In their BYU-Idaho devotional addresses this week, BYU-Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III and his wife, Sister Jennifer Meredith, spoke about the significance of temples and the profound love God has for His children.
“In the temple, we can be reminded of who we are, that we are children of a loving God,” President Meredith said in his devotional talk.
President Meredith’s talk, titled “The Temple, An Evidence of God’s Love,” expressed the various ways that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe God loves His children. Latter-day Saints believe that temples can be used as a place of solace and a place where they can find guidance when life becomes challenging. President Meredith emphasized that because of this, temples are a physical symbol of God’s love, not only for His children who are on earth, but those who have passed, and those who are still to come.
“In the temple, we can be reminded of who we are, that we are children of a loving God. We are also taught that He has a plan of happiness for us. I find that the temple does not take away my challenges or feelings of inadequacy, but the sweet whisperings of the Spirit felt in the temple remind me that I am not alone, and that God is anxious to bless me,” President Meredith said.
Sister Meredith’s talk, titled “How Will the Lord Manifest Himself to You in the Temple?” complement’s President Meredith’s by exploring some of her personal experiences within the temple. Sister Meredith recounts a few stories where she was facing obstacles in her life, and seeking some guidance and reassurance, she was able to find it through her own temple attendance.
“It was loud and noisy outside, but as soon as we walked through [the temple] doors, I wanted to cry. I was home. Even though we were on the other side of the world, we were truly home,” Sister Meredith said.
Both addresses shared the Latter-day Saint belief in the transformative power of temple worship, and the importance of deepening one’s relationship with God. As Latter-day Saints worldwide anticipate the construction of new temples, these talks serve as a reminder to make the temple a focal point in member’s lives.
“God loves you. The greatest manifestation of that love is His Son, Jesus Christ. We find Him in the temple, as well as many other evidences of His love,” President Meredith shared in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio.