Title: Five Ways that Temple and Sabbath Day Worship Can Be Applied in the Home

By Leah Barton

In his most recent conference talk, Elder David A. Bednar explained how understanding the
relationship between temple worship and Sabbath day worship can help us bring the spirit into
our homes in a more powerful way.

We initially may think that the overarching purposes of keeping the Sabbath day holy and
attending the temple are related but distinctive, Elder Bednar said. I believe, however, that
those two purposes are precisely the same and work together to strengthen us spiritually as
individuals and in our homes.

He goes on to explain that the temple and the Sabbath are spaces and times in which we
remember our covenants and look heavenward, setting aside worldly distractions. This is the
type of atmosphere that can exist in our homes.

Elder Bednar explained, Only as we bring the spirit and strength derived from those holy
activities back with us into our homes can we sustain our focus upon the great purposes of mortal
life and overcome the corruption that is in the world.

The following are some ideas for how we can use these activities to increase the spirit in our
homes.

Spend time with family

We participate in and renew ordinances and covenants in the temple and at church so that we can
spend eternity with our families. By making our families a priority even during the busy week,
we draw closer to the Lord.

Express gratitude
When were in the temple or enjoying our Sunday, sometimes its easier to focus on our
blessings. Try writing down things youre grateful for and voicing them to Heavenly Father in
daily prayer.

Serve others
In the temple, we serve others by making covenants in their behalf. Our church callings allow us
to serve those in our ward families. Expand that service to include family members and loved
ones at home.

Listen to the Spirit

The sacred nature of the house of the Lord and the Sabbath day make them ideal spaces for
seeking revelation. As we live worthy of the Holy Ghost, home will become another place where
we can look for Heavenly Fathers guidance.

Keep the Commandments

One of the reasons that we feel good when we go to the temple and keep the Sabbath day holy is
that we are doing things the Lord has commanded. As we strive to be obedient to other
commandments every day, these good feelings will be stay with us and permeate our homes.

Source:
David A. Bednar, Exceeding Great and Precious Promises, General Conference, October 2017.