I was just there 16-19 of September! I got to go through an Endowment. It's AWESOME that you chose to attend the Nauvoo Temple for your first Temple Ordinance! Nauvoo is a SPECIAL place, of which I WANT to go back ASAP.
I think that it's best not to have any expectations (if that's possible). I knew what to expect. My parents had been very open about the clothing and the ceremonial aspects. I thought that I knew what to expect, but certain things threw me anyway. They've taken out some of what bothered me my first time in this latest shortening of the endowment session. I'm happy about that. There is a part that asks, " Is it good for man to be alone?" And the answer is No. I wasn't prepared for how depressed I felt about that. I think things strike people differently, and you just don't know how it will be the first time. But the more you return and the more you learn it becomes more and more powerful and beautiful. My advice would be to watch Bryce Dunford's temple symbols series. I can't recommend it highly enough! And to pray to feel the Lord's spirit. I like to pray a specific prayer, and then in the chapel before the session, I open the scriptures at random, and I have been amazed at how the Lord speaks directly to me in that way. It is more beautiful than I could possibly articulate. 😊 I can't wait for you to receive your endowment!!! The day when you are able to go receive it will be here before you know it!
I have been a member for 41 years and still have feelings of not being good enough. The temple is an amazing awe inspiring place and can appear a little intimidating at first. Once you are in the temple most likely you won’t see angels, but you many have a great spiritual experience or just feel peace. Or it may take leaving the temple to feel the contrasting spirit to realize just how amazing it is. The Lord only asks we bring what we have, he knows our heart and the atonement of Jesus Christ makes up the rest. You are an amazing person David, your love of God and Jesus Christ shines from you. Your ancestors are with you and encourage you on your path. As it states in Malachi 4:6. 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. Going to the temple fulfills this prophecy. We cannot make it without our ancestors and they cannot make it without us. We are one big eternal family and I am proud to call you my brother.
I would suggest reading Genesis, Exodus, the "Sermon on the Mount" of Jesus, The Book of Revelation, and the Pearl of Great Prices books of Moses and Abraham for a spiritual context. Compared to the past, there are so many official LDS Church sources for preparing to enter the Temple that it almost feels like cheating. Some of the sacred mystery and discovery for a first time entrance can be "spoiled" by over preparing. Perhaps the most "shocking," (and I don't think this is a bad thing, because all initiations and ceremony are supposed to be outside the common) experience for new attendees is the amount of ritual involved. It is different from the simple Church services that include music, talks, and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Don't attend the Temple (especially beyond the Baptism for the Dead activity) expecting to understand everything that happens. Know that "line upon line, and precept upon precept" is part of the lifelong process of multiple attendance and study.
@@gwengold8154 To be honest, what "bothers me" is how much of the ceremony has been skipped and condensed. A lot of the flow and some insightful symbolism is missing. There are other things I do think improve the experience; such as the redone videos that reduces the low budget "Hollywood" feel that can seem out of place. What I have found is that things that bother one set of people are perfectly fine for another group. The original expressed relationship pattern of men, women, and God was for me comes directly from both doctrine and scripture. That it has become de-emphasized is in my opinion a bit of a loss. Regardless, I do hope they restructure the ceremony in the future for it to become less cumbersome than the current form.
I actually went to my first church service ever and I went to an LDS Church and was welcomed with open arms and were some of the nicest people I met and the whole service was wonderful!
Welcome! I hope you come back. If you don’t have a copy of The Book of Mormon the church has a free app. You can listen or read. Please pray when reading it The Lord will testify of its truthfulness.
My husband converted 2 weeks before you did surrounded by my family in St. George, Utah (we are from Texas). His baptism was witnessed by my 90 year old Aunt Margie, my 95 year old aunt Marie and was confirmed with the Holy Ghost by my 81 year old uncle Sammy. During April 2023 conference my father told me my husband would be baptized and sealed to me. I would be sealed to my parents and my husband to his (once we completed their proxy work). My father died 6 weeks later. Every night, I thank our Heavenly Father that I was given this blessing prior to my father’s death. My husband and I are now preparing for the temple next April. We hope to be sealed on our 19th civil marriage date. Blessings are all around us!!
Not good enough? Not worthy enough? Don't worry about it. If only good enough, worthy enough people went to temples Jesus would be walking around an empty building wondering where everyone was. 😂 You're humble enough and disciple enough. That's all God needs to work with. 😊❤
This is so inspiring! I just went to the temple for the first time in years after my rebaptism earlier this year. It was such an immense and overwhelming experience and truly Heaven on earth. I was able to perform baptisms and get baptized in the temple and it was such an amazing day and I’ll never forget it.
What a joy it is to watch your journey David. I am a Temple ordinance worker and I can testify that my greatest joy working in the Temple is not from helping those who do everything perfectly but from those who are humple and come to the house of the lord wanting to serve others despite their imperfections. Service to others is what it's all about.
I just wanted to thank you for teaching me more about how the temple is about sacrifice. And teaching me how feelings of self-doubt should be answered with the loaves and the fishes. If you felt so inadequate that you chose not to upload this video then I wouldn't have learned that! Think about that! We all have something to teach each other, no matter how new, and so there is a place for every person, and so we need every person ❤
Offering what you have is all that is ever asked of any of us. It is what the widow offered at the temple when she offered all she had, two small coins, and was praised by the Savior for doing so. None of us are good enough on our own, but when we covenant with and follow the Savior, he is enough to multiply our meager efforts eternally.
My Dear Friend David, I am so happy you made the opportunity for yourself to visit the Temple for baptisms. Especially The Nauvoo Temple! (Special significance for our family, my husband’s great Grandfather Daniel H. Wells owned a big part of the land in Nauvoo/Commerce before the Saints arrived. He became good friends with Joseph Smith and later served as Brigham Young’s counselor! ) Ever heard the expression’ the bigger they are, the harder they fall? David, you may not realize it because it’s not an OFFICIAL mission, but you are very much serving as a great example of seeking for Truth and for building relationships with Christ. Your videos touch a great many lives. Do you think that makes Satan happy? Of course not. He is going to plant feelings of inadequacy wherever he can. Brigham Young said something about when you have those feelings “kick them down to hell because that’s where they came from!” Keep remembering that you have felt the Spirit in your life and how good it felt. Keep going to the Temples and participate in baptisms as often as you can include it in your travels. Ask your Bishop if there is what they used to call a Temple Prep course. It was 6 lessons to help new members prepare for going to receive their endowment. If your ward doesn’t, maybe track down a copy of the manual. It helped those I taught the lessons to. Your countenance is definitely brighter!
Hello luanawells. My husband and I served a mission at the Church History Library from 2017-2018. I was assigned to the team that was working on the biography for Emmeline B Wells. That was a very special time for me as I met the women who began all the research to gather all that our team would research in depth. In addition, I was in Nauvoo during “Untold Nauvoo Stories” before our mission. I was telling the story of the Wisconsin Pineries. They were the pine forests of Wisconsin where the lumber for building the original Nauvoo temple came from. It just so happened that Dane Chapman was in the audience. The first thing he said to me was, “You will want to see my house.” That house was one that was built on property that had been owned by Daniel H Wells. Bro. Chapman was doing some work on the house. He had removed small parts of the wood flooring to facilitate some upgrading he was doing. He gave me two of those pieces. They were from the original white pine that had come down from the Wisconsin Pineries for the building of the Nauvoo temple. The saw marks were from the sawmills and were still very prominent on the underside of those pieces. I was thrilled to have those pieces because I was living right in the middle of where those huge white pine trees were harvested from 1841-1845. That house was built on Block 9, Lot 1, for Dr. Samuel Bennett for his doctor’s office.
You are a walking testimony of what it takes to truly give yourself to Jesus Christ❤ You’re so special and have touched so many peoples lives! You are by far enough ❤ love you
I had 3 of my great-great-great grandparents sealed in the Nauvoo temple before heading west to Utah. One couple, the husband died in Wyoming, I know it was that sealing which helped carry my 3rd great grandmother with raising her children then through the rest of her life. I love the fact that I can see the Bountiful, Utah temple from my front room window. Your perspective is truly heartwarming, thank you.
It's beautiful, brother, to see how your sacrifice and your talents have been used by God to touch so many souls. Yours is as powerful a testimony of the grace of Christ as any I've heard spoken from any pulpit. Thank you.
It's very interesting to hear someone talk out their feelings, especially about baptisms for the dead, on an in depth level. Especially after hearing your story, step by step, all the way through. I appreciate these. Your humble honesty really shines in these.
22:40 a very important lesson I learned comes from the fact that there are spirits of those who don't want the best for you who feed you unwanted thoughts. However, you are quite literally capable of going "that's not my thought" and continuing on with your day, not feeling guilty or disturbed. It's been several months for me thinking about it this way and it's quite effective (as well as true).
I feel like the temple is a great example of the celestial kingdom. Whenever you think of how we should be to enter the temple it feels like we don't measure up. But when we swallow our doubts and trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ to make up the difference of our meager loaves we have to offer, and go to the temple we are always blessed with so much peace, love, and joy. While in the temple those feelings fade away and Holy Spirit burns away the doubt and fears in our hearts like you experienced. Imagine how we will feel when we are going to be judged and enter the celestial kingdom. I personally will feel unworthy, inadequate, like I'm not good enough; but I know that Jesus Christ makes up the difference and when we have faith in him, his sacrifice is enough. I'm sure after we go through that process of doubt and fear and transfigure that into faith, the joy and the peace we will feel will be immeasurable.
I really like you r twilight zone, analogy I'm going to use it for myself. Going to the temple in two days. I was looking for something spiritual to listen to today, Sunday, and ty you filled the need. Bless you brother
I had the exact same feelings when I first went to the Temple and just kept going. Those feelings come from Satan but you are so right that the Lord will use whatever we have to offer. Then one day I was walking out of the Celestial room and there staring me in the face was a picture of Jesus holding the black sheep and that said it all for me.
I got baptized when I was 18 and went to the temple a year later. My first temple trip was to get my endowments, I never did baptisms for the dead previous to my endowment. Talk about confusion lol! I even had a great companion guiding me and helping me. I assure you will be confused like me, and everyone else who goes through the temple the first several times. This is normal, remember we are learning about eternity with families in Temples so it's going to take some time to wrap our heads around it. Give it some time, it's been 25 years since I got baptized and 24 years since I've started going to the temple. Although I'm still learning, it makes sense now. Like you said, the idea of eternal families is beyond any worldly description. It's so awesome! Satan knows this and hates it more than anything. Those doubts are from Satan, make no mistake. Ask Heavenly Father for discernment and guidance from the Holy Ghost to not be deceived and to give you power over Satan. He will answer your prayers because He knows you are sincere. Brother, you have come so far and have so many people that admire what you have done and where you are going that has made eternal impacts on people. 2 Nephi 28:30, remember line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little. Be patient with yourself, Heavenly Father is patient with you.
I love the Nauvoo Temple. It's a special place. I had a lot of anxiety the first time I went to the temple. The following times I went after the first time, I was able to relax my mind and better connect with the Spirit.
I believe the feelings of not feeling worthy is the adversary working on you. Satan puts roadblocks in front of us to try and make us stumble. I pray that the adversary be powerless against you. You are an amazing member of the Church. You continue to build my testimony. Thank you for your amazing experiences.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Nauvoo is a special place to me. In 1973, I was a brand new missionary in the Nauvoo area. I had the opportunity while there to perform my very first baptism, and the young woman who was being baptized asked for it to be done in the Mississippi River at Nauvoo, in the location where the first baptisms for the dead were performed before the temple was completed. The young woman and I waded out into the river, sinking deeply in the muddy river bottom. The water was shallow and we had to go maybe 40 feet or so out into the water until I felt it was deep enough. The witnesses chose to remain on the shore. It was a very moving experience. There was always a sadness in Nauvoo because the temple was no longer there, only the outline of the foundation. Years later when I was a member of the Tabernacle Choir, I was seated in choir loft not too far from Pres. Hinckley when he announced that the temple would be rebuilt. I immediately burst into tears and was unable to sing, only mouth the words of the song that followed his talk.
“I’m going to offer what I have.” I have a will; I have a heart; I have a spirit that reminds me I need to repent daily; I have a mind; I have belief; I have strength; I have a body; I have hands; I have an arm that is no longer broken; I have eyes to see and ears to hear; I have thoughts; I have 24 hours in a day; I have an education; I have a pioneer heritage; I have …Yes, I will offer this.
I imagine there is a great number of us who if invited would have loved to be in the temple and part of your experience. When I worked with the youth it was always a special experience when we had a person who was there for the first time. Some of the things you voiced about negative emotions are not from within you but things Satan is doing to challenge your conversion. Read the account of the first vision and you will see just before the appearance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Joseph was overcome and could not speak. That was Satan's last ditch effort to keep it from happening. Your in good company. I loved your felling of serving people that you don't know, I also loved how you recognized the efforts of those who came before making these things possible. Go back, take some of your own names, take a friend who can perform the work with you. The collateral good that can happen to those who go with you can be as overpowering to them as it is for you. Your zeal and their desire to serve can be a powerful multiplier for heavenly experiences.
Thank you for sharing your temple experience with us. I enjoyed your wise words at the end of the video. I believe that Satan whispers to us that we are "not good enough," especially when we are trying to live the gospel and uplift others. It's his way of pulling us away from doing and being good.
I haven’t been following you for as long as many, but it’s amazing to see the light and wisdom you possess and to watch it grow. The temple is such a sacred place and as many others have pointed out, Satan works hard to instill and exaggerate feelings of doubt and anxiety. I always feel the most tested when my wife and I have plans to go to the temple. He gives us 100 reasons not to go. I hope to meet you sometime. Stay strong Brother!
I agree with this comment. I have experienced Satan's influence giving me reasons not to go to the Temple. I'm always thankful and happy when I go. It is truly a different world in the Temple. Our ward just did a sealing session and it is even better when your doing sealings with friends. Stay strong and as you look back you will recognize the Holy Spirit guiding you.
What an amazing takeaway. Sacrifice! Ours now is a sacrifice of broken heart and contrite spirit, bending our will to God’s will.❤️😇 And being obedient to His commandments. I also love that you have enough wisdom to realize that in this life without the grace of Christ we are not enough. He multiplies our sacrifice (effort) and makes it enough. I have just been released as a temple worker at the Jordan River Temple. On 12 November, I will be starting at the new Deseret Peak temple. It’s the best place to work and commune with the Lord. And just so you know, I still feel inadequate…the Lord’s grace strengthens me to do His work. Your testimony of the temple is inspiring. Thank you for sharing it. Find a temple near you and go as often as you can.❤️
This was beautiful! Especially the analogy of the boy with the loaves and fishes! I had to stop washing the dishes and comment! I have listened to many of your UA-cam videos and I think that this one is the best ever! Thanks for sharing brother!😅😊
The temple is a house of learning. Learning is uncomfortable at first but it gets better and better the more familiar you are and that is especially true at the temple.
Brother! Everyone who is in that temple had a “first time” experience, and remembers the feeling of not being sure how things would go. It’s SO joyful to see new people coming in for the first time. It makes our day, honestly. We all share in the excitement of the new person coming into a closer relationship with their Father and their earthly family. Some of my FAVORITE, sweet, special temple experiences are with “first timers”.
Even as a member for my whole life I can empathize with what you are saying about not feeling good enough to go to the temple. I avoided regularly going to the temple for many years because I didn’t feel good enough. But it was only when I really decided to trust President Nelson telling us to make temple worship a regular part of our lives that I decided to trust God and His counsel that he was giving me through the prophet. I admit that initially it was kind of uncomfortable but going often has made me really think about my life and the covenants that I’ve made. The more I go the more I want to repent and be close to God. I’ve seen real changes in my life and I’ve gotten to the point where I love being in the temple and I crave the spirit that I feel there. One of the biggest insights that I’ve had is realizing that instead of going to the temple to offer up an animal sacrifice like the Israelites did, we offer up our sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit. We put our pride on the alter and submit to God or as president Nelson says ‘Let God Prevail’. Thank you for your sincerity,
Don't be overwhelmed or worried about serving God - He is aware of human hesitation and uncertainty, and leads us along in baby steps. You went through temple open houses, then learned the Gospel, then came baptism, then the Aaronic Priesthood. Now you've advanced to temple work! In the future you will receive the higher priesthood and be able do to additional temple ordinances and be a "savior on Mount Zion" for those who can't to their own temple work. God never gives us more than we can handle and in your case, he has been sending red cardinals as signs and lamp posts to mark your pathway - what a blessing! Stay on that covenant path and you can't go wrong. It leads to a joyful and eternal life.
I've grown up in the church and I still have times when I pray about something and get told, "I've already answered this" and/or " Remember the things I've already told you." As mortal humans we tend to doubt and forget and that's why we need to go to the temple, study the scriptures, pray and all of those other things that help us feel the Spirit and remember.
The way you express yourself is so reassuring even to someone who has been a member of the church for over seventy years. I was baptized at the age of eight and have had many wonderful experiences in the church, but I am always amazed at your perspective and love that you are willing to share your thoughts. I pray that you will continue to grow your testimony and know how much you bless the lives of others.
I’ve loved following your journey! And I’m so happy you were able to have your first personal temple experience! To make it even MORE personal, I’d recommend getting with the genealogy consultant in your ward so you can submit your own family names and do the proxy baptism for a grandparent, great grandparent or other relative. It really is a BEAUTIFUL experience. My daughter was only 13 years old when she was able to do the baptism in behalf of her grandmother who passed way the year before. She was also her namesake, so it was really touching for her to hear “Mary Keeney for and in behalf of Mary Keeney” just before she was bent back into the water. My husband was able to the baptism for his younger brother who was tragically killed in an accident. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Even the temple workers were in tears. The spirit was SO strong in the room. If you get stuck in the building of your family tree and hit a brick wall, and your ward genealogy consultant can’t help, feel free to reach out to me. I teach Genealogy research and breaking down brick walls has sort of become a specialty for me.
I love how in your videos you sort through your feelings and relate them to scripture and life and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lots of profound thoughts! Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! Excited for your covenant path journey! The doubts and negative talk is Satan. Only good comes from God. When we realize that those voices aren’t from God it’s easy to see and say and prayer like Jesus taught!
The Lord uses imperfect people to accomplish his work. “If you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, … if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants." Mosiah 2:20 - Without grace, our valiance alone cannot save us. So, he asks us to pick ourselves up where we are and use what we have. Much is given and much is expected. But when we do our duty we are in receipt of "all that our Father hath." (D&C 84:38). ~Parables of Jesus Elder Kerr of the 70 October 2003.
Amen to the loaves and fish analogy! I think about that often, as well. God takes our sincere consecrations of time, talents, or goods, and magnifies them to suit His plan. It brings me comfort.
I echo all the other comments. The doubtful thoughts are just the adversary. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new convert or a lifelong member, the adversary tries to make all of us feel unworthy. I so enjoy hearing your testimony. Thank you for sharing!
I appreciate how you commented on the new-ness of everything, and that you're glad you waited to perform the work for your ancestors so you weren't distracted by the new-ness. I feel it's similar when someone receives their endowment. The first time going through the process can feel distracting by the new-ness of how we dress, or having to say this, or trying to memorize that. Remember, you will go through again and again. It won't be the last time you hear these covenants. When you receive your endowment, focus more on the words- what you are promising the Lord, and He to you. The first time is for you- for David. After that, it's for those who have passed on. But you can always use it as an opportunity to look back and remember the day when YOU first made those covenants. Try not to get caught up on "where do I stand, what do I do, I forgot what I was supposed to say.. " Remember, someone will also be there to help you. I love listening to your episodes every Sunday afternoon. Keep it up, you're doing amazing!
One thing to keep in mind is that we are all unworthy. It is only because of Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice that we can come to the alter (the temple, the Sacrament Table, our own bedside to pray) with any feeling of worthiness. He suffered all so that we can have all if we rely on Him. Offering what we have is all that any of us can do. Never compare yourself to others, especially life-long members. We have to go through our own conversion and come to know for ourselves the things you have learned and continue to learn. God is blessing you, and I feel blessed to see your journey. It reminds me of the people I worked with on my mission. Thank you for sharing.
The best part of going to the temple, for me, is always going to be sealings. Those you do baptisms for are at the beginning of their journey to when they are sealed to their families for eternity. What a blessing it is that we can do this for those we love!!
Even members feel that way- life long members/ of….Im not good enough. In a recent blessing I was told those thoughts like this that come to me were put into my mind by the advisory as to try to ruin promises I’ve made and covenants I’ve made for growth in the eternities- the advisory is trying to undo those blessing s for me. I was told in my blessing to “be quick “ to replace those thoughts with my own good thoughts that would be more comfortable for me. The advisary is at war with the saints progression- the thought-I’m not good enough- is NOT from the Holy Spirit. We are more MORE than good enough
That's the "adversary," not the "advisary." As to the substance, you make some good points, but Jesus did not encourage the attitude that we are "more than good enough." In Luke 18, we read: "Then he gave this illustration to certain people who were confident of their own goodness and looked down on others: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, the other was a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed like this with himself, ‘O God, I do thank you that I am not like the rest of mankind, greedy, dishonest, impure, or even like that tax-collector over there. I fast twice every week; I give away a tenth-part of all my income.’ But the tax-collector stood in a distant corner, scarcely daring to look up to Heaven, and with a gesture of despair, said, ‘God, have mercy on a sinner like me.’ I assure you that he was the man who went home justified in God’s sight, rather than the other one. For everyone who sets himself up as somebody will become a nobody, and the man who makes himself nobody will become somebody." (J.B. Phillips translation)
What a golden man you are, and such a golden member of the church. I’m so glad that your heart was touched by the spirit, and you knew being baptized a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was what you desired to do. What a blessing for yourself and family. I enjoyed hearing you tell the experience of your first baptism by proxy! Thank you for preparing yourself and to go and the courage you had to go! Bless your heart. I am so happy for you! Thank you!
I just came back from nauvoo. I live in Australia. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to go to the temple. Last time I visited the US nauvoo did not have a temple. It was such a spiritual trip. It was such a testimony to me that finishing the temple and the Saints receiving their endowments were so important to their journey. The strength and protection that this provided was so important.
1. I love seeing it through your eyes because growing up in the church you get used to hearing things talked about the same way and I think we miss out on some of the complexities because of that. I love how you talked about the importance of a covenant. You're right, it is like a marriage. Half contract, half relationship. Going to the temple is about remembering the contract and renewing the relationship. And you hit the nail on the head with the feeling in the temple being connection. We love each other better there. We are attuned to each other there. Thank you for describing it so well. 2. The moment you started talking about not being enough I thought of the loaves and the fishes. As a single mom I am painfully aware of how much I come up short and it took a while to accept that I am never going to be enough. Now I just try to trust that God is making my meager offering enough.
Thanks Kathryn, appreciate this. Sometimes, the thing with Scripture is you know the story, yet it's when it becomes alive in your life that it reaches a whole different level of understanding.
Ask for a priesthood blessing any time you’re struggling in ANY way! God will tell you specific things just to help you! Pray and ask help with those feelings too! It’s totally the adversary attacking you! ALL good comes from God and the opposite is not from God!
I loved the Story of the little boy that gave his meal to Jesus .. He was willing to ring what he had .. even though it seemed it was “not enough”… I loved your perspective & the lesson taught .. Thank you so much .. Yours is such a sweet testimony .. thank you for sharing your deepest thoughts . ❤
DAVID, thank you for sharing this incredible story. I’ve been a lifelong member of the LDS church missionary sealed to my wife and hearing your stories is just so refreshing. It brings back the memories that I had going through these experiences for the first time with you.❤
I saw three of your videos about a year ago and felt at the time that you were already converted but didn't know it yet. You have a strong and positive spirit that communicated that to me. I lost track of you for about a year but am not surprised to learn that you have joined the church. Not surprised but still very thrilled for you. Congratulations! Keep sharing your journey. You do a great job. Thank you!
That was a wonderful experience and video. Thank you for your analogy of “multiplying whatever you can sacrifice so that others can be blessed.” The few minutes that it takes to do baptisms in the temple can save five or more ancestors, and bring them to Christ. Enjoy General Conference next week.
I love hearing your insights as a new member of the church. It has been hard for me to connect the temple in modern times with the temple in ancient times. But I’ve learned that the main purpose of the temple in all ages of history is to instruct you on how to return to the presence of God while in the flesh. Doing work for our ancestors is just a bonus. Keep going to the temple as much as you can . It will give you strength. ❤
Last year, for six months, I spent two days per week serving in that very Nauvoo Baptistry. A happy time for my wife and I. Our temple-co-workers were the loveliest people anyone could ever hope to meet. Our main mission was to help the patrons, as David was here, feel comfortable and welcome. We saw the tender mercies of the Lord in that wonderful Nauvoo Baptistry. There were miracles! I could go on and on about it. Warm Regards -Ray Conger
This was so great!! Your willingness to share your thoughts and emotions and fears is so inspiring!! I completely understand the feelings of inadequacy. I was away from the church for many years, until a year and a half ago. I’d already been through the temple, but when I received my recommend back, I literally drove immediately to the temple. But before that, I definitely felt inadequate and not worthy. My belief is that these things are put into our minds and hearts by the adversary, because he knows how powerful the temple is and how important it is to our progression and getting to know our Savior on a deeper level. The adversary knows that as we gain further light and knowledge, it will be harder for him to reach us and turn our hearts away from the true gospel and our Savior. You are definitely on the covenant path and you are such an inspiration!!! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and stories!!! I enjoy them and feel the spirit so strongly, and did even before your baptism!!
Thank you David for your continued humble heartfelt and moving descriptions of your experiences going forward on the covenant path. It is so uplifting listening to your unbiased, raw thoughts and feelings about the most sacred aspects of our Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have commented once before. Know that I have never been moved to comment about anything else. Your videos are truly inspiring and beautiful! Thank you. May the Lord continue to bless you in your efforts to walk His path and become more like Him!❤️
I have looked forward to hearing your thoughts on this ever since you first posted you had gone! If you haven’t done your own endowments yet, I recommend doing this at the Manti temple. I didn’t realize how different each temple feels. The ceremony is the same for the most part….but the Manti temple has an extended version that is so beautiful!
Thank you, Brother Boice, for these beautiful insights. I love learning from your perspective. I have also felt inadequate going to the temple. But I know that the Lord is inviting me to his holy house if I will do my best to prepare myself. Thank you for your insight of bringing what you have and offering what you are able to give, even if it is just fish and bread.
17:05 This burning feeling inside me... Luke 24: 29-32 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures
I love your thoughts about the five loaves and two fishes at the end. Elder James E. Faust gave a beautiful General Conference talk about that subject in April 1994. We are all that little boy in the end. Even leaders of the Church are just offering their five loaves and two fishes. Thank you for your testimony! 🫶🫶🫶
I really enjoy your journey. I have never done Baptisms by myself in the temple, it has always been with a group. The groups I went with have given us a very strong bond; I'm not sure it had anything to do with the baptisms or if it was just that we were all engaged in doing good. One thing I often think about is being in alignment with Jesus, this is all I have to give. I wish I had more like buttons for this video. :)
David, your new adventures in "Mormondom" are always fascinating. My 2nd wife and I were sealed in the Nauvoo Temple and I think that was the first time I saw it since it was rebuilt. The thing that hit me hard back then (2003) was this magnificent structure which was originally built on the very frontier of 1840's America. The beauty of it is unlike anything that far west at that time. Nauvoo was bigger than Chicago at its height and Chicago had no building of that magnificence. My great-great grandfather was one of a small group of men that Brigham asked to stay behind and guard the temple after the Saints left in 1846 until the brethren could return to dedicate it a few months later. What a scary assignment that must have been with the "shoot on sight" hostility that was going on. He did that and then he made his way to Utah where he settled in Ogden. I believe the Temple was destroyed by lightning less than a year later and burned...eventually being totally destroyed.
Your insight about our heavenly father being able to use us despite our own inadequacy is so beautiful, and so very important. We are fallen, unworthy, and unclean - but through the Savior we become exalted, worthy, and clean. We join ourselves to him and rely upon his perfection, and through him we overcome the world.
You have such wonderful insights. Life long, devout member here who attends temple for years.....still feel unworthy of these blessings, and I always will. It fills me with gratitude to be a part of it and that my continuing to go is accepted by my loving Savior.
So Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your experience. I 💖💖💖 the Nauvoo Temple. Although we are older, we have done baptisms there. Along with all ordinances. Such a beautiful temple. You are AMAZING!! Thank you for being wonderful you!
You're a Blessed Man. You have Blessed us with your insights. Going thru the Temple, even for Baptisms, is a very personal endeavor. You did great! the Lord accepts your sacrifice, and sacrifices. Well done. Don't stop doing what you're doing. Keep the faith and Hurray for Zion!
This was so wonderful, David. Thanks for sharing this special experience with us ❤. I think that when you receive your endowment and understand the temple, you will fully understand why we still need physical temples. Our bodies are temples, for sure. But, physical temples are an unfathomable blessing to us. You'll understand why later on. Awww, man, I LOVE the Provo city center temple!!! 😍 You have to be the luckiest man in the church!! 😉
The Lord absolutely takes our offerings, no matter how humble, and magnifies them greatly. I love the parallel you drew to the loaves and the fishes. You have value given to you by God that nobody- including yourself- can take away or add to. The choices we make either bring us closer to God which helps us see that value as God does, both for ourselves and for others, or distances us from God which causes us to lose sight of that value. You have great value, keep choosing God.
This was perfect Sunday viewing. Thank you brother. You are on the path. Thank you for taking us along with you. It strengthens us all, and I hope you feel our love, prayers, and support for you too.
David, I appreciate your openness and honesty in describing your experiences. You are a very good story teller, I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for the work you put in.
From someone who didn’t attend the temple for years and now can’t go a week without attending, I loved hearing your insights and experience. What you shared is absolutely true- Christ only asks us to give and sacrifice what we can, and He will multiply it. I also think of the parable of the widow who gave only two mites- despite the meager offering, it was enough. Christ has been teaching us this message in countless ways. Give what you can, He’ll take care of the rest. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. A temple sealer (who performs sealings in the temple) once asked me and a handful of patrons what we felt was the most important part of the temple. Lots of different answers, no wrong ones. The sealer’s response, however, surprised me and then taught me a valuable lesson. He said the most important part of the temple are the people who come to work and serve there- YOU. Without worthy members coming to the temple regularly, the purpose of the temple can never be fulfilled. Love to you on your journey! You’ve already come so far in a short year.
Hello David, I loved this video. I missed you by 2 weeks. I went to the Nauvoo Temple on July 18th while on my way from AZ to Kirtland OH and back. The history and beauty of the inside and outside, make it one of my favorite Temples to attend.
Early on you spoke about your feelings of fast forward from your first open house visit to actually being able to enter a dedicated Temple to help gather Israel. Just imagine that feeling if you continue on this covenant path for another 10 or 20 years!! Speaking of gathering, while I was at BYU Education last August, I went to a class about the Tribes of Israel taught by Joshua M Matson. He pointed out that many of the tribes were represented by an animal. Judah - a lion, Dan - a snake, Naphtali - a doe. I was amazed to learn that the tribe of Ephriam is represented by the Ox. The responsibility to gather Israel in these last days falls mainly upon the "backs" of the tribe of Ephriam so having the baptismal fount in the Temple resting upon the backs of Oxen pointing to every corner of the world was very inspiring for me. When you mentioned your protestant brain and the thought of Temples existing anciently, but not in our day, I thought of Isaiah 2:2 where he saw a Temple - the mountain of the Lord's house in these the last days. Yes, the purpose of the Lord's restored Church is to build something globally together. What a profound observation. Thanks for making this inspiring video.
Hi Brother, I just to feel unworthy too. But after I received my garments and making covenants with God my perception has changed, now I feel accepted and good enough to received any blessings that He wants to give me and to go to his house without any shame.
David - Great, great video. As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it's so refreshing and intriguing to see some of our practices through new eyes! And don't worry about feeling like you're not enough. Not a single one of us is enough! We all require our Lord and Savior to magnify our efforts and enlarge our understanding. Be patient with yourself and your journey. Trust me, you're much father along than you might realize! God bless you!
Hello, David. You mentioned sacrifice. Would you be interested in learning about the early Nauvoo saints who were in the Wisconsin Pineries from 1841-1845 to harvest the timber for building the original Nauvoo temple? And what those men, and even their families sacrificed to harvest the timber, then get that timber 400 miles down the Black River then to the Mississippi to the Nauvoo temple site? I’ve been telling that story for over 10 years because for over 20 years I lived smack dab in the middle of where those magnificent forests were, around and in Neillsville, Wisconsin.
I love to listen to your experiences. Don’t ever think you aren’t good enough. That is the adversary making you think you aren’t good enough. Heavenly Father loves you and so does Jesus Christ. As long as you keep trying, they are there to help you. We just did a session in the Nauvoo temple last week. (We were touring the church history sites. I am from Florida.) What an experience is was to think about all the sacrifices the Saints made to build up the kingdom of God here on this earth. Keep the faith!)
Dave. I really needed this today! My offering feels so small sometimes. But remembering that HIS PEFECT OFFERING makes mine enough has been helpful and given me courage to give my all for another day! You were his mouthpiece for me today! Thank you!
Hope this was helpful. If you have any recommendations for someone new to the temple, what lessons has it taught you?
I was just there 16-19 of September! I got to go through an Endowment.
It's AWESOME that you chose to attend the Nauvoo Temple for your first Temple Ordinance!
Nauvoo is a SPECIAL place, of which I WANT to go back ASAP.
I think that it's best not to have any expectations (if that's possible). I knew what to expect. My parents had been very open about the clothing and the ceremonial aspects. I thought that I knew what to expect, but certain things threw me anyway. They've taken out some of what bothered me my first time in this latest shortening of the endowment session. I'm happy about that. There is a part that asks, " Is it good for man to be alone?" And the answer is No. I wasn't prepared for how depressed I felt about that. I think things strike people differently, and you just don't know how it will be the first time. But the more you return and the more you learn it becomes more and more powerful and beautiful.
My advice would be to watch Bryce Dunford's temple symbols series. I can't recommend it highly enough! And to pray to feel the Lord's spirit. I like to pray a specific prayer, and then in the chapel before the session, I open the scriptures at random, and I have been amazed at how the Lord speaks directly to me in that way. It is more beautiful than I could possibly articulate. 😊
I can't wait for you to receive your endowment!!! The day when you are able to go receive it will be here before you know it!
I have been a member for 41 years and still have feelings of not being good enough. The temple is an amazing awe inspiring place and can appear a little intimidating at first. Once you are in the temple most likely you won’t see angels, but you many have a great spiritual experience or just feel peace. Or it may take leaving the temple to feel the contrasting spirit to realize just how amazing it is. The Lord only asks we bring what we have, he knows our heart and the atonement of Jesus Christ makes up the rest. You are an amazing person David, your love of God and Jesus Christ shines from you. Your ancestors are with you and encourage you on your path. As it states in Malachi 4:6. 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. Going to the temple fulfills this prophecy. We cannot make it without our ancestors and they cannot make it without us. We are one big eternal family and I am proud to call you my brother.
I would suggest reading Genesis, Exodus, the "Sermon on the Mount" of Jesus, The Book of Revelation, and the Pearl of Great Prices books of Moses and Abraham for a spiritual context. Compared to the past, there are so many official LDS Church sources for preparing to enter the Temple that it almost feels like cheating. Some of the sacred mystery and discovery for a first time entrance can be "spoiled" by over preparing. Perhaps the most "shocking," (and I don't think this is a bad thing, because all initiations and ceremony are supposed to be outside the common) experience for new attendees is the amount of ritual involved. It is different from the simple Church services that include music, talks, and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Don't attend the Temple (especially beyond the Baptism for the Dead activity) expecting to understand everything that happens. Know that "line upon line, and precept upon precept" is part of the lifelong process of multiple attendance and study.
@@gwengold8154 To be honest, what "bothers me" is how much of the ceremony has been skipped and condensed. A lot of the flow and some insightful symbolism is missing. There are other things I do think improve the experience; such as the redone videos that reduces the low budget "Hollywood" feel that can seem out of place. What I have found is that things that bother one set of people are perfectly fine for another group. The original expressed relationship pattern of men, women, and God was for me comes directly from both doctrine and scripture. That it has become de-emphasized is in my opinion a bit of a loss. Regardless, I do hope they restructure the ceremony in the future for it to become less cumbersome than the current form.
I actually went to my first church service ever and I went to an LDS Church and was welcomed with open arms and were some of the nicest people I met and the whole service was wonderful!
That is so exciting! I'm glad you had a good experience and wish you well on your journey! 💛
Welcome! I hope you come back. If you don’t have a copy of The Book of Mormon the church has a free app. You can listen or read. Please pray when reading it The Lord will testify of its truthfulness.
My husband converted 2 weeks before you did surrounded by my family in St. George, Utah (we are from Texas). His baptism was witnessed by my 90 year old Aunt Margie, my 95 year old aunt Marie and was confirmed with the Holy Ghost by my 81 year old uncle Sammy. During April 2023 conference my father told me my husband would be baptized and sealed to me. I would be sealed to my parents and my husband to his (once we completed their proxy work). My father died 6 weeks later. Every night, I thank our Heavenly Father that I was given this blessing prior to my father’s death. My husband and I are now preparing for the temple next April. We hope to be sealed on our 19th civil marriage date. Blessings are all around us!!
Awe!
Hisannah!
Beautiful experience for your aging family! So special and eternal. There is no death!
I love all of that!
Not good enough? Not worthy enough? Don't worry about it. If only good enough, worthy enough people went to temples Jesus would be walking around an empty building wondering where everyone was. 😂 You're humble enough and disciple enough. That's all God needs to work with. 😊❤
That is why the Lord gave us REPENTANCE!! Without it... we would all be going to hell in a hand basket.
So you mean we don't need temples anymore?
🙌🏻
Had a Bishopric member once taught me:
" The Temple is not there to bless you for being perfect. It's there to help you toward getting that way. "
"Worthiness is not Flawlessness" Bro. Bradley R Wilcox October 2021 General Conference
I am not a member but I enjoy your channel. I appreciate your honesty and genuineness. Prayers for you!
This is so inspiring! I just went to the temple for the first time in years after my rebaptism earlier this year. It was such an immense and overwhelming experience and truly Heaven on earth. I was able to perform baptisms and get baptized in the temple and it was such an amazing day and I’ll never forget it.
I'm very happy that you're back. The Lord is so merciful! ❤
Welcome back❤️☀️🥰
Hey, Matthew! I know you from X! Love to read your continuing testimonies! Steve Bigler
I am so happy for you
What a joy it is to watch your journey David. I am a Temple ordinance worker and I can testify that my greatest joy working in the Temple is not from helping those who do everything perfectly but from those who are humple and come to the house of the lord wanting to serve others despite their imperfections. Service to others is what it's all about.
I just wanted to thank you for teaching me more about how the temple is about sacrifice. And teaching me how feelings of self-doubt should be answered with the loaves and the fishes. If you felt so inadequate that you chose not to upload this video then I wouldn't have learned that! Think about that! We all have something to teach each other, no matter how new, and so there is a place for every person, and so we need every person ❤
Offering what you have is all that is ever asked of any of us. It is what the widow offered at the temple when she offered all she had, two small coins, and was praised by the Savior for doing so. None of us are good enough on our own, but when we covenant with and follow the Savior, he is enough to multiply our meager efforts eternally.
Your testimony journey is so beautiful! ❤
My Dear Friend David, I am so happy you made the opportunity for yourself to visit the Temple for baptisms. Especially The Nauvoo Temple! (Special significance for our family, my husband’s great Grandfather Daniel H. Wells owned a big part of the land in Nauvoo/Commerce before the Saints arrived. He became good friends with Joseph Smith and later served as Brigham Young’s counselor! )
Ever heard the expression’ the bigger they are, the harder they fall? David, you may not realize it because it’s not an OFFICIAL mission, but you are very much serving as a great example of seeking for Truth and for building relationships with Christ. Your videos touch a great many lives. Do you think that makes Satan happy? Of course not. He is going to plant feelings of inadequacy wherever he can. Brigham Young said something about when you have those feelings “kick them down to hell because that’s where they came from!” Keep remembering that you have felt the Spirit in your life and how good it felt. Keep going to the Temples and participate in baptisms as often as you can include it in your travels.
Ask your Bishop if there is what they used to call a Temple Prep course. It was 6 lessons to help new members prepare for going to receive their endowment. If your ward doesn’t, maybe track down a copy of the manual. It helped those I taught the lessons to.
Your countenance is definitely brighter!
Well said!! David is a great influence and IS a missionary!
Hello luanawells. My husband and I served a mission at the Church History Library from 2017-2018. I was assigned to the team that was working on the biography for Emmeline B Wells. That was a very special time for me as I met the women who began all the research to gather all that our team would research in depth.
In addition, I was in Nauvoo during “Untold Nauvoo Stories” before our mission. I was telling the story of the Wisconsin Pineries. They were the pine forests of Wisconsin where the lumber for building the original Nauvoo temple came from. It just so happened that Dane Chapman was in the audience. The first thing he said to me was, “You will want to see my house.” That house was one that was built on property that had been owned by Daniel H Wells. Bro. Chapman was doing some work on the house. He had removed small parts of the wood flooring to facilitate some upgrading he was doing. He gave me two of those pieces. They were from the original white pine that had come down from the Wisconsin Pineries for the building of the Nauvoo temple. The saw marks were from the sawmills and were still very prominent on the underside of those pieces. I was thrilled to have those pieces because I was living right in the middle of where those huge white pine trees were harvested from 1841-1845. That house was built on Block 9, Lot 1, for Dr. Samuel Bennett for his doctor’s office.
Brother David! You are a force of nature, a precious son of God. Thanks for being real and raw. Thanks for sharing your journey!
You are a walking testimony of what it takes to truly give yourself to Jesus Christ❤ You’re so special and have touched so many peoples lives! You are by far enough ❤ love you
It is so fun to see everything from a new members perspective. Thanks for sharing.
I had 3 of my great-great-great grandparents sealed in the Nauvoo temple before heading west to Utah. One couple, the husband died in Wyoming, I know it was that sealing which helped carry my 3rd great grandmother with raising her children then through the rest of her life. I love the fact that I can see the Bountiful, Utah temple from my front room window. Your perspective is truly heartwarming, thank you.
Tremendous!
It's beautiful, brother, to see how your sacrifice and your talents have been used by God to touch so many souls. Yours is as powerful a testimony of the grace of Christ as any I've heard spoken from any pulpit. Thank you.
It's very interesting to hear someone talk out their feelings, especially about baptisms for the dead, on an in depth level. Especially after hearing your story, step by step, all the way through. I appreciate these. Your humble honesty really shines in these.
22:40 a very important lesson I learned comes from the fact that there are spirits of those who don't want the best for you who feed you unwanted thoughts. However, you are quite literally capable of going "that's not my thought" and continuing on with your day, not feeling guilty or disturbed. It's been several months for me thinking about it this way and it's quite effective (as well as true).
Yes.
I have formed a mental habit if dealing with it.
I feel like the temple is a great example of the celestial kingdom. Whenever you think of how we should be to enter the temple it feels like we don't measure up. But when we swallow our doubts and trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ to make up the difference of our meager loaves we have to offer, and go to the temple we are always blessed with so much peace, love, and joy. While in the temple those feelings fade away and Holy Spirit burns away the doubt and fears in our hearts like you experienced. Imagine how we will feel when we are going to be judged and enter the celestial kingdom. I personally will feel unworthy, inadequate, like I'm not good enough; but I know that Jesus Christ makes up the difference and when we have faith in him, his sacrifice is enough. I'm sure after we go through that process of doubt and fear and transfigure that into faith, the joy and the peace we will feel will be immeasurable.
I really like you r twilight zone, analogy I'm going to use it for myself. Going to the temple in two days. I was looking for something spiritual to listen to today, Sunday, and ty you filled the need. Bless you brother
I had the exact same feelings when I first went to the Temple and just kept going. Those feelings come from Satan but you are so right that the Lord will use whatever we have to offer. Then one day I was walking out of the Celestial room and there staring me in the face was a picture of Jesus holding the black sheep and that said it all for me.
I got baptized when I was 18 and went to the temple a year later. My first temple trip was to get my endowments, I never did baptisms for the dead previous to my endowment. Talk about confusion lol! I even had a great companion guiding me and helping me. I assure you will be confused like me, and everyone else who goes through the temple the first several times. This is normal, remember we are learning about eternity with families in Temples so it's going to take some time to wrap our heads around it. Give it some time, it's been 25 years since I got baptized and 24 years since I've started going to the temple. Although I'm still learning, it makes sense now.
Like you said, the idea of eternal families is beyond any worldly description. It's so awesome! Satan knows this and hates it more than anything. Those doubts are from Satan, make no mistake. Ask Heavenly Father for discernment and guidance from the Holy Ghost to not be deceived and to give you power over Satan. He will answer your prayers because He knows you are sincere. Brother, you have come so far and have so many people that admire what you have done and where you are going that has made eternal impacts on people. 2 Nephi 28:30, remember line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little. Be patient with yourself, Heavenly Father is patient with you.
That's so true the temple is all about sacrifice. Can't wait until you receive the Endowment. This will take on even greater significance to you.
This!!!
I love the Nauvoo Temple. It's a special place. I had a lot of anxiety the first time I went to the temple. The following times I went after the first time, I was able to relax my mind and better connect with the Spirit.
It is definitely more calming when you go back later times! And the more familiar you are with it, the easier it gets to overcome the worries
I’ve been waiting and waiting for this!
Lots of people have!
I believe the feelings of not feeling worthy is the adversary working on you. Satan puts roadblocks in front of us to try and make us stumble.
I pray that the adversary be powerless against you. You are an amazing member of the Church. You continue to build my testimony. Thank you for your amazing experiences.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Nauvoo is a special place to me. In 1973, I was a brand new missionary in the Nauvoo area. I had the opportunity while there to perform my very first baptism, and the young woman who was being baptized asked for it to be done in the Mississippi River at Nauvoo, in the location where the first baptisms for the dead were performed before the temple was completed. The young woman and I waded out into the river, sinking deeply in the muddy river bottom. The water was shallow and we had to go maybe 40 feet or so out into the water until I felt it was deep enough. The witnesses chose to remain on the shore. It was a very moving experience. There was always a sadness in Nauvoo because the temple was no longer there, only the outline of the foundation. Years later when I was a member of the Tabernacle Choir, I was seated in choir loft not too far from Pres. Hinckley when he announced that the temple would be rebuilt. I immediately burst into tears and was unable to sing, only mouth the words of the song that followed his talk.
“I’m going to offer what I have.” I have a will; I have a heart; I have a spirit that reminds me I need to repent daily; I have a mind; I have belief; I have strength; I have a body; I have hands; I have an arm that is no longer broken; I have eyes to see and ears to hear; I have thoughts; I have 24 hours in a day; I have an education; I have a pioneer heritage; I have …Yes, I will offer this.
I imagine there is a great number of us who if invited would have loved to be in the temple and part of your experience. When I worked with the youth it was always a special experience when we had a person who was there for the first time. Some of the things you voiced about negative emotions are not from within you but things Satan is doing to challenge your conversion. Read the account of the first vision and you will see just before the appearance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Joseph was overcome and could not speak. That was Satan's last ditch effort to keep it from happening. Your in good company. I loved your felling of serving people that you don't know, I also loved how you recognized the efforts of those who came before making these things possible. Go back, take some of your own names, take a friend who can perform the work with you. The collateral good that can happen to those who go with you can be as overpowering to them as it is for you. Your zeal and their desire to serve can be a powerful multiplier for heavenly experiences.
Well said!
Such a beautiful testimony about the 5 loaves and 2 fishes and being inadequate. I love it!
I don't know if you've spoken in sacrament yet but that would be a beautiful topic to speak on
Thanks for continuing to share your journey! I loved your description of stepping out of the twilight zone vs. into the twilight zone
Thank you for sharing your temple experience with us. I enjoyed your wise words at the end of the video. I believe that Satan whispers to us that we are "not good enough," especially when we are trying to live the gospel and uplift others. It's his way of pulling us away from doing and being good.
I haven’t been following you for as long as many, but it’s amazing to see the light and wisdom you possess and to watch it grow. The temple is such a sacred place and as many others have pointed out, Satan works hard to instill and exaggerate feelings of doubt and anxiety. I always feel the most tested when my wife and I have plans to go to the temple. He gives us 100 reasons not to go.
I hope to meet you sometime. Stay strong Brother!
I agree with this comment. I have experienced Satan's influence giving me reasons not to go to the Temple. I'm always thankful and happy when I go. It is truly a different world in the Temple. Our ward just did a sealing session and it is even better when your doing sealings with friends. Stay strong and as you look back you will recognize the Holy Spirit guiding you.
What an amazing takeaway. Sacrifice! Ours now is a sacrifice of broken heart and contrite spirit, bending our will to God’s will.❤️😇 And being obedient to His commandments. I also love that you have enough wisdom to realize that in this life without the grace of Christ we are not enough. He multiplies our sacrifice (effort) and makes it enough. I have just been released as a temple worker at the Jordan River Temple. On 12 November, I will be starting at the new Deseret Peak temple. It’s the best place to work and commune with the Lord. And just so you know, I still feel inadequate…the Lord’s grace strengthens me to do His work.
Your testimony of the temple is inspiring. Thank you for sharing it. Find a temple near you and go as often as you can.❤️
You're the man!!
We are so deeply happy for you. ❤
We're so happy for you ❤
Dear Brother! Your testemonies inspire me in so many ways! I'm from Brazil and follow your journey enthusiastically. ❤
Thank you for sharing! This was so sweet thank you for sharing your experience 💗💗💗
This was beautiful! Especially the analogy of the boy with the loaves and fishes! I had to stop washing the dishes and comment! I have listened to many of your UA-cam videos and I think that this one is the best ever! Thanks for sharing brother!😅😊
The temple is a house of learning. Learning is uncomfortable at first but it gets better and better the more familiar you are and that is especially true at the temple.
I’ve been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 50+ years. I’m STILL learning.
Brother! Everyone who is in that temple had a “first time” experience, and remembers the feeling of not being sure how things would go. It’s SO joyful to see new people coming in for the first time. It makes our day, honestly. We all share in the excitement of the new person coming into a closer relationship with their Father and their earthly family. Some of my FAVORITE, sweet, special temple experiences are with “first timers”.
Even as a member for my whole life I can empathize with what you are saying about not feeling good enough to go to the temple. I avoided regularly going to the temple for many years because I didn’t feel good enough. But it was only when I really decided to trust President Nelson telling us to make temple worship a regular part of our lives that I decided to trust God and His counsel that he was giving me through the prophet. I admit that initially it was kind of uncomfortable but going often has made me really think about my life and the covenants that I’ve made. The more I go the more I want to repent and be close to God. I’ve seen real changes in my life and I’ve gotten to the point where I love being in the temple and I crave the spirit that I feel there. One of the biggest insights that I’ve had is realizing that instead of going to the temple to offer up an animal sacrifice like the Israelites did, we offer up our sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit. We put our pride on the alter and submit to God or as president Nelson says ‘Let God Prevail’. Thank you for your sincerity,
Don't be overwhelmed or worried about serving God - He is aware of human hesitation and uncertainty, and leads us along in baby steps. You went through temple open houses, then learned the Gospel, then came baptism, then the Aaronic Priesthood. Now you've advanced to temple work! In the future you will receive the higher priesthood and be able do to additional temple ordinances and be a "savior on Mount Zion" for those who can't to their own temple work. God never gives us more than we can handle and in your case, he has been sending red cardinals as signs and lamp posts to mark your pathway - what a blessing! Stay on that covenant path and you can't go wrong. It leads to a joyful and eternal life.
I've grown up in the church and I still have times when I pray about something and get told, "I've already answered this" and/or " Remember the things I've already told you."
As mortal humans we tend to doubt and forget and that's why we need to go to the temple, study the scriptures, pray and all of those other things that help us feel the Spirit and remember.
Wow, I really enjoyed your perspective today! Thank you.
Thank you. You have no idea how timely this video is for me. Thank you.
Beautiful comparison and analogy. We all feel that sometimes, but Christ magnifies our efforts.
The way you express yourself is so reassuring even to someone who has been a member of the church for over seventy years. I was baptized at the age of eight and have had many wonderful experiences in the church, but I am always amazed at your perspective and love that you are willing to share your thoughts. I pray that you will continue to grow your testimony and know how much you bless the lives of others.
I’ve loved following your journey!
And I’m so happy you were able to have your first personal temple experience!
To make it even MORE personal, I’d recommend getting with the genealogy consultant in your ward so you can submit your own family names and do the proxy baptism for a grandparent, great grandparent or other relative. It really is a BEAUTIFUL experience. My daughter was only 13 years old when she was able to do the baptism in behalf of her grandmother who passed way the year before. She was also her namesake, so it was really touching for her to hear “Mary Keeney for and in behalf of Mary Keeney” just before she was bent back into the water. My husband was able to the baptism for his younger brother who was tragically killed in an accident. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Even the temple workers were in tears. The spirit was SO strong in the room.
If you get stuck in the building of your family tree and hit a brick wall, and your ward genealogy consultant can’t help, feel free to reach out to me. I teach Genealogy research and breaking down brick walls has sort of become a specialty for me.
I love how in your videos you sort through your feelings and relate them to scripture and life and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lots of profound thoughts! Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! Excited for your covenant path journey! The doubts and negative talk is Satan. Only good comes from God. When we realize that those voices aren’t from God it’s easy to see and say and prayer like Jesus taught!
Dang! Wish I knew you were in Nauvoo! I would have shown you around! Would have loved to have met you, Brother!
The Lord uses imperfect people to accomplish his work. “If you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, … if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants." Mosiah 2:20 - Without grace, our valiance alone cannot save us. So, he asks us to pick ourselves up where we are and use what we have. Much is given and much is expected. But when we do our duty we are in receipt of "all that our Father hath." (D&C 84:38). ~Parables of Jesus Elder Kerr of the 70 October 2003.
And if there are mistakes, they are the mistakes of men.
Agreed, you give what you have and thank God for the grace of Jesus Christ.
Amen to the loaves and fish analogy! I think about that often, as well. God takes our sincere consecrations of time, talents, or goods, and magnifies them to suit His plan. It brings me comfort.
I echo all the other comments. The doubtful thoughts are just the adversary. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new convert or a lifelong member, the adversary tries to make all of us feel unworthy. I so enjoy hearing your testimony. Thank you for sharing!
I appreciate how you commented on the new-ness of everything, and that you're glad you waited to perform the work for your ancestors so you weren't distracted by the new-ness. I feel it's similar when someone receives their endowment. The first time going through the process can feel distracting by the new-ness of how we dress, or having to say this, or trying to memorize that. Remember, you will go through again and again. It won't be the last time you hear these covenants. When you receive your endowment, focus more on the words- what you are promising the Lord, and He to you. The first time is for you- for David. After that, it's for those who have passed on. But you can always use it as an opportunity to look back and remember the day when YOU first made those covenants. Try not to get caught up on "where do I stand, what do I do, I forgot what I was supposed to say.. " Remember, someone will also be there to help you. I love listening to your episodes every Sunday afternoon. Keep it up, you're doing amazing!
One thing to keep in mind is that we are all unworthy. It is only because of Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice that we can come to the alter (the temple, the Sacrament Table, our own bedside to pray) with any feeling of worthiness. He suffered all so that we can have all if we rely on Him. Offering what we have is all that any of us can do. Never compare yourself to others, especially life-long members. We have to go through our own conversion and come to know for ourselves the things you have learned and continue to learn. God is blessing you, and I feel blessed to see your journey. It reminds me of the people I worked with on my mission. Thank you for sharing.
The best part of going to the temple, for me, is always going to be sealings. Those you do baptisms for are at the beginning of their journey to when they are sealed to their families for eternity. What a blessing it is that we can do this for those we love!!
Even members feel that way- life long members/ of….Im not good enough. In a recent blessing I was told those thoughts like this that come to me were put into my mind by the advisory as to try to ruin promises I’ve made and covenants I’ve made for growth in the eternities- the advisory is trying to undo those blessing s for me. I was told in my blessing to “be quick “ to replace those thoughts with my own good thoughts that would be more comfortable for me.
The advisary is at war with the saints progression- the thought-I’m not good enough- is NOT from the Holy Spirit. We are more MORE than good enough
"The Accuser"
Revelation 12 :10
That's the "adversary," not the "advisary." As to the substance, you make some good points, but Jesus did not encourage the attitude that we are "more than good enough." In Luke 18, we read:
"Then he gave this illustration to certain people who were confident of their own goodness and looked down on others: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, the other was a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed like this with himself, ‘O God, I do thank you that I am not like the rest of mankind, greedy, dishonest, impure, or even like that tax-collector over there. I fast twice every week; I give away a tenth-part of all my income.’ But the tax-collector stood in a distant corner, scarcely daring to look up to Heaven, and with a gesture of despair, said, ‘God, have mercy on a sinner like me.’ I assure you that he was the man who went home justified in God’s sight, rather than the other one. For everyone who sets himself up as somebody will become a nobody, and the man who makes himself nobody will become somebody." (J.B. Phillips translation)
What a golden man you are, and such a golden member of the church. I’m so glad that your heart was touched by the spirit, and you knew being baptized a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was what you desired to do. What a blessing for yourself and family. I enjoyed hearing you tell the experience of your first baptism by proxy! Thank you for preparing yourself and to go and the courage you had to go! Bless your heart. I am so happy for you! Thank you!
I just came back from nauvoo. I live in Australia. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to go to the temple. Last time I visited the US nauvoo did not have a temple. It was such a spiritual trip. It was such a testimony to me that finishing the temple and the Saints receiving their endowments were so important to their journey. The strength and protection that this provided was so important.
I love confirmations!
Yes, I missed hearing about that too!
Well said. Love you brother. Keep moving forward. By small and simple means.
1. I love seeing it through your eyes because growing up in the church you get used to hearing things talked about the same way and I think we miss out on some of the complexities because of that. I love how you talked about the importance of a covenant. You're right, it is like a marriage. Half contract, half relationship. Going to the temple is about remembering the contract and renewing the relationship. And you hit the nail on the head with the feeling in the temple being connection. We love each other better there. We are attuned to each other there. Thank you for describing it so well.
2. The moment you started talking about not being enough I thought of the loaves and the fishes. As a single mom I am painfully aware of how much I come up short and it took a while to accept that I am never going to be enough. Now I just try to trust that God is making my meager offering enough.
Thanks Kathryn, appreciate this. Sometimes, the thing with Scripture is you know the story, yet it's when it becomes alive in your life that it reaches a whole different level of understanding.
Ask for a priesthood blessing any time you’re struggling in ANY way! God will tell you specific things just to help you! Pray and ask help with those feelings too! It’s totally the adversary attacking you! ALL good comes from God and the opposite is not from God!
❤
100% agree. Reach out to your Elder's Quorum President.
I loved the Story of the little boy that gave his meal to Jesus .. He was willing to ring what he had .. even though it seemed it was “not enough”… I loved your perspective & the lesson taught .. Thank you so much .. Yours is such a sweet testimony .. thank you for sharing your deepest thoughts . ❤
Thank you my friend! This only renews my faith in converts like you. God bless you Mr friend. I am a long term missionary...
DAVID, thank you for sharing this incredible story. I’ve been a lifelong member of the LDS church missionary sealed to my wife and hearing your stories is just so refreshing. It brings back the memories that I had going through these experiences for the first time with you.❤
I saw three of your videos about a year ago and felt at the time that you were already converted but didn't know it yet. You have a strong and positive spirit that communicated that to me. I lost track of you for about a year but am not surprised to learn that you have joined the church. Not surprised but still very thrilled for you. Congratulations! Keep sharing your journey. You do a great job. Thank you!
That was a wonderful experience and video. Thank you for your analogy of “multiplying whatever you can sacrifice so that others can be blessed.” The few minutes that it takes to do baptisms in the temple can save five or more ancestors, and bring them to Christ. Enjoy
General Conference next week.
I love hearing your insights as a new member of the church. It has been hard for me to connect the temple in modern times with the temple in ancient times. But I’ve learned that the main purpose of the temple in all ages of history is to instruct you on how to return to the presence of God while in the flesh. Doing work for our ancestors is just a bonus. Keep going to the temple as much as you can . It will give you strength. ❤
I love how David makes a point of always using the full name of the church. It matters!
Last year, for six months, I spent two days per week serving in that very Nauvoo Baptistry. A happy time for my wife and I. Our temple-co-workers were the loveliest people anyone could ever hope to meet. Our main mission was to help the patrons, as David was here, feel comfortable and welcome.
We saw the tender mercies of the Lord in that wonderful Nauvoo Baptistry. There were miracles! I could go on and on about it.
Warm Regards
-Ray Conger
This was so great!! Your willingness to share your thoughts and emotions and fears is so inspiring!! I completely understand the feelings of inadequacy. I was away from the church for many years, until a year and a half ago. I’d already been through the temple, but when I received my recommend back, I literally drove immediately to the temple. But before that, I definitely felt inadequate and not worthy. My belief is that these things are put into our minds and hearts by the adversary, because he knows how powerful the temple is and how important it is to our progression and getting to know our Savior on a deeper level. The adversary knows that as we gain further light and knowledge, it will be harder for him to reach us and turn our hearts away from the true gospel and our Savior. You are definitely on the covenant path and you are such an inspiration!!! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and stories!!! I enjoy them and feel the spirit so strongly, and did even before your baptism!!
Thank you David for your continued humble heartfelt and moving descriptions of your experiences going forward on the covenant path. It is so uplifting listening to your unbiased, raw thoughts and feelings about the most sacred aspects of our Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have commented once before. Know that I have never been moved to comment about anything else. Your videos are truly inspiring and beautiful! Thank you. May the Lord continue to bless you in your efforts to walk His path and become more like Him!❤️
I have looked forward to hearing your thoughts on this ever since you first posted you had gone! If you haven’t done your own endowments yet, I recommend doing this at the Manti temple. I didn’t realize how different each temple feels. The ceremony is the same for the most part….but the Manti temple has an extended version that is so beautiful!
Thank you, Brother Boice, for these beautiful insights. I love learning from your perspective. I have also felt inadequate going to the temple. But I know that the Lord is inviting me to his holy house if I will do my best to prepare myself. Thank you for your insight of bringing what you have and offering what you are able to give, even if it is just fish and bread.
17:05 This burning feeling inside me...
Luke 24: 29-32
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures
I love your thoughts about the five loaves and two fishes at the end. Elder James E. Faust gave a beautiful General Conference talk about that subject in April 1994. We are all that little boy in the end. Even leaders of the Church are just offering their five loaves and two fishes.
Thank you for your testimony! 🫶🫶🫶
I really enjoy your journey. I have never done Baptisms by myself in the temple, it has always been with a group. The groups I went with have given us a very strong bond; I'm not sure it had anything to do with the baptisms or if it was just that we were all engaged in doing good. One thing I often think about is being in alignment with Jesus, this is all I have to give.
I wish I had more like buttons for this video. :)
David, your new adventures in "Mormondom" are always fascinating. My 2nd wife and I were sealed in the Nauvoo Temple and I think that was the first time I saw it since it was rebuilt. The thing that hit me hard back then (2003) was this magnificent structure which was originally built on the very frontier of 1840's America. The beauty of it is unlike anything that far west at that time. Nauvoo was bigger than Chicago at its height and Chicago had no building of that magnificence. My great-great grandfather was one of a small group of men that Brigham asked to stay behind and guard the temple after the Saints left in 1846 until the brethren could return to dedicate it a few months later. What a scary assignment that must have been with the "shoot on sight" hostility that was going on. He did that and then he made his way to Utah where he settled in Ogden. I believe the Temple was destroyed by lightning less than a year later and burned...eventually being totally destroyed.
Your insight about our heavenly father being able to use us despite our own inadequacy is so beautiful, and so very important. We are fallen, unworthy, and unclean - but through the Savior we become exalted, worthy, and clean. We join ourselves to him and rely upon his perfection, and through him we overcome the world.
My brother in Law Scott was a stone mason on the Nauvoo Temple. He actually ran the site lines. His whole family moved there for two years.
“He can use that; and he can multiply that” Loved this!!
You have such wonderful insights. Life long, devout member here who attends temple for years.....still feel unworthy of these blessings, and I always will. It fills me with gratitude to be a part of it and that my continuing to go is accepted by my loving Savior.
So Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your experience. I 💖💖💖 the Nauvoo Temple. Although we are older, we have done baptisms there. Along with all ordinances. Such a beautiful temple. You are AMAZING!! Thank you for being wonderful you!
You're a Blessed Man. You have Blessed us with your insights. Going thru the Temple, even for Baptisms, is a very personal endeavor. You did great! the Lord accepts your sacrifice, and sacrifices. Well done. Don't stop doing what you're doing. Keep the faith and Hurray for Zion!
This was so wonderful, David. Thanks for sharing this special experience with us ❤. I think that when you receive your endowment and understand the temple, you will fully understand why we still need physical temples. Our bodies are temples, for sure. But, physical temples are an unfathomable blessing to us. You'll understand why later on.
Awww, man, I LOVE the Provo city center temple!!! 😍 You have to be the luckiest man in the church!! 😉
The Lord absolutely takes our offerings, no matter how humble, and magnifies them greatly. I love the parallel you drew to the loaves and the fishes. You have value given to you by God that nobody- including yourself- can take away or add to. The choices we make either bring us closer to God which helps us see that value as God does, both for ourselves and for others, or distances us from God which causes us to lose sight of that value. You have great value, keep choosing God.
This was perfect Sunday viewing. Thank you brother. You are on the path. Thank you for taking us along with you. It strengthens us all, and I hope you feel our love, prayers, and support for you too.
I suggest learning about the temple through the old testament and how the different sacrifices teach of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Lamb of the Free is a book I am reading on that right now.
David, I appreciate your openness and honesty in describing your experiences. You are a very good story teller, I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for the work you put in.
From someone who didn’t attend the temple for years and now can’t go a week without attending, I loved hearing your insights and experience. What you shared is absolutely true- Christ only asks us to give and sacrifice what we can, and He will multiply it. I also think of the parable of the widow who gave only two mites- despite the meager offering, it was enough. Christ has been teaching us this message in countless ways. Give what you can, He’ll take care of the rest. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
A temple sealer (who performs sealings in the temple) once asked me and a handful of patrons what we felt was the most important part of the temple. Lots of different answers, no wrong ones. The sealer’s response, however, surprised me and then taught me a valuable lesson. He said the most important part of the temple are the people who come to work and serve there- YOU. Without worthy members coming to the temple regularly, the purpose of the temple can never be fulfilled.
Love to you on your journey! You’ve already come so far in a short year.
Hello David,
I loved this video. I missed you by 2 weeks. I went to the Nauvoo Temple on July 18th while on my way from AZ to Kirtland OH and back. The history and beauty of the inside and outside, make it one of my favorite Temples to attend.
Early on you spoke about your feelings of fast forward from your first open house visit to actually being able to enter a dedicated Temple to help gather Israel. Just imagine that feeling if you continue on this covenant path for another 10 or 20 years!!
Speaking of gathering, while I was at BYU Education last August, I went to a class about the Tribes of Israel taught by Joshua M Matson. He pointed out that many of the tribes were represented by an animal. Judah - a lion, Dan - a snake, Naphtali - a doe. I was amazed to learn that the tribe of Ephriam is represented by the Ox. The responsibility to gather Israel in these last days falls mainly upon the "backs" of the tribe of Ephriam so having the baptismal fount in the Temple resting upon the backs of Oxen pointing to every corner of the world was very inspiring for me.
When you mentioned your protestant brain and the thought of Temples existing anciently, but not in our day, I thought of Isaiah 2:2 where he saw a Temple - the mountain of the Lord's house in these the last days.
Yes, the purpose of the Lord's restored Church is to build something globally together. What a profound observation. Thanks for making this inspiring video.
Hi Brother, I just to feel unworthy too. But after I received my garments and making covenants with God my perception has changed, now I feel accepted and good enough to received any blessings that He wants to give me and to go to his house without any shame.
David - Great, great video. As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it's so refreshing and intriguing to see some of our practices through new eyes! And don't worry about feeling like you're not enough. Not a single one of us is enough! We all require our Lord and Savior to magnify our efforts and enlarge our understanding. Be patient with yourself and your journey. Trust me, you're much father along than you might realize! God bless you!
Hello, David. You mentioned sacrifice. Would you be interested in learning about the early Nauvoo saints who were in the Wisconsin Pineries from 1841-1845 to harvest the timber for building the original Nauvoo temple? And what those men, and even their families sacrificed to harvest the timber, then get that timber 400 miles down the Black River then to the Mississippi to the Nauvoo temple site? I’ve been telling that story for over 10 years because for over 20 years I lived smack dab in the middle of where those magnificent forests were, around and in Neillsville, Wisconsin.
I love to listen to your experiences. Don’t ever think you aren’t good enough. That is the adversary making you think you aren’t good enough. Heavenly Father loves you and so does Jesus Christ. As long as you keep trying, they are there to help you. We just did a session in the Nauvoo temple last week. (We were touring the church history sites. I am from Florida.) What an experience is was to think about all the sacrifices the Saints made to build up the kingdom of God here on this earth. Keep the faith!)
Dave. I really needed this today! My offering feels so small sometimes. But remembering that HIS PEFECT OFFERING makes mine enough has been helpful and given me courage to give my all for another day! You were his mouthpiece for me today! Thank you!