In an age of global challenges and immense human suffering, it's a fair question to ask: "Why is the Church spending so much money on temples?" On this episode of Temple Bound, Will Humphreys and his guest Bryce Bender—co-host of the Companionship Study Podcast—provide a powerful and inspired answer.Drawing from the teachings of President Russell M. Nelson and other Church leaders, they explain why the building of temples is the ultimate act of preparing a people for the Savior’s return. Bryce, who served in Bolivia, offers a personal and moving perspective on how a new temple can transform a community. He backs up his spiritual insights with a unique, number-based approach to show the incredible scale of the Lord’s "hastening work."Takeaways:A Humanitarian Effort: Will and Bryce discuss how temples are a form of humanitarian work that changes hearts and prepares a people for the Second Coming.

The Math of the Hastening: Bryce, an engineer, breaks down the numbers to show that the announced temples will require 132,000 new temple ordinance workers, a force larger than the current missionary corps.

Becoming "Lightning Bugs": A beautiful metaphor of leaving the temple filled with light and becoming a beacon in a darkening world.

Holding to the Iron Rod: The temple is the most powerful tool for helping us hold fast to the iron rod (the word of God).Christ is the Main Character: Bryce shares how a personal revelation in the temple taught him to see Christ's creative power as a tool for transforming his own life.This conversation addresses common criticisms and reveals a deeper truth: the power gained through temple worship is the very thing that enables us to serve and lift others. Discover how each new temple is a call to rise up and shine your light, and hear a beautiful personal story about how the creation ordinance of the temple can be a template for personal transformation.00:00 - Welcome to Episode 1101:21 - Introduction: Why Are We Building So Many Temples?01:30 - Meet the Guest: Bryce and Companionship Study Podcast06:40 - The Majesty of the Moment and Hastening the Work12:24 - Bryce's Connection to the Santa Cruz, Bolivia Temple16:29 - Why Temple Building is a Humanitarian Effort19:44 - The Math Behind the Temples: A Look at the Numbers26:24 - The "Lightning Bugs" of Christ35:28 - President Nelson's Promise on the Iron Rod40:29 - A Personal Revelation on Christ's Creative Power50:00 - Final Testimony