My topic today is taken from Isaiah 2:2-3:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
As we began our service in the Kona Temple we met Dale Sproat, a stake patriarch and sealer in the temple. Brother Sproat began teaching me a few Hawaiian words.
The first word he taught me was "Pau" which means "Finished".
I learned that "Ohana" meant "Family"; that "Hale" meant "House".
One day he asked "Do you know how to say temple in Hawaiian?" I didn't.
He said it is actually two words, "Hale La'a." I knew that Hale meant house and learned that La'a meant sacred. Hale La'a = House Sacred Sacred House or "House of the Lord."
Here, in Laie, the street leading up to the Temple is Hale La'a Boulevard.
Temples are in a very literal sense The House of the Lord. When we go to the temple we are guests in His House. We walk where He has walked. We feel we are in His presence.
In 2005 we returned to Utah and built a new home. We wanted it to be perfect in every way and spent many hours in selecting the location and planning the design. Sister McArthur wanted a library. I wanted a nice den. She wanted a nice kitchen. I wanted the latest in audio video and computer technology. Every room was carefully laid out to meet our needs. The land was purchased. The building plans finished. Building permits obtained. Contractors selected. Construction completed. We moved in. It was just as we had planned and then we were called on another mission.
I believe the Lord takes the same personal interest in the building of every Temple as we took in building our new home.
May I share two examples from the scriptures: first, the Temple in Jerusalem, and the second, the Kirtland Temple.
The Temple in Jerusalem
The Old Testament has many references to the Temple in Jerusalem, including its location, dimensions and appearance. There are actually three Jerusalem Temples described in the scriptures.
All of them were, or will be built on the same site revealed to King David by the Prophet Gad. Tradition says that this is where Abraham came to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
The First Temple Is Referred to as Solomon's Temple
The Lord revealed the design for the temple to David, who passed on the instructions to his son, Solomon, who then built the temple in 968 BC.
We read in 1 Chronicles 28:11-13,
"Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat.
"And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about"
After almost 300 years of use, the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC when the Jews were taken captive to Babylon.
The Second Temple
The Jews were captives in Babylon 70 years when the Lord told Cyrus, the King of Persia, someone NOT of the house of Israel, to let them return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
Ezra quotes Cyrus as saying:
"The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah" (Ezra 1:2).
The Persians had conquered Babylon in 538 BC and the Persian empire included all of Judea.
Temple reconstruction began in 515 BC by Zerubbabel:
We read in Ezra 5:2, "Then rose up Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them."
Zerubbabel's temple lasted 500 years until it was dismantled and rebuilt by Herod just 19 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
When Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem looking for 12-year-old Jesus, "they found him in [Herod's] temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46).
There is a scale model of Herod's Temple is on display in Jerusalem. Herod's Temple was destroyed by Roman troops around 70 AD.
The Third Temple
The Third Temple (and last Jerusalem Temple) has not yet been built. It was shown in vision to Ezekiel, to be built on the Temple Mount prior to the Second Coming of the Savior. This artist's rendition is based upon the dimensions found in eight chapters in the Book of Ezekiel.
The Kirtland Temple
In 1832, less than three years after the Church was organized the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"Organize yourselves and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" (D&C 109:8).
Six months later Joseph recorded in Section 95 of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high;" (D&C 95:8).
Section 95 continues and includes a description of the temple. Then the Lord said, "Therefore, let it be built after the manner which I shall show unto three of you, whom ye shall appoint and ordain unto this power" (D&C 95:14).
Later, as promised by the Lord, Joseph Smith and his two counselors, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, were shown in detail the design of the Kirtland Temple.
First they saw the outside, and then the building seemed to pass over them and they saw the inside. Frederick G. Williams said that when the Kirtland Temple was completed it looked exactly as it had in the vision.
Now, in the time remaining I would like to share three experiences to illustrate the Lord's continued direction in the location and design of temples in our day: first, the San Diego California Temple; second, the Kona Hawaii Temple; and last, the Laie Hawaii Temple.
The San Diego Temple
In August, 1977 shortly after being called as a Regional Representative of the Twelve, I recorded the following experience in my journal:
"while driving on Interstate 15 into downtown San Diego, I passed La Jolla Village Drive, and looked to the east at a beautiful vacant parcel of ground, and had the impression that a temple should be located there. It was a profound thought that I could not shake off. I reasoned to myself that a temple in San Diego was none of my business - my regional representative assignment covered the Anaheim and Palm Springs Regions, not San Diego. Still, the thought persisted, and on August 6, 1997 I sent a letter to Elder Royden G. Derrick suggesting the Church might want to consider purchasing a site in San Diego as a future temple site. I included information on the site on I-15."
That led to a meeting in Salt Lake City with The First Presidency in President Kimball's office. Some weeks later I was asked to begin a search for a future temple site in San Diego.
Of course the first property considered was the one I had first seen driving down the freeway, but it was not for sale. In the 5 years that followed many sites were looked at. None seemed to be the right location.
In September 1983 President and Sister Hinckley flew to San Diego to look at potential temple sites and to speak to 14,000 Seminary and Institute students in the Long Beach Convention Center. My wife and I picked them up at the airport and drove by several possible temple sites, including the one first seen from the freeway.
During the April 1984 General Conference of the Church five new temples were announced, including one in San Diego, and still we had not found a site.
Within a few months, however, a beautiful site was identified overlooking Mira Mar Naval Air Station in Tierra Santa with views to the Pacific Ocean and the Mexican Border on the south.
President Hinckley, accompanied by Bishop H. Burke Peterson of the Presiding Bishopric, flew to San Diego to see the Tierra Santa site. We drove onto the property and he liked it. Then he said, lets drive over to the other site by the freeway - the very first site considered and the one I had shown him nine months earlier, the one not for sale. As we stood on the land, with cars racing by on the freeway below he asked, "Which of the two sites we've seen today is the best for the temple?" All those present said the one we were standing on. President Hinckley then said, "I agree. Don, please proceed with the purchase of this land."
It seemed an impossible assignment one that I had tried to do several times in the past. But on the following Monday I made a call and miraculously, within a few days, the property became available. Within days we had a purchase contract to buy the property. It seemed a miracle that only a Prophet of God could accomplish.
In retrospect I realized that my feelings in 1978 while driving to work were, in fact, a prompting from the Lord and His way of setting in motion the process for purchasing a temple site He had chosen long before.
The Kona Temple. Our call to serve as the President and Matron of the Kona Hawaii Temple came on the Tuesday after the April 2002 General Conference weekend. Don Stailey, President Hinckley's executive secretary called and asked if I had time to speak with the Prophet. The next thing I knew President Hinckley was on the phone. He explained that the President of the Kona Hawaii Temple had passed away a few days before and that I was being called to take his place and my wife was being called as the Matron of the temple. He said he would like us there within two to three weeks. Twenty-one days later we landed at the Kona Airport, the first day of 3½ years of incredible experiences in the House of the Lord - the Hale La'a.
Shortly after beginning our service in the Temple, Phillip Harris, president of the Kona Hawaii Stake, shared with me an experience he had concerning the Kona Temple. President Harris has given me permission to share his experience with you today.
When President Harris was called as stake president on February 9, 1997 there were only 49 operating temples in the Church. President Hinckley's announcement to build small temples close to the members would not be made for another eight months. Yet six weeks after being called, President Harris wrote in his journal the following:
"Since called as stake president I [have] wanted to know what it is that the Lord wants me to accomplish as stake president. This has been a question in my prayers and in my fasting.
"Last night I dreamt that I saw a Temple here in Kona. It was so clear. The temple was set on a slight hill and it was beautiful.
"I awoke wondering as to what does this mean? We don't have the population base to qualify for a temple now. Maybe in some future time. Maybe not in my life time. What does it mean for me?
"Everything we do points to the Temple. I think for me it means I must get my people temple ready. We must plan well and set our goals to take our people to the temple more regularly. Once or twice a year is not acceptable."
President Hinckley's announcement at the General Conference Priesthood Meeting in October 1997 to build many smaller temples, is yet one more example of the Lord's hand in Temple locations and design. President Hinckley said:
"there are many areas of the Church that are remote, where the membership is small and not likely to grow very much in the near future. Are those who live in these places to be denied forever the blessings of the temple ordinances? While visiting such an area a few months ago, we prayerfully pondered this question. The answer, we believe, came bright and clear.
"We will construct small temples in some of these areas, buildings with all of the facilities to administer all of the ordinances. They will be built to temple standards, which are much higher than meetinghouse standards. They would accommodate baptisms for the dead, the endowment service, sealings, and all the other ordinances to be had in the Lord's house for both the living and the dead" (Some Thoughts on Temples, Retention of Converts, and Missionary Service, Ensign, November 1997).
That evening, my friend, President Harris, attended the Priesthood Meeting broadcast by satellite in the Keei Ward meetinghouse, and afterwards wrote this in his journal:
"As he (President Hinckley) was making the announcement I nearly stood and shouted for joy as I knew then, that in my life time I will see a temple here in Kona. What a great day."
The rest is history: within a month President Harris had submitted a recommendation to the Brethren that Kona be considered for one of the smaller temples, including a reference to his fasting and prayers and the temple he saw in his dream.
The Kona Temple was announced the following May. Groundbreaking was held the next March. And the temple dedicated January 23, 2000.
These are the fruits of revelation:
First, the revelation to the prophet to build smaller temples, closer to the people. President Hinckley sketched a layout of how a smaller temple could look as he rode back across the border after visiting a remote corner of the Church in Mexico. His sketch is now housed in the Church History Museum.
Second, the revelation to a humble, stake president who had been fasting and praying for the Lord's direction in his new calling. The answer came in the form of a dream or vision: a temple is coming to Kona: prepare the Saints to be temple worthy and temple attenders.
Laie Hawaii Temple
The Akua, the Gods of the early Hawaiian people, may have selected Laie as a sacred place long before Laie was selected as the site for a Mormon temple.
Before 1819 Laie was a pu'uhonua, a place of refuge, a sanctuary for those in trouble. Those who broke ancient Hawaii's intricate system of kapu - perhaps by treading on the shadow of a chief, fishing in the wrong season, or being on the losing side of a battle - could expect to be killed unless they fled to the safety of a place of refuge. If a lawbreaker could make it to the pu'uhonua he could perform certain rituals mandated by the Kahuna (priest). After that he was forgiven and he could return home in peace, as if nothing had happened. Peace would replace fear comfort instead of misery hope instead of despair.
Perhaps knowing Laie had been a Place of Refuge influenced Church leaders in buying the 6,000 acres in 1865 as a gathering place for the Hawaiian Saints. Twenty years after settling in Laie, in 1885, the saints built a meetinghouse where the temple now stands.
In 1915, the President of the Church was Joseph F. Smith. He was 77 years old and had served as an apostle and/or in the First Presidency for 49 years. President Smith had served as a missionary in Hawaii when 15 years old, and had a great love for the Hawaiian Church members. On June 1, 1915, President Smith was visiting the islands and staying here, in Laie, at the Lanihuli House which served both as the mission and plantation headquarters. It stood about where the temple president's residence is now located.
Elder Reed Smoot, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, recounted the sacred experience of being with the prophet when he dedicated the site for the Laie Hawaii Temple:
"President Smith came to me and said, Reed, I want you to take a walk with me,' And as we went out the door, he said to Bishop Charles W. Nibley [Presiding Bishop of the Church], I wish you would accompany us.' I never saw a more perfect night in all my life; the surroundings were perfect. You who have been to Laie know the surroundings; all nature smiles. We walked toward the meetinghouse. Nothing was said of what we were going for until we stood at the back of the meetinghouse, and President Smith then said: Brethren I feel impressed to dedicate this ground for the erection of a Temple to God, for a place where the peoples of the Pacific Isles can come and do their temple work. I have not presented this to the Council of the Twelve or to my counselors; but if you think there would be no objection to it, I think now is the time to dedicate the ground.' I have heard President Smith pray hundreds of times. But never in all my life did I hear such a prayer. The very ground seemed to be sacred, and he seemed as if he were talking face to face with the Father. I cannot and never will forget it if I live a thousand years."
The church population in Hawaii at the time was 9,443 members, barely enough to operate three stakes, to say nothing of justifying the operation of a temple. Nevertheless, at the October General Conference of the Church President Smith presented the Laie Hawaii Temple proposition to the Church.
And within four years the chapel had been moved (rolled down the hill on logs), making way for construction of the temple, money raised with great sacrifice by the Hawaiian members , and the temple built, largely with donated labor.
On Thanksgiving day, November 27, 1919, the Hawaii Temple was dedicated by President Heber J. Grant and once again Laie had become a pu'uhonua, a place of refuge and the temple a Hale La'a, a Sacred House, the House of the Lord.
The Temple Will Soon Be Open
I would like to now announce the dates for the temple open house and the re-dedication. I would like to but I can't no one will tell me. But it will be soon. The question is "Will we be ready?" Borrowing from President Harris's journal entry: "Everything we do points to the Temple. I think for me it means I must get my people temple ready. We must plan well and set our goals to take our people to the temple more regularly."
I have a good Tongan friend on the Big Island. One day he said to me, "President, I will not be able to attend the temple tomorrow night. The missionaries have asked me to translate for them while they teach a family of Tongan investigators. Since we've been on the island, this will be the first week I will miss attending the temple." I thought to myself, "How remarkable that he would take the time from his busy schedule of raising a large family to attend the temple every week." So I asked him, " What is it that motivates you to attend the temple every week?" He responded with this profound statement: "I go to the temple to receive revelation. I return to the temple to remember what I learned, and to receive more revelation."
In the October, 2004 General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley said this:
"Every temple, large or small, has its beautiful celestial room. This room was created to represent the celestial kingdom. When the Mesa Arizona Temple was extensively renovated some years ago and was opened for public tours, one visitor described the celestial room as God's living room. So it well might be. It is our privilege, unique and exclusive, while dressed in white, to sit at the conclusion of our ordinance work in the beautiful celestial room and ponder, mediate and silently pray" (Closing Remarks, Ensign, November 2004).
He also said, "What a privilege it is to have a sacred house where we may experience the sanctifying influence of the Spirit of the Lord. I encourage you to take greater advantage of this blessed privilege. It will refine your natures. It will peel off the selfish shell in which most of us live. It will literally bring a sanctifying element into our lives and make us better men and women" (Closing Remarks, Ensign, November 2004).
I testify that the Laie Temple is our Hale La'a, our House of the Lord. It is a House of Covenant and Commitment. It can be our own personal pu'uhonua, our Place of Refuge. It can be our house of learning and revelation where we can replace fear with peace, misery with comfort, and despair with hope.
Let me close with the words I began with, from the Book of Isaiah: "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths" (Isaiah 2:3).
I testify that the Prophets of God receive direct and specific revelation in building temples throughout the world. May we be ready and worthy when our Temple reopens. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.