhaps that wasn't the best course, I was loaned that book. I read it and I was really then motivated to repent and truly learn to follow Christ in living His Gospel. I wish I had a copy still! So if you decide to part with it, I'd be happy to purchase it from you. :)
Warmly as Your Sister and Friend in Christ, Marie (~plaid)
Thanks for being Christian and having a great spirit with respect. It’s rare
Being a widow and while my husband was alive he never joined the church but I do have a hope of being sealed in the temple to . I also want to say that it is a a family focus but for a single member they are also a family member because we are all brothers and sisters. And a single member is a valuable soul and through the different callings they have can bless those around them.
Thank you for your open-minded and humble video. I admire your honest and concerted search for truth.
As an adolescent I rejected my protestant upbringing and religion in general. But at the beginning of my 3rd year in college, I happened into a situation in which I was suddenly exposed to half a dozen or more members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a daily basis. At first I was critical of their religion generally, but I was surprised that they listened to my objections and often shared new ideas about my objections. As time went on, I could intellectually see that there was a sort of rational harmony in their doctrine that had evaded me.
Long story short, I resolved my doubts, received a testimony of Jesus Christ, and became a member of the Church by the end of that school year. That was over 50 years ago, and I can honestly say that in all those years I've never questioned nor regretted that choice.
This week, I have the honor and privilege of being my oldest son's escort as he "goes through" the temple for the first time. (Going through means receiving specific ordinances for one's self.) Over the last couple of weeks (and to an extent, throughout his life), we've taken time to explain to him the significance of the various temple ordinances, including the opportunity to make solemn covenants with God and the blessings associated with those covenants.
Interestingly enough, you touched on some of the exact concepts that are taught during one of the temple ceremonies, specifically regarding the fall of Adam, the need for a savior, the Atonement and resurrection of Christ, and subsequent redemption offered to all who choose to accept Him and live by His teachings.
The Lord is preparing you and using you to further His work. Don't discount the cardinals, or anything other patterns you discover. Those are specific cues to you, because He knows exactly how to reach & teach you.
It would be so amazing to see you interview David Alexander!! He was just baptized 4-5 months ago and was an Evangelical Christian for 47 years, he has an interesting perspective
With due respect, David Alexander mostly talks nonsense. E.g. the claim that there are 45000 Christian denominations is simply untrue, and him repeating it a hundred times does not make it factual. David Alexander might be eloquent, but he is not knowledgeable.
It has been so delightful to hear your experience of a temple open house. I have always been a Latter Day Saint but had never attended a temple open house until recently with my grandson. I’m sorry you didn’t have tour guides to help you understand better what takes place there. We had tour guides all the way through in the Saratoga Springs temple in Utah but maybe that isn’t the case in all areas. I really was impressed with your comments and appreciated your honest and sincere observations. I think what you are doing is really very special. Thanks and my best wishes to you-
Temple open houses can feel busy, I remember that feeling as a child, but I also remember feeling cleanliness. I love that feeling. I learned not long ago in a temple parking garage, that the cleaners of the temple I attend, take time to dust the pipes that run through the always very clean parking garage. It is kept swept and cleaned regularly. The parking floor is even shined every so often. That feels important to me. Not building worship, but I feel it shows gratitude and respect for sacred space in a busy world.
I really appreciate your insightful observations that many tend to look into phones for individual happiness like Snow White’s mirror. Great comparison. Thank you!
As you shared your understanding of temples of the past, as a frequent temple attender in the present, I feel that temples commanded to be built by God today help us learn to sacrifice our wills and hearts to God. A spiritually higher law than sacrificing animals. I learn in a temple how to spiritually make a more holy temple of my body that you mentioned is to be a temple. I have felt the fruit of keeping promises to God that I make in temples that help me to elevate my mind, to better care for my body, to keep my heart teachable, to help my marriage and… help me as an individual in all my personal efforts to improve in all aspects of my life. The temple helps make me more “one” within, and “one” without. I feel heaven there and my service there always helps me take a little heaven back to my home and my community.
D Todd Christofferson (an apostle) said in a talk in April 2023 general conference. “Unity does not require sameness, but it does require harmony.” In the temple I worship with people married and unmarried, all of us as individuals with difficult life and family situations but the temple helps me learn how to be in harmony with myself and others and God. It seems a beautiful instrument to help me make a more joyful noise to the Lord.
Thanks for asking good questions.
Beautifully expressed. Thank you!
Thanks for your thoughtful review and comments! The focus on describing your experience and feelings without overt judgement one way or the other was refreshing. As Christians, we all have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate. Let's focus on the love of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I appreciate your kind evaluation. I have many friends and coworkers who are good and faithful people who belong to other churches. We come together on the things we have in common- our belief in and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. I get upset when anyone “trashes” other churches. I might not believe the same, but as one of the Articles of Faith in the LDS church states, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” In the Doctrine & Covenants it states what Joseph Smith was told by Jesus Christ: “Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.” There is so much contention in the world today. We Christians need to come together in love and our mutual allegiance to Jesus Christ.
I'm glad you were able to visit! I live in the Bentonville area and I was volunteering that day you went so we may have crossed paths. I was standing by the sealing and instruction rooms near the end of the tour. Other than the sister missionaries at the beginning, everyone else on the tour were local volunteers from the youth helping with shoe coverings to the guides throughout the tour to the parking attendants. I think the best way to view the "works" of the temple is the same way we should view the baptism of Jesus Christ. Why was he baptized if he was perfect? To fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). We are not perfect so we certainly have the need to be baptized which is an ordinance (acts that have spiritual meanings such as our inner commitment to follow Christ). Like baptism, the other works in the temple are ordinances that we perform to fulfill all righteousness for ourselves and on behalf of our ancestors who did not have the chance to perform those ordinances for themselves while living. Performing these vicarious works for our family that never had the chance allows them the opportunity choose to accept the ordinances for themselves and helps to turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers (Malachi 4:6). I love the temple because of what it means for my faith and family!
David, love the videos. I can only speak for myself but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has blessed my life in countless ways. It is truly God's church built on the foundation of the authority of apostles and prophets receiving direction from Christ. As I've built my life on that foundation I've received the fruits of love and respect from my wife and children and peace in this world.
you said that you never cared for your ancestry before. This is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah, that says that the hearts of the children will be turned to their fathers. The Holy Spirit is working on you.
I'm a life long member. But I believe our heavenly Father used you to remind me of something sacred. One of his tender mercies. It won't seem big to anyone else, probably, but brought me to tears. I love that he uses simple everyday messages to let me know that he knows me.
I’ve visited inside three different Temples…and prayed in every room for open eyes and hearts for all who would later be in there to be sensitive to the true Holy Spirit’s voice
As I’ve gotten older I see more and more personal significance to the temple symbols and ceremonies. Bringing my own sacrifice to the temple - like in olden times might have been a lamb or a dove - of self denial, i.e. a broken heart and a contrite spirit, makes me ready to hear and see what is being offered me - forgiveness and deeper awe and commitment to Christ and his purposes. Parentage and progeny are woven into all of it. For how could any of us be here or have hope of anything hereafter, without consideration of family - of those who got us here and those for whom we’ve provided this gift of mortal life?
Love the video!! I don’t know if you ever look at these comments but, by the way I am a Latter-day Saint biblical scholar studying at BYU right now. I would love to answer any questions you have about latter-day saint temples and latter-day saint theology!! I love your faith journey and seeing you approach things from your own background and perspective!
How do you explain how Joseph Smith died? The physical evidence doesn’t line up with what John Taylor and Willard Richard has stated. None of those men were shot by Muskets. They were clearly shot by smaller caliber pistols.
As a catholic convert to the church in my late 20's (almost 35 years ago) I've learned over the years the Holy Ghost whispers softly yet directly to those willing to listen. You, my friend, should listen ❤
both catholicism and mormonism are luciferian.
When I spend time in Jesus, I am happy. When I forget him, I notice I am not happy. It's that simple. I go to the temple, church, scriptures, prayer, music... these bring me back unto Christ and I am at peace again over turmoil. The temple brings me peace. And with that peace, I feel joy. Who better to want with me feeling that, then those I love most...
I am in tears listening to your beautiful message. May God bless and guide you on your journey.
You are on the right path. I promise you what you are experiencing is the power of God. The Spirit is testifying to you boldly and personally exactly what you need and when and how you need it. He knows you. Keep asking and keep exploring. He will open your mind, heart and understanding.
I grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I've been having these same experiences my entire life. It's almost inexplicable. It's miraculous. The happiness you've seen and felt is real. You too can have it. Don't deny it. Believe it.
The reason people find so much joy in the church is because of the fruits of the Spirit. In the temple we make sacred covenants with God that bind our fanilies together forever. With those covenants comes power, peace, and protection. All of it leads to true joy. Keep learning. Love you brother.
Thank you for the respect you show to my faith. I want to be mindful like you.
I’ve been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since 1973. I used to think, as I drove to the temple, that I was so relieved and looked forward to leaving “reality” behind for a couple hours. After years of that, and as I learn more, I now know I’m leaving the world (temporary stuff) for actual reality (what’s actually important) for those few hours. Huge shift.
I’m a married 41-year-old Catholic turned Latter-day Saint. My husband and I have no children. While at one time we felt out of place, we have since grown to know that the only place for us is the LDS Church. There is room for absolutely everyone in the Church and our shared identity as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ outweighs any differences we have. And as we studied in church this last Sunday, our differences are necessary as part of the body of Christ. Thank you so much for your earnest, heartfelt sharing of experience.
Also, my gorgeous sister-in-law is single, beautiful, hilarious, and intelligent. You two should meet! 😊
Senior at BYU-I, marriage and family science major here. Hi! While Latter-day Saints have our share of difficult problems concerning divorce and everything else, I've come to understand that the horizon line, if you will, for anybody drives marital outcomes to a great extent. So if you see your marriage as something just there to fill your needs like everything else in consumer culture, that's how you'll treat it. If you make promises to each other death til you part, you'll treat it that way. If you make promises to God and each other...and there is no end, you're married for eternity, that's how Latter-day Saints treat it. Take that away and our divorce rate would, I think, jump to at least 25%. If you visit a temple's sealing room there are always mirrors on the opposing walls to quietly illustrate this idea. Thanks so much for your work and videos!
Glad you were able to come see our beautiful temple. Loved seeing the shots of the flowers in your video. I'm glad we hardly had any protesters at the open house. Thank you for coming!
Thank you for the kind and respectful manner that you spoke about the Latter-Day Saint faith and temples.
I’m a convert to the church and I really like some of the things you say one thing I found was amazing was how close all the families were and how they all seem to be so serious about their faith and they lived a day in and day out. And I found that to be true since I join the church it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me. I think you’re out amazing journey. Thanks for sharing it.
David, I really like your videos, and your humble willingness to learn. I highly recommend that you find another temple open house and go with one of your LDS friends who will be able to explain and answer questions during the tour. The intent by the temple administrators, I think, was that most visitors would be accompanied by a member. If you do this, your tour will be a lot longer and informative as you pause in each room and discuss things with your friend. Best wishes!
As a life long LDS member I love hearing of your experiences, your honest perspective and respectful manner. I have even had a few "oh yeah" moments where the penny has dropped in my own understanding. I don't think there's one answer regarding lower divorce rates but for me it's the eternal nature of our relationships that were nurturing here on earth. From family history to connect us to our annsestors, to our own children and most importantly our spouses.
As a member of the church of Jesus Christ OLDS, I love watching your videos. Look for ways the lord is answering your prayers that may not be in the way you expected. God will always lead you in the right direction
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I also am older and single, AND I can relate to your comment about not belonging in church because I AM older AND single.
I loved this video so much. Your experiences were very special and I appreciate your willingness to share them. In our church, it's common to refer to those small, sweet coincidences as "tender mercies". I felt the Spirit this whole video. As a member, I and many others really feel that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is so beautiful and joyful and sacred and true. It's light shines forth and its fruit is precious because it is the Lord's. And though you may not have been able to feel the peace of the temple, a greater peace is multiplied there once it is dedicated. I would invite you to go to visit the temple grounds of a dedicated temple and just dwell there for a time, pondering on the things you saw on the temple tour. I have enjoyed when I have done that myself.
You are wonderful and I pray that God will continue to bless you and guide you in all things. Love you, dear brother.
David, it’s said that the veil between the spirit world and our world is very thin. Your great grandparents know the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth in families being sealed together and are drawing you to the LDS faith. I felt the spirit testify of this thought and had to share it.
As a huge fan of the Twilight Zone and an adult convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, I have to let you know how much I enjoyed this video. That TZ reference and clip had me literally laughing out loud.
I appreciate your sincerity in this video. You should probably attend another open house, but have a member with you to give you a personal tour.
Right now the Saint George Temple is having an Open House. It is a historic temple and this is a once in a life time opportunity for people.
If you need a guide, my famiy would love to help you on this tour should you go to St George. Or if not, please go again with a member to explain the rooms as you walk through the temple.
God bless you, Brother.
Appreciated your thoughts on the temple visit! Great personal stories to go along with the experience. It’s also refreshing how polite and respectful you are about the LDS teachings.