To Those Who Live In Temple Areas

[Duncan]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

[Fig-bearing Thistle]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

I believe temple attendance affects the temple attendees directly, spiritually as Elder Widtsoe said. This additional spiritual strength indirectly affects the whole community and temple district for the better.

[Storm Rider]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

Those who attend the temple with purpose do grow spiritually; the community of saints likewise strengthens; the impact on the community at large less so depending upon the ratio of temple going saints to the community at large. I would also say that when saints attend the temple out of habit combined with no desire for spiritual growth the temple experience becomes mundane and the result is a lack of spiritual growth, the heart hardens, and weakness is evident.

[CV75]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

I attend weekly and I have grown mightier under the results of temple service than when I went only monthly or annually, depending on how close I lived to a temple.

It could also be said that we can live near the Temple in our hearts and serve there indirectly (living the covenants, genealogy research, contributions, etc.) and thus also grow mightier.

[volgadon]

The suburb of Kiev which houses the temple used to be extremely rough, it is now a lot nicer, apparently.

[Jeff K.]

If people adhere to their temple covenants, then they do indeed grow mighty before the Lord. Women grow strong in faith as well. If everyone in a community attended the temple and lived its covenants, we would celebrate with Enoch our love for the Lord. What could be greater than that?

[mfbukowski]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

No question. Being an ordinance worker changed my life and that in turn affected many others, or so I am told

[Lachoneus]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

There are 7 temples within 1 hour of my home. I have been a worker in one of them for over 11 years. I know I have "grown mighty" during that time. When I first started my temple service I had a few personal weaknesses I needed to work on. Today, after 11 years of weekly service in the temple, I have overcome many of those weaknesses and have turned some of them into strengths. Some of the sisters who work on my shift have told me how much they have also grown during their service. They feel much stronger spiritually than they used to feel.

I would recommend to anyone who lives close enough to a temple to be an ordinance worker that they take that opportunity. Just express your desire to your Bishop and he will take it from there. I promise that you will find serving in the temple will be the best decision you will ever make in this life.

[Duncan]

There are 7 temples within 1 hour of my home. I have been a worker in one of them for over 11 years. I know I have "grown mighty" during that time. When I first started my temple service I had a few personal weaknesses I needed to work on. Today, after 11 years of weekly service in the temple, I have overcome many of those weaknesses and have turned some of them into strengths. Some of the sisters who work on my shift have told me how much they have also grown during their service. They feel much stronger spiritually than they used to feel.

I would recommend to anyone who lives close enough to a temple to be an ordinance worker that they take that opportunity. Just express your desire to your Bishop and he will take it from there. I promise that you will find serving in the temple will be the best decision you will ever make in this life.

Holy Donald Duck and Mickey, 7 Temples within an hour? Wow! That must be amazing! I hope I can become all that!

[BCSpace]

I live within and half hour of one temple and two hours of several more. My perception is that the neighborhoods are nice and peaceful. Of course they may have been beforehand and that would be part of why the area was selected. I'd want to look at crime statistics. When I went to the Spokane temple, I tought it was relatively far off the freeway and in the middle of nowhere.

My favorite neighborhood around a temple is the Mesa Arizona temple because of all the lemons and limes. I haven't been there in 30 years though. The one with the most contrast in my mind is the L.A. temple which, in the mid 1980's, was juxtaposed with a very large and well-lit billboard nearby which always advertised some type of alcohol which you'd (if you were male) never really notice because most of the ad space was taken up by a very physically desirable woman wearing almost nothing. The ad changed every month but the theme was the same.

The best looking and designed temples for me have been San Diego and Bountiful. The ones that seem to blend in most with their surroundings seem to be Rexburg and Oquirrh Mountain which are very similar in size and design.

[Jeff K.]

Our Temple is pink.

[mfbukowski]

My favorite neighborhood around a temple is the Mesa Arizona temple because of all the lemons and limes. I haven't been there in 30 years though. The one with the most contrast in my mind is the L.A. temple which, in the mid 1980's, was juxtaposed with a very large and well-lit billboard nearby which always advertised some type of alcohol which you'd (if you were male) never really notice because most of the ad space was taken up by a very physically desirable woman wearing almost nothing. The ad changed every month but the theme was the same.

The billboard is still there.

[Kenngo1969]

There are 7 temples within 1 hour of my home. I have been a worker in one of them for over 11 years. I know I have "grown mighty" during that time. When I first started my temple service I had a few personal weaknesses I needed to work on. Today, after 11 years of weekly service in the temple, I have overcome many of those weaknesses and have turned some of them into strengths. Some of the sisters who work on my shift have told me how much they have also grown during their service. They feel much stronger spiritually than they used to feel.

I would recommend to anyone who lives close enough to a temple to be an ordinance worker that they take that opportunity. Just express your desire to your Bishop and he will take it from there. I promise that you will find serving in the temple will be the best decision you will ever make in this life.

I did that, and was told that my services weren't needed. Apparently, single males aren't welcome as workers unless they've reached Geezer Status. (Awww, heck; I'll just give it a few years and see what happens then.)

[Kenngo1969]

Duplicate.

Edited July 25, 2011 by Kenngo1969

[cinepro]

Not only have I noticed an improvement in the disposition of the people who live near Temples, but there is a marked increase in the quality of the homes around the more recent Temples that I've seen. They tend to be big and new, which may indicate that having a Temple in the neighborhood increases the wealth and prosperity of the people nearby.

[katherine the great]

To those who live relatively near to a Temple do you agree with this statement by the late Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Twelve?

“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before. The opposition to truth is relatively smaller if the people are engaged actively in the ordinances of the temple”

Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 245.

Right now I live six hours away from three Temples, none of which are in my city or province so I really can't speak to the accuracy of this statement

I agree with the the first part of the statement. Even if many people in the area just hold current temple recommends (if they are honest in their interviews) that is a measure of the absence of at least some "social evils." (Drugs, alcoholism, adultery, theft, murder, etc.) I'm not quite sure what he means by the "opposition to truth." I assume it means opposition by members of the church. I don't see how it would really affect non members either way

[ERMD]

I did that, and was told that my services weren't needed. Apparently, single males aren't welcome as workers unless they've reached Geezer Status. (Awww, heck; I'll just give it a few years and see what happens then.)

That's astonishing. Our ward provides more temple workers (including 2 of the presidency counselors/assistant matrons and 5 sealers) than any other in the temple district. Whenever anyone approaches me with the desire to serve, it's made to happen (when appropriate).

[Storm Rider]

I did that, and was told that my services weren't needed. Apparently, single males aren't welcome as workers unless they've reached Geezer Status. (Awww, heck; I'll just give it a few years and see what happens then.)

Kenngo, go to the temple and ask to speak with a member of the temple presidency. Express your desire to serve in the temple. He has a few options available to him. Regardless of which he chooses your bishop and stake president will need to sign off on your call. However, it is a little different when a temple president asks after an individual than when the individual does himself.

I have known of a few other similar situations between a Bishop and a member (really only one). These are unfortunate, but any obstacle of this nature can be overcome. There are a few restrictions outside of a temple recommend for temple ordinance workers: a single man cannot be older than 28 and no divorce in the last five years. Those come immediately to mind. Keeping asking.

[Calm]

I did that, and was told that my services weren't needed. Apparently, single males aren't welcome as workers unless they've reached Geezer Status. (Awww, heck; I'll just give it a few years and see what happens then.)

There is an age limit of 30 years (have to be 29 or less, not older) for unmarried males (not including widowers) for some reason. (page 24, Handbook 1 of Administering the Church)

Second to last time I went to the temple, there was a young man that looked like he crawled out of the cradle to participate as the lead ordinance worker of the session. Very different than the usual for me.

Edited July 26, 2011 by calmoriah

[HiJolly]

There are 7 temples within 1 hour of my home.

Living in West Jordan:

:45 to Bountiful

:35 to SLC

:10 to Oquirrh

:15 to Jordan River

:20 to Draper

:45 to Timponogos

1:00 to Provo

Roughly speaking :-)

HiJolly

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Living in West Jordan:

:45 to Bountiful

:35 to SLC

:10 to Oquirrh

:15 to Jordan River

:20 to Draper

:45 to Timponogos

1:00 to Provo

Roughly speaking :-)

HiJolly

Ogden would fit under the 1 hr mark. Well from were I live. I have 8 temples at 1hr or less away. Edited July 26, 2011 by Mola Ram Suda Ram

[katherine the great]

Living in West Jordan:

:45 to Bountiful

:35 to SLC

:10 to Oquirrh

:15 to Jordan River

:20 to Draper

:45 to Timponogos

1:00 to Provo

Roughly speaking :-)

HiJolly

Quit bragging!

[Jeff K.]

There is an age limit of 30 years (have to be 29 or less, not older) for unmarried males (not including widowers) for some reason. (page 24, Handbook 1 of Administering the Church)

Second to last time I went to the temple, there was a young man that looked like he crawled out of the cradle to participate as the lead ordinance worker of the session. Very different than the usual for me.

They have been calling a number of returned missionaries to the temple in my area.