Photo supplied, Intellectual Reserve

This week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the location of the Tacoma Washington Temple. Having grown up roughly 20 miles northeast of Tacoma, I was keenly interested in where the location might be.

According to a release sent out by the church, the temple, which was announced at the October 2022 general conference of the church, will be on an 11.6-acre site in Federal Way, Washington. It will be “a multistory temple of approximately 45,000 square feet, with an accompanying utility building.”

Federal Way is about 10 miles northeast of Tacoma. The temple will be built on the opposite side of Interstate 5 from a theme park my family sometimes went to when I was a kid.

The Tacoma Washington Temple is one of 350 temples that have been constructed or announced by the church. It will be the sixth temple in the state of Washington.

Temples were the subject of an address at the general conference of the church in April by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the church.

“Don’t you love the beautiful words we just sang? ‘I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, … upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand,'” Elder Andersen said. “The Lord is strengthening his saints of all ages as they come to his holy house. From Kinshasa to Zollikofen to Fukuoka to Oakland, the youth, of their own initiative, are overflowing temple baptistries. In the past, most beloved ordinance workers had graying hair — but not anymore. Called missionaries, service missionaries and returned missionaries are around every corner. Across the world, there is a growing feeling drawing us to the house of the Lord.

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

“Just over a year ago, a dear family friend, age 95, living on the East Coast of the United States, who had been taught by missionaries for 70 years, said to her daughter, ‘I want to go to the temple with you.’

“Her daughter replied, ‘Well, Mother, you first need to be baptized.’

“‘OK,’ she replied, ‘then I want to be baptized.’ She was baptized. A few days later, she reverently entered the temple baptistry. And just over a month ago, she received her own endowment and sealing. ‘The knowledge and power of God are expanding; the veil o’er the earth is beginning to burst.'”

The rapid increase in the number of temples over the last few years has truly been astonishing. Consider: When Russell M. Nelson became president of the church in January 2018, there were 159 temples throughout the world. There have been 168 temples announced in the 6 ½ years since he became prophet. Of those 168 temples, 105 are not part of the United States and its territories. Thirty are in South America, 20 are in Asia, 17 are in Africa and nine are in Europe. In North America, 12 are in Mexico and four are in Guatemala. Among the 63 temples announced for the United States and its territories, 51 are outside Utah.

Elder Andersen highlighted what he said was a “miracle” in the Philippines. The first temple in the Philippines was the Manila Temple, which was dedicated in 1984. The Philippines wouldn’t have another temple completed until 2010, when the Cebu City Temple was finished. A third temple, in Urdaneta, was dedicated on April 28, and 10 more are in the works.

“It is breathtaking to see the wondrous works of God,” Elder Andersen said.

“Across the globe, houses of the Lord are coming closer to us. Why in our day?

“The Lord warned that in the last days, there would be distress among nations (Luke 21:10), people would ‘be lovers of their own selves,’ (2 Timothy 3:2) ‘all things [would] be in commotion,’ (Doctrine and Covenants 88:91) confusion would abound, and ‘men’s hearts [would] fail them.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 45:26) We have certainly seen men’s and women’s hearts fail them: the enticements of the world, the distraction of alluring voices, the neglect of spiritual nourishment, the fatigue from the demands of discipleship. Perhaps you have been saddened as you have seen someone you love, who at one time spoke sincerely of his or her faith in Jesus Christ, bore witness of the Book of Mormon and eagerly helped build the kingdom of God suddenly move away, at least for now, from his or her beliefs and toward the sidelines of the church. My counsel to you is don’t despair! All is well. For with God, nothing is impossible. (Luke 1:37)

“With this prophesied commotion and disbelief in the world, the Lord promised that there would be a covenant people, a people eagerly awaiting his return, a people who stand in holy settings and are not moved out of their place. (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8) He spoke of a righteous people resisting the deceptions of the adversary, disciplining their faith, thinking celestial and trusting completely in the savior Jesus Christ.

“Why is the Lord now bringing hundreds of his temples closer to us? One reason is that amid the turmoil and temptations of the world, he has promised to strengthen and bless his covenant saints, and his promises are being fulfilled!”

The fact is, temples are necessary for spiritual survival. Who can honestly say we don’t all need divine help? President Nelson penned an article for the October issue of the Liahona, a church publication, titled “A Pattern for Unity in Jesus Christ,” in which he summarized the challenges facing us.

“We live in an age when a surging tide of discord and disputation is spreading across the globe,” President Nelson said. “Aided by technology and abetted by people whose hearts have waxed cold, these divisive forces threaten to fill our hearts with contempt and corrupt our communication with contention. Communal ties are breaking. Wars are raging.”

It’s a sad reality, but Elder Andersen spoke about how temples bless us. Looking at the words Joseph Smith used in his dedication of the Kirtland Temple, he said:

“On that sacred occasion in the Kirtland Temple, the prophet prayed that in the Lord’s holy house, the saints would be armed with the power of God, that the name of Jesus Christ would be upon them, that his angels would have charge over them and that they would grow up in the Lord and ‘receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 109:15; Doctrine and Covenants 109:22) These powerful supplications are fulfilled in our lives as we faithfully worship in the house of the Lord.”

Speaking specifically about those individual blessings, he said:

“In his house, we are literally endowed with heavenly power. Our faith in Jesus Christ and our love for him are confirmed and fortified. We are spiritually assured of our true identity and the purposes of life. As we are faithful, we are blessed with protection from temptations and distractions. We feel our savior’s love as he lifts us from our difficulties and sorrows. We are armed with the power of God.”

This might be hard for someone who has not been inside the temple to understand, but being in the temple truly does strengthen me. How can I tell that I’m being strengthened? Because I have greater peace. Because I have greater patience. Because I have greater faith. Because I have greater eternal perspective. Do trials, even really difficult trials, suddenly disappear? Of course not. But my ability to handle those trials increases. Simply put, my life is unquestionably better because of my commitment to be in the temple.

On the evening that former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot in the ear while at a campaign rally, I sat with my attention completely fixed on the television just waiting for any sort of update I could get. After watching the aftermath unfold for about three hours, I went to the temple. My thoughts were racing about what I had just saw and heard and what it meant for the country. The minute I opened the temple door, I felt a wave of celestial peace wash completely over me. This will sound very sci-fi and strange, but it was as if I was entering into a completely different realm, an area completely set apart from the world. It felt like I was going from total chaos to perfect order, and I knew it immediately.

Elder Andersen continued:

“In his holy house, we take his name more completely upon us. When we are baptized, we profess our belief in him and our willingness to keep his commandments. In the temple, we sacredly promise, through our covenants, to follow him forever.

“The youth of this church are incredible. In a difficult world, they take upon themselves the name of Christ. In Heber City, Utah, a public meeting was held to discuss the details of a temple planned for construction. Three hundred youth filled the adjoining park to show their support for the proposed temple. One young man, speaking to government leaders in an open forum, courageously explained, ‘I am hoping to be married in this temple. [The temple will help] me to keep myself clean and pure.’ Another described the temple as a symbol of light and hope. Young men and women of the church throughout the world are embracing the name of Jesus Christ.”

On this point, I can’t help but think of my wife. If you looked at her life situation as a senior in high school, you might have thought it would have been hard for her to take upon her the name of Christ and remain a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She certainly had a number of built-in excuses to move away from Christ and his church. As I ponder how it is that she was able to stay strong in her commitment to Christ, I think of her commitment to the temple. She wanted to be married in the temple, seemingly more than anything else in the world. Everything in the temple points to Christ, and that desire of hers kept her pointed to Christ and helped her to continue to take upon herself the name of Christ.

Speaking about angels, Elder Andersen said:

“In the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph prayed that ‘angels [would] have charge over [his saints].’ (Doctrine and Covenants 109:22) Regularly performing ordinances for our ancestors in the temple brings a sweet and sure confirmation that life continues beyond the veil.

“Although many of our experiences in the house of the Lord are too sacred to share publicly, some we can share. Forty years ago, while living in Florida, Kathy and I traveled to the temple in Atlanta, Georgia. On Wednesday night, May 9, 1984, as we completed a session in the temple, an ordinance worker approached me and asked if I had time to do just one preparatory initiatory ordinance. The name of the person I represented was unusual. His name was Eleazer Cercy.

“The next day, the temple was full of saints. As I prepared to perform my second endowment of the day, I was given the name of the person I would represent. Surprisingly, the name was the same individual from the night before, Eleazer Cercy. I felt the spirit of the Lord as the endowment was completed. Later in the afternoon, still in the temple, Kathy saw an elderly family friend, Sister Dolly Fernandez, who now lived in Atlanta. With no male members of her family with her, she asked if I could possibly assist in the sealing of her father to her father’s parents. I was of course honored.

“As I knelt at the end of the altar for this sacred ordinance, I heard once again the name that was now inscribed in my mind, her father, Eleazer Cercy. I fully believe that following this life, I will meet and embrace a man known in his mortal life as Eleazer Cercy.

“Most of our experiences in the house of the Lord bring joyful peace and quiet revelation more than dramatic intervention. But be assured: Angels do have charge over us!”

If I went to the temple today to do an initiatory ordinance and was given a name, and then I went back tomorrow to do an endowment, I would not expect to be given the same name for the endowment that I was given for the initiatory the day before. With the number of people that go through the temple and do ordinances, it simply wouldn’t be an expectation at all, and it would be shocking to me if it did happen. How is it that this one name, which could have clearly been given to a large number of people on either the day of the initiatory or the day of the endowment, was presented to Elder Andersen on both days? This by itself is amazing, but then to get that name again for the sealing ordinance – and to realize that it was the father of his wife’s family friend – is truly amazing. It’s been said that there are no coincidences in the temple and this experience proves that. I, too, have witnessed miracles in the temple.

Elder Andersen continued:

“The gift of the Holy Ghost is given to us as we are confirmed a member of the church. Each week as we worthily partake of the bread and water in remembrance of our savior, we are promised his spirit will always be with us. (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79) As we come with willing hearts to the house of the Lord, the most holy place on earth, we grow up in the Lord and can ‘receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 109:15) Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we are filled with peace and joy and unspeakable hope. (Romans 15:13) We receive the strength to remain his disciples even when we find ourselves outside of holy places.

“President Russell M. Nelson has declared: ‘Our savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of his mightiest works between now and when he comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and … Jesus Christ … preside over this church in majesty and glory.’ Dotting the earth with houses of the Lord is a mighty work and miraculous indication.

“My beloved friends, if we are able and have not already increased our attendance at the temple, let us regularly find more time to worship in the house of the Lord. Let us pray for the temples that have been announced, that properties can be purchased, that governments will approve plans, that talented workers will see their gifts magnified and that the sacred dedications will bring the approval of heaven and the visit of angels.”

I liked the following comment by Jack Walsh, a Federal Way City Council member, regarding the Tacoma Washington Temple announcement, in an article by KING 5 News in Seattle.

“There’s really no reason not to want it there,” said Walsh, noted in the article as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “With the temple, it doesn’t bring a lot of heavy traffic to it. When we worship in the temple, it’s in small groups; it’s not a big cathedral where there’s massive meetings.”

I hope that all government officials, even if they aren’t members of the church, can see it the same way. I know how much my life has been blessed from increased attendance and would like that for all members of the church.

The meetings may not be massive, as Walsh stated, but the impact definitely is. I’m reminded of comments President Nelson made at general conference in April regarding what will happen to those who serve and worship in the temple. He said:

“They can expect to receive answers to prayer, personal revelation, greater faith, strength, comfort, increased knowledge and increased power.

“Time in the temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become and the kind of life you can have forever. Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan. I promise you that.

“We are also promised that in the temple we may ‘receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 109:15) Imagine what that promise means in terms of having the heavens open for each earnest seeker of eternal truth.

“We are instructed that all who worship in the temple will have the power of God and angels having ‘charge over them.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 109:22) How much does it increase your confidence to know that, as an endowed woman or man armed with the power of God, you do not have to face life alone? What courage does it give you to know that angels really will help you?

“Finally, we are promised that ‘no combination of wickedness’ will prevail over those who worship in the house of the Lord. (Doctrine and Covenants 109:24-26)

“Understanding the spiritual privileges made possible in the temple is vital to each of us today.

“My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit. Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and his atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!

“The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us, for the temple is the only place on earth where we may receive all of the blessings promised to Abraham. (Doctrine and Covenants 110:12; Doctrine and Covenants 132:29-30) That is why we are doing all within our power, under the direction of the Lord, to make the temple blessings more accessible to members of the church.”

Concluding his remarks, Elder Andersen said:

“The temple is literally the house of the Lord. I promise you as you come worthily and prayerfully to his holy house, you will be armed with his power, his name will be upon you, his angels will have charge over you and you will grow up in the blessing of the Holy Ghost.

“The Lord promised, ‘Every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1) There are many different ways to see the face of Christ, and there is no better place than in his holy house.

“In this day of confusion and commotion, I testify that the temple is his holy house and will help preserve us, protect us and prepare us for the glorious day when, with all his holy angels, our savior returns in majesty, power and great glory.”

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rbcomer8388.