This is a General Conference Odyssey post for the April 2025 General Conference.

Our prophet, seer, and revelator, President Russell M. Nelson, is diligently preparing us for our Savior’s coming. He focuses on helping us see where we can improve our lives, find joy in the journey, become more spiritually intune, and gain power to overcome through our temple covenants. Back in 2019, he said, “Individual worthiness to enter the Lord’s house requires much individual spiritual preparation. … In some respects, it is easier to build a temple than it is to build a people prepared for a temple.” Yet, that is exactly what he has been trying to do with us.

Each talk given, over the pulpit, is geared to increase our focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ, so that we will recognize Him, know Him, and stand before Him with confidence. God be thanked for giving us a prophet who will do this mighty work of preparing a stubborn, worldly people.

I ran across a talk, given by David O. McKay (then a counselor in the First Presidency), speaking to missionaries. I’ve paraphrased what he teaches about covenants. These covenants are not secret, but must be taught and understood in order for us to gain necessary confidence.

He begins by talking about cleanliness. It is important to be clean before entering the temple. It is equally important to be cleansed by our temple attendance. Following this cleansing, we are anointed to a future of kingship and queenship. No one can say they are “a nobody” when they have been anointed to this promised future.

Are we willing to obey, or in other words, take on the responsibility of making God the center of our lives? Are we willing to obey the Law of Sacrifice? Pres. McKay simply explains, “The best shall be given to God; the next you may have. God is the Center.” If we have that mindset, sacrificing will become second nature for we will always see the spiritual benefit of it. The Law of the Gospel is found in scripture. It is in the Bible and Book of Mormon that we learn how God works. We study scriptures so that we can teach the truth that is in them. The Law of Chastity is “the chief contributing factor to the strength and perpetuity of the race.” It is the foundation of a happy home.

Finally, we accept the Law of Consecration. There’s the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5), a rich publican who is willing to give half of all he has when the Lord approaches him. And there’s King Lamoni’s father (Alma 22:15), who is willing to give up all that he has to know God. This is the attitude we covenant with in the temple. We allow the Spirit to fill our hearts ‘with a desire and determination to walk uprightly before God.’ 

It takes confidence to walk uprightly before God. As Pres. Nelson said, 

I am referring to having confidence in approaching God right now! … How do we gain such confidence? The Lord answers this question with these words: ‘Let thy bowels … be full of charity towards all men, … and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.’ There’s the key! In the Lord’s own words, charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God! Brothers and sisters, we can do this! Our confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God, right now! … We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that “great and dreadful day.

Temple workers strive to always show charity and virtue to the patrons that come. The kindness that shows in their faces inspires the patrons to feel that charity and virtue within themselves. Those attributes can be taken home with us, where we bless the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors.

Yes, the Lord is on His way. A new sculpture has been placed on the bridge, between the temple and the Relief Society building, of the five virgins. Why only five? Because those of us who have already made covenants are being urged to keep those covenants with confidence. Don’t lose the fire of your covenants this late in the game. Stay focused. Stay strong in your faith because the reward is great.