Elder Kevin R. Duncan, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Nancy Duncan spoke to students and faculty at BYU-Idaho’s devotional about hearts, love and the temple.
“Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers is one of the most fundamental purposes of our earthly experience,” Elder Duncan said.
In the devotional address, Sister Duncan explained the pure joy she felt when hearing her son’s heart beat for the first time. She described this feeling as the Spirit of Elijah.
“There is a special endowment of love that comes with becoming a mother and you see the world differently and you love differently and you realize that every mother out there feels the same way and so it’s easy to keep the spirit of Elijah … because you have a love that is more pure then anything you’ve ever felt,” Sister Duncan said in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio.
Within the last few years, Sister Duncan has felt even greater guidance from the Spirit in understanding more about the temple, sealings and family history and the role it plays in our salvation.
Elder Duncan said in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, that people go to the temple for many reasons, but a lot of people go because of pain.
“In the temple we find the Savior,” he said. “In the temple we find the healing of the Savior.”
When members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go to the temple, they receive blessings.
The Duncans referred to a list of promises given by Elder Dale G. Renlund, an Apostle for the Church, in their devotional address.
Some of those blessings are having an increase of love and family blessings, power to discern, sanctification of the heart, ability to not feel alone, greater influence of the Holy Ghost and more.
“I go to the temple because I feel that if I’m there serving Heavenly Father and helping his other children that somehow my family will be blessed---and they are,” Sister Duncan said. “I see it as a great way for me to invest my time and energy because I know that I am reaping great blessings for my family and for myself.”
Family history and temple work can help us with any problem plaguing us, she said.
In their talk, Elder Duncan reminds everyone about the “Ordinance Ready” app members of the Church have been asked to use. They invited everyone to take family names to the temple and feel the joy that comes from helping your ancestors.
He said, “As you start to find your family and your ancestors and you read stories about them you’re immediately linked in love and you feel something there you’ve never felt before.”
He quoted Church President Russell M. Nelson, “There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you.”
The time people spend in the temple and do family history will bring greater joy and peace, Elder Duncan said.
“The teachings that are there and the love that is there, it’s just an overwhelming feeling of joy of peace (and) of revelation.”