If you listened to last week’s episode, you know that I feel called to talk more about the temple. I truly believe that, as the world grows increasingly confusing, especially in regards to spiritual things, standing in holy temples will give us the power and courage needed to stand forever with Jesus Christ.
Over the past few months, as I have been talking more about the temple on my Instagram account, I have learned that some people are very uncomfortable with any public discourse about the temple. They feel it inappropriate to speak openly about such a holy place.
I understand their hesitation. First and foremost, I will be the first to say that information on social media cannot always be trusted. Anybody can say anything they want, and I often see half-truths marketed as truth by influencers who have gained the trust of their followers. There are few things that worry me more in regards to building and maintaining faith than the cleverly-cloaked deception that is rampant on social media. Many influencers are leading people away from Jesus Christ and His gospel, one half-truth at a time.
I have personally seen this happen with people I once trusted to share gospel truth. And then, they started talking about their faith “expansion” and started sharing some of the cleverest deception I have ever heard.
We must have the gift of discernment when navigating the world of social media influencers, lest we be swept away in a sea of ideas that sound good but, at their core, lead us away from Jesus Christ.
I realize that is ironic coming from somebody who spends a lot of time and energy sharing the gospel on social media. I do not consider myself an influencer, and I actually really hate that title. To me, it suggests calling attention to oneself, which I do not want to do. I would rather call myself a “testifier” or an “amplifier” of Jesus Christ. That is another topic for another day because I have so much to say about it. But I will tell you that I have wrestled extensively with the fact that I would never point anyone to social media as the best place to learn about any aspect of the gospel. But I feel called to teach the gospel and even talk about the temple on that same platform that is filled with contention, confusion, and clever deception.
There is an obvious disconnect there that sometimes causes me to second guess the inspiration I feel. But I have learned to recognize and trust the voice of the Spirit, even if it does not always make sense to me. So, I strive to share truth on a platform that attacks truth, hoping to meet people where they already spend time and point them to Jesus Christ.
The adversary is absolutely using social media as a tool to destroy faith, but I can testify that the Lord is using it to build faith. He is using it to take His message of truth and redemption across the globe, so, as He promised, it may sound in every ear. This tool makes it possible to spread messages of light on a grand scale.
I know because I have seen social media miracles firsthand. A few weeks ago, on Easter weekend, I shared a single picture of the Savior on my Instagram account with my testimony of Him in the caption. Posts like this, with a single picture and a few words in the caption, generally do not gain much traction. Typically, I might get 100 or less likes on a post like that.
But, for some reason, this post with my testimony of the Savior took off. A month later, it has 7400 likes and people from all over the world are still sharing it. It is currently circling around India, a country where less than 3% of the population are Christian, which blows my mind. I did nothing other than share my testimony of the Savior, and people in the predominantly Hindu country of India are now hearing about Him.
This experience has shown me, once again, that the Lord can consecrate our efforts to share light on a platform like social media, taking our testimonies to His children everywhere. Only God knows what will come of our efforts. But, if we are going to spend time there, we absolutely must be able to discern truth from almost truth, lest we be deceived. If you want a deeper dive into discernment and avoiding deception, check out episodes 16-17.
All of that to say, I completely validate those who are wary of influencers who talk about faith, and especially those who talk about the temple. We must be constantly on guard, constantly building our faith outside of social media, and constantly praying for the gift of discernment so that we know who we can safely follow.
Having said that, there are people who are wary of talking about the temple at all, even outside of social media. This, too, is understandable. There are some things we cannot speak of outside of the temple because of their sacred nature. But there is much we can and must say if we are to prepare our children and others to better understand and gain strength from the ordinances and covenants in which we participate inside holy temples.
Ezra Taft Benson addressed this hesitancy to speak of the temple when he said:
“The temple is a sacred place, and the ordinances in the temple are of a sacred character. Because of its sacredness we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the temple to our children and grandchildren.
“As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into.
“I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple … [and] will foster within them a desire to seek their priesthood blessings just as Abraham sought his.”
I don’t know what your first experience in the temple was like, but I was definitely not prepared for what I experienced when I received my own endowment. My Bishop tried to prepare me prior to my initial temple experience, but I wish I had better understood what I was doing and why. My first experience with the initiatory ordinance was so uncomfortable that I did not participate in that ordinance again for 16 years. I did return to participate in the endowment because I felt the Spirit, even though I did not understand what I was doing.
But, as President Benson said, “I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple … [and] will foster within them a desire to seek their priesthood blessings just as Abraham sought his.”
Four of my kids have now received their endowment. We did a much better job of preparing our younger kids than we did for our oldest because we had a better understanding of what we could and could not say. And we could say much more than we initially realized.
My daughter, Kate, who went through the temple for the first time a few months ago, emerged with an insatiable desire to learn everything she could about what she had experienced there. We had, up to that point, had several frank discussions about what she could expect and why it mattered. To prepare her, we drew from the Old Testament (that talks of temple origins, clothing, design, etc), General Conference talks, the Church’s temple website (churchofjesuschrist.org/temples), Anthony Sweat’s book The Holy Invitation (which is a must-read, by the way), and other inspired resources. And then, when she emerged from the temple on that beautiful day, she wanted me to send her any other resource I could to help her better understand.
Her first experience with the temple was incredible because she was prepared. She knew about the significance and symbolism of the initiatory ordinance and the beautiful blessings therein. She understood the significance of the garment. She knew what covenants she would be making and the spiritual power and protection she would gain from keeping them. She knew Jesus was at the heart of the temple, and felt His Spirit in abundance. And she left with a great desire to drink deeply from the power she felt there, to better understand, and to return as often as her circumstances permitted.
Preparation made all the difference.
So, whether we are talking about preparing our kids or others to enter the temple or trying to learn as much as we can about the temple so we can better access its power in our lives, what exactly can we talk about while preserving the sacred nature of God’s holy house?
In his April 2019 General Conference address entitled “Prepare to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Elder David A. Bednar gives two basic guidelines:
Guideline #1. Because we love the Lord, we always should speak about His holy house with reverence. We should not disclose or describe the special symbols associated with the covenants we receive in sacred temple ceremonies. Neither should we discuss the holy information that we specifically promise in the temple not to reveal.
Guideline #2. The temple is the house of the Lord. Everything in the temple points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We may discuss the basic purposes of and the doctrine and principles associated with temple ordinances and covenants.
So, the things we cannot discuss include the special symbols associated with the covenants we receive and the holy information we specifically promise not to reveal. If you are unsure about what you specifically promise not to reveal, I invite you to return to the temple and attend an endowment session, paying special attention to those promises.
Based on this instruction from Elder Bednar, the list of things we cannot talk about outside of the temple is small. We can reverently discuss the purposes of and the doctrine and principles associated with temple ordinances and covenants. We can talk openly about the covenants themselves, which has been modeled by several prophets and apostles, starting with the prophet Joseph Smith and continuing through Russell M. Nelson.
The church has a wide variety of resources to help us learn and teach about the temple. There is an entire website devoted to it at temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org that includes pictures, videos, articles, and other materials. It talks about each ordinance in the temple and how to prepare. It talks about the sacred temple garment and other ceremonial clothing. It has a list of quotes from prophets about temple baptisms and confirmations, temple garments and clothing, Initiatory, Endowment, the five covenants of the endowment, sealings, and temple blessings. There are so many amazing resources on that website alone that explain every aspect of temple worship to all who are willing to study.
In addition, President Nelson recommended that members “read entries in the Bible Dictionary that are related to the temple, such as ‘Anoint,’ ‘Covenant,’ ‘Sacrifices,’ and ‘Temple.’ One may also wish to read Exodus, chapters 26–29, and Leviticus, chapter 8. The Old Testament, as well as the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, underscores the antiquity of temple work and the enduring nature of its ordinances.”
Church leaders have been very open about the temple, and we can take our cues from them. On many instances, they have taught directly about the five covenants we make in the endowment. In a recent BYU-I devotional, Dale G. Renlund described each of the five covenants and how they work hand in hand with baptismal covenants.
He taught that the Law of Obedience means that we strive to keep God’s commandments.
The Law of Sacrifice means sacrificing to support the Lord’s work, and to repent with a broken heart and contrite spirit.
He taught that we live the Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “in part, by living the doctrine of Christ, which is central to the purpose of life. This includes making covenants with God by receiving the ordinances of salvation and exaltation and keeping those covenants throughout our lives. Obeying the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ also includes striving to live the two great commandments, to love God and neighbor.”
The Law of Chastity means abstaining from sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.
And the Law of Consecration means “that we dedicate ourselves and everything the Lord blesses us with to build up His Church.”
If our prophets openly teach about the covenants of the temple, we, too, can speak freely of those covenants, as long as we do not discuss the special symbols associated with them.
If our prophets openly teach about the purposes and doctrine surrounding temple ordinances and covenants, so can we.
If our prophets speak of the power and protection we gain through regular temple worship, so can we.
If our prophets speak of miracles and the ministering of angels associated with the temple, so can we.
If our prophets speak of finding Jesus Christ in the temple, so can we.
Yes, we must be careful not to say things we have promised not to say or speak of certain holy symbols we have promised not to reveal. But there is much we can reverently discuss while preserving the sanctity of the holy temple.
President Howard W. Hunter counseled: “Let us teach [our children] more earnestly and more comfortably the things we can appropriately say about the purposes of the house of the Lord.”
And, if those discussions are important for children to learn about the House of the Lord, they are also important for us. Because, let’s be honest, the temple can be very confusing because it is very different than any other form of worship in which we participate. The more we understand, the better our experience will be, and the more we will want to return. And, as we repeatedly return, we will reap the promised blessings of doing so, including increased protection against the adversary, increased ability to hold to the iron rod, a deeper testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement, increased understanding of God’s magnificent plan, increased peace, and increased personal revelation.
I will be the first to admit that I am barely starting to scratch the surface of understanding. The Lord is teaching me line upon line, as He does with every temple patron who comes with a willing and prayerful heart. I am also learning from others who know much more than I do, which enriches my experience and helps me to make connections it may have taken a lifetime for me to make on my own. I am grateful for all the sources that help me to better understand His holy house.
The more I learn, the more I feel of the truthfulness of President Russell M. Nelson’s words:
“Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ.”
Every aspect of temple worship points us to Him. Symbols of Him are everywhere in temple – some near the surface, and others hidden in plain sight. While the basics of the gospel are simple enough for a child to understand, the temple holds layers of meaning, often taught through symbols, that will keep even the most intelligent minds engaged for a lifetime. As we peel back layers of meaning, one at a time, our understanding of and appreciation for Jesus Christ will multiply exponentially. And we will better understand how to access His power through the covenants we make with Him in His holy house.
If, after listening to this podcast, you are still confused about what you can and cannot say outside the walls of the temple, I invite you to study the list of resources in the episode description and seek guidance from the Lord. Then, we can find comfort in Elder Bednar’s promise: “As we strive to walk in the meekness of the Lord’s Spirit, we will be blessed to understand and achieve in our homes the necessary balance between what is and what is not appropriate to discuss about sacred temple ordinances and covenants.”
In coming episodes, as we talk more about the temple, I will be following the guidelines we discussed today. I will never talk about the things I have promised not to discuss. I will prayerfully and reverently seek inspiration to know what to say and how to say it. I invite you to join me on this journey of standing in holy temples so that we may stand forever with Jesus Christ.
