It’s hard to know what to expect before you receive your temple endowment (1), especially if you are a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If you were born into the church, you may have done baptisms for the dead in the temple and heard about it while you were growing up. Even if you were, the temple endowment is quite different from doing baptisms.
I remember when I went to receive my own endowment. I was so excited to finally be able to enter the House of the Lord and receive those blessings that He had for me there. I remember just trying to take everything in. The grandeur of the temple, that blessings that were given, the promises being made. Everything went perfectly fine until I got the end of the endowment session itself where there is a dialogue that must be spoken. I thought that I would have to remember the entire thing, word for word, and recite it perfectly. I started to panic, so much so that I ended up having a panic attack. I did not know that the temple workers would be there to help me make it through and they did. But it did put a damper on an otherwise wonderful experience.
Since I wouldn't want anyone else to have their endowment experience to be at all uncomfortable, I would like to go on to explain what goes on before, during and after the temple endowment. Since I know of the sacredness of the temple, I am using only church approved resources as I write this guide. Everything I talk about here can be found on the Church's website or can be seen and/or discussed outside of the temple. The purpose of this article is to give you a step by step, streamlined guide as to what happens during the endowment.
The first step in your temple endowment involves getting a temple recommend (2). To get a temple recommend, you must be 18 and no longer attending high school. You need to have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for at least one year. If you are a man, you must also have been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood (3). Members need to be living by certain expectations. In order to determine if the member is doing so, they have an interview with their bishop, (4) member of their bishopric, (5) or in some cases, a branch president. In this interview, the member is asked a series of questions that determine if they are living by certain gospel standards. These include questions about their faith in Jesus Christ, if they sustain church leaders, and if they follow the commandments and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you would like to know the specific questions asked, you can find them in this article.
If the person is found worthy, they then go on to have an interview with the stake president (6). In this interview, the stake president will then ask the member the same questions as before. If the stake president also finds the person worthy, they are granted a recommend for living ordinances as well as a regular temple recommend.
Some people will choose to take a temple preparation class. Although, not required, a temple preparation class will help you to better understand the temple and its sacredness. If temple preparation class is not available, or you would like more detailed information, the Church has a page on its website dedicated to temples. You can find it here.
After receiving your recommend, but before you go to the temple, you will choose an escort. An escort is someone who will go through the temple with you and will help explain things to you make sure that you are comfortable with the process. You may also ask other people who are endowed, such as friends and/or relatives if they would like to go to your endowment session. Note that there will also be other worshipers with you in your endowment session. It won’t be just you and the people that you invited. I didn’t know this when I went to get my own endowment and it threw me off a bit.
Before you enter the temple, you will have the opportunity to buy the sacred clothing that is worn in the temple. This includes the white outer clothing, ceremonial clothing and the temple garment. (7) You will be able to find this clothing at your local distribution center. You will not be required to buy the ceremonial clothing to enter the temple. This clothing can be rented at the temple itself. You will, however, be required to buy garments.
Garments are underclothing worn after your endowment. They serve to remind you of the covenants made in the temple. They come in many different fabrics, and you can choose the ones that will be the most comfortable for you. When you go to purchase your garments for the first time, you will need to bring a temple recommend with you. You will not be able to purchase the garments or ceremonial clothing without it. You will need to bring a set of garments with you when you come to the temple for the first time.
The day of your endowment, when you arrive at the temple, you will show your recommend to the workers at the front desk. From there you will be guided to where you need to go by your escort, temple workers or both.
The first ordinance you will undergo in the temple is called the initiatory. The initiatory takes place in an individual setting. In this ordinance, you will receive special blessings that will prepare you to receive your endowment and will go with you throughout your earthly life and beyond. It is here where you will be sanctioned to wear garments.
Next, you will move on to the endowment. During the endowment, you will watch a video outlining events from our pre-earth life, the creation of the world, the fall of Adam and Eve and their life outside of the Garden of Eden. As a part of the endowment ceremony, you will make certain covenants with God. There are five covenants in all. The first is the Law of Obedience, where you agree to follow God’s commandments. Next is the Law of Sacrifice, where you agree to do God's work and repent regularly. Third is the Law of the Gospel, where you agree to follow the principles of the gospel that Jesus taught while He was on the earth. Fourth is the law of Chastity, where you agree to only have sexual relations with your legally married spouse. And finally, is the law of Consecration, where you dedicate yourself, time, talents and other blessings God has given you to building the kingdom of God. Members who make these covenants take them very seriously, as you should if you intend on making them.
At the end of the endowment, you enter the celestial room, which is symbolic of entering into God's presence. The celestial room is a space where you can quietly contemplate your temple experience. It is a place of peace and refection. After your endowment, (or any time after you complete ordinances for the deceased) you can spend as much time as you would like in the celestial room.
After you have been endowed in the temple, you are encouraged to return to undergo ordinances for the deceased. When you return to the temple, you can do baptisms (8) and confirmations (9), initiatories, endowments, or sealings (10). Each time you return to the temple, you can feel the same peace you felt the first time you entered and learn even more through the ordinances. Returning to the temple can become a source of strength and happiness to you.
Endowment - An ordnance preformed in a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During the endowment, a person makes sacred covenants with God to live by His standards and obey His will. Participants watch a video where they learn about the creation of the earth and follow the journey of Adam and Eve.
Temple Recommend – A document that allows someone access to a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A temple recommend is given to someone who is in good standing with the church who has been a member for at least one year. Recommends are given to a person after they have a successful interview with their local church leaders.
Melchizedek priesthood – The Melchizedek Priesthood is the second "level" of the overall priesthood. It can be obtained by any worthy man within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aged 18 and older. The Melchizedek Priesthood is the higher of the two priesthoods. When a man receives the Melchizedek Priesthood, he promises to live by the laws and ordinances of God.
Bishop – Similar to a pastor, a leader of a congregation who has been asked to serve by a leader higher in the Church.
Bishopric – Name given to a bishop and his councilors collectively.
Stake President – The leader of a stake, or group of church congregations called wards.
Temple Garment or Garment – Underclothing worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after they have received their temple endowment. Just as other religions have outer vestments that certain members wear, the temple garment is similar in significance. It is worn as a reminder of ones faith and duty to God.
Baptism - An ordnance within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where someone age eight or older pledges to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings. The person is fully immersed in water and brought back up, symbolizing the death and resurrection of Christ. At this time, all of the persons sins are forgiven by God.
Confirmation – A confirmation usual happens shortly following a baptism. During a confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands on the head of the person being confirmed. The person is then confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is given the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Sealing - An ordnance preformed within a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that binds a married couple together forever or a child to their parents forever.
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