Pitch Your Tents toward the Temple

In the Book of Mormon, specifically in the Book of Mosiah, we find the inspiring words of King Benjamin. These chapters contain some of the most uplifting discourses recorded in ancient scripture, and it is one that changed lives both then and now. However, there are some verses that I think go unnoticed because they are not actually the words of King Benjamin himself, but actually address what happened preceding his words.

In Mosiah chapter 2, verse 5, we read that the people had gathered to hear the words of King Benjamin. It reads, “They pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family.” Here is the first point I would like to make: the people came to listen to their prophet, and they did so together as their families. In our day, especially with General Conference coming up, we can strive to listen to the living prophets with our families.

In the next verse, we find another lesson. Verse 6 states that “they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple . . .” Here we see that they directed themselves toward the House of God. For us, this means that we can always keep our thoughts directed toward God and His Holy House, the temple. Today, temples dot the earth. As we keep our sights set on the temple, and figuratively pitch our tents toward it, we will naturally be led back to God and feel once more of His love.

—Kimball Gardner, Stance