A few years before the opening of the San Jose Costa Rica Temple in 2000, a young branch president living in the Costa Rican town of San Ramon stood before his small congregation and challenged every adult member of the branch to acquire a temple recommend.

That call for temple recommends may have seemed pointless to some in attendance that day. Most of the members had little money and a temple did not exist in their Central American nation. At the time, plans to construct a temple in the capital of San Jose had not even been announced. The nearest temple to San Ramon was across international borders in Guatemala City. For many, the notion of attending the temple and being eternally sealed to their families seemed the exclusive claim of dreams.

Still, that inspired branch president felt it was important that his members hold a temple recommend — even if they were unable to visit the temple. He knew power was found in that slip of paper. It was a tangible symbol of one's worthiness and bore the signed endorsement of local priesthood leaders. A temple recommend also represented one's sincere desire to enter the Lord's sacred house, even if such desires were beyond one's capacity.

The branch president knew well the blessing his temple recommend had been in his own life. His calling was often lonely. He was experiencing many of the same economic challenges facing his fellow branch members. But he also knew the Lord was with him.

He knew the Lord was eager to help him because he lived a worthy life. He was strengthened every time he pulled his temple recommend from his wallet and held it in his hand.

That branch president in San Ramon was certain the day would come when he would enter the temple. He anticipated the joy he would feel experiencing that sacred day alongside his friends from the branch. He prayed that the members he served would live worthy lives, secure a temple recommend and always be at the ready to claim their eternal temple blessings.

Like that humble Costa Rican branch president, modern-day prophets and apostles have long counseled members of the Church, worldwide, to live temple-worthy lives and attain a temple recommend.

Preparation to enter the temple includes qualifying for a temple recommend, taught Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve.

"Our Redeemer requires that His temples be protected from desecration. No unclean thing may enter His hallowed house. Yet anyone is welcome who prepares well. Each person applying for a recommend will be interviewed by a judge in Israel — the bishop — and by a stake president. They hold the 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 critical? 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.'

"Such requirements are not difficult to understand. Because the temple is the house of the Lord, standards for admission are set by Him. One enters as His guests. To hold a temple recommend is a priceless privilege and a tangible sign of obedience to God and His prophets" (April 2001 general conference).

President Thomas S. Monson, the 16th President of the Church and the Lord's anointed mouthpiece for our day, said in last April's general conference that some of his family's most sacred and treasured experiences have occurred when they have worshipped and served together in the temple.

"If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple," said President Monson. "Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing.

"Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is."

On June 4, 2000, that branch president from San Ramon arrived in his weathered van outside the gates of the newly dedicated San Jose Costa Rica Temple. He was not traveling alone. Several of his fellow branch members climbed out of the van with smiles on their faces and temple recommends in their hands. They truly regarded those signed slips of paper as "a precious possession." They were worthy and prepared to claim their eternal blessings inside the house of the Lord.