The following is excerpted from LDS Living. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Temple ceremonies and clothing have sometimes been depicted on mainstream TV, which may prompt questions from those who are unfamiliar with the Church. How might a member respond to such questions appropriately?
For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is the house of the Lord, and the ceremonies that take place inside are sacred. Members of the Church have been counseled not to share certain details of temple ordinances or display ceremonial clothing outside of the temple as a way to show reverence and respect.
At times, however, temple clothing and ceremonies have been depicted on mainstream television programs or online videos that are not associated with the Church. Many Latter-day Saints see such depictions as undesirable, inappropriate, or offensive.
In 2009, an article on Church Newsroom responded to a depiction of the temple ceremony on cable television by stating, “Certainly Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding.”
Seeing these kinds of depictions can prompt questions or misunderstandings from friends and loved ones who do not understand the importance of temple ceremonies to Latter-day Saints.
As Church members seek to have appropriate conversations about the temple, they can follow the example of official Church sources to determine how much information is appropriate to discuss with family members and friends.
Church leaders and official Church sources have addressed the topic extensively, and the Church itself has published photos and videos depicting the rooms of the temple, temple clothing, and garments. These resources can be invaluable in helping friends better understand the temple.
Secret or Sacred?
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