Days Never to Be Forgotten

Elder Gary E. Stevenson gave a unique talk in the most recent general conference as he looked forward to some of the important things that will happen over the decade from 2024 to 2034. These include President Nelson’s 100^th birthday (the first time a prophet has ever reached that age), the dedication of hundreds of temples, the open house and rededication of the Salt Lake Temple, the celebration of the bicentennial of the organization of the Church in 2030, and the coming of the Olympics to Salt Lake City in 2034. Since then the Church has announced that the open house of the Salt Lake Temple will be from April 2027 to October 2027, likely to be the largest open house for a temple ever. And it is almost certain that more temples will be dedicated in this decade than in any previous decade with 5 already completed (since general conference), 52 currently under construction and 113 others announced. If only those were completed (and surely there will continue to be more announced in the coming conferences), that would make 170 temples for an average of over 17 temples a year and more than one a month. For a comparison, during the previous decade (from October 2014 through September 2024), a total of 54 temples were dedicated or about 5.5 per year. And that was more than double the decade before that when 24 temples were dedicated. Indeed, with the unprecedented rate of temple building alone this decade may indeed “prove to be as momentous as any that has followed that unparalleled founding decade almost two centuries ago.”

                With such a decade looming large ahead of us, Elder Stevenson suggested how we can personally prepare. He encouraged us to work to fulfil our four divinely appointed responsibilities: “First, living the gospel of Jesus Christ; second, caring for those in need; third, inviting all to receive the gospel; and fourth, uniting families for eternity.” These are the four items listed as how we come unto Christ in “God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation” in the Church’s handbook. I think we see an example of what it means to live these principles in the Nephite society after the Savior came among them. Mormon recorded that in the year after Jesus left them, many “did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost” (4 Nephi 1:1). They lived the principles of the gospel as the Savior had taught them: “Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel” (3 Nephi 27:20-21). They also cared for the poor in such an incredible way that there were no poor left among them: “And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift” (4 Nephi 1:3). Their missionary labors were so successful that they eliminated all contention from the land: “And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God” (4 Nephi 1:16). Lastly, they clearly sought to unite families together, as highlighted in this verse: “And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them” (4 Nephi 1:11). They had a temple in Bountiful—where Jesus came to visit them—and surely they enjoyed the blessings of the temple that helped unite their families together. The story of these righteous Nephites and Lamanites who lived these four divinely appointed responsibilities are a powerful example to us for how we can strive to live over this next exciting decade. As we strive to follow the Savior as completely as they did, we can hope that what was said about them will likewise apply to us: “And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings” (4 Nephi 1:18). In the words of Elder Stevenson, “those who embark upon this grand and glorious pilgrimage will discover and experience bounteous celestial blessings and receive a witness that God hears you, knows you, and loves you. You will experience days never to be forgotten.”