Excerpt
Nearly eight years he pointed us to Christ, the temple, and higher thinking. I saw one change up close: the move from LDS.org to ChurchofJesusChrist.org—sacred identity, careful work, and no lost mail.
Intro
Last night I felt both loss and gratitude. President Nelson’s invitations—think celestial, be a peacemaker, focus on the temple—have become a rhythm for me. One moment from his ministry is personal: I was on the support email engineering team during the transition from LDS.org to ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the updated Church symbol. Behind the scenes, we prayed, planned, and tested so identity would be clear and messages wouldn’t drop. MX, routing rules, list servers, SPF, DKIM, and countless aliases—all touched, all safeguarded so the Lord’s work could keep moving without a missed heartbeat.
Notes from President Nelson
• Correct the name of the Church and center everything on Jesus Christ.
• Focus on the temple; go more often; live inside your covenants.
• Home centered, Church supported worship; two hour Sunday schedule.
• From home teaching to ministering—people over checklists.
• Accelerate temple building; take covenants to more of God’s children.
• Keep the Restoration moving; methods can adjust while doctrine remains.
• Peacemakers needed; lift our gaze—think celestial.
Witness — two moments that shaped him
• 1976 flight: in a small prop plane, an engine “burst open and caught on fire,” the aircraft dropped in a spiral, the flames went out, and they landed safely.
• 2009 Mozambique: armed robbers put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger—“the gun did not fire”—and he and Sister Wendy felt the Lord’s peace and protection.
Foundation parallel — Salt Lake Temple and spiritual earthquakes
President Nelson used the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple’s foundation as a living parable. Engineers are reinforcing stone to withstand earthquakes and time; likewise, we take “extraordinary measures” to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations so we can stand steady when life shakes.
“Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants.”
A simple promise, and it matches my experience: when I live inside covenants, spiritual earthquakes don’t topple me—they tutor me.
Perspective — direct quotes
“I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.”
“Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants.”
Practice — today, not someday
• Temple rhythm: two visits a week when possible, with time to linger in the Celestial Room.
• Ministering: one person to love and lift this week—quietly.
• Peacemaking: choose the soft answer once a day.
• Think celestial: make one decision with eternity in mind.
Final Reflection
Deseret Peak yesterday surprised me—the far drive, the light under the arch, and a whisper I needed. Layton’s pools, Syracuse’s grasses, Taylorsville’s familiar glow, Saratoga Springs where I first learned to notice the nudge—each room speaks differently, yet the message is the same: build on Christ. President Nelson’s legacy feels very close to the ground for me—temples and small daily choices that shape a life. Foundations strengthened. Identity clarified. The work moves forward.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Safest place spiritually—inside my temple covenants.
What I Hear Now — direct quotes
Focus on the temple.
Think celestial.
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