17 years ago, I went to the Bountiful Temple for the first time to receive my own endowment (which is another word for gift). This ordinance or sacred work is something members of my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often do once they reach adulthood or are preparing to serve as a full-time missionary or before they're married in our temple. I had an exceptional experience preparing to go to the temple. At the time, in Huntington Beach where I was living and attending church weekly, I not only completed the temple prep class that many members take, even to this day, to prepare for temple worship. But I also took a 3 hour temple orientation class at a man's home whose name I still don't know to this day, but that preparation changed my entire experience. He shared with me scripture after scripture of evidences that God has and always will work in patterns, and that what I was about to experience in the temple was exactly the same kind of thing God has been doing to teach men and women since the beginning of time. For years following this experience, I've talked with my dad about how impactful this training was, and we've had many discussions about how incredible the scripture and gospel teachings were that I learned that day in conjunction with the temple. My dad has served in many church leadership callings including multiple bishoprics, as a member of the Mission Presidency for the Spain Barcelona mission from January 2020 – July 2021, and now serving as a bishop of a young single adult ward in North Salt Lake. So finally after many years of wanting to put something together that could be shared with others who are also preparing to enter the temple, we recorded this episode sharing these scriptural teachings. I hope that even if you are not a member of our church or aren't necessarily attending the temple right away, that this episode helps give you context as to what we do inside our temples and why they're so very important to us, and my personal favorite place on earth.
Current and upcoming temple open house events https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/open-houses?lang=eng
What goes on inside of temples; covenants, clothing, ordinances, and what it looks like inside.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng
“What Are the Five Covenants Made in the Temple Endowment?” LDS Living article
Example Patterns in Scriptures of Temple Symbolism, Rituals, and Instruction
We go to the temple to dwell in the presence of God (Isaiah 2:2-3; Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45) . By going to the temple, He will (a) teach us of His ways; and (b) we will walk in His paths. Examples:
Enoch (Moses 7:2-4)(sees Lord; sees history of the world)
Brother of Jared (Ether 3:13, 25)(sees Jesus; sees all inhabitants and ends of the earth)
Moses (Moses 1:1-2, 3-4)(sees God and talked with Him; shows him workmanship of His hands – the creation)
Nephi (1 Nephi 11:1-6, 11)(Sees Spirit of the Lord; sees history from Jesus’ birth to end)
Patterns of Places of worship
Tabernacle (Exodus 40):
Court/courtyard (telestial)
Tent/tabernacle/temple (terrestrial)
Veil (must pass through to get to the holiest place)
Holy of Holies – ark of the covenant (celestial)
Mt Sinai:
Israel remained at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Exo 19:17, 21, 23)
Aaron & Sons & 70 elders went part way up (Exo 19: 24; 24:1)
Moses went up to the top to the Lord (Exo 19:20; 24:2)
Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-46):
8 Apostles – edge – 8 witnesses (telestial)(Matt 26:36)
Peter, James, & John – part way – 3 witnesses (terrestrial)(Matt 26:37)
Jesus – alone – Testator (Matt 26:39) (Heb 9:16-17)
3. Examples of temple rituals and symbolism taught in scriptures:
Washings – lavar for washings (Exodus 40:7, 11-12, 30-32; Leviticus 16:4)
Anointing with oil (Exodus 40:9, 15)
Holy garments (Exodus 28:42; 40:13)
Veil (Exodus 40:3, 21-22, 26; Hebrews 10:19-20)
Temple clothing (Exodus 28; Leviticus 16:3-4)
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