The days were dark and turbulent in Nauvoo 150 years ago. The clouds of persecution hung over the city on the banks of the Mississippi. Mobs, bent on driving the Saints out of Illinois, pillaged, plundered and burned, particularly in outlying areas.

But in spite of the violence and threats, workers redoubled their efforts to complete the Nauvoo Temple so as many worthy members as possible could receive their endowments before the Saints were forced to flee their beloved city.On Dec. 10, 1845, the first endowments in a temple in this dispensation were performed in a portion of the Nauvoo Temple that had been dedicated just days previous. The sacred work began in the afternoon on the 10th, and it wasn't until 3:30 the next morning that it ended for the day. (History of the Church 7:543.) In all, 5,615 members received their endowments before going West.

Undoubtedly for them, the darkened clouds of the times lifted somewhat. They had a glimpse of eternity. They had entered the temple, but more significantly, the spirit of the temple had entered into them. They had received an "endowment from on high" and could now turn to the West and face whatever lay ahead.

Since those dreary, unsettled days in Church history, the work of the Lord in temples has intensified. With 47 operating temples today and 15 others in various stages of planning or construction, temples now grace every continent, with the exception of Antarctica.

From the four pioneer temples in Utah in the 19th century, temples have mushroomed during the 20th century, starting with the completion of the first temple in the isles of the sea in Hawaii in 1919 to the dedication of the majestic temple in the foothills of Bountiful, Utah, last January. Temples will be operating in 27 countries of the world when the temples that have been announced are completed.

But all has not been easy. At times there has been opposition once a new temple was announced. And through the years there frequently was much personal sacrifice on the part of Church members to help finance the building of a temple.

"No temple has ever yet been built that did not require sacrifice and hard work," President Spencer W. Kimball once said. (From an October 1975 general conference address by then-Elder James E. Faust.)

Today, members may still contribute to the financing of a temple, but are not asked to donate to the extent that they were in times past.

The sacrifice for many today lies not in the building of a temple, but in attending the temple. Even though temples dot the land, tens of thousands of members still have to travel vast distances to go to a temple, often at considerable expense.

Such is the case of members living deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Two years ago, 102 members left Manaus, Brazil, to travel to the temple in Sao Paulo, nearly 4,000 miles away. They journeyed by boat for four days along the powerful Amazon River and its tributaries, where there are no roads. Debarking at Humaita, Brazil, they boarded buses for another three days, arriving in Sao Paulo on the seventh day. It was a long and arduous trip, but their sacrifices brought them eternal promises and great joy. (March 13, 1993, Church News.)

A t another time, a poor family from Paraguay also went to the Sao Paulo Temple. They went by bus, but unfortunately the bus they were on passed by the temple and they didn't notice. They remained on the bus until it arrived at the central bus terminal. They didn't have enough money to take a second bus back to the temple, so they walked the 17 miles. Only the father had footwear, and he was wearing homemade thongs. The children didn't have shoes. (June 25, 1994, Church News.)

For those who are faithful, no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy to receive the blessings of the temple. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome. The saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and effort.

The Saints 150 years ago worked on the temple in Nauvoo with great diligence in the face of mounting opposition so they could receive their temple blessings.

Surely, we should be extremely grateful today for the privilege of having temples on the earth - yes, temples that dot the land - where we can receive our own saving ordinances and perform vicarious work for the redemption of the dead. Such is the legacy we received from those stalwart pioneers. Such is the heritage we should pass on to our own posterity.