As we continue catching up with the Spencer W. Kimball lessons from throughout the year, we now learn about lesson #55, “We Should Be a Reverent People.” This section begins with a lovely picture of the Celestial Room in the Mt. Timpanogos temple with the reminder that the temple is a sacred place and should be treated with reverence. On days when he was asked to dedicate a temple, President Kimball would fast, dress carefully in his nicest clothing, and would not speak until it was time to officiate. He wanted that day to be different from all others, and so he treated it with reverence.
Once while visiting a meetinghouse, President Kimball was observed to enter the men’s room and wipe up the counter when he was done using the sink, and then he picked up some paper towels that were on the floor. This was the President of the Church, the Prophet of God. Any number of people could have cleaned up the mess, and he might have thought it beneath him, but no. He held the church in such respect that he took a moment to help preserve its sanctity.
As we enter the lesson, we learn that reverence is another way of expressing our devotion to God. The more devoted we are, the more reverent we will naturally be. It is one of the highest qualities of the soul, and is a necessary attribute to gaining the Celestial Kingdom. It’s more than just sitting with our arms folded – it’s an attitude that goes deeply into our souls.
We often hear the name of the Lord taken in vain as we listen to the radio, watch television, or even go outside. We should never let such profane words cross our own lips, and we should set the good example of proper speech whenever possible. We owe everything that we are to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and they deserve our most grateful words of praise and gratitude.
Our temples, our meeting places, and our homes should be treated with respect. We would ask the spirit to come dwell with us there; we need to be sure that it can, without feeling uncomfortable. We should teach the need for reverence in our homes, to our very young children from the very start. We should try to avoid rushing out the door to church, as this creates chaos. When we arrive, we should help our children understand the need to sit quietly on their bench. Perseverance and firmness, along with preparing beforehand, will go a long way toward helping with this goal. When we become the reverent people we know we ought to be, we will be making a great and positive impact on our families and those around us.
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