The Cornerstone & the Temple

George Q. Cannon said, "Every cornerstone that is laid, and every temple that is completed lessens the power of Satan."

President Uchtdorf used this quote at the Sunday morning dedication session of the Oquirrh Mtn. Temple. Later on I posted it as my status on Facebook, and someone I don't even know IM'd me and said he liked the quote. Now, as far as I can tell this dude isn't Mormon. I replied and said thanks, then closed the window.

About five minutes later, I get another message from him that says, "It sounds like something from the Bible more than a quote." I thought about all the responses I could give him, the proceeded to look up "corner stone" in the Topical Guide in the back of my Bible. Was I missing something? What little nugget was there to be found?

Well, there were scriptures about Christ being the chief cornerstone, ancient speak about a cornerstone, and that Christ was also the rock of out salvation. I sat for a minute and thought about those scriptures and this quote some more. Then it came to me, of course it's scripture. It's not only said by a servant of God, but each of those scriptures has something to do with the quote.

Christ being the chief cornerstone and coming to the earth to complete the Atonement lessened Satan's power. He is our Rock who will help us over come all things and crush Satan's influence in our lives. In Matt 21:44 we are taught, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." AMAZING! :D

Then my next thought came about temples. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Each body here on earth is here because they "overcame [Satan] by the word of their testimony" (Rev. 12:11). And each person has the opportunity to do it again. Each baby that is blessed under the proper priesthood authority, each person who makes the decision to be baptized under proper priesthood authority, each person who decides to serve a full-time mission, each couple who chooses to kneel across the altar and be sealed for time and all eternity, each time we attend the temple and do vicarious ordinances, weakens Satan's power.

While some people may not have the opportunity to attend the temple as often as they would like, they can still weaken Satan's power daily by the lives the chose to live. For those of us who live within minutes of the temple, we must act selflessly by attending as often as possible. It is a privilege to serve in the House of the Lord. It is a privilege to be on God's side of the battle and overcome Satan by the power of your testimony once again.