Reverence as the Foundation for Spiritual Connection

Have you ever wondered why certain moments in worship feel life-changing—while others feel ordinary, even rushed? In a world that increasingly scoffs at the idea of sacred times and places, Elder Ulisses Soares’s April 2025 General Conference message, Reverence for Sacred Things, is a powerful reminder: reverence is not an accessory to spirituality—it is spirituality.

Elder Soares draws us to the image of Moses before the burning bush—removing his sandals, aware he was standing on holy ground. That act was more than cultural tradition; it was a physical expression of a heart fully turned toward God. Reverence, he teaches, is the virtue that prepares our hearts to receive divine instruction, whether we are in the temple or in our own homes.

Doctrine and Covenants 88 echoes this call: “Sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him” (v. 68). Reverence is not simply about silence or outward formality—it is the alignment of our whole being with God’s presence. It can transform a home into a sanctuary, and a building into the House of the Lord.

In the words of Elder Soares:

Reverence for sacred things is the greatest manifestation of a vital spiritual quality; it is a by-product of our connection to holiness and reflects our love for and proximity to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we study D&C 88 this week, the pattern is clear: the Lord invites us to create holy places—“a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (v. 119)—not only in our temples, but in our homes. The question is, will we pause long enough, and reverently enough, to meet Him there?

Apologetic Issues: Reverence & the Relevance of Sacred Space

Doctrine Issue: “Reverence Is Just Outward Formality”

Misconception: “Reverence is about being quiet and somber—it’s just an old-fashioned cultural formality, not essential to spiritual connection.”

Response:
Reverence is not a cultural habit—it is a Christ-centered virtue. In Joseph Smith’s day, the word virtue carried the meaning of moral power, excellence, and strength of character—not just moral purity. C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters warns that the adversary will do all he can to prevent the formation of true virtues, because they shape how we receive God’s influence.

Elder Soares teaches that reverence is “a feeling or attitude of profound respect, love, and gratitude,” which invites the Holy Ghost and opens us to God’s blessings. Doctrine and Covenants 88 calls us to “sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God” (v. 68) and to “establish … a house of God” (v. 119). This inward alignment transforms outward stillness into spiritual receptivity. Reverence is the soil where testimony and revelation grow.

Common Fallacy: False Analogy – assuming two things are alike in all respects because they share some similarities.
This misconception treats reverence as the same as cultural formality. While formality can be empty, reverence is a spiritually potent virtue that changes our capacity to receive light (D&C 88:67).
Solution: Distinguish between empty custom and divine principle. Reverence is not about keeping an outdated style—it is about cultivating the inner condition that allows the Spirit to speak and be heard.

Social Issue: “Sacred Spaces Aren’t Necessary—God Is Everywhere”

Misconception: “If God is everywhere, I don’t need a temple or a special setting to worship. My home, hobbies, or nature walks are enough.”

Response:
It is true that God can be worshiped anywhere, but throughout scripture He commands the creation of dedicated sacred spaces. The Lord told Moses to remove his shoes because he stood on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). In D&C 88, He commands the Saints to build a temple and to establish their homes as “houses of prayer … faith … learning … glory” (v. 119).

Sacred spaces—especially the home and temple—do more than mark a location; they mark our intent. They provide a context for covenant, order, and focused worship that cannot be replicated by casual devotion alone. Elder Soares teaches that showing reverence for sacred things gives meaning to our everyday lives and freedom from the apathy that the irreverence of the world catapults us toward.

Common Fallacy: Hasty Generalization – drawing a broad conclusion from a few cases.
This misconception assumes that because God can be worshiped anywhere, all places are equally effective for deep spiritual formation.
Solution: Recognize that while God hears prayers anywhere, He commands and blesses the creation of set-apart spaces for His work. Sacred spaces amplify our focus, readiness, and covenant connection.

Apologetic Application:  Reverence as a Christ-Centered Virtue that Unlocks Spiritual Light

Elder Ulisses Soares’s talk teaches a doctrinal truth with profound apologetic value:
Reverence is more than etiquette—it is a covenantal virtue that opens our hearts to God’s presence.

In Joseph Smith’s day, virtue meant far more than chastity—it was moral power, excellence, and strength of soul. C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters warns that the adversary seeks to prevent the formation of such virtues, knowing they shape our ability to receive heaven’s influence.

In D&C 88, the Lord links reverence to divine vision: “Sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him” (v. 68). This is not about outward posture—it’s about the alignment of heart, mind, and will to Christ.

Defending Core Beliefs

1⃣ Reverence ≠ Empty Formality
Some dismiss reverence as a hollow cultural habit. But in scripture, reverence is repeatedly tied to encounters with God—Moses removing his sandals before the burning bush (Exodus 3:5), the Lord commanding His people to build a temple “that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8), and His instructions in D&C 88 to establish “a house of prayer … faith … learning … glory … God” (v. 119).
Defense: Outward expressions of reverence reflect inward humility and readiness to receive revelation. They are not ends in themselves—they are tools to help us stand on holy ground.

2⃣ Sacred Spaces Are Commanded, Not Optional
Some argue that since God can be worshiped anywhere, dedicated spaces like temples and worship-centered homes are unnecessary. While God indeed hears prayers offered anywhere, He commands the creation of holy places (Isaiah 2:3, D&C 88:119) as a pattern for covenant relationship and focused worship.
Defense: Sacred spaces amplify spiritual focus, strengthen covenant identity, and serve as protective “holy ground” in an increasingly irreverent world.

Practical Apologetics

This doctrine clarifies that reverence is a spiritual discipline that invites the Holy Ghost and allows the Lord to “unveil his face” (D&C 88:68). Practically, it becomes a defense against cultural trends that scoff at sacredness—showing that reverence isn’t just “acting” a certain way but a divine requirement for those who would see God.

Apologetic Use:
When someone claims, “Your Church is too rigid about how worship should look,” you can respond: “It’s not about rigidity—it’s about readiness. Reverence prepares the heart to receive revelation. God asked Moses to remove his shoes before holy ground. Today, He asks us to sanctify our homes and temples so He can meet us there.”

Historical and Doctrinal Connections

Reverence for sacred things is not a cultural invention—it is a divine pattern, repeated in every dispensation. Anciently, the Lord commanded Moses to remove his sandals before the burning bush, because he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Israel was taught to sanctify themselves before approaching Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10–11). The early Saints were commanded to do the same in their day.

In December 1832, Joseph Smith and other leaders met in the upper room of Newel K. Whitney’s store in Kirtland, Ohio, to seek the Lord’s will “concerning the upbuilding of Zion”. The result was Doctrine and Covenants 88—the “Olive Leaf” revelation—a message of peace after prophecies of war. In it, the Lord commanded His people to “sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God” and to establish “a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (vv. 68, 119). This call to reverence mirrored ancient Israel’s preparation for holy encounters and reaffirmed that sacred spaces are central to covenant life.

Elder Soares’s counsel continues this prophetic continuity. He reminds us that reverence is not optional—it is preparatory. Just as the Saints of Kirtland were commanded to create a temple and sanctify themselves, we are called to treat both our homes and temples as holy ground. Reverence is the spiritual posture that enables the Holy Ghost to “abide in your hearts” (v. 3) and fills our lives with light until we can “see [God]” (v. 68).

Connection to This Week’s Come, Follow Me Lesson:
This week’s study of Doctrine and Covenants 88 focuses on light, sanctification, and the house of God. Elder Soares’s message fits perfectly:

• D&C 88:67 – “If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light.” Reverence aligns our vision with God’s glory.
• D&C 88:68 – “Sanctify yourselves … and the days will come that you shall see him.” Reverence is the act of sanctifying both our space and ourselves.
• D&C 88:119 – “Establish … a house of God.” The Lord commands physical and spiritual preparation for sacred encounters.

By honoring this pattern—whether in our living rooms or in the temple—we claim the same promise given to the Saints in Kirtland: that God will “establish his name” among us and fill our homes with His presence.

Living Apologetics: How to Apply This Today

How can we help others understand that reverence is not outdated formality, but the foundation for real spiritual experience?

Elder Soares testifies that “…as we strive to incorporate such virtue into our daily lives, we will be able to increase our humility, expand our understanding of God’s will for us, and strengthen our confidence in the promises of the covenants we have made with the Lord.” In an age where sacredness is often dismissed, this truth helps us respond to cultural skepticism: reverence is not about restriction—it is about readiness.

Principle in Practice: Two Ways to Apply Apologetic Principles

1⃣ Reframe Criticism of “Formality in Worship”
When someone says, “Your church is too formal about worship,” respond:
→ “Reverence isn’t about formality—it’s about focus. Just like Moses removed his shoes before holy ground, we set apart our spaces and hearts so we can receive God’s guidance.”

2⃣ Explain Why Sacred Spaces Matter
When someone says, “I can worship anywhere, so temples aren’t necessary,” respond:
→ “We can pray anywhere, but God repeatedly commands His people to create holy places so we can meet Him in covenant. Homes and temples give us both the setting and the spiritual preparation to hear His voice more clearly.”

Conclusion: Standing on Holy Ground Every Day

Elder Ulisses Soares’s message calls us to rediscover reverence as the foundation of spiritual life—a virtue that transforms both sacred buildings and humble homes into holy ground. Reverence is not an empty tradition; it is the posture of a heart prepared to meet God.

From Moses before the burning bush to the early Saints commanded in D&C 88 to sanctify themselves and build “a house of God,” the Lord’s pattern is clear: when we recognize and honor the sacred, we open ourselves to the light, peace, and guidance He is eager to give. In a noisy world that often mocks the idea of sacredness, choosing reverence becomes a powerful, even countercultural act of discipleship.

This week’s Come, Follow Me lesson echoes the same truth: sanctifying ourselves and creating holy places—both physically and spiritually—prepares us to “see Him” (D&C 88:68). The temple and the home are not just places we enter—they are environments we create through our choices, our preparation, and our devotion.

Elder Soares reminds us:

…As we embrace this gift of reverence for sacred things—whether in the mountain of the Lord’s house, in a meetinghouse, or in our own homes—we will be filled with astounding amazement and awe as we connect to the perfect love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

What will you do this week to make your home and your heart holy ground?

 

The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.

The post Holy Ground appeared first on FAIR.

Continue reading at the original source →