Two Houses

There are two houses talked about in D&C 124. The temple (v 27) and the Nauvoo House (v 60). I liked the question in the Come, Follow Me manual that asks “What impresses you about the Lord’s instructions to build a ‘house for boarding’? Ponder how these instructions apply to you and your home”.

The purpose the Lord had for the Nauvoo House can be likened to our own homes and what we can be doing within the walls of our homes to prepare those within our homes to enter the temple-either for the first time, or returning for the 100th time. These principles can be a constant focus in our homes; in our own personal Nauvoo Houses.

• let our homes be good; a delightful habitation (v 23, 60) How do we welcome people into our homes?
• let our homes be a resting-place; a place where weary travelers may find health and safety (v 23, 60). I like to think of these weary travelers as my husband and children coming home after long, hard days out in the chaos and confusion of the world. Do they find a place of healing and safety when they enter our home?
• let our homes be a place where people can contemplate the word of the Lord. (v 23, 60). Are our homes places where questions can be asked and answers found?  Is it a space where the things of heaven can be pondered?
• let our homes be a place of healthful habitation (v 24). Are we taking care of temporal needs in order to facilitate spiritual growth?
• do not allow our homes to suffer any pollution to come upon them (v 24). Are we being careful to the kinds of media we allow into our homes through our phones, computers, televisions, music and other devices?
• let our homes be a place where we can receive counsel from the watchmen upon the walls (v 61). Are we teaching the words of the prophets in our homes? Are we following their counsel?

As we do these things, the promise is that our homes shall be holy; a place where the the Lord will dwell (v 24). These promises sound a lot like the promises associated with the temple. And at a time when its harder to get to the temple on a more regular basis, it's so important that we do our best to create that temple-like atmosphere in our homes.