The expansion of temples across the world has made temple attendance easier and more convenient for many members of the Church. That does not mean, however, that all who wish to attend the temple are able to do so. Whether a temple is close or far away from us, those desiring to attend need a current recommend.

The questions asked by priesthood leaders in the temple recommend interview remain key for all worthy Latter-day Saints. To many, hearing the questions and responding accordingly allows us, and our leaders, to assess our personal worthiness.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "What a unique and remarkable thing is a temple recommend. It is only a piece of paper with a name and signatures, but in reality it is a certificate that says the bearer is 'honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous' and that he or she believes in doing good to all...." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 631).

President Hinckley's observation is not new. Even before the increase in temple-building, Church leaders have encouraged members to hold a current recommend.

In a conference address in October 1978, President N. Eldon Tanner, a counselor in the First Presidency, said, "We cannot overemphasize the necessity of our being worthy of the responsibilities given to us.... The whole purpose of our mission here upon the earth is to prove ourselves and help others be worthy and prepared to go back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to do this we must live according to the teachings of the gospel, and the Lord has provided the agencies through which we can work to accomplish this purpose" (Ensign, November 1978, p. 40).

He continued, "When you sign your recommend, you make a commitment to the Lord that you are worthy of the privileges granted to those who hold such a recommend."

In April 2001, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Each person applying for a recommend will be interviewed by a judge in Israel — the bishop — and by a stake president. They hold keys of priesthood authority and the responsibility to help us know when our preparation and timing are appropriate to enter the temple. Their interviews will assess several vital issues. They will ask if we obey the law of tithing, if we keep the Word of Wisdom, and if we sustain the authorities of the Church. They will ask if we are honest, if we are morally clean, and if we honor the power of procreation as a sacred trust from our Creator.

"Why are these issues so crucial?" he asked. "Because they are spiritual separators. They help to determine if we truly live as children of the covenant, able to resist temptation from servants of sin. These interviews help to discern if we are willing to live in accord with the will of the true and living God or if our hearts are still set 'upon riches and vain things of the world,"' (Ensign, May 2001, p. 32).

Holding a current recommend assures an individual's access to God's holy house. It is also the means by which we can keep ourselves in tune spiritually. Each of us needs to re-evaluate our life's choices periodically. The temple recommend interview plays a significant part in that process.

Attending the temple and doing work for ourselves and our kindred dead is another. Such temple attendance allows us to focus on eternal matters and lets us put aside the trivial and temporal things that clutter up our progression.

President Hinckley has counseled us, "Now is the time to get your lives in order that you may be worthy to go to the house of the Lord. Get a temple recommend. Get it now. If every man and woman ... would make that resolution and go to work to be worthy of a temple recommend, your lives would be blessed, your homes would be blessed, you would feel the Spirit of the Lord in your home" (Teachings , p. 631).

Such blessings await those holding a current recommend and who use it as often as circumstances allow.