GregS

This power can be gain/regained by holding to the iron rod...reading the scriptures daily and having daily communication with our Father in Heaven....Once we consistently hold to the rod over time, the Holy Ghost will let us know that we are ready to enter the temple and make sacred, eternal covenants. Until then, God still loves us and we should also love ourselves and the positive steps we are making.

The question to ask yourself is: Am I still struggling [backsliding] with the problem(s) that kept from going to the temple in the first place? If the answer is, Yes I am still struggling to overcome this/these issue(s), you need more time. It is of no use to go and make sacred covenants unless we are totally committed to keeping them. That's where the power of the temple comes from.