Introducing the Temple to Our Friends

By Myriam Glowa

The author lives in Quebec, Canada.

I felt immense joy when two of my friends attended the temple open house with me.

When the Montreal Quebec Temple was rededicated after major renovations in 2015, open houses were organized by our local leaders. It was the ideal time to invite friends to come and see the temple.

I immediately thought of two good college friends who had already asked me about the Church and my beliefs. In the past, both of them had agreed to attend sacrament meeting at Christmastime. I had also invited them to my wedding two years earlier. That had been an opportunity to explain to them why they could come to the reception but not to the sealing ceremony in the temple.¹

Still, even though I had talked with them about the Church before, I hesitated to invite them. I feared being in an uncomfortable situation if they refused. Finally, I got the courage and asked them over the phone: “Would you like to see the place where I was married? The temple is open to the public for guided tours. If that’s of interest to you, we could go together.”

The answer in both cases was a swift “Yes! I would like that.”

One of my friends came with her two children, and the other came with her spouse. It was an unforgettable experience for me. I felt immense joy in being able to share my love for the temple with them.

In his October 2020 general conference talk, “Recommended to the Lord,” Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded us: “On the outside of every temple in the Church are the fitting words ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ The temple is the Lord’s house and a sanctuary from the world. His Spirit envelops those who worship within those sacred walls. He sets the standards by which we enter as His guests.”²

The temple serves as a refuge from the evils of the world. When I remember that, I understand why those who enter it must live lives in harmony with the teachings of the Lord as found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, everyone is invited to experience the joy of making sacred covenants with God. But in order to do so, we must meet the criteria He has set to qualify for a recommend. It is up to each of us to decide whether to follow His laws.

When we explain to our friends the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse, we can simply tell them that:

The temple is the house of God. It is a peaceful place where faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can make sacred promises to God that they will live their lives in harmony with His commandments. It is a place where we learn more about our purpose in life and where families can be sealed together forever. In the temple we can perform gospel ordinances, like baptism, for our ancestors who didn’t have a chance to receive them when they were alive.
Meetinghouses are welcoming places where members meet on Sundays to learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and to take the sacrament. On weekdays we use meetinghouses for social or sports activities. Visitors are always welcome at our meetinghouses, both on Sundays and during the week.

Simply sharing our testimonies with our friends about what the temple means to us can help them feel the Spirit. It will witness to them of the holiness of this place.

I regard the temple with great respect and gratitude. When I go there, I feel like I have a greater perspective on my life. I can take a step back from the challenges I face and have a clear idea of what should be the daily focus of my attention. I feel closer to God and to my Savior Jesus Christ but also to members of my family, both present and past.

Sister and Brother Glowa in front of the temple on the day of their sealing.

My favorite visits to the temple are the ones with my husband. Our love is strengthened as we remember the covenants we made with our Father in Heaven and with each other as we were sealed for time and all eternity.