The Value and Importance of the Temple

Haggai. 

Read Haggai and write responses to the following questions:

(a) The Importance of the Temple.

What did Haggai say were the consequences for delaying the building of the temple? 
 6 Ye have ^asown much, and bring in little; ye ^beat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that ^cearneth wages earneth^dwages to put it into a bag with ^eholes.

What do you think it means to put your wages “into a bag with holes”?  

Their money/goods were not keeping long. They were not storing their treasures in heaven, so they were not eternal/keepable. 

What does Haggai 1:4–6 tell about the priority of the temple in the lives of the people?  

Haggai 1:7–11, “The Consequences of Disobedience,” pg. 325) "The Jews in Jerusalem were charged by Haggai: “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:7). They had refused to fulfill the assignment given them by the Lord to rebuild the temple. True, there had been difficult circumstances because of the interference of the Samaritans, but the Lord would not bless them with prosperity if they did not heed His commands (compare D&C 82:10).

There are parallels between Haggai’s time and Latter-day Saint history since the Latter-day Saints also built two temples, one in Kirtland and one in Nauvoo, in times of great poverty and persecution. Compare Haggai’s call to Israel with the revelations given to Joseph Smith about the Saints’ task of building the Nauvoo temple (see D&C 124:31–55). The Lord directly tied the poverty of the people of Haggai’s time and the sterility of the land to their failure to heed the commandment to rebuild the Lord’s house (see Haggai 1:9–11)." 

"God would not bless them with prosperity if they would not heed His commandments" to rebuild the temple.

(b) The People’s Response to Haggai.

What did the people do because of Haggai’s message? 

They started building the temple. 

I am making the temple the symbol of your membership and the temple affects the way I live because every thing I do is to be worthy of going in. It is the most peaceful place that I can find and feels closer to God than even nature has provided me. Nature is a top contender for peace but being with God in his house that I know I helped build with my tithing brings love and joy. 

I work everyday to fight my worldly desires to be able to go. Some things are so simple that are hard to do but it's always worth the sacrifice. 

(c) The Lord’s Promise If They Build the Temple.

From Haggai 2 list the blessings and knowledge the people would have if they worked to rebuild the temple. 

• God will overthrow the kingdoms of the kingdoms of the heathen.
• abundance of crop
• peace
• when the Lord says he'll bless them he really will do it, he keeps his promises

Also, record three main points that describe how the temple is a place of peace.

• spirit remains among them
• safety
• glory (blessings)