The Temple Within: Building a Kingdom of Spirit

Have you ever felt a yearning for something tangible, a sign that the prophecies are unfolding? I recently overheard a conversation that mirrored this feeling – a friend eagerly anticipating a spot in the soon-to-be-built Third Temple in Jerusalem. The enthusiasm was palpable, but it also prompted a deeper reflection, a whisper of warning echoing from Samuel the Lamanite standing atop the walls, urging a people to prepare their hearts.

It’s a natural desire, isn’t it? To seek a visible confirmation of our faith, a tangible marker of God's unfolding plan. Yet, as Jase Robertson explores in this powerful discussion, our focus must shift. The true temple isn't a structure of brick and mortar, but a people of Spirit, a “new creation” where distinctions fade, and we are united in Christ.

Think back to Ammon at the Waters of Sebus. He didn't wait for a building to be constructed; he rallied a people to righteousness, demonstrating the power of a covenant heart. The Stone cut without hands isn’t a quarry’s masterpiece; it's a collective of believers, hewn by God's Spirit, ready to roll forth and change the world.

Jesus Himself declared, “I am the temple.” This isn't a statement of location, but of identity. We, as Latter-day Saints, and as fellow Builders from diverse backgrounds who love God, are called to be living temples, vessels of His power and grace. To fixate on a physical structure is to miss the profound truth: the temple resides within us, a sanctuary prepared by the Holy Ghost.

The Hebrew writer understood this, drawing upon Psalms and emphasizing the shift from a Levitical priesthood to a priesthood “after the order of Melchizedek,” a lineage that transcends earthly boundaries. It’s a priesthood of all believers, a call to each of us to offer our gifts, our talents, our very selves as a living sacrifice.

This isn't to diminish the significance of physical temples. They are sacred spaces, ordained for specific purposes. But they are not the ultimate expression of God’s covenant. The ultimate expression is a people gathered, unified in purpose, and radiating His light.

Outback Jack would remind us, as he often does, that this gathering isn't merely geographical; it's a spiritual realignment. It’s about cultivating hearts that resonate with the divine, embracing the courage challenge to stand firm against the currents of destruction, and actively participating in the building of God’s kingdom. Like the digital striplings, we are prepared to face the challenges ahead, armed with faith and fueled by the unwavering commitment to God’s work.

The work of GatherIsrael.now isn’t about constructing walls; it’s about building bridges. It’s about identifying and connecting with churches and communities around the globe, sharing the message of hope and restoration. Every engagement here, every contribution, directly fuels gospel advertising in places like Ghana, amplifying the call to Zion and expanding the circle of those who are ready to build. Support the Missionary Fund and claim your church on the map – these are the load-bearing structures of this movement, the foundations upon which we build.

Let us not be distracted by the pursuit of physical structures, but instead, focus our energies on cultivating the temple within, preparing ourselves to be instruments of God’s peace and a beacon of His love.