What happens when the place you’ve always loved suddenly feels foreign? In this deeply vulnerable episode, Amber Astle shares her first temple experience—and how it left her feeling confused, betrayed, and ashamed instead of uplifted. Together, we explore the tension between expectations and reality, grappling with difficult questions, and what it means to stay when your faith feels shaken. Amber opens up about wrestling with identity, womanhood, shame, and belonging—and how, piece by piece, God rebuilt her testimony through patience, light, and the quiet assurance that His shoulders are big enough to carry our doubts. If you’ve ever struggled in sacred spaces, this conversation is for you.
May 16, 2026
May 16, 2026
JuliannMarch 9, 2026
There is so much we can say and so little we can’t say about the temple experience that no one should go in cold and come out confused and clouded. The initiatory ordinance , for the women is a history lesson; that we are now participating in the same basic ordinance that Aron and his sons participated in and you can read it in the book of exodus. The washing and anointing grant us discernment, cleanse us from the blood and sins of this generation ( that’s a huge gift) and then go on to bless us with health of mind and body.and again discernment. Then we are given reasons to help encourage us to wear the garment. . In the endowment we get information that we are told not to share outside of the temple. Keep those sacred. But discuss the garden of Eden; the five laws we covenant/promise to keep; research the temple clothing and why it’s worn. The prayer circle is a way to serve and save those having crisis of health,,crisis of faith, life crisis. All the hand signals are there to remind us and call in our faith on behalf of those who names lie on the alters, alters plural, of the temple. The veil is our opportunity to practice all we just learned in the presence of God the father and then enter into his pre. Sure there are representative in his roll but crossing through that veil is literally crossing into his presence. All that I have shared can be shared and discussed in the Celestial room. Quietly of course. And it can be discussed outside the temple reverently. Just don’t share the few parts you promise not to share.—signs and tokens . We make it way to complicated and way to secretive in our effort to keep it sacred.,
Becky LondonMarch 9, 2026
I first went to the temple prior to my mission in 1974. There were no temple prep classes. My parents weren't members, and my Relief Society President shared what she could. My seminary teacher's wife was my escort, and my best friend was married the same day. Was it strange? Yes, Did it affect my testimony? Absolutely not! We couldn't have been expected to learn and understand everything on one visit (or many visits). Fortunately, I was able to attend several more times before departing for my mission. We have seen amazing, inspired changes to temple ceremonies (NOT THE DOCTRINE) over the last several years, many of which were instituted when I served as a temple worker. The endowment is much easier to understand, and we have been given counsel to speak more freely about some aspects of temple worship and instructions. I have also seen friends and family leave the church (or just not go to the temple) after only attending a time or two. We should do more to encourage our young people, have them attend the temple preparation course or review online, help them understand the covenants they will receive, and also help them get excited about doing family history in order to take or submit names to the temple.