And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. - Matthew 21:12-13
When Jesus cleansed the temple, it was an act of righteous indignation, reflecting His desire to maintain the sanctity of His Father's house. President Ezra Taft Benson, in his April 1986 General Conference talk, "Cleansing the Inner Vessel," sheds light on similar themes of purification and rectification—not just of spaces, but of our lives.
My beloved brethren and sisters, as we cleanse the inner vessel, there will have to be changes made in our own personal lives, in our families, and in the Church. The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change. But we can do it.
President Benson emphasizes that Christ's actions were not sinful; rather, they were necessary to uphold the sacredness of the temple. It highlights the importance of confronting and eradicating misuse, much like the need to cleanse our own lives from sin and distractions. President Benson parallels this event with the essential process of personal repentance and change, urging members to cleanse their inner vessels—our hearts and souls—of pride and immorality.
In the category of sins, the Book of Mormon places unchastity next to murder. (See Alma 39:5.) As Alma states, “Now … I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, … for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.” (Alma 39:9.) If we are to cleanse the inner vessel, we must forsake immorality and be clean.
He points out that pride is a significant barrier to spiritual growth and can corrupt our intentions and actions. This connects with Jesus's actions, as He drove out those who had pridefully turned a place of worship into a marketplace. To guide us in our personal efforts to cleanse our lives, President Benson advises a focus on the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon, to help us correct our paths and deepen our righteousness.
Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right. Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention.
President Benson's talk is a clarion call to awaken spiritually and make necessary changes in behavior and attitude. It's a reminder that just as Jesus took decisive action in the temple, we too must take deliberate steps to purify our lives and keep them aligned with divine teachings. Through these teachings, we gain a deeper understanding of the importance of holiness, both in sacred spaces and within ourselves.
Just as Christ cleansed the Holy Temple with vigor and reverence, honoring it as the sacred House of the Lord, let us also take decisive action in cleansing our lives from impurities and immorality. We should not remain passive while our inner sanctuaries are defiled or abused. Instead, let us actively purify and honor ourselves, following His example.
Just as Christ cleansed the Holy Temple with vigor and reverence, honoring it as the sacred House of the Lord, let us also take decisive action in cleansing our lives from impurities and immorality. We should not remain passive while our inner sanctuaries are defiled or abused. Instead, let us actively purify and honor ourselves, following His example.