BYU-Idaho faculty member encourages students to turn towards the temple

Bruce Kusch, a faculty member in the Brigham Young University-Idaho Department of Business Management, spoke about the importance of turning towards the temple in a campus devotional address given Tuesday, November 21.

He began by sharing a story about helping two lost travelers with a map which was turned upside down.  "Clearly, in the confusing and turbulent world we live in today, sure and true directions are essential in our journey through life if we are to arrive at our desired destination," Kusch said. "A loving Father in Heaven provides for each of us clear, sure and true directions.  He has given us a map that, when followed with faith and obedient exactness, will lead us back to His presence to live with him, his Son, and our families for all eternity."

Kusch then spoke about the importance of receiving direction and counsel from the Lord's prophets; we can either pitch our spiritual tents towards the temple of the Lord (Mosiah 2: 5-6) or toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12).

"I believe these contrasting images - one multitude of faithful saints turning their tents towards the temple and their prophet king, versus a man turning to everything worldly and wicked, merit some reflection on our part, to determine the direction our own tents are facing," Kusch said.

Kusch said he has been touched by the construction of the Rexburg Idaho Temple and believes it has been, and continues to be, an extraordinary event. "I do not know that ever again in my lifetime will I have the opportunity to be so close, to observe the building of something so sacred," Kusch said. "From our backyard and kitchen window we can see the temple spire and the Angel Moroni.  The temple is visible for miles in all directions.  Once the temple is dedicated each of us will be but minutes from a building dedicated as a house of the Lord."

In reference to a quote by President Howard W. Hunter, Kusch described five ways in which the temple can be "a great symbol of our membership", the first being a symbol of the love Heavenly Father has for His children and our love for Him and Jesus Christ.

"Has it ever occurred to you, that as you faithfully pay your tithes and offerings, you do so as a gift of love to God and the Savior?  And, that you are literally contributing to the building of temples around the world?  Surely the Lord will bless the faithful saints who willingly and faithfully pay their tithing - even and especially when it requires great sacrifice," Kusch said.

He then shared a story of a humble branch president on his mission who sold all his sewing machines, which he and his wife used in their tailoring business, to have enough money to take his children and wife to the temple.

The temple is a symbol of learning, a symbol of the eternal covenants made therein and, as experienced by temple-going Latter-day Saints, a symbol of service. "It is godly service.  It is Christ-emulating service.  It is an example of king Benjamin's teaching that, "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17). Often, as I go to the temple, I am doing work for someone who was born or died 200 or 300 years ago.  That is a very long time to wait for something so vital and important.  Truly the eyes of heaven are upon us, waiting for our redeeming efforts," Kusch said.

Lastly, the temple is a divine symbol of purity.  "It represents everything godly, everything perfect, everything exalted, everything eternal, and everything celestial.  There are no places on earth more pure, more perfect, or more holy than the temples that have been built, and dedicated as houses of the Lord.  Each temple bears the inscription, ‘The House of the Lord. Holiness to the Lord.'  Surely, our lives should reflect that same purity and holiness," Kusch said.

In order to fully "turn our tents towards the temple," daily repentance is needed, along with five suggestions Kusch said are oft-repeated: sincere and humble daily prayer, sincere and daily study of the scriptures, finding ways to serve others, being obedient without rebellion and "deny[ing] ourselves of all ungodliness (Moroni 10:32)."

"We are a people of faith, living in a mostly-faithless world," Kusch said. "The Lord is counting on us to be everything we have promised we will be.  We know what we should do.  I pray that we might possess the integrity and the desire to do it."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Michael Otterson, Director of Media Relations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.