Toward The Temple
Toward The Temple
By Kim Loudon
As I was tucking my girls into their beds the other night, we read the story of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. Before his death, a multitude of people gathered around the temple to hear this humble servant of the Lord preach for the last time. I love that the scripture specifies that the people pitched their tents around the temple with the door of their tent facing towards the temple.
Mosiah 2:6 “And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.”
After King Benjamin had preached to them, he desired to know if the people believed his words. Pay attention to what is said about the hearts and desires of those who faced their tents towards the temple.
Mosiah 5:2 states, “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”
They also desired to enter into a covenant with God to be obedient in ALL things for ALL the remainder of their days.
Mosiah 5:5 “And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days…”
In direct contrast, we recently read in “Come Follow Me” the scripture story in Genesis about Lot and his family.
In Genesis 13, there was strife between Abraham and Lot’s cattle herdmen because the land could not sustain both of their herds. It was necessary for Abraham and Lot to part ways. Abraham allowed Lot to choose the land he desired. Lot chose the well watered plains of Jordan bordering Sodom (a city known for sin and wickedness), leaving Abraham the barren land of Canaan. I love that Genesis 13:12 included this specific detail…that after separating themselves, Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
Notice that he initially pitched his tent outside of Sodom, facing TOWARD Sodom. However, when Sodom was going to be destroyed just a couple chapters later, Lot and his family were found living IN Sodom. Sodom’s enticements had quickly won the hearts of Lot’s family.
God in His mercy sent holy men to physically gather Lot and his family out of Sodom before its destruction.
Genesis 19:16-17 “And while he (Lot) lingered, these holy men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
“And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee…lest thou be consumed.”
Lot LINGERED in Sodom after being warned to leave with haste. His family literally had to be physically, and somewhat forcibly, removed from Sodom. After being warned not to look behind them, Lot’s wife looked back….Her heart longingly yearned for Sodom and everything it had to offer…which sealed her fate.
In both of these stories, where they chose to pitch their tents, and the direction they faced ultimately had drastic and lasting effects on the desires of their hearts.
Reading both of these scripture stories has given me the opportunity to reflect on my current standing with my Heavenly Father.
Where have I chosen to pitch my tent, and in what direction is my tent facing?
I want to be ALL IN. I want to pitch my tent near the temple, and facing the temple. I want my heart fixed on the Lord and the covenants I have made with Him in His holy house. I want to leave the enticements of the world far behind me…without ever longingly looking back.
“Let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon.” ~Neal A. Maxwell
“Come unto your Savior. Come completely and wholeheartedly. Take up your cross, however heavy it may be, and follow Him… In the kingdom of God, there can be no halfway measures, no starting and stopping, no turning back.” ~Jeffrey R. Holland
“Each of us is to come to Christ with uncompromised commitment to His gospel.” ~Jeffrey R. Holland
