CEBU PHILIPPINES TEMPLE: RECALLING AND RENEWING OUR COVENANTS

by: Norberto Betita 

CEBU PHILIPPINES TEMPLE

Living in the countryside away from the temple district is a barrier for many members to go and worship in the House of the Lord, not only because of the distance, but also because of the high cost of travel expenses, plus the fact that most of them have no regular sources of income. The opportunity then to be able to visit the Cebu Philippines Temple is such a sacrifice for many and a rare privilege.

Temple attendance has been the regular and unvarying reminder from living apostles and prophets. President Russel M. Nelson once said: “Each Holy Temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families.” (Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings, April 2001.) 

Baptismal Font

It is in this most sacred edifice that the pronouncements of the ultimate spiritual blessings that may be received in mortality and in the life to come are made available both for the living and the dead through sacred Priesthood ordinances. It is in this consecrated sanctuary that we learn and know of spiritual mysteries, which may be revealed to us personally; feel of its importance in our lives; and do the covenants we have entered into toward becoming celestial citizens worthy to pass by the angels standing as sentinels.

Learning and understanding the gifts of the spirit that are in the temple are most essential in our personal quest for spiritual maturity. Regularly recalling and renewing our covenants, therefore, should be given deeper personal attention. Regular may mean as frequently as possible, but for those who are far and financially handicapped, it can be a once a year visit to the temple. 

Grand Staircase

Indeed, for the Latter Day Saints of Surigao Philippines District going to the temple is rather a difficult undertaking. Even qualifying for a temple recommend is already a mounting challenge to most of the members. Tithing faithfulness is one great hurdle that many Priesthood holders find difficulty to leap. Their irregular meager income creates a vacuum between their increasing needs against available resources as to tempt them to differ obedience. Ironically though, even those who had been blessed with better employments find it hard to qualify. Many don’t realize how small a tenth of our income for a sacrifice in comparison to the promised blessings if we stand true and faithful to our covenants. I too was once in that kind of attitude of giving more concern in the things of the world. But I soon realized, as I kept myself qualified for a temple recommend and visit the temple at least once in a year, that blessings of greater knowledge and understanding did flow with superior light and wisdom, and with sweet feelings of joy and contentment, thereby inspiring me even more to walk on the covenant path toward what Heavenly Father wanted me to become. 

Sealing Room

During the April 2018 General conference, President Russel M. Nelson, in his concluding remarks, pronounced blessings for the members. Said he: “…I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples.” In this light, with one simple idea and suggestion from a veteran temple worker, backed by such prophetic blessings, the Surigao District leadership gives emphasis on the pronouncement and encouraged and even challenged the members to try the Lord and start preparing to qualify for a temple recommend forgetting at first the concern for the needed financial resources for the trip, and instead try to “identify those things [they] can set aside.” 

Celestial Room

The last few years, we only have one temple trip for adults which seldom covers the reservation of 20 persons in the temple patron housing. But as soon as the blessings were declared by the prophet and emphasis were regularly given for members to take the challenge, more were aroused and motivated to work out for the needed temple recommend interview and qualified. While some were short of resources on the scheduled dates, God’s extended hands provided some needed resources through benefactors who ministered with love beyond boundaries.

Since that prophetic blessings, the Surigao Philippines District had already conducted three temple trips with a total of 67 adult members visiting the Cebu Philippines Temple, with one more scheduled trip in November. With such excitement, the district leadership planned to make the temple trip a yearly activity for each Branch. 

Entrance

S. Michael Wilcox wrote: “The Lord knew that some people would fail to maintain their temple worthiness through the temptation and weaknesses of human nature. But we are not so much condemned for our mistakes and sins as we are for our failure to cease doing them. In terms of temple covenants, the condemnation comes for not correcting our faults so that we can return to the temple. Worthiness and the desire to return to the temple are often the best signs we have that our repentance has been complete and is accepted by the Lord. Then we must forgive ourselves, continue with our lives, and remain temple worthy.” (House of Glory, p. 79-80, Deseret Book Company).

When we first received our temple ordinances at the Manila Philippines Temple it was such a great sacrifice on our part. We tried our best to spiritually qualify according to the requirements. Money was then in scarcity that it was difficult for us to save for the trip. My wife sold her treasured jewelries without hesitation to cover the cost of our planned temple trip to be sealed together as a family with three of our then young children. When all were already in place except for some needed allowance for contingencies, unexpectedly, a check almost equivalent to my one month salary was received from a generous benefactor. Finally, on December 13, 1986, we received all the necessary ordinances and were together sealed as a family for time and all eternity. 

Temple Patron Housing Lobby

I should admit that during that time when I first received my temple ordinances, I have never truly understood all that had been conveyed and presented, except for a few memories of the promised blessings. All my wishes to return to the temple were in vain because of the distance and financial requirements. It took me several years before I was able to go back to the Manila Philippines Temple, until a more nearer temple was completed. At the Cebu Philippines Temple, recalling and renewing our covenants regularly became a reality. Our regular temple worship then, at least once every year has become a source of better understanding of the covenants and promises that the temple provides. 

Temple Patron Housing

In our last temple trip on September 26-29, 2018, I carry with me these thoughts from S. Michael Wilcox: "Sometimes the world is like a hot summer's day beating down on us. There are no clouds in the sky and no relief in sight. We search anxiously for a place of shade to shield us from the burning heat of the sun. When the world's heat becomes oppressive the Lord says to us: "Come into the shade of my house. Be refreshed. Be renewed. No burning heat will reach you here. Drink from my fountain. Swim in my river, and you will be able to return to the challenges of life, prepared to meet them."" (House of Glory, p. 58, Deseret Book.)

If I may be privileged to travel every year during the remaining years of my mortal journey to visit the most beautiful and special places in the world, the temple will be the only place that I would want to go. It is the House of the Lord where His holiness is felt. To me it is the place where heaven and earth meet.