(His talk continues: in the last post, he transitioned from the introduction to the body. The audience has seen the doctrine presented in three different ways, two stories and a quote from an apostle.)
Sometimes people feel like they are going to do what they are going to do and say what they are going to say regardless of the place that they are in. This can be a huge mistake. Especially when it comes to dealing with sacred things.
(Notice how he explained the behavior without telling the audience what to do.)
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:12-13)
Jesus emphasized the significance of how people should behave in places of worship. Whether in the temple or in the chapel the Lord has asked us to conduct ourselves in word and action in a way of reverence. Just because we are whispering things in sacred places doesn’t make it more reverent. The temple and the chapel are places of worship. They have been dedicated as places of reverence. We need to take our visiting and casual conversations out side of the chapel. My son’s mission president shared a wonderful quote with him on this subject. “Casualness leads to casualties”. We too need to avoid being casual in the chapel whether it be in our dress, conversations or behavior.
(He takes the doctrine of appropriate dress deeper and layers a few new concepts with it; the doctrine of attitude, behavior, and awareness. Not all will pick up on the direction or depth, but for those who have ears to ear, they will.)
When I served a full-time mission in New York City we were trained to minister to the Jewish people. I benefited in many ways through my association with this wonderful culture of people who seemed to appreciate their heritage. I recall teaching one particular family and as we asked them to bring their scriptures to the room where we were studying together so we could read from them. They walked over to a small piece of furniture that was specifically built for their scriptures. They pulled out something wrapped in velvet and revealed their scriptures and gently placed then on the table. The reverence with which they handled the scriptures represented their respect for the word of God.
(Beautiful story that illustrates the sense of sacred, which ties into the topic and the doctrines being taught.)
Some things need to be treated with reverence and respect. I remember when I was preparing to take my state board examination to become a doctor. I was to undergo a series of grueling oral one-on-one examinations. We were instructed to wear a conservative colored suit and a red tie with dark dress shoes. The counsel was given that we should dress a certain way not because we were important but because the occasion was important.
(A personal story that removes it from church and gives the audience a broader sense and understanding of the principle.)
The same is true when it comes to the sacredness of our attendance at events that require reverence. My son’s mission president also shared another quote “reverence invites revelation”. Elder Christofferson taught us that “when you develop a deepening reverence for sacred things, the Holy Spirit becomes your frequent and then constant companion”.
(He is now concluding his remarks and restating the doctrines being taught. He uses another story as his teaching tool.)
When I was a full-time missionary we had the privilege of going to the church historical sites in up state New York. I will never forget the feeling that came upon me as 225 of us walked into the Sacred Grove singing “Joseph’s First Prayer”. The Holy Spirit revealed to me the sacredness of that place where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ visited the prophet Joseph Smith.
I have since learned that the sacredness of the temple and the chapel in addition to such activities as baptism, confirmations, ordinations, blessing the sick and administration of the sacrament require and deserve reverence.
It is my prayer that we all can improve our sense of the sacred in our thoughts, feelings, dress and actions when it comes to sacred places, things and occasions.
(Br. Holland is a master teacher and an excellent speaker. He is a dear friend and has taught me many principles that have influenced my life.)
PS John just sent me an email about how the talk went. Here is an excerpt from his email:
The talk was a little bolder than expected. One sister said in the hall after “I feel duly chastened” a member of the bishopric said “that is the quietest I’ve ever seen us leave the chapel. My closing was “lets follow the admonition of thumper, if you don’t have anything sacred to say in the chapel don’t say anything at all”
