(5/15/01)
"As I have gone throughout the Church, I have been concerned to know why there are so many of our young people who do not avail themselves of the opportunity of going to the temple. I have asked our leaders as I have gone about to stake conferences, and they have given me several answers. The most frequent reason given is that young people do not have proper encouragement from their homes. ...Parents who themselves have lightly regarded their temple covenants can expect little better from their children because of their bad example. Little children should not be taught to reverence the temple itself but to look forward reverently to the holy experiences which one day might be theirs." — Harold B. Lee, "Conference Report," April 1957, p. 22

(5/16/01)
"Given the importance of the mysteries of God (both ordinances and others), it is little wonder that we are counseled, 'Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich' (D&C 11:7)." — Neal A. Maxwell, "Not My Will, But Thine," [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], p. 132

(5/17/01)
"Much of the world's counsel and solutions to the communication problems between people—and the strife in families, between husbands and wives and parents and children—are superficial. They are not based upon a fundamental understanding that transgression lies at the root of strife and that the only way to work upon that root is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, covenants made in the waters of baptism, at the sacrament table, and in the temple where there are several essential covenants—each one, in turn, giving the power to obey the higher one. If one is obedient to a lower covenant, more light and power are given. Then comes a higher covenant, until eventually a person is taught how to return to the presence of God and how to commune with him here and now." — Stephen R. Covey, "Spiritual Roots of Human Relations," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1970], p. 169

(5/18/01)
"When you come to the temple and receive your endowment, and kneel at the altar and be sealed, you can live an ordinary life and be an ordinary soul-struggling against temptation, failing and repenting, and failing again and repenting, but always determined to keep your covenants-and that marriage ordinance will be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Then the day will come when you will receive the benediction: 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord' (Matthew 25:21)." — Boyd K. Packer, "Memorable Stories and Parables of Boyd K. Packer," [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], p. 51

(5/19/01)
"As we love the temple, touch the temple, and attend the temple, our lives will reflect our faith. As we come to these holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we shall be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation. The temple provides purpose for our lives." — Thomas S. Monson, "Be Your Best Self," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], p. 57

(12/19/03)
"What is the significance of the words of the Prophet Joseph that we will 'build temples to the Most High'? Why were all of these temples built at such cost and sacrifice? Why are they still being built at an ever-increasing pace? It is because the deepest questions of our existence are answered in the temple. These answers tell us where we came from, why we are here, where we may go, and how we may cope with the matter of death. This life makes no logical sense unless we think in terms of the eternities. The transcendent blessings of life and eternity are received within the sacred walls of the temple. The Savior's supernal gift to mankind gave us the opportunity for eternal life, but eternal life without our loved ones would be bleak." - James E. Faust, "Eternity Lies Before Us," General Conference, April 1997

(8/19/04)
"The doctrine of baptism for the dead is clearly shown in the New Testament; and if the doctrine is not good, then throw the New Testament away; but if it is the word of God, then let the doctrine be acknowledged; and it was the reason why Jesus said unto the Jews, 'How oft would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!' (See Matt. 23:37.)-That they might attend to the ordinances of baptism for the dead as well as other ordinances of the priesthood, and receive revelations from heaven, and be perfected in the things of the kingdom of God-but they would not. This was the case on the day of Pentecost those blessings were poured out on the disciples on that occasion. God ordained that he would save the dead and would do it by gathering his people together." - Joseph Smith, "History of the Church, 5:245"

(9/1/04)
"Every man that has been baptized and belongs to the kingdom has a right to be baptized for those who have gone before; and as soon as the law of the Gospel is obeyed here by their friends who act as proxy for them, the Lord has administrators there to set them free. A man may act as proxy for his own relatives; the ordinances of the Gospel which were laid out before the foundations of the world have thus been fulfilled by them, and we may be baptized for those whom we have much friendship for; but it must first be revealed to the man of God, lest we should run too far. 'As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive' (1 Cor. 15:22); all shall be raised from the dead. The Lamb of God hath brought to pass the resurrection, so that all shall rise from the dead." - Joseph Smith, HC 6:365-66

(11/11/05)
"It is our faith in the importance of making covenants with God and coming to understand our immense possibilities that the temple, the house of the Lord, becomes the focus for all that really matters. In the temple we participate in ordinances and covenants that span the distance between heaven and earth. They prepare us to one day return to Gods presence and enjoy the blessings of eternal families and eternal life." - Ardeth G. Kapp, "A Mighty Force for Righteousness," Ensign (CR), May 1992, p.78

5/31/06
"We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them. President Brigham Young said:

"'Let the father and mother, who are members of this Church and Kingdom, take a righteous course, and strive with all their might never to do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; if they have one child or one hundred children, if they conduct themselves towards them as they should, binding them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I care not where those children go, they are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang.' (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., 2:90-91.)" - Boyd K. Packer, "Our Moral Environment," Ensign (CR), May 1992, p.66