Category: Temple Ceremonies
-
The LDS Temple Endowment Ceremony Changes Again: Mormonism’s Word of God Does Not Endure
The LDS Church has once again revised its sacred temple endowment ceremony, slashing twenty percent of the ritual in 2024 despite past leaders’ claims that it was divinely revealed by Joseph Smith to remain unchanged forever.
-
Revised LDS Temple Endowment Ceremony Now Includes More Pictures of Jesus
21 February 2023 I love to see the temple.I’ll go inside someday.I’ll cov’nant with my Father;I’ll promise to obey. “I love to See the Temple” is a popular Primary song in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kids as young as three years old sing about preparing themselves to attend an LDS temple…
-
‘Uncomfortable’ and ‘Weird’ LDS Temple Ceremony
Hulu, the online streaming service, released a miniseries in April (2022) based on the real-life 1984 Utah murders of a mother and her toddler daughter. The miniseries, “Under the Banner of Heaven,” follows Jon Krakauer’s 2003 bestselling book of the same name as it explores Mormon fundamentalism and Mormonism’s sometimes violent history. I’ve been seeing…
-
The Temple Endowment Ceremony
Participation in what is called the temple “endowment” ceremony is an important facet of the LDS faith since it is in this ritual where Mormons learn secret “key words,” “signs” and “tokens” that they hope will help them return to God’s presence. Brigham Young, Mormonism’s second president, claimed, “Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances…
-
10 Reasons why the Multiple LDS Temples Have Nothing to do with the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem
Check out Viewpoint on Mormonism’s 10-part series on the temple that originally aired from July 26-30, 2021: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Many Mormons assume that the temples built and operated by their church are based on biblical precedent, as per the teachings of their leaders. For instance, Apostle Mark…
-
Masonry and the Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony
Earlier this month The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted a new essay to the Church History Topics section of its website. In the church’s continuing effort to be more “transparent” about its past, the new essay, titled “Masonry,” examines the relationship between the LDS temple endowment ceremony and Masonic ritual. The essay…
-
The Continuing Adjustments to Mormonism
7 January 2019 The media is reporting on a significant Mormon-related matter. On January 1st The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced changes to its temple endowment ceremony. While not unheard of, temple changes are somewhat uncommon, the last noteworthy changes having occurred in 2005. Most of the recent changes to the ceremony are,…
-
Mormon Endowment Ceremony Origins
One hundred eighty years ago this month (June 2017) W.A. Cowdery, the Mormon editor of the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, told readers about ancient Greece. He explained, “The history of Greece for a period of three hundred years preceding the Trojan war, is intermixed with fables; but contains, notwithstanding, many facts entitled to…
-
New Name (Defined)
New Name. A name that is received by Patrons during a Temple ceremony that will be used in the next life. Only a spouse is allowed to know the other person’s new name, which usually has its origins in the Bible or the Book of Mormon. See more on temples. Return to dictionary here
-
The Exclusion of Non-Mormons at Temple Weddings
What is supposed to be the most important and happiest days for a couple’s life oftentimes turns into one of the saddest. When someone with non-LDS family gets married, it too often turns into a wrenching of the heart, as nobody except those with LDS temple recommends are able to see the ceremony inside the…
-
Malachi 4:5-6: Does this passage refer to Mormon temples?
The 2002 LDS booklet titled Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple states:If we would understand both the history and the doctrine of temple work we must understand what the sealing power is. We must envision, at least to a degree, why the keys of authority to employ the sealing power are crucial.Nearly nine hundred years…
-
“Punishing” Mormon Newlyweds?
There seems to be continuing dissatisfaction among Mormons over the workings of their church. In addition to the “wear pants to church” movement, the “give women the priesthood” movement, and the “pull The Not Even Once Club off the bookstore shelves” movement, Slate magazine recently published an article about the exclusivity of temple sealings (weddings).…
-
Washing and Anointing (Temple Ceremony) (Defined)
Washing and Anointing: Initiatory temple ceremony that purifies the patron. For more information, see here. Return to dictionary here.
-
Temple Patron (Defined)
Temple Patron. Person holding a temple recommend and participating in rituals at a Mormon temple.Return to dictionary here.
-
Second Anointing (Defined)
Second Annointing. A rare temple ordinance whereby a person has his or her “calling and election made sure.” Only Mormons who have received the second anointing can know for sure in this life if they will obtain godhood upon death. Not much is known about the second anointing because of the secret nature of this…
-
Sealing (Defined)
Sealing: Temple ceremony binding a husband and wife together for eternity. Children who are not born in the covenant also can be sealed to parents.Return to dictionary here.
-
Ordinance (Defined)
Ordinance. Ceremony in which the Mormon makes a covenant with god. It includes baptism, sacraments, and work in the temple.Return to dictionary here.
-
New Names (Defined)
New Names. Temple patrons receive a name in the temple ceremony to be used after death; only a spouse is allowed to know the other person’s new name. The names are usually based on the Bible or the Book of Mormon; every male in the temple receives the same name, and the same for the…
-
Endowment (Defined)
Endowment. Ceremony in a Mormon temple in which the temple patron learns about creation, the garden of Eden, and the telestial and terrestrial worlds. According to Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, “Certain special, spiritual blessings given worthy and faithful saints in the temples are called endowments, because in and through them the recipients are endowed with power from…
-
Covenants (Defined)
Covenants. Two-way promises made by members with God. When the member keeps the promises, God keeps His promise of blessing. When the member does not keep the promises, the agreement is broken and God is under no obligation for eternal life (exaltation). Quoting sixteenth LDS President Thomas S. Monson, the July 2012 Ensign (“Understanding Our…