Temples: Landmarks of Safety

One of the unique functions of the Christ's Church upon the earth in these latter days is to construct, dedicate, and perform ordinances for the living and the dead in priesthood-authorized temples. In addition to the generally notarized attendant blessings of living near a temple, this morning I considered an obscure little blessing. Consider Elder Wilford A. Anderson's general conference address entitled, "The Rock of Our Redeemer."

While the world followed the unprecedented international response, another remarkable and inspiring rescue effort was under way in Port-au-Prince—this one directed by a committee made up of local Haitian Church leaders organized according to the priesthood pattern and operating under inspiration. Members of the committee included, among others, the two stake presidents and the two stake Relief Society presidents in Port-au-Prince and the mission president, who at age 30 presides over 74 full-time missionaries in the Haiti Port-au-Prince Mission. All of his missionaries are Haitian, and miraculously not one of them was injured in this devastating earthquake.

Into the hands of these local inspired leaders were placed the resources of the Church, resources which included the generous contributions of many of you. For these contributions, the people of Haiti are profoundly thankful. Under the direction of the committee, truckloads of provisions arrived from the Dominican Republic almost immediately. Within days of the earthquake, planeloads of food, water purification systems, tents, blankets, and medical supplies arrived, along with a team of doctors.

The nine chapels in and around Port-au-Prince were mostly undamaged—another remarkable miracle. During the weeks that followed the earthquake, they became shelters for over 5,000 Haitians and bases from which food, water, and medical attention were distributed. Basic needs were met, and order began to emerge out of chaos.

Living near a temple means we are not only able to attend the temple, but that we live in the influence of a community where there are temple-worthy persons. This benefit was seen in Haiti, where church members utilized the Church welfare support to save lives and share comfort.

Temples are placed where they will be most used, meaning nearby (relatively speaking) are enough people to public the temples and complete the necessary work performed therein. A temple community is a small prototype of Zion, and an innumerable blessing in which to live. Temples are a landmark of spiritual safety, but by virtue of the indigenous temple people, are also a landmark of physical safety.