4 Things I Wish I Was Told About The Temple Before I Was Endowed
I preface this article with this. I have been a temple worker and in the past 3 years since returning from my mission I have visited 65 different Temples and I have gone over 200 times, I love the Temple! What I am saying is 100% ok to talk about outside of the temple. Here are 4 things I wish I was told about the Temple before I was Endowed!
1st Go to the Temple again as soon you can.
When you receive your endowment, often it is a big ordeal with friends and family coming together to go with you. In the hustle and bustle of the day, it is easy to miss the subtle things that happen. By going to the Temple again as soon as you can it will give you the chance to better understand the ordinances you have just performed and the covenants you have entered into.
Don't forget to do initiatories! Often members go back for an endowment session and completely forget about initiatories, my brother-in-law did not do any for over 5 years after he received his endowment. They only take about 30 minutes to do 5 vicarious initiatories, but they are jammed packed full of blessings!
"The supreme benefits of membership in the Church can only be realized only through the exalting ordinances of the temple. These blessings qualify us for “thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers” in the celestial kingdom."
Russell M. Nelson.
2nd The Temple is NOT Secret, even if most Members treat it that way.
This is by far the biggest misconception by the older members of the church, they will tell you "The Temple is sacred, not secret" but then they treat it like it is a secret. There is absolutely no doctrinal foundation for treating the Temple like a secret. The Temple is very sacred but other than a few very select things we covenant not to disclose, everything else can be talked about outside of the Temple within the proper setting.
We need to start approaching the Temple like we do the Sacred Grove. The Sacred Grove is sacred but we don't treat it secretly. We actually seek to explain the basics of why the Sacred Grove matters to the Church, and more importantly why it matters to us. We can, and should explain the temple to our friends the same way. Here is an example of how Brigham Young explained the endowment as quoted by President Boyd K. Packer in the Oct 2007 Ensign, Come to the Temple.
“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
The Church has also recently released multiple videos going over temple questions like this one, explaining the Temple Garment and touching on Temple robes. It is an unprecedented step and effort to show, the Temple is sacred, not a secret.
Not only can we talk about the Temple outside of the Temple, if we don't teach the truth about the Temple, then the world will teach our youth Satan's lies. In October 2016 General Conference this very topic was addressed.
"we need to use sensitivity, but let us also use our common sense and our understanding of the plan of salvation to be bold and straightforward when it comes to teaching our children and youth the essential gospel principles they must understand to navigate the world in which they live. If we don’t teach our children and youth true doctrine—and teach it clearly—the world will teach them Satan’s lies."
Bonnie L. Oscarson
3rd What all is entailed in "receiving your endowment"
With the above knowledge that the Temple is "sacred, not secret" we can do a better job a preparing people to be endowed. Often I am asked, "what all is entailed in"receiving my endowment?" The endowment has 3 parts. Just like all other saving ordinances, temple ordinances require our active participation. We physically eat the sacrament, we change from our street clothes into white and are immersed in water at baptism. The Temple is no different we are active in every ordinance.
- Washing and Anointing.
This is referred to as the "initiatory" because it is the first thing done when someone goes to receive their endowment. This practice in biblical see D&C 124:37–42 Ex. 40:12-13, just like baptism we start by changing from our street clothes into white clothes. President Boyd K. Packer then explains what happens.
"Associated with the endowment are washings and anointings—mostly symbolic in nature, but promising definite, immediate blessings as well as future blessings...In connection with these ordinances, in the temple you will be officially clothed in the garment [and receive a new name]." Ensign October 2007.
- Creation of the World.
During the first half of the Temple endowment, you watch a video depicting the Creation of the world and the fall of Adam and Eve (with exceptions of Manti and Salt Lake where there are live actors instead of a film). This film is often what is referred to as the "temple video" and it teaches the history of the world leading up to Adam and Eve making their first covenant to follow God. Many parts of the film are taught already in the Pearl of Great Price, see Moses 2-5 and Abraham 3-4.
- Making Covenants and passing through the Veil.
During the second half of the endowment, you are "Dressed in the robes of the holy priesthood" to quote President N. Eldon Tanner (Oct 1979). And you make a series of covenants to keep various commandments taught in the scriptures and to follow God. At the end of the Endowment there is a prayer and then you "pass through the veil" into the room in the Temple called the Celestial Room. Passing through the veil into the celestial room is symbolic of death and entering Heaven.
One of the most comforting things about the veil of the temple is how symbolic it is. To pass through the veil into the celestial room you are required to give a temple worker, who is acting on behalf of Heavenly Father, the "key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood" (to quote Brigham Young). The comforting part is there is a temple worker who is assigned to help everyone pass through the veil. If you forget or make a mistake someone is there to help you correct your mistakes so that you can pass through the veil into the Celestial room, their job is to make sure we make it. Just like Jesus Christ, He has done and will do everything He can to ensure that we make it to the Celestial Kingdom.
Here is another video the church made about the Endowment.
4th You DON'T need to be sealed to do sealings.
One of my favorite parts of the Temple is doing sealings. For two reasons, I love the idea of helping seal husbands and wives together and children to their parents. Families can truly be together forever! I also have been taught so much by the Sealers themselves. But I have sadly learned something, most unmarried people have not done sealings before.
It is a little ironic considering that it is the next ordinance we are preparing to receive, but most people think you need to be sealed before you can do sealings, but you don't. In a matter of fact, I highly recommend doing proxy sealings to prepare for marriage! The average sealing session is only about 60 minutes long, but you don't have to stay for the whole session if you only have 30 minutes you can tell them that! If you are single and feel uncomfortable doing proxy sealings go with your parents and let the sealer know so that you can at least witness and listen to this amazing ordinance.
By performing vicarious sealings you will not only prepare being sealed, you will also feel a greater measure of the Spirit into your life, consider this quote from President Nelson.
"Honors bestowed upon me by men could not approach the inner peace provided by sealings performed in the house of the Lord."
Russell M. Nelson
This is a great article. I would like to add one thing about doing sealings before being sealed yourself. I work in the YSA program and have heard this from a number of the YSA. They enjoy doing sealings of families- children to parents. Most of them, especially the girls, prefer to not doing couple sealings until they have been sealed themselves. They want to experience that personally before doing it for others. I understand and don't encourage them one way or the other. But I do encourage them to go in and listen the the sealing ordinance
I actually taught Temple Prep this past week and I made that point, for Sister's who don't want to do couple sealings I recommend they go with their dad/brother so they can still practice and learn.
A great article but somebody is not very good at proofreading....it makes the article less attractive to read when there is mistakes in spelling and grammar....just saying.
I would love to fix any mistakes you find. I am not the best with grammar and whereas I use multiple grammar checkers sometimes things slip through.
There is one part where you say like butter instead of better. Ctrl + f to find it.
Thanks, I found it and fixed it.
Maybe he likes butter...
*are mistakes
Just saying.
That's what I was thinking as well. I am always suspicious of articles with poor editing or proofreading. Even though the proofreading should have been much better, I too enjoyed this article.
I was just going to comment that an editor is needed for this article.
My, you're shallow. Just saying.
When there ARE mistakes........just saying.
There "are" mistakes (plural) just noticing grammar!
...when there ARE mistakes in spelling and grammar.... lol sorry I had to.
Oops! I think you mean, “when there ARE mistakes in spelling and grammar.”
@Dana, It is not message not the grammar. Whereas, I like to use correct grammar in business or official correspondence, and anything I write or type, in this case, I am interested in the message. When I went to the temple the first time, it was such a hush, hush situation, and I actually because very sick over the way the endowments were presented. I wish I had known ahead of time and maybe it would have been a much more pleasant and sacred experience as it is now.
@Lucia F. Candelaria, Amen, Lucia. The article is awesome no matter the very few grammar errors. The message is the point...nothing else.
Jeremy - Very nice article! I would be happy to proofread it and make grammatical corrections for you. If someone else isn't already doing that, please let me know how I can do that.
That would be amazing! Thank you so much.
Wonderful article. Normally I don't comment, but as an editor I had to. I know it's been said, but an editor would do you some good. If you don't have an editor, try leaving the computer or notepad for an hour or two then come back and read it out loud looking specifically for grammar. Journalism is a blast, but the fastest way to lose people is by not being edited! And your stuff is good, so don't lose people.
WOW I loved the article and I guess if you do not read it with the spirit then you see mistakes, I personally did not see any and loved that you took it on, susch a touchy subject. Well done
While looking for error and attacking is being judgmental and destructive, that is not what these brothers and sisters have done. Seeing error and making suggestions is not moral weakness. It is a form of sustaining, an important eternal organizational principle.
Feel the same way. I am going to read this with my older kids. Thanks!
I too feel the same way! I use a microphone on my phone and I don't type so if I make a mistake, it's the microphone picking it up and thinking I said something that I did not say. So if you find mistakes in my message, that's why.
I did not find any mistakes in this message, so perhaps I am reading it by the spirit. Although I did skim over a lot of it. I can't believe your conversations are on grammar instead of the Temple!
Thank you, I agree with you. I get tired of the critical comments about silly things like this. If a non member were to read these comments, I think it would give the impression that we are picky and judgemental. The spirit of this article would be overshadowed.
Awesome article!!
Could you put the link to the YouTube video? I don't want to go searching as there can be such terrible things on YouTube about temples thank you
Done, for some reason I thought I already had it! Thanks!
I would make it clear that "Sealings" are husband & wife to each other makes and also there are children sealed to their parents. This is to create an eternal family. As a member I knew what was meant but for others this could help.
Also you should add that the covenants to obey God's laws are all laws already taught in the bible.
Done, thanks for the suggestion Alan.
Um...could you show me where "no loud laughter" and "give everything to the church" is in the Bible?
Start with Acts: chapters 4 and 5
I literally read those earlier today and I was going to comment.
Great article! I remember when I was fairly young I was taught that the only things that couldn't be shared outside of the temple were the signs, names and tokens. I don't think I ever hear anyone saying that anymore, so thank you.
Sorry to be yet another grammar Nazi, but I was stuck for a while on one error in particular. "During the second half of the endowment, you are to quote President N Eldon Tanner "Dressed..." I kept reading it and wondering why you said that during the endowment we quote President Tanner. About the fourth time through I realized that there were just a couple of commas missing. "During the second half of the endowment, you are, to quote President N Eldon Tanner, "Dressed..."
I'll fix those problems as soon as I get home from work, thank you.
Thank you. I'm working on getting my recommend, but I'm still apprehensive about the unknown. I hope to be ready by the end of the year.
Thank you so much for the article, I've shared things on Facebook about going to the temple and doing baptisms for my family , I was told it wasn't really appropriate to share , I was proud of what I was doing , I am the only living member of the church in my family at the moment , and felt that it was something wonderful to be doing.
That situation had put me off from talking to people about my endowment and any concerns I had , it all being so secret made me very nervous, but I must say after reading this article I am seriously thinking about talking to the president of my branch about going for my endowment.
Great article. One more typo. In the heading for #3. You typed "...in entailed...". It should be "...is entailed..."
Thanks, as a one man show I often miss these.
I'm 16 and my friend is about to go on his mission. So like 2 days ago he received his endowments. I kept asking him questions about it and he kept telling me off saying "you'll find out when you turn 18". I asked him why it was so secret and he told me it wasn't secret it was sacred. I've been asking him questions for days now and finally I just got on the internet and looked it up. Thank you for this article. It was very helpful and it makes me respect the temple and the teachings even more.
Thanks again
Isaac
I got endowed prior to eaving on my mission. Small group, just my parents and I but the Washington DC Temple back then was always a full session. Upon exiting the celestial room, we were approached by a brother who asked my parents if they would be available for some sealings. Turns out they were needing son to parent sealings done. And we spentthe better part of an hour completing that sacred work.
I walked away, mind blown, but content. I often reflect on that first experience and find myself much like Lehi where he was overcome by the Spirit or Moses. The whole day was on that level.
The explanations of clarification of Temple secrecy etc. were extremely helpful, and I hope the single members will now start doing sealings, especially for their own family line,.
Thank you!
Before I first attended a live session, I was terrified that Adam and
Eve would be naked. Being the only member in my family I had no one to discuss this with prior to attending the session.
I think also that explaining the clothed in holy robes needs to be preceded by explaining that the person is already clothed and this is an additional piece of clothing.
For someone who has no one close to discuss this with this is pretty scary.
Also, along those same lines, the suggestions to go with parents, etc doesn't help
those of us that have no one except the male missionaries that taught us.
Great things to read about the church
Well done. In my opportunities to prepare members to attend the temple for the first time, I referred to the endowment as the "lost" covenant because it often gets lost in the confusion and to do lists associated with a mission or marriage. Yet, it is the single most significant, individual covenant we make with God while here on earth. You're right, we should appropriately teach and talk about it more. From the moment we enter the temple, the phases of the endowment ordinance symbolize our eternal journey, the preexistence, mortality and life after death. Including an earlier, first veil.
My Dear Gogo! Thank you so much for your article; This has giving me more understanding of the doing selings (point #4). Also, I now understand I can go with older son (single) and show him these sacred ordinances. May our Heavenly Father bless you for your effort to provide us with guidance!
Thank you for writing this article, I wish I would have this much info when I when to the temple the first time some 50 years ago. I believe we lose a lot of information because of possible elite to be and those without spirit want perfection in our writing. That sometimes they miss out on the sounds of the spirit that truly give us profound meaning as to what is happening or adds onto word parts that are not in the dictionary that can truly convey the full spirit of what is happening like in the bible and other spiritual works. Good spiritual people don't need to have correct grammar or word spelling only to be able to extract the right meaning from the information with love. Because of perfectionist we have lost lots profound stories and history because either editors or other don't read with the spirit. We need to open ourselves that the best stories and instruction are not about perfection but about what is being said. Editors, writers, teachers and other professionals need to see that some errors are natural and show that the weak and humble can do great things for us if we let them. My journals have a lot of marks in them made by some of my grandchildren correcting words and grammar and other have added notes thank me for those stories. They would have never known of love and care our family had for each other and others if I would have worried about errors. "The natural flow of words some how loss meaning without those errors. And show how much we have to live up to."____
Jose Gomis
Thank you for this. It is a great article for those who are preparing to go to temple for the first time.
This is a wonderful article. Remember the Book of Mormon had several grammar errors in the original transcript.
I have read and re-read this article several times as I tend to forget things a little easier these days. In regards to the article, correct grammar, spell checks gone wrong, whatever, it came to my mind, reading the comments, "The Spirit of God like a Fire Is Burning", and that is how we should read articles about out faith, religion, actions, lessons and teachings as these. Grammar is important, yes but trusting someone or something on grammatical correctness is, well, they are just missing out a lot. God is a God of goodness, of love, of kindness and forgiveness. If it weren't for some of your articles other people would perhaps not ever know about these important facts. You seek perfection, we all should but some just don't have the opportunity to always 'GET IT RIGHT' IN ALL THINGS. When reading such as these articles, we, perhaps, need to read according to the Spirit? I love your articles, I love correct grammar but if I had to make a choice as to what I will take if only one choice is give? Hands down, your articles, with or without correct spellchecks. You do good things Sir. So, getter dun! lol
“To pass through the veil into the celestial room you are required to give a temple worker, who is acting on behalf of Heavenly Father.” Question, aren’t they acting on behalf of the Savior?
Nope, Heavenly Father.
Love to have more insight into the temple,ordinances and elders opinions.
I'M LDS... BUT HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO ONE TO ASK...
Valerie, we all have questions, and that is totally normal.
If you would like, I can give you some resources to read that could answer your questions, or we can talk about them. Either way, if you would like some help getting answers, email me. Lets make sure you don't feel like you have no one to talk to. It's Jeremy@mylifebygogogoff.com.
Mine is silly, but I grew up in the church and heard so many testimonies about meeting people in the temple "dressed all in white" and how special it was that my first time the fact that not everything was white was kind of upsetting.
That's funny and very true. It's still a beautiful pace, just not the stark white everyone seems to describe.
Great article. I won't comment on the need for editing since so many others have. Before I got my endowments, I had the idea that I would have to answer questions in front of a whole room full of people, and I was sure I would make a fool of myself. It made me so nervous I couldn't sleep, and I thought I should be studying or something. So now if I have the opportunity to help orient somebody, I tell them that the greatest number of people they will speak to is two. .
I've taught temple prep classes and find that they are invaluable for "first timers." when I went through the temple for the first time, over 50 years ago, it was on the day I got married. All I knew about the experience before hand was that I was going to come out of the temple married and wearing garments. I wish I had known that I was going to be making covenants and that there would be a lot of symbolism in the presentation. For a naïve young girl in the 1960's it was a lot to take in. I remember looking around me and thinking, "You mean there's more to the gospel? How come I never knew any of this existed?" We do a much better job preparing people now days!
one question... when doing work for the dead, why is it that the ordinances are not always done in order? Ive seen baptism, then sealings before initiatory/endowment is done. Seems like that would be important, as orderly as the Church is.
They should be done in order, but they are done by the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that is literally designed to fix mistakes. So when a mistake is made, it is not necessary to redo an ordinance to make it valid. We often redo an ordinance if we notice a mistake is made, but that is out of respect, not because it was previously invalid.
Thank you that article is so good.