April 28 — The first time I attended the temple was on February 17, 1995, with my husband. We went to the temple around Washington D.C, with Larry and Marianne, who were friends from the church. Before I could attend the temple for the first time, I had to have an interview with my Branch President so he could determine my worthiness, then I had to attend classes to help prepare me to enter the temple.
The funny thing is about attending these classes to help “prepare” you to attend the temple for the first time to receive your own endowment is that it does nothing whatsoever to help you understand what you’re about to endure.
They don’t talk about what goes on inside the temple because they believe “its sacred”. I remember being told how special and unique the temple ceremony is to our religion, and I should never talk about what goes on inside when I’m outside of the temple.
There was so much I wasn’t prepared for, because so much of the information was hidden from me. I felt a little bit betrayed by a couple family members and those who I considered friends who knew exactly what I was going to go through and they didn’t feel the need to at least give me a heads up on what was going to be expected of me.
Before I went through the Endowment Ceremony, I had to go through what they called the Initiatory Ceremony. This was before they changed a few things about the ceremony in 2005.
I had to remove all my clothes and put on something that looked like a poncho. I went through a “washing and anointing” procedure where two female temple workers touched each part of my body with oil and water, saying a blessing on each part of my body they touched. After they were finished, they helped me dress in my new garments.
I could see why the rule to not say a word about what goes on in the temple was so enforced, especially to new converts. Church leaders, the temple workers, and even the endowment film itself stresses this command. I recall one time I was performing a proxy endowment for someone who had died.
I had to get up early and make the 3+ hour drive from our home to the D.C temple. I was exhausted and half paying attention to the film. In one part of the film Satan is talking to Adam and Eve about the “sacred” covenants they, along with the audience were about to make.
He looks directly at the camera and says (paraphrasing), if anyone in this audience reveals what they are about to learn they will be in his power.
I can’t explain the feeling that came over me. It was unsettling, and disturbing, I don’t know what other way to explain it. After I got home, I thought about my experience that day in the temple. I wondered why I would have such a bizarre experience in a place that’s supposed to draw someone closer to God.
Another time I had an extremely uneasy feeling was when I did baptisms for the dead. I was in the changing area trying to dry off completely as the temple worker kept coming in to remind me to hurry up and change. The eerie feeling I had while I was getting ready for the next part of the ceremony was unforgettable.
There’s so much symbolism in their temple ceremonies. All these symbols, these “handshakes” along with their accompanying sign and token are what Mormons believe they need to know by heart to be allowed entrance into the Celestial Kingdom. This is why church members are expected to go back to the temple as often as possible to perform this ceremony, not only for someone who is dead but also for themselves.
Brigham Young said –
“Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1941), 416. (p. 637 online.)
As we were leaving the temple that first day, Larry asked me what I thought of the experience. He told me he knew receiving all the information was intimidating and overwhelming at first. He went on to say it was something I would get used to as I attended the temple more, and it would get a lot easier.
It never became easier for me to participate in these ceremonies. Something never felt right about them. I never had the comfort people say they felt when going into the temple. It was only after I left Mormonism that I began to have peace and feel comfort.
Knowing the real Jesus, studying the bible and having the Holy Spirit always with me has giving me a calm and reassurance I never had in the Church or their temple.
In Salt Lake City, UT they had the nerve to put a statue of Jesus carrying his cross outside of the temple. Do they not see the contradiction? Jesus is carrying the cross he will die on for the sins of the world, and they are in that building performing works for the salvation of the dead. He was willing to die for us so we don’t have to pay the price for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to do any work for our own salvation.
The Church, knowing what they do inside that building had audacity to put Jesus with is cross outside of it. I can’t understand what they would do such a thing, and I continue to pray for them.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes
Oh my gosh, that sounds so weird. Having to put on a poncho and get touched by women. Prayers for all Mormons. I guess Jesus dying on the cross is not enough for them. They have to do rituals. Sounds like a cult to me.
M.j
Amen to that Mj!
[…] My Experiences in the Mormon Temple […]
I recently read the church built a replica of the SLC temple on Temple Square, so visitors can get a better idea of what it looks like inside. But, I have to ask why???
If all goes well this Saturday, I’ll be touring the new temple in Yorba Linda CA. It’ll be my first time in an LDS temple. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Oh, please let us know what you see! It’ll be interesting to hear your insights!
And thanks for the info about the replica temple. I hadn’t heard about that. I totally agree. Why are they doing this and spending so much money???
Michelle
As a follow up on this –
I checked this out and read their mini temple is inside their visitors’ center. I knew they had this building but didn’t realize they built a mini temple inside of it. Oh brother,…
Here’s the link for more info –
Temple Square Visitors’ Center Media Resources
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-square-visitors-center-media-resources