Cory Jensen is a guest contributor to Meridian Magazine.
Sometimes in the excitement and focus of major life events like missions and marriage, the temple experience becomes secondary. However, your personal temple endowment can and should be a deeply meaningful and important life event in itself. Sadly many young men and women show up to the temple, worthy to be there, but unprepared to comprehend the meaning and significance of the temple ordinances. As a result, their initial experience is sometimes less than it might have been. President Ezra Taft Benson stated, “I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple” (“What I hope you will teach your children about the Temple”, Ensign, August 1985).
Here are three things that parents can teach their children that will help prepare them for their own temple endowment.
- A Tale of Two Trees – President David O. McKay once described the endowment as the “truest philosophy of life ever given to man.” Parents should help their youth understand that the temple endowment drama is not simply ‘history’ but is also their ‘story’. In part, it is God’s explanation of our life’s condition, purpose and journey using the symbols of two trees. The figures of Adam and Eve are representative of each of us.
First, we encounter the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We partake of the fruit of this tree through the use of our agency and by the consequences of our actions and those of others. We are here to learn good from evil through our mortal experience (see Moses 6:55-56). We all begin life in a state of innocence and purity. As we mature, we sin and experience the effects of the Fall. Struggling in this telestial realm, our task now is to find our way back to the second tree—the tree of life.
In his vision, Lehi saw that there are many ways to become lost in mortality. He further saw that there was only one path back to the tree of life. He came to know that the fruit of the tree of life is most “desirable above all other fruit” (1 Nephi 8:12). Nothing else life offers us can compare. The fruit of this tree is the joy of the Saints and eternal life (see Enos 1:3).
Near the end of his record, Nephi gave some further explanation about the path leading to the tree. He called the path the “Doctrine of Christ” (see 2 Nephi 31 & 32). He testified that it is the way back and that there is no other way (2 Nephi 31:21).
The temple endowment outlines this same path and further clarifies it. The final part of the Doctrine of Christ is enduring to the end. The endowment ordinances, in one sense, are ordinances associated with enduring to the end. The temple endowment and the doctrine of Christ are inseparably interconnected.
Near the beginning of the endowment ceremony, we encounter the tree of knowledge. As the ceremony concludes we are presented symbolically at the tree of life (represented by the veil) where we are taught more about its fruit. The endowment outlines the journey from one tree back to the other. It is God’s explanation of life’s purpose through the symbol of these two trees. It is, therefore, as President McKay taught, the truest philosophy of life given to man.
Once we leave the temple it is up to us to then learn to live the temple covenants in our life. By doing so, we actually follow the path outlined.
2 – To strengthen us in this journey, we receive personal blessings and promises from God in the temple. In some ways, your endowment is a little bit like coming home on a visit from college for a father’s blessing. You will leave the temple on the day you are endowed with God’s promises made directly to you. Not promises made to some ancient prophet. Not promises you read about in the scriptures, but promises made to you personally.
Many of these promised blessings are given at the beginning of your endowment in the initiatory ordinances. To understand these ordinances, consider a newborn infant. When a baby is physically born into the world, the baby is washed clean after the birth. The baby’s skin might then be anointed with lotion or oil to protect it. He or she is then dressed and given a name. All of this is part of our entry into this mortal, physical world.
Baptism, of water and of fire and the Holy Ghost, represents spiritual birth into God’s kingdom. The initiatory ordinances of the temple continue this process of being born again and mirror our physical birth. First, you are washed clean. You are then anointed, clothed and given a new name. All of this is part of your spiritual re-birth.
The ordinance of baptism is a simple, physical action with profound spiritual significance. The temple ordinances are likewise simple in their physical manifestations but carry rich spiritual meaning. The promised blessings you receive will not only bless you in the resurrection, but will also strengthen you to accomplish your life’s mission here on the earth. You desperately need those blessings, especially in today’s world.
Before you go, be assured that modesty is preserved throughout the experience. Despite anything you may have read or heard to the contrary, nothing in your temple experience should leave you uncomfortable. You will also have a guide to help you throughout the process.
3 – Finally, recognize that how much we ultimately gain from the temple depends to some extent upon the effort we put into it. Receiving all the temple offers takes some time and effort. The temple has often been called the Lord’s University. It is not all to be comprehended in a single visit. Make regular attendance a priority as your circumstances permit. Those who attend consistently find that regular temple worship changes you and makes you a better person. President Hinckley taught, “I would hope that we might go to the house of the Lord a little more frequently…I encourage you to take greater advantage of this blessed privilege. It will refine your natures. It will peel off the selfish shell in which most of us live. It will literally bring a sanctifying element into our lives and make us better men and women.” (“Closing Remarks”, General Conference, October 2004).
Your understanding and comprehension of the ordinances will grow and expand over time. The best textbook for the temple is the scriptures and the best teacher is the Spirit. Look for temple themes, covenants, and teachings and you will find them throughout the standard works. Nearly all scripture is related to the temple in some way.
As you are starting out, it is helpful to have a foundation from which to begin your temple education. You may find some of the following books helpful places to start:
– Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple (booklet published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2012).
– The Temple Experience: Passage to Healing and Holiness by Wendy Ulrich (Cedar Fort, 2012).
– Your Endowment by Mark A. Shields (Cedar Fort, 2009).
– Preparing For Your Endowment by Cory Jensen (Cedar Fort, 2017).
– Understanding Your Endowment by Cory Jensen (Cedar Fort, 2015).
Cory B. Jensen was born and raised in Utah, growing up in the shadow of the Logan temple. He developed a love for the temple early in life and has been an avid student ever since. He graduated with honors from Brigham Young University with a Masters of Business Administration. A lifelong devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a mission in Rome, Italy and is looking forward to the completion of the LDS temple there.
He and his wife, Traci, are the parents of four children. Together they currently serve as ordinance workers in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. That service has greatly blessed their lives and their marriage, though Cory still hasn’t gotten used to getting up at 4 a.m. for their shift.
He hopes that the message of this book will bless your life, enrich your personal temple experience, and help you in your journey to understanding your endowment.
LarryJuly 31, 2018
Excellent preparation is available with President Nelsons talk "Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings" published in the May 2001 Ensign. Also the "Most Important Step" by David Stanley in the JUne 2000 New Era, and "The Temple Garment" by Carlos Asay Ensign Aug. 1997
KeithFebruary 19, 2017
Cory's attempt to improve the preparedness of first time temple goers is admirable. Familiarization with the following scriptures helps, Ex 40:12-13. Gen 1-3, Moses 2-5, Abraham 4-5, Rev 2:17; 3:12, Isa 62:2, D&C 130:11, Gen 17:5, Gen 32:28, John 1:42, 1 Cor 15:40-41, D&C 76:81, 91, 96-98, D&C 88:21-24, Gen 65:24, TG veil, Ex 28:27-28, 29:5, 35:9, Lev 8:7, BD Ephod Realizing that the endowment is of ancient origin, an we in the modern WORLD do not seem to like ancient symbolism. Temple workers are instructed by priesthood authority not to interpret the temple ceremony for those who attend, as such interpretations are that of man, and not that of God, which is the purpose of going to the temple. But not all people learn symbolically, and sometimes other interpretations may help overcome the "symbolism challenged" (if i were to used political correct speak (pun intended, offense not intended). Cory Jensen's interpretation of the Tree of Life as the veil is one interpretation, one inspiration that he has received (I assume). I will have to consider it on my next visit. Another symbolism is that each of us exhibit attributes of both Adam and Eve: Adam is spirit (willing to keep all of God's commands) and Eve is flesh (weak) needing to experience by mortal experiences to learn and grow. A third is that all men and women are symbolized by Eve (as we all are the 10 virgins is said parable, as in other scriptures) and that Adam is a type of perfect priesthood representing Christ, willing to sacrifice his own comforts so that all of us Women-Eve could gain experience of good in and evil through mortality. Pointing towards Christs love for each of us, and his atoning sacrifice - the tree of life. The endowment represents symbolic passage through the three degrees of glory, telestial, the world in which we now live terrestrial, and celestial, but is brief - condensed now a days into a two hour presentation that contains only the most necessary ordinance information, so as to accomplish the work of redeeming the dead. The symbolism of the veil worn by women - at one point of the temple - to protect those in the terrestrial realm from the power of the Lord - to do what he needs to do -both in great glory for blessings, but also for the destruction of the wicked when they go astray (whose children they may be). It is an expression of love from an all powerful God to his righteous daughters how might have wicked children. Realizing that no veil is worn three steps away in the Celestial realms. Each participant in the veil will come to his or her own understanding of what the journey, the symbols, the events mean as God is infinite and willing to share. Some advice (taken with a holy ghost or grain of salt): Don't take things so literal and open your mind up to the endless possibilities. For me, the real teaching of the tree of Life does not happen in the endowment, but as i sit quietly contemplating, praying and asking, communicating with my Father and my Savior in the celestial room afterwards. I fear that too many of us get through the endowment ceremony to get into the celestial room, only to be done with it much quicker to get back into the 'real world' and on with "life" that we should, and do not spend time in communion with the ruler of the Universe. a disciple of Christ (sometimes willing, sometimes weak)