Stop Treating The Temple Secretly And Calling It Sacred.
Let me preface this with that as a temple worker, who has attended the temple over 200 times in the last three years, and has visited almost 70 temples in North America what I am going to say is totally ok to talk about outside of the temple. And it is a discussion we need to have.
Stop Treating The Temple Secretly And Calling It Sacred.
Within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many things have been designated as sacred. The Sacred Grove, the priesthood, marriage, family, scriptures, the sacrament, and Jesus Christ's atonement just to name a few. We don't treat any of these sacred things secretly. As a matter of fact, our missionaries knock on doors trying to explain why we believe these things to people.
But for some reason, we treat the temple differently than other sacred things. "The Temple is sacred, not secret" is the oft-repeated phrase by members of the church. But then when you ask questions about the temple they refuse to talk about it except in extremely secretive and vague terms. Forgetting that "Sacred means worthy of veneration and respect." Elder Paul B. Pieper (To Hold Sacred, April 2012).
Sacred VS Secret.
When I was a missionary, I taught hundreds of people about the events that took place in the Sacred Grove. I testified almost daily about the sacred events of the early spring morning. Did I ever tell someone we could not talk about it because it was sacred? NO! Quite the opposite, instead I sought to explain why the sacred grove was important to me. And as I did people understood why it was important to me and they felt its sacred nature. As we seek to explain what the temple means to us others will learn for themselves that it truly is the house of the Lord and sacred not secret.
You don't bring respect to the Lord and His house by never talking about it, to treat something sacredly is to seek to explain it to others. When they feel how much it matters to you, that is how you convey the sacred nature of something to them. We do this with the Book of Mormon, the Atonement, our testimonies, and more, why can't we understand the same applies to the temple? In an unprecedented step and effort to show that the Temple is sacred, not a secret the Church recently released a YouTube video explaining the Temple Garment and Temple Robes. (Watch the video below or click here to watch it).
"It was never intended that knowledge of these temple ceremonies would be limited to a select few who would be obliged to ensure that others never learn of them. It is quite the opposite, in fact."
Boyd K. Packer (Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple.)
What Can We Actually Talk About Outside The Temple?
Whenever I talk about the temple I always get asked: "Can you talk about that outside the temple?" In the temple, you only covenant not to reveal 4 things. Your new name, the names, signs, and keywords of the Holy Priesthood. Also, the exact details of the actual ordinances are only to be discussed in the temple.
But everything else within the proper settings can and should be talked about inside or outside of the temple. And when it is conveyed in love and respect all who listen will feel how sacred the temple is to you, and it will become sacred to them. There is a great danger when we don't do this. When we stonewall questions people will turn to the internet. Where Satan will gladly have Anti-Mormons teach our youth and friends 'about' the temple. The duty falls on us to teach them the truth. Who knows but answering questions might lead to their conversion! I know a man who had questioned about the temple, answering them led to his investigation and I had the chance to baptize him. He is now sealed to his wife! Imagine what would've happened if I stonewalled his questions!
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson taught: "If we don’t teach our children and youth true doctrine—and teach it clearly—the world will teach them Satan’s lies." (GC: Oct 2016. Bold and italics added.)
How Should I Explain The Temple To My Friends?
The key to explaining the temple is to keep it simple. And if they show respect and interest then you explain it in more detail.
For example: When someone asks, "What is included in receiving your endowment?" I would reply with something simple like: "In the endowment, we watch a video about the creation of the world and the fall of Adam and Eve and the history of covenants. We enter into a series of covenants to obey and follow Jesus Christ. And at the end, we pass through a veil that is symbolic of death into the celestial room which is symbolic of heaven." It is important to realize that many symbolic parts of the temple have more than one meaning and interpretation.
If they express more interest you can share more info like Brigham Young did when he said: "Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell”
Brigham Young. (Journal of Discourses, 2:31.)
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"...at the end, we pass through a veil that is symbolic of death into the celestial room which is symbolic of heaven.” This quote, out of its context, is an example of why many of us are loathe to be too specific. I do not believe you explanation accurately represents what a temple veil means. I believe it actually misrepresents the role of the veil in the presentation of the endowment ceremony. Your credentials also do not certify you as competent to be authoritative. I am a "set-apart veil worker" and am descended from a long line of endowed members going back to and including the original Nauvoo Temple. I was taught in my youth in many of the ways you recommended. I have also been a bishop and am highly educated with extensive experience in educational theory and practice, which the presentation of the endowment encompasses, but I am only qualified to offer a perspective and an opinion, which anyone is qualified to do. While I appreciate many things you shared, I do not agree with what your article as a whole articulates.
That quote is 100% accurate. Even out of context. One of the meanings of the veil is death. And when it comes to explaining the temple I find that explaining the simplest meaning is the best outside of the temple.
I would tend to agree with Norman Fobert with respect to the veil, though not necessarily to his feelings on what constitutes authority to speak. The author's description of the veil's meaning is not fully accurate, though I can understand the rational. The veil of the temple represents the veil that separates us from God and it can be parted in mortality as well as in the spirit world, as the scriptures testify in abundance. In effect, the endowment not only provides a saving ordinance, but practical instructions on the process to return to God's presence - which can be attained in this life as well as the next. It is contingent on following the process outlined in the ordinance of the endowment. Unbelief is a big problem even among many of the latter day saints, which is why discussing sacred topics such as this can be sensitive and even divisive. I believe personal revelation is key to receiving light and knowledge about the meaning of temple rites, and discussion about them should only be done under constraint of the spirit. As we can see, there isn't consensus with regard to the meaning of many things pertaining to the temple, so erring on the side of discretion makes sense. I also believe the author has a point that we can be too secretive and some things that could be discussed more openly are not, so it's a tricky balance to be struck. I look forward to a time when general belief will be greater and our tongues won't be shut regarding the greater portion of the word.
You forgot to add that you were humble too. That you come from a long line of humble men who were always more humble than anyone else.
You never offer an alternative to the statement nor do you cite anything supporting his error. But there is some sourcing from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.
"...At the conclusion of the temple service, those participating in the Endowment ceremony pass from the terrestrial room to the celestial room through a veil, which symbolizes the transition from time into eternity."
http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Symbolism
I just love it when members of the church use their church "credentials" when discussing a gospel point, principle or teaching. To me it simply validates their point in the wrong direction. I could care less about your LDS ancestors, church callings or level of education...it has absolutely no bearing on gospel conversation. Arrogance and pride do not look good on saints.
Well said.
Nice personal self hero worship in your opening statements. Who gives a rat's behind how many temples you have attended or how many times you have done so. There is a man right here where I live who attends the Temple EVERY SINGLE DAY that it's open. He doesn't go there to say "look at me" he goes there because he is trying to grow closer to Father in Heaven.
As far as the Temple itself goes, you also opened up a new can of worms by mentioning the very things we hold most sacred in the Temple. By your own words, we should also be talking about the those 4 things. Else people will view us as being secretive.....
@Ed McBain, Nice try, but by his "own words" he said to specifically talk about it minus those 4 things. His point was that he felt this would be a better option in dealing with people in general than to totally shut down conversation, which by YOUR own words is what you want to do. This raises the question WHY you endorse such secrecy at all costs. Is it because you think you are special in having a temple recommend and that you use it "every day" (nice boast). Or, is it because you lack people skills, and are so introverted you avoid difficult conversations? There is really only one relevant and definitive point in the post, a point that you entirely gaffed on. That point is ... what are the actual rules given to us by God through His leadership? The author suggests there are only four. You either agree with that or you do not. Since you missed that, I find your post annoying, spiteful, contentious, and irrelevant. Had you been a little kinder in your critique, I would have been so to you, but you don't merit any respect.
While I appreciate the message of this piece I find the overall tone to be very condescending. As there is no handbook stating exactly what is and is not appropriate to talk about outside the temple, many, if not most members are extra cautious about what they say. Whether or not you approve of the phrase "sacred not secret" it is said out of respect and reverence for the temple ordinances. Issuing a reprimand to those who say is unkind. You could present the same message in a much more Christlike way.
Once, during a terrible illness, I had a very sacred experience with several of my departed family members. After I recovered I quickly learned not to share this experience with just anyone. My close family greeted this event with gratitude. Others mocked and ridiculed me. They tried to explain it away as a delusion or a dream. Yet I know the happiness I felt was no delusion. It's the same with the temple. The feelings we feel there are special and the world can only mock and ridicule. I've been mocked about the temple by co-workers. To me the feelings in the temple are as special as those I shared with my departed family. I keep them sacred lest the world mock and scorn.
@John Gilbert, you can get mocked for anything and everything being a member of this Church... right down to your choice of undergarments. So, get used to it. I would not quit talking just because some delinquent person has a problem. Imagine if the Savior just stopped talking under the pressure of scorn?
I believe there's validity in what was said. Having said that, some of the comments were also valid.
Perhaps what was left out is this. We need to teach by the Holy Spirit. Which means, we may give more or less information as lead BY the SPIRIT of God. Some the information helps and they are respectful of it. Sometimes, people are "baiting" us to glean things to then twist. So simple explanations to start and then either go forward or change the conversation - depending on what the words and feelings we receive from the Spirit.
So like may Gospel things, there is no "one size fits all". Even Jesus taught in parables so that those whom weren't ready to receive his teachings has some protection and were not under condemnation because they didn't understand what he was talking about. And those that were ready and understood, could either follow or reject. They would be under condemnation because they were able to understand, but chose not understand or chose to not follow Him and his teachings - at least that's what I've understood from our every 4 years of studying the NT.
@Darlene B, the only certainty is that if you don't share anything, nothing will happen. Missionary work in general is difficult in that just because the Spirt tells you to talk, your words may be rejected along with you. The point here is that apparently much of the temple proceedings are in our standard works and appear in the JOD. That to my mind, makes anything published there is free use. You know, when I try to explain to the my catholic cousins why I want to take their deceased mother to the temple and they ask why, its nice to offer up something to ease their concerns and open their minds rather than just to say, "cause".
The test I have always used is if a General Authority says it, it's OK.
That is a good litmus test.
I'm way late to this party. I just found it looking for something else.
There are things we can clearly discuss outside of the temple. There are things we can clearly not discuss outside of the temple. There are also things I would not discuss inside of the temple because I consider them to be personal revelation, meant for my own edification.
Between the "clearly yes" things and the "clearly no" things is a large gray area of "maybe". The principles that lie in this area are going to depend on a number of variables. What's the setting? Is it during a Sacrament Meeting or with a couple of buddies while watching a basketball game on TV? Who is the audience? What is their motivation? Do they understand the milk before they receive the meat?
For me personally, I'm not going to talk about anything to anyone at any time if there is a question in my mind about the appropriateness of the conversation. If I'm going to err, I'll err on the side of caution. We can differ about things that are "sacred" or "secret". The Holy Ghost can and does confirm which discussions are approved and which are not. This is just my own personal approach and is not meant to be a standard for anyone else.