New 'Temples' booklet coming to Church magazine subscribers

By R. Scott Lloyd
Church News staff writer

Published: Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010

Ensign and Liahona magazines subscribers soon will be greeted with something special in their mailboxes. In place of the regular October edition of either magazine, they will receive a new, updated version of the booklet "Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

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As with previous editions, cover of new "Temples" booklet shows the Salt Lake Temple. Photos featured in the updated edition are recent.

The 81-page, full-color publication includes updated photos of many of the Church's existing temples, plus doctrinal articles by President Thomas S. Monson and other Church leaders present and past.

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In place of the regular October edition of the Ensign and Liahona magazines, subscribers to the Church magazines will receive a new, updated version of the booklet "Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The booklet will be provided in 45 languages.

 

A wraparound cover that encloses the booklet for mailing purposes contains an explanatory message. It notes that the decision to revise the booklet was made more than a year ago.

"The booklet was out of print in some languages, and members were asking how they could get a copy," the message explains. "Rather than reprint a booklet that did not contain a message from President Thomas S. Monson and ignored the scores of temples that have been built since the last edition was printed, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approved the creation of an updated edition."

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Displaying a copy of the new publication, Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi of the Seventy said the temples booklet originated as the November 1955 issue of the Improvement Era magazine, forerunner to today's Ensign. Since then, it has been updated eight times, the last in 1999, published in 30 languages.

The updated booklet will reach Church members simultaneously in 45 languages, Elder Kikuchi said. After it has been mailed out, it will be available for purchase from LDS distribution centers.

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Elder Kikuchi highlighted these additions to this newest revision of the temples booklet:

An eight-page photo essay of temples with quotes from Church leaders that tie temple work to Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

New photos of several of the Church's 134 currently operating temples. (There are even exterior and interior photos of the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, the first one constructed in this dispensation, but which is not currently operational.)

A new article, "Blessings of the Temple," by President Thomas S. Monson. "The temple lifts us, exalts us, stands as a beacon for all to see, and points us toward celestial glory," President Monson declares in the article.

An article by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, "Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple," adapted from an earlier article appearing in the March 2002 Ensign.

Another photo essay, "Things Pertaining to the House of the Lord," featuring interior photos of temples.

Two articles, "Our Temple Marriage Was Worth Any Price" and "Our Boys Were with Us."

Carried over from previous editions of the booklet are the articles "Why These Temples," by President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Holy Temple," by President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve, and "A Temple-Motivated People," by President Howard W. Hunter.

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"A History of Temples," an article by Elder James E. Talmage, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1911 until his death in 1933, has been shortened from previous editions.

A children's section has been revised to make it more interactive and easier for children to read, and a youth section has been revised to make it more engaging. A list of "Commonly Asked Questions" has been updated.
Asked how Church members might best use the new booklet, Elder Kikuchi, who served as president of the Tokyo Japan Temple from 1994 to 1997 had several suggestions:

For already endowed members, "it is an aid to remembering the sacred temple experience, the associated covenants and blessings, and the individual responsibilities of members to do family history work to identify their ancestors and to provide essential temple ordinances for them by actively participating in temple service."

"It will be a wonderful review for a couple who are planning to get married," he said.

The booklet may be used in a ward or stake temple-preparation class.

"If people not of our faith ask what the temple is, this will be very great material to respond to their question."

President Monson has made a point of urging the rescuing of those who have fallen away, to help them come to the temple and be sealed as an eternal family, Elder Kikuchi noted, saying that the new temples booklet could be used to help them in their return.

"For Church members, for children, for youth and for those not of our faith, this is a great product," he said. "I can say that as you read it, you feel the warmth of the Spirit."
rscott@desnews.com



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