Temple Bound
God's children are searching in greater numbers for answers and hoping for miracles as they look to Jesus Christ for relief. On 'Temple Bound,' hosted by Will Humphreys, explore how temples offer not just solace but also powerful tools for navigating these turbulent times through faith in Jesus Christ.
Tune in every Monday to hear Will Humphreys engage with guests who bring inspiring stories, profound teachings, and insights into accessing divine guidance through temple service.
Each episode promises to enrich your understanding and strengthen your connection to the Savior in unique and transformative ways.
Whether you're seeking answers, yearning for peace, or in need of a miracle, 'Temple Bound' is your weekly spiritual refuge, helping you anchor your soul to the Savior. Join us on this sacred journey to deepen your faith and discover the blessings of temple worship.
Temple Bound
Insights from Elder Renlund's Talk & Three Parables with Rachele Bascom
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Feeling anxious about the Second Coming? Join host Will Humphreys and guest Rachele Bascom as they explore Elder Dale G. Renlund's talk, "Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior," and discover how preparing for Christ's return can bring peace and joy.
In this episode, they discuss the three parables Jesus shared to help us prepare for His Second Coming:
- The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Learn how to "add drops of oil" to your lamp and avoid deception by focusing on Christ and inviting the Holy Ghost.
- The Parable of the Talents: Understand the importance of magnifying your unique abilities and avoiding the "thief of joy"—unhealthy comparison.
- The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats: Discover how serving others is a key way to serve God and become the leaders He wants us to be.
Rachele also shares her family's theme, "Focus on Christ," and how it has transformed their daily lives, helping them recognize the hand of God and feel more confident in their discipleship. They also discuss the power of the temple, consistency in our efforts, and how to teach children to trust the Lord and find their identity as sons and daughters of God.
Key Takeaways:
- Preparation over Fear: The goal of personal preparation is not to live in fear but to find joy and confidence in the process.
- Consistency is Effort: Consistency doesn't mean perfection; it means continually trying, getting up when you fall, and putting forth sincere effort.
- The Power of the Holy Ghost: Helping children recognize how they "feel" when exposed to different media or people can help them learn to listen to the Spirit and avoid deception.
- Service brings Joy: Deflecting focus from ourselves and serving others is one of the quickest ways to find happiness and draw closer to the Savior.
- Find Your Joy: Simplify your personal preparation by focusing on Christ, and you will find that living the gospel is a source of optimism, not anxiety.
Listen now and learn how to feel more prepared and joyful as you prepare to meet the Savior!
Learn More & Connect
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Temple Bound is going to Africa and we want you to come with us. November 2nd through the 9th, we have been asked to go to Kenya to help a local group of members of the church go to the temple for the first time, and not only are we looking to help them get to the temple, but we're helping raise money for medical supplies, food and even some shelter for a local orphanage. So if you'd like to join us, here's how you can do that. Number one follow us on social media. If you'd like to be a part of it remotely, you can check us out on a daily day basis. We're doing podcast episodes while we're over there. Secondly, you can donate. We're going to have a GoFundMe link in the show notes of these episodes over the next two months or you can literally come with us. We have limited number of seats and we'd love for you to come join us in this effort of sharing this great good with members of the church overseas. So if you'd like to learn more, please reach out, and we'd love to have you.
Speaker 1:Have you ever felt nervous when people talk about the second coming? Anxiety when we think about the savior coming and us not being ready? But what if preparing for the savior's return could actually bring you peace, confidence and even joy. That's what we're talking about today. On temple bound, rochelle bascom and I are reviewing elder runland's talk personal preparation to meet the savior and we break down in the savior's words the three parables that he used to help us prepare for the second coming.
Speaker 1:I learned a lot on this episode and it gave me a lot of peace as I thought about the second coming, and even some calm about my own personal preparation, as imperfect as it is. So if you want to feel more hopeful about the future, more confident in your daily discipleship, or even just more prepared to meet the Savior, this episode is for you. Well, rochelle, this is such a wonderful opportunity to be with you to talk about this so amazing talk that when I first heard it I actually didn't catch a lot of temple in it. But as I read it, it is so temple focused. So what was it about this talk that called to you for this particular discussion?
Speaker 2:Well, I think I love this talk because Elder Redland talked a lot about the 10 virgins and the story of the 10 virgins and I was that was like another. I felt like a lot of people spoke about the parable of the 10 virgins and so when I um read this, I I usually have a theme for my kids for back to school and I, I studying the parable of the 10 virgins was always like kind of like the forefront of my focus. And then I, I, I read this talk and I you know the title kind of got me personal preparation to meet the Savior and I thought that sounds kind of hard right, like how do I make this a little more simple for my family? And so I studied the parable and I studied kind of like preparing for the second coming and I just thought how can I help my kids see this, like filling our lamp, you know, making sure that our lamps are being filled and I came up with focusing on the Savior, focusing on Christ.
Speaker 1:That's our theme for the year is focus on Christ. So, that's your family. Theme in the Bascom home is focusing on Christ.
Speaker 2:This year for the school year, that's it. And I feel like that, as we focus on Christ, with the music we listen to, with how we're talking to people, with how we're reading our scriptures or saying our prayers. I mean, all that stuff that we're doing focusing on Christ is helping us fill little drops of oil in our lamp, and that's kind of where it came from.
Speaker 1:You know that is so powerful. You know I said this before we hit record, but you and your husband Nate, who's listening, are two of the most powerful teachers I know. So, before we even dive into the talk, how have you structured your home in a way to where you are focusing maybe a little bit differently on Christ than maybe you did before that theme came up?
Speaker 2:That's a great, that's a great question. Um, I feel like I now I'm like, okay, you guys focus on Christ today. How are we focusing on Christ? We're trying to just have more conversations where you know, maybe, how we saw the hand of God in our lives, you know what, how did this happen? How did and we were seeing the miracles. I think a lot of it's helping that we have a missionary out and I don't know. You know, missionaries are always seeing miracles. Mom, it was a miracle. Today we have a daughter out and it's like there's. They see these, the hand of God, so freely, and I think that's what I want to kind of help my kids see. And so when we're focusing on the savior, we're focusing on the miracles that he's providing to us every day. So it's interesting just bringing attention to it.
Speaker 1:So cause you guys are obviously doing a lot of great things in your home, but just having that theme gives you an opening to just start saying, hey, how does this remind us of Christ? Or how can we focus on Christ? Just that even simple reminder of hey guys, have a great day.
Speaker 2:Focus on Christ.
Speaker 1:Have fun. How wonderful too, and I think, having a missionary out, as people who are listening who don't know our missionaries we're friends and my son is in Texas and Abby is in California, and so we are both going through this for the first time where we have a missionary out, and how that added spirit in the home is such an opportunity to leverage to help the others, and what a wonderful way to emphasize that. So your theme so are you saying that the theme for your home came from this talk?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:That will from this talk and from the parable of the versions, the 10 versions, because I there were so many talks about it, I don't know how many, but in general conference.
Speaker 1:Yeah, at least three, Like it was. They couldn't stop talking about the parable of the 10 virgins, so it kind of like I was like, how can I teach my kids how to be prepared?
Speaker 2:You know, keep putting, and I would ask them like how do you think we should put? How are we going to put oil in our lamps? The very basic answers you know say your prayers, read your scriptures, go to the temple, and that's all great, that's what I want them to be doing. But I wanted them to take it a step further, and so that's where I was like. Well, when we're focusing on Christ and intentionally thinking about him, we're adding drops to our lamp yeah. And it's such a progressive thing.
Speaker 1:I think what's interesting in how Elder Renlland brings this up is that he talks about the second coming At the beginning of the talk. He talks about that primary age girl that comes, and you as a speech therapist working with children who's been in the state primary presidency, you can really relate to this. But I felt like that was me. That fear Me too. So why don't you tell that story, just so the people who are listening haven't read?
Speaker 2:the talk. So Elder Redland was visiting somewhere and this little girl was like what did she say? She says something like a girl in primary recently told me that she becomes anxious whenever the second coming is mentioned. She said I'm scared because bad things are going to happen before Jesus comes again. And I was like I feel the same way. Yeah, totally, I feel anxious and I feel like I overcomplicate it, right. But then he says in here he says the best advice for her and for you and for me is to follow the savior's teachings. And so that's where I got focus on Christ. When we're focusing on the savior's teachings, that seems doable.
Speaker 1:Yes, Like it something it's a chewable bite focusing on the teachings, just focusing yeah, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:And then he said he said these teachings are crucial because personal preparation to meet him is central to life's purpose. That's our purpose. That's our purpose, right there, is to be personally prepared. And so that seems big sometimes, right, and that's why I?
Speaker 2:That's our purpose, right there, is to be personally prepared, and so that seems big sometimes Right, and that's why I was just like, but if we're personally preparing every day by thinking about Jesus, like, like, how do we prepare to go to the temple? How do we prepare? How are we preparing for the second coming? How are we preparing for our scripture study? You know, the second coming, how are we preparing for our scripture study? You know, and I, I, I feel like when I'm actively preparing for something like a talk or something I have to give, I I'm more cognizant of, like what I'm listening to and what I'm reading or what I'm, you know that kind of stuff, what I'm watching. But I, I started I always have like a Sunday playlist, you know, like a holy hit list.
Speaker 1:Sure Holy hit list. That's really cool.
Speaker 2:So that's what we listened to on Sundays, but I'm like what if I'm listening to that playlist every day?
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Just because that invites the spirit right and that changes my focus on the savior instead of focusing on, you know, the other.
Speaker 1:You know what's interesting about that too is for me, during this journey of like doing the podcast and making a bigger intention of go to the temple and looking for miracles. It is funny how how I've changed Um you know, the more I'm in that that space. I used to be nails on a chalkboard to listen to certain you know. Sunday it was like tortured not listening to certain music or watching certain movies, and now there's more of a desire in between Sundays to even want to do those things. And so this preparation and focus is such a cool concept because it parallels something I learned at education week last week.
Speaker 1:Heather and I were at BYU and we were listening to Dennis Deaton, who was a guest on the show and his book look into Christ doubt not, fear Not, is one of my favorites. He was talking about how our focus really determines our reality Not a totally new concept, but he talked about how our focus and our greatest goal should be to see Christ while in the flesh. Like our focus, because it's all the D&C 93.1, everyone go read that verse. It talks about the capability that we all have of seeing him now, not just when he comes again and not when we die, but like preparing ourselves, and that should be. That's one way to consider. You know, how we focus on Christ is focusing on being holy to see and worthy to see his face. And just what would that do for us if we saw Jesus? What would that do for us on every level? What would that change in us? I think it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1:So this young girl comes and asks him, says she's scared, and then he mentions the whole concept about how we should follow the teachings of Christ. And then Elder Renlund does something really cool. He talks about how, when Jesus was on the earth, people came up to him and said hey, when are you coming back? That's a really crude way of how I said it. Probably it's like when is this happening again? Because this is wonderful. And then that's when Jesus told three parables, and so the first one is the famous 10 virgins that we were talking about. But what is it about that story in particular that you liked? What called to you? What quotes really meant something to you?
Speaker 2:There's three things. There's three the lesson he says at the very end. He says the essential lesson of this parable the 10 virgins is that we are wise when we there's three things accept the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with us and avoid deception. There's three things accept the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with us and avoid deception. And so we. Those are the three things that I. They came to me because I feel like that is very doable. Right, I accept the gospel by being baptized. Right, and by following and keeping my covenants, right, and then I seek to have the Holy Ghost with me. And I feel like that's something that I he said right here. He says consistent, personal, private acts of devotion. Invite the Holy Ghost to guide us. I love that Like consistent personal acts of devotion and like what does that look like for our families? Yeah, what does that look like for me? You know, and I think that the word consistent's hard, I think that's a tricky word right, because you want to be I.
Speaker 2:My personality is I want to be.
Speaker 1:Perfect.
Speaker 2:I want, yes, I want, if I'm going to set a goal. I want to do it like that, you know, but I have to. I feel like that's not the Savior's way right. Consistency, I think, is having your heart and living in good intentions, but I'm not trying to diminish that. I'm just saying, as we're consistent and as we focus on the Savior and as we invite the Holy Ghost to guide us, we're going to be on our way to being a wise virgin, on our way to being prepared. That sounded terrible.
Speaker 1:No, I actually like that and hope we keep that in.
Speaker 1:So listen, rochelle, here's the thing that you said, though this concept of consistency really hit me when you were talking about that, because consistency is kind of key in this whole thing and but it's also consistent.
Speaker 1:It's key for anything that we're accomplishing, in any goal that we're we're doing, and one of my favorite business thought leaders that I follow he put on a graph on one of his social media posts and this really comforted me because I believe this was inspired. You know what people think of consistency was, and he showed a bar graph where all the bars were exact and there's like a red line and it's there. So you know, for example, if I'm consistent in improving my physical health, I'm going to exercise right, so I'm going to do 30 minutes every day, because that's what scientists believe is the best thing. But the truth of the matter is consistency, and he shows the real graph and it's like two hitting it, one not at all, one overextending, three not hitting it. It's the never giving up. I think consistency is akin to just not giving up, and so when we fail or when we stop or when we neglect, we gather ourselves together and we get up and we try again.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's like not letting your guard down right Like you're always trying. You're always trying to push forward. I just think that that's a great, that's a great way to say it. Consistency isn't perfection. Consistency is like effort right, and like the Lord loves effort. Yeah, that's so cool.
Speaker 1:And I love how you hit the parable of the three virgins, hitting that idea of like receiving truth. Right that we do that. As it says in the talk, If we are wise, we receive truth by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ through priesthood ordinances. You talked about receiving the Holy Ghost. The third one was kind of a different one, I know right. Yes, the third one of avoiding deception. I know when I read that parable that wasn't something that really stood out to me, but it is quoted in that parable. So, avoiding deception, what did that mean to you?
Speaker 2:Okay, that kind of puzzles me too, because I was like avoiding deception. What does that even look like? And in the world we live in today, I'm avoiding things that don't point us to Christ right.
Speaker 2:Avoiding things like the music or social media things that I feel like our kids are so drawn to, not just because it's so enticing. You know, satan's doing such a great job, and so for me, that's what I think of when I think of deception. But I think that Elder Rendon says really good things about it. He says Disciples always promote believing in God, serving him and doing good. He said we can also avoid deception by worshiping regularly in the temple. This helps us maintain an eternal perspective. That spoke to my heart. I was like yeah.
Speaker 2:I can relate to that, Because when I go to the temple and I walk away, I can, I walk away with a power that I didn't have before I walked in and I and I am filled with that Like I can know right from wrong, I can see it better, I can I have a better perspective, I guess eternal perspective.
Speaker 1:I think that connection that you described to this, almost like this empowerment that turns into a discernment, but also just like an emotional awareness when we go to the temple and, by the way, this takes time right. For most of us it's not an immediate thing, some it is. I don't want to minimize that. Dennis Deaton is really big on that this concept of like we can go and have a miraculous experience every time if we are focused and really prepared.
Speaker 1:But the human experience prohibits us from having that every time, if we're just trying to be imperfectly perfect. But the truth of the matter is is that, as we go consistently, there is a recognizable piece that is so present that when we are exposed to something that isn't true, we can feel the difference. We can actually in our gut, almost in our subconscious, recognize that difference, and so I love that you quoted that. The last half of that sentence is like that how going to the temple protects us from the influences that might distract. Or this is really big for me.
Speaker 1:The distract or divert, yes, cause distracting to me looks like, um, hey, good, better, best. There's the temple, but there's also this other really good thing you could be doing that's taking your time. Yeah, right, divert is like completely different doctrine that might derail something. My my testimony If I start like question, not questioning, but really start doing things against my covenants, right, you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, that really spoke to you. How do you in your home, rochelle, how do you help your kids like protect against deception?
Speaker 2:I focus a lot on feeling like how does that make you feel? Like when you're I always like I, I, I just focus on feeling like I. If I'll say, okay, well, how does that song make you feel? Or how did that movie make you feel when you're watching, or how did and I feel like I I try to help them understand like, wow, um, also like if we're watching, so say, they come home from a night and they're like, ah, like that was we watched this really crazy, scary movie. I'm like gosh, how'd you feel?
Speaker 1:you know. So you're almost like in a place of, of curiosity.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like, how did that make you feel? And it's like, oh my gosh and I won't see it like in the moment, but like later on I'll be like that was like the spirit probably wasn't with you if you were having those like feelings, right, like that's probably the spirit left. Or if you were listening to that music and the spirit spirit left. Like if you were listening to that music and the spirit, the spirit left. Like when I'm listening to this music, I feel angry inside when I'm, you know, but if I'm listening to my holy hit list, right, I feel calm and peaceful. So I kind of I try to help them with their feelings. Like, how did that feel when you were there? How do you feel when you're around this kind of a person? How do you feel Like? Do you feel like they're building you up and helping you feel good, or do you feel like they're like taking you down the path you probably shouldn't go down, right?
Speaker 1:like.
Speaker 2:I just I feel like that's kind of I'm helping, I'm trying to help them tap into the power of the holy ghost that's so powerful.
Speaker 1:Um, I really I have such a mad admiration of your children in particular and it's it's definitely the, the Nate Rochelle combo. But I that's not just like for the show, that was me parent to parent going like, how do you do that? Because that is such a great way, it's so smart, by the way, I think that you delay the whole. How did that make you feel? And then, recognizing the Holy Ghost, especially with teenagers, it's like, oh, here's her agenda, here she is, yeah, but versus like just being curious and interested and like, well, how'd that make you feel? Right, well, thanks for sharing.
Speaker 1:And then later kind of going like you know what you know, for me it may be tying that in a way where they make their own connections, because we were sharing again how children these days, especially these strong spirits that came from beforehand, they're coming with some super strong willpower and they ate free agency for these boys and girls, so important, it's so important and I think it was for me too, but it wasn't as important to me as it is for my boys and absolutely how to almost just follow the spirit and we have to be so Christ-like because if we start to be, if we start doing the adversaries approach of like pushing an agenda, how they'll just immediately push back and push away Right.
Speaker 2:Right, and I feel like it's easier to make that contrast, like with the feelings, like, say, we're watching like an inspirational documentary and I'm like, oh my gosh, that makes me feel so good, like I felt, you know, like-.
Speaker 2:So you'll share that I'll share that. And then I'm like remember when you were saying that you came home when you were watching a movie, it kind and like, isn't that such a like? I would way better, I would way rather live in this moment where it's like my heart's happy and I feel good, than living in that like discomfort. You know, like I would much rather be on that, like feeling the spirit kind of you know.
Speaker 1:You contrast that for them, so that they can make their, but you're modeling it, You're showing curiosity and then you're teaching gospel principles on the back end. So you're basically doing what we talked about here you know by teaching that. Well, I mean, I'm sure everyone's. You know we're all imperfect in it, but the idea of, like you're using truth as a way to, not just for yourself but for your kids, in a way that helps them identify that Right.
Speaker 2:And you're talking about feeling. That's the second step. The Holy ghost yes. And I think the result of that is the avoiding of deception yeah, and I think that that paragraph is so powerful because he says the wise virgins could not help those without oil. Yeah, no one can accept the gospel. Take the holy ghost as a guide and avoid deception on our behalf. We have to do it ourselves yeah and I think that goes along with our kids who are.
Speaker 2:They love their free agency right yeah they have to do it on their own, like we can provide it, we can teach them, and then they have to choose.
Speaker 1:Man, I'll tell you, growing up, for me it was just fear of five on the fanny. But you know, for these kids it's a totally different game because they're so strong and I love that about them. I love how that's helped us grow as parents as well as just appreciating only father's plan and not the adversaries in this approach.
Speaker 1:So, I love that and I thank you for sharing that. As we look through all that first parable, I would say that in the talk he uses three parables that Christ used when people said, hey, we're coming back. The first one was the parable of the 10 virgins. The second one, that one seemed pretty connected.
Speaker 2:The second one was like what does?
Speaker 1:this have to do with the second coming. And it's the parable of the talents. So do you want to do a quick recap on that and your thoughts on?
Speaker 2:it, yeah, so he just says the peril of this, sorry. The one message of this parable is that God expects us to magnify the abilities we have been given. He does not want us to compare our abilities to those of others, and so I take it as he wants us to be the best versions of ourselves. He wants us to become the best we can be, and we become that way when we're focusing on the Savior.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:When we're focusing on how I can be better for myself and for my family Right. I feel like that's kind of be the person God wants you to be, live up to my family, right. I feel like that's that's kind of be the person God wants you to be, live up to that potential.
Speaker 1:Right, I think that's an interesting piece. I am still trying to find the connection between living up to our ultimate potential and how that prepares us for the second coming. So because, like there was, for me at least, I I've been thinking about it. He uses the story of Rabbi.
Speaker 1:Zeus's words and in that story that Elder Renlund references, he tells this parable that goes back to his I forgot what country he's from, but it's basically a story that goes through his heritage of this rabbi who's on death's door and he's super nervous to meet God, but he's been amazing. And one of the students is like, why are you worried? You're amazing, he goes well. If God asked, why wasn't I as powerful as Moses, I'll say, well, you didn't bless me to be powerful in that way. And then he gives a couple of examples but he says but why weren't you the best that you could be? That's what I'm scared of is have I become the best that I can be? And I think that's such a beautiful way to describe how him father wants us to compare, because there is super unhealthy comparison. It is the plague of this generation of kids on social media seeing other people and being less than as they compare themselves to that. So, rochelle, is this a concept that you guys teach in terms of comparison, or is this?
Speaker 1:something that as you were reading this talk like talk to me about your experience.
Speaker 2:I mean, I was just talking to my daughter this afternoon about it and I was like comparison. Yeah, very like. Comparison is the thief of joy, right? Stop looking sideways like, start looking up, start seeing, ask God what he sees in you, right? I feel like that it is. It's like there's so much for them to compare themselves with, right, and I feel like if we could just help them, give them the tools, like it really only matters what he thinks you know, like so start having that, having that connection.
Speaker 2:That's like my biggest thing is like have a relationship with heavenly father. Like it takes effort, it takes time and it takes diligence, but as we pray to him and develop that relationship with him, we're going him like what do you see in me? That's why patriarchal blessings are so awesome, right, because I feel like in those blessings we're given a lot of what he sees in us, right. He sees our potential and we want to live up to that. So I just think that's it's a hard. It's it's hard to teach that. But I think that if, if we can help them understand who they are and and know that heavenly father made them and the way he created them there's no mistaking on that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, to trust, and we can't have that trust until we know him to some degree. Um, it's interesting because, uh, when a friend of mine told me the story about how he went to his daughter's track meet and his oldest daughter was very competitive and he was really nervous because she had been working really hard and she was like you could tell she was dialed in and she did her best and she got third, and he like walked up to her and he was super nervous. He's like, oh, oh, my gosh, am I going to deal with like mis-emotion of like how she's going to beat herself up? But instead she was smiling ear to ear, ran over, jumped into his arms like daddy, I totally did it. And he's like, yeah, yeah. Like in his mind he's like you got third, you did, you got third job and she went.
Speaker 1:No, I got my personal best record I got a pr, yeah and so when we compare our actions to our previous behaviors, there's nothing. But some people in the business world call that um the gain mindset versus the gap mindset when we're comparing ourselves to others. We're never enough that when we compare ourselves to our previous performance. We're always progressing and that's a big piece. And it is such a problem with this generation that, well, that's why it's connected into this as we develop to be our best, we're overcoming.
Speaker 1:I'm just understanding in real time with you that we overcome the greatest temptation in the latter days, which is to have our joy taken from comparison. Once that joy is taken, then we start looking for unhealthy ways to make up for that. We start becoming more susceptible to sin. I spoke at a uh, a church combined young men, young women's group last Sunday and I talk a lot about this stuff. Right, this 12 year old boy came up to me and he said hey, I just want to thank you for your words. I sure appreciate that. And for a 12 year old, I was like dude, thank you for coming up, that's so wonderful. And then he just started sobbing, big tears started falling down and I could just see that he had been suffering from this. So when the Lord so I held, I just hugged him and I said dude, you're special, never forget that.
Speaker 1:But I think, and I think the reason I share that is because I think, um, as we're preparing for the second coming, this might be a great way for us to find joy as we prepare.
Speaker 2:I'm starting to see that, yeah, and I think that along with that, a long time ago, we were in church one day and I just had littles I think I just had my three little ones at first. So we were missing Ty and I remember this lady spoke in sacrament meeting and she said the best thing you can do for your family is help your kids know who they are. And I and that like spoke right to my heart. I'm like you're right, Like they need to know they are sons and daughters of our heavenly father and that is enough. That is so special. And because they have that knowledge, they can move forward and have that when, when, when the world's coming out and when words are coming at him and friends are tearing them down.
Speaker 2:You know, if they can have that knowledge, I think that will help them. That will give them the strength to be like no, actually I am a daughter of God. You can never take that away. You will take away all the other accolades. You'll take away football player, track runner, dancer. You can take all that away and once that's stripped, you are still a son or daughter of our heavenly father, and I think that is something that, if we can just remember that, that that will always be with us, that's that will never be taken away.
Speaker 1:Wow, it's so powerful and it makes me almost want to go on a tangent of like let's do a whole discussion on how we can help our kids see that, because what we're really talking about is confidence in the Lord.
Speaker 2:Right, yes, self-confidence yes, but confidence in the Lord, yes.
Speaker 1:And what uh, what uh? Is there a greater gift that we could give our kids than modeling that, at least for ourselves?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, and how do we build our confidence in the Lord? We go by going to the temple, right. Right, Like I. I living in Gilbert and living right close to the temple has been a dream of mine. Right Like we've lived in different areas where we weren't close to the temple and when we moved back here it was like that was main priority. I just had to live next to a temple, Cause we were moving from Madison, where we were driving three hours to the Chicago temple. Right, and I feel like having the temple next to us there's something so special. Right, we're learning and we're growing and we're becoming who Heavenly Father wants us to be. And not that you can't do that if you live elsewhere, right, but I just feel like the consistency that I'm going to the temple there's an opportunity?
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's opportunities for you to grow in different ways. And I feel like that. Our kids see that too right. They're seeing us as parents going to the temple. They're going to the temple, it's, it's, it's just something that gives them the power that they need and they know when they go they're just getting strengthened. Like I I am a daughter of God Like I am learning more about him and I'm learning that he, I, have so much potential, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's a powerful thing and in our modeling and love of the temple, is is something that can become contagious and even if they don't get it initially, they'll see and they can feel, going back to what you, how you help your kids feel things. They can feel that connection to God and go. Oh, that's a good thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. I mean, there's got to be a reason why Heavenly Father wants us to go to the temple and wants us to go more often, and I think that's where we have the eternal perspective of who we are.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And we're able to see who he wants us to become as we go to the temple.
Speaker 1:That's so beautiful. So thank you for solving that second riddle for me. I honestly could not understand for the life of me, transparently, how the talents really helped.
Speaker 2:But I can see how Well, it's kind of tricky. It isn't as direct as no, it's not as this one or the next one that we're about to get into.
Speaker 1:But that first one of the parable of the 10 virgins is like this is the latter days, and here's how you put oil in your lamp and the bridegroom's coming, and you've got the oil or you don't. And then there's another thing called like yeah, be as talented as I've blessed you to be, and what he's really saying is compare yourself to yourself so you can find joy in the journey, despite the fact that the adversary is doing everything he can to make you feel. That's his biggest tactic in the latter days, at least for our kids, from what I've seen, is this thing called not feeling like they belong 100%.
Speaker 2:That's the single greatest evil.
Speaker 1:It's what isolates them, pulls them away from the church or friends or any pro-survival action and puts them on their phone where they can numb and disappear into darkness. It's true. It's true, and, by the way, phones are fine. I'm just saying that it's just one of those things.
Speaker 2:No, but it's a distraction, right, it's deception.
Speaker 1:That's very good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a cool point, that's a distraction, yeah, okay. So let's get into the third. Am I skipping over great quotes that you had thought of or anything like that? No, those were great. I'm not trying to rush at all, I just like I'm like so in the Bible. So again, this is Jesus talking to the, the, the people who are asking him when are you coming back? And he talks about these three parables. This is the third, and he gives the parable the sheep and the goats, and it's so simple. There are sheep and goats, and goats don't have place with me, but sheeps do, and obviously there's some inherent like implications of sheeps being followers of his, and so on.
Speaker 2:But what were some of your impressions and takeaways from that? I love this one because it's saying oh he's, he's pretty clear, he's like the messages of this parable is clear when we serve others, we serve God we. When we don't, we disappoint. He expects us to use our gifts and talents and abilities to bless the lives of heavenly father's children and I think that's that's, that's beautiful, right, and I feel like that goes along with the sheep. The sheep know his voice, the sheep trust him and they will follow him. And when we follow our Savior, we're serving others. Right, when we want to become like him, how did he act? Right, he wasn't worried about himself, he was always looking outward, he was always helping others and serving. So I think that's that's the message of that one. It's just when we're serving others, we're serving our heavenly father.
Speaker 1:It's a different take on serving, because when we think of sheep, we think of someone who follows specifically. But when we follow the savior and become like him, what is the savior? He is the ultimate leader. So by serving him and becoming sheep, he's inviting us to become leaders. He's not looking for followers, he's looking for fellow leaders.
Speaker 2:That's a good point.
Speaker 1:And so, as just I'm just taking what you're saying and as I'm impressed, taking the inspiration of this idea, of that's why he maybe he also wants us to go back to our talents. It's not just find joy in the journey and compare ourselves to ourselves to better our journey, but so that we can use those talents to help bring other sheep with us as we follow the savior together. Yes, and so it's a really cool concept of, like the first parable being mostly about doing those things that protect us from deception and distraction and then bleeding into progressing, progressing to our best ability, whatever we're blessed with, Right. But then so that? And why? So that we can find joy and help others follow the savior. Because when we serve, like you said, others, as the scripture saying we follow, we're serving our heavenly father or Jesus directly.
Speaker 1:Um, yeah, so he says this right here, right, verily, I say unto you, in, so much as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, you've done it unto me. Another quote the message of the parable is clear when we serve others, we serve God. And yeah, I just think that's a powerful piece of that.
Speaker 2:So, please, I think that that this is something that comes full circle, like I think that maybe that's what you're seeing right now. I, I am with my daughter on a mission, like, when they serve, they're learning, like our, our missionaries are learning the the joy of service, right, and I think that that is that's a gift and I feel like, because they're learning that they're that they're the happiest, they're recognizing they're the happiest when they're serving and helping others, like they're drawing closer to our savior, and I feel like that that's what we want, right, there's there's there's joy in serving. There's like, you know, we as we, you know, to help our kids do service projects and things like that, and it's like, but you were the happiest, right.
Speaker 2:Like our kids go on these HXP trips. You know these humanitarian trips for the, you know for three weeks during the summer and it's like they were the transforms them.
Speaker 2:They were the happiest Right and and and I feel like that's they have to kind of catch that like that bug of like service. And once they catch it, they're like, yeah, actually that wasn't so bad Right. Like I felt, I felt happy Right. I felt closer to Jesus when I was doing, when I was serving other people, right, and it doesn't, service doesn't have to be big.
Speaker 2:I just feel like anything that helps you focus, deflect the focus on yourself, just deflect it, and you will find so much more happiness. And I think that's what I'm loving most about missions and service. Having my kids do service it's like they come home a lot happier.
Speaker 1:It's almost like they come up for air when they go on missions.
Speaker 2:The way I've seen with my son.
Speaker 1:you know he was one who, like, really had to be his decision, which I was so proud of. And when he chose it now I see him he's a year in like Abby is and it's so powerful to see how like he is his best version of himself and it's evident in every way. And it's not that there's different challenges.
Speaker 1:I think there's inherent challenges whenever we serve, because there's a sacrifice involved, whether it's time money effort whatever, yes, but in those cases where you see their joy and their countenance and you just you cannot deny it. That to me is one of the strongest testimonies of our faith is seeing how, when people do these things, how they literally seem happier and they feel it and they'll say it and they're in that space of it. Um, how do you guys in your family, I mean, I guess as members of the church, there's always opportunities to serve but do you guys do anything, or anything in your, your world that you do as a family? That that helps kind of emphasize this concept of serving others in small ways.
Speaker 2:I mean I, I have, I've tried. I'm not perfect at it, but there sure is effort and like doing like a family service project a month, you know, and one that really stands out was we helped. There's a organization here in Phoenix and there was. It was like moving to America and um, we met at this like warehouse downtown Phoenix and we just collected all of these like house supplies and then we took this like organization's van and we drove to like four people's, four families, houses in Phoenix and we helped them move into their home. And they were from like all over the world, refugees, refugees, thank you, yes, refugees, and they're coming in and they're. They have nothing and they have there's, there's sacrificing so much for a better life.
Speaker 2:And I, that probably was the most impactful for my kids to be a part of, cause they were in the home of these refugees where they're helping them unpack. They don't have much, right, they have like the kitchen table and maybe the couch that we brought and a couple of bikes. That's their transportation. You know, and I think that has. When we did that, my kids were like that was really good. You know, like I, we should do that again, mom, you know, and and and we can't, we. We left our house feeling like, you know, I didn't have very happy children, and then we came home and everyone was like, oh, that was actually, we should do that again, you know.
Speaker 2:So I feel like that's. I feel like service isn't easy.
Speaker 1:All right. So, Rochelle, let's do some closing questions here. Elder Renlund closes with this promise you will be ready to meet the Savior and can join President Nelson in being joyfully optimistic. What helps you personally cultivate joy instead of fear as you prepare for the Savior's second?
Speaker 2:coming. I love this question because I have been on the end of being fearful, right Like that, like I have to do this, this and this and this, or I'm a failure, right Like that's. I have been that way in parts of my life and now I'm finding joy in the preparation. I'm finding it's not a rat race, it's like preparing for the second coming is joyful, and I feel like it's joyful because I've been able to make it simpler for myself.
Speaker 1:When.
Speaker 2:I focus on Christ, I'm preparing for the second coming. When I focus on Christ, I'm more willing to go to the temple. When I focus on Christ, I want to listen to better music and I feel like that's building my testimony and that's also helping me be better, like I know my Savior better, right, by doing these simple but intentional things Like, yes, I'm still reading my scriptures, but I'm also like taking it a step further. I'm not like I have to read a chapter every day, it's almost like this, intensity is lessened.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I feel like that's the key, right? I'm a checklist girl. I love to do you know, I love to write lists and check them off, but I'm like I just want to spend time in my scriptures. I want to learn, I want to like study, so I can, and I, as a mom, I want to study because I want to be able to teach.
Speaker 1:There's a reason behind ourselves now that exists, that's so important to us.
Speaker 2:And so I think that's been the shift in myself and I feel like that is something that has helped me. Instead of being so fearful, being like no, this is actually like the prophet's optimistic and I don't want to be living in fear because I've done that and that's not fun. That's not a fun feeling ever, and so I feel like if I simplify it to just focus on Christ, then that is doable. That's what helps me find joy in that.
Speaker 1:You know it really speaks to me on a couple of levels. One of the things that you said that struck a chord for me was recently, again at Education Week. One of the teachers said this, and I believe this to be true for everyone who's listening is that we don't need more works Right. What we need is more faith, this idea of like we keep thinking there's more to do and, yes, there's improvement and self-comparison to you know, to our own previous actions, that we can progress. But that's not the same thing. Like we, when I am fearful, when I am like worried about my kids, everything, or if I'm concerned about how my standing is with God, there's a degree of that. That's healthy, a very small degree, but most of it is like big breath the savior's got my back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like letting God prevail in your life.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And I feel like, if I remember that, like I'm not in control. I grew up in a home where we love the temple and my grandparents loved the temple and and they were just such great examples my grandparents, my parents, were such great examples of their love for the temple and I guess I just want my kids to know the joy that comes from going to the temple and going. Often there is power in, in consistency. As we go to the temple and we are, we go with willing hearts and open minds and and I feel like that is something I just want to instill in my kids is a love for the temple and I and I do that by example and I and I learned that from my grandparents and my parents and their example and their love and their study of the temple. So I just want them to find, I want them to find Jesus in the temple and when they find him they will find so much joy and happiness.
Speaker 1:Thank you, rochelle. Thanks again for being on the show you were. That was such a great message. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for listening to today's episode of Temple Bound. If you enjoyed today's content, please leave a review and share the episode with others so that people who are looking for this information can find it. Thank you again for listening. Until next time.
