ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Whatever principle of this gospel that God has revealed carries with it the convictions of its truth, President Gordon B. Hinckley declared during a member meeting in Anchorage Feb. 7.

Photo by Lynn Howlett

The remodeled Anchorage Alaska Temple, shown above on a crystal clear Alaska day, was expanded from 6,800 to 11,937 square feet and now includes a second ordinance room and laundry area. The temple serves more than 27,000 members.

"As you learn of it, and put it into practice and observe that practice, God will bless you," President Hinckley told the congregation. "You dear parents, you mothers, you fathers, please keep that in mind, and please observe. Let us go on now with this Church and let it grow, living our lives in such a fashion that others seeing the goodness of those lives will inquire and seek to learn of that which brings it about."

President Hinckley addressed members gathered in the Anchorage Alaska Stake Center the evening before the rededication of the Anchorage Alaska Temple. The member meeting was also transmitted to 25 Church buildings throughout Alaska and the Yukon Territory.

Also speaking during the proceedings were Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve, and members of the North America Northwest Area presidency: Elder Quentin L. Cook, area president, and his counselors, Elder Stephen A. West and Elder Keith K. Hilbig. Also offering remarks was Elder Hales' wife, Sister Mary Hales.

Early in his address, President Hinckley commended the members for a cultural presentation he attended that afternoon. "I was particularly impressed by the final scene, the closing scene, when that beautiful young couple stood before the steeple of the temple dressed in white with everybody else in white, and those Primary children, large numbers of them there, holding a candle in their hands as a part of this great presentation."

Continuing, President Hinckley issued a challenge to the young men, young women and Primary children involved in this production: "Keep the faith."

"As I looked at them all dressed in white, I said to myself: 'Keep the white in their lives. Keep the white in their lives. Do not let the darkness, the evil, the sleazy overcome the white in their lives. May they be prayerful and live up to the great and marvelous tradition which they have and be worthy to stand before the Lord as young men and women of faith, and integrity, and decency, and goodness, and strength in this world.' "

Speaking to the young people, President Hinckley said: "You can be as the righteous who can save the world in this generation because of your strength and your goodness. I challenge you now, again and again, to hold onto the faith. Live up to your tremendous inheritance. Be worthy of those who have gone before you. Walk in truth and righteousness."

Then, speaking to the general membership here, President Hinckley referred to a quote by President Brigham Young: "Every principle God has revealed carries its own convictions of its truth to the human mind, and there is no calling of God to man on earth but what brings with it the evidences of its authenticity" (Journal of Discourses, 9:150).

This principle applies to every doctrine and activity of the Church, President Hinckley emphasized.

Quoting John 7:17, the Church president said: "If we will pray, get on our knees in humility before the God of heaven, if we will do those things walking in obedience to His commandments, there will come into our hearts, I have not the slightest doubt, a firm and solid and unshakable conviction that God is our Eternal Father and that we are His children. What a marvelous and wonderful thing that is."

President Hinckley spoke of other doctrines and teachings that members may be wondering about or questioning, including the Atonement of the Son of God and the reality of the First Vision. He urged members to read the scriptures about these principles and pray.

"Do you worry about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon? Read it!" he challenged. "The truth of the book lies in the experience. . . . You cannot read it, I believe, and pray about it as Moroni asked you to do, without there will come into your hearts a conviction and knowledge that it is the truth."

Continuing, President Hinckley used the same pattern of putting "it to the test" with the principles of tithing, the Word of Wisdom and family home evening. His own children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren are observing the practice of family home evenings in their households, he related.

"But the marvelous thing is that the practice goes on and on as we walk trying to do that thing which the Lord has asked us to do."

In his brief remarks, Elder Hales said: "The temple is one of the most unique elements of the restoration. Of all things that were given during the restoration, the saving ordinances of the temple are the most cherished.

"When we have been to the temple, it changes us," he said. "We are no longer in the world and of the world. We are very much protected. When we are in the temple, we are in the House of the Lord. We have His Spirit to be with us. I hope that you will take the time when you go to the temple to tarry and to be able to ponder, to talk to your companion."

A 48-voice choir under the direction of Kerma Kenley of Jewel Lake Ward and Jan Kiester, Brayton Ward, Anchorage Alaska Stake, accompanist, sang during the member meeting.