"Honorably Hold Name and a Standing" By Elder Bednar

I would strongly recommend reading the entire talk, "Honorably Hold a Name and a Standing" By Elder Bednar.
 I hadn't thought of the temple as being the "garners".  I love the idea that we need to not only focus on baptism and the covenants made at baptism.  We need to have a vision of eternity and what it takes to complete our mission on this earth in qualifying for the blessings that can be ours in eternity as we strive to be worthy and to attend the temple.
When reading Elder Bednar's talk, I loved his explanation for this verse.
“Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted” (Alma 26:5).
I assumed the garners were just the place where sheaves are stored as a matter of tradition during that time period.  Elder Bednar tells us “the garners are holy temples.”I love the next verse and how explanatory it is for us.  It is so relevant to missionaries in their focus in missionary work.
“Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them” (Alma 26:6).
A member of our class pointed out the next verse...
“But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.” (Alma 26:7)
I love that!  We can receive special protection through making and keeping temple covenants that are not available in any other way.  My son who is on a mission right now has been able to go to the temple several times with people he has been involved in bringing into the gospel.
I feel my children also need that protection afforded through temple attendance and worship.  I want this summer to be a summer they remember as a "temple" summer.  I want them to remember the importance of the temple and feel of the protection it affords.   When we remember and keep our covenants as well as affording those who have passed on to obtain the blessings of the covenants of the gospel, we will be shielded and protected from the storms of life.  We will be in “the hands of the Lord of the harvest . . . and he will raise [us] up at the last day.”



 Honorably Hold a Name and a Standing, David A. Bednar, Ensign May 2009