Clean Up! - January Temple Theme

JANUARY THEME: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish. . .a house of ORDER. . ."

APPLICATION: CLEAN UP!

During the last four months of 2009, we have individually, and as families, joined together in fun and meaningful efforts to prepare ourselves to worship in the Temple. We have been overwhelmed by the way in which EVERY organization of the Ward GOT ON BOARD. We have been thrilled each month to anticipate the excitement with which the Young Women, the Primary, the Relief Society and other organizations have developed other ways in which they could adapt the theme.

The Lord has made clear that the process of preparation is one of organization in every aspect of our lives. When He created the Earth, the Lord put all of the elements in order, organized the home for Adam & Eve (the Garden), and then, most importantly, he created Man & Woman, organized the Family, and taught them His Order, that harmony, unity and love could abound in their lives, and so that they could be happy.

The process of organization requires that we each "CLEAN-UP" every aspect of our lives, both temporally and spiritually. that includes our homes, where this month we will clean out a drawer, organize a closet, or a garage; remove from our personal lives any quality or habit that may hinder us; and re-evaluate and amend, where needed, those important relationships in our lives. During this month and then next two months we will focus on those critically important relationships. Our relationship with our SPOUSE, our CHILDREN, our FRIENDS and our NEIGHBORS, in order to truly set our House in Order.

In 1833 the Lord rebuked young leaders of His Church (including the Prophet Joseph Smith) because of parental shortcomings. The Lord said:

"And now a commandment I give unto you . . . you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house . . . First set in order thy house." (D & C 93:41-50).

Elder Russel M. Nelson taught that: "To set our house in an order pleasing to the Lord, we need to do it in His way. We are to employ His attributes of 'righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness."

LET'S CLEAN UP!!!!