Providing a Safe Haven-Temples

Steinberg said that, "Its fine to make your home comfortable and attractive, but no amount of fancy upholstery, plush carpeting, or state-of-the-art electronics can take the place of a warm and affectionate climate where people treat each other with affection, kindness, and respect (Steinberg, pg. 42)". The home is where we want our children to feel emotionally comfortable because then they will always have a refuge from the world. Today we need to help our children to remove themselves from the noise of the world. It's good to learn and make decisions, but then there is a time and a place to help a child remember who they are and what they stand for. "Children need to feel their home is a place where they can retreat from the tensions and pressures of everyday life. Create the sort of atmosphere in your home that allows your child to really relax and escape from his problems. Your child needs to feel that no matter how bad things get, he always has a safe and secure place to come home to (Steinberg, pg.43)". When we have a secure place to go to we are able to feel and hear the whisperings of the spirit, which is a comfort to us in a world ever so changing. When children are given a place to go to then we can help them to recognize the spirit in their lives. Our Heavenly Father has provided a safe haven, temples, all over the world. In the Book of Mormon we read in 2 Nephi 14:6, "And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain". Heavenly Father has time and time again spoke through his children in years past that temples would be built upon the mountain or hill so that we could go and remove ourselves from the every day life and have time to reflect, learn, and be inspired of what more we can do in our life. If we parents are setting the example of attending the temple then our children will see it and not only that they will start to ask questions. They will see that when we come home from the temple that we are happy, refreshed and ready to tackle the next task. Heavenly Father knew the challenges we would face here in mortality, but he loves us so much that he would never leave us alone and that's why he dwells in his temples. We will be able to teach our children that when life is hard and we feel alone that we can go and feel peace and love in a safe place. We can even take our children to the temple ground where it is dedicated. We are commanded to go to the Lord's house often and as we do we will receive blessings. As we keep our home a safe haven we will receive the spirit more abundantly and teach our children that they always have a place to come when needed. I want to conclude with more guidance from the scriptures, Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:119, " Organize yourself; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God".