The Temple as the House of God

In Truman Madsen's book, "The Temple" he says there is truth in the practice of facing the Temple when we pray.  Yesterday, I read 1 Kings 8 - Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the newly built Temple.  Solomon tells the Israelites to face the Temple when they pray.  He built the Temple, under God's direction, so the Ark of the Covenant would have a permanent home.  So God would have a home on earth. 
In the past year, off and on, I have faced the Temple as I prayed.  Everytime it amazes me how I can feel my heart turning, too.

I saw tomorrow passing

I saw tomorrow passing on little children's feet
And on their forms and faces her prophecies complete.
And then I saw tomorrow look at me through little children's eyes.
And I thought how carefully I must teach if I am wise!
Author Unknown

I am reading a little gem of a book called Daughters of God by M. Russell Ballard.  It is so full of insights about the value and importance of women, especially as nurturers of children.
One of my favorite scriptures is from Isaiah, and repeated in the Book of Mormon:

And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children. 

Isaiah 54:13 and 3 Nephi 22:13

Another scripture about peace, from Isaiah and repeated in the Book of Mormon is this one:

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments -- then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. 

Isaiah 48:18 and 1 Nephi 20:18

I know the Lord wants us to have peace.  We can have peace in the midst of our trials and struggles.  We certainly should have peace in our homes and families.  The way to achieve that is through teaching our families of the Lord and His commandments.  Everything else is secondary in importance.

Swimming Upstream

Before I had my first child, I bought all the stuff that comes with children in our culture.  Thankfully, some of it rarely got used.  I was exposed to ideas about child-rearing that were outside our cultural norm.  These ideas fit better with my instincts.
I am so grateful for those that were willing to talk about how they were different, even when they were in the small minority.  It made a big difference in my life, and the lives of my children.  It also helped me to become more open-minded to all the new ideas I've encountered in the last 10 years.
Bruce Hafen describes it perfectly.

The world today is a polluted river.  We are like fish swimming in the pollution, often carried by a current of which we are only vaguely aware, until someone swims against the current.  Then we see the contrast.1

This idea, of seeing the contrast, has really been apparent to me lately.  Anytime I have left my home in the last week or so, I have been shocked at the contrast between "the world" and my home.  Not that my home is perfect, but it is a safe haven bubble.  And it feels a lot safer than what is outside.
Making the first step to fortifying our homes is the most difficult.  "Can we really live without the cable tv/video games/pop music?  What will we eat if we get rid of meat/sugar/processed foods?  What will the kids do if 95% of their toys are gone?"
If Heavenly Father has been whispering to you to make some changes, you can trust that He has your best interests at heart.  Elder Oaks article in the April 2010 Ensign on The Atonement and Faith has a lot to say on the subject of Faith in God's Plan for us. 

I'll end with a quote from Orson Pratt.

In the latter days there will be a people so pure in Mount Zion, with a house established upon the tops of the mountains, that God will manifest himself, not only in their Temple . . . [but] when they retire to their [homes], behold each [home] will be lighted up by the glory of God - a pillar of flaming fire by night.2

(I wanted to say more, but it's hard to think and type with sick children, a potty-training toddler, and a crying baby. Motherhood calls!)
1 The Temple, Truman G. Madsen, pg 70
2. The Temple, pg 74