Temple Prep.

Alright, because of my pending mission later this year, the Temple has constantly been on my mind. I’ve already taken the “Temple Prep” classes, but I get a sinking feeling that these classes didn’t really prepare me at all for what is ahead. Because of my inquisitive nature, (which is what landed me on this site in the first place) I have already seen, read, and heard talk of what has taken place in the temple and still takes place in the temple. :silent:

Well, truth be told, I’m terrified. I know it’s supposed to be some symbolic journey full of enlightenment, but I have rarely ever heard anyone describe it as such a thing. For those of you who’ve already gone through the temple, what should I expect? Also, what do you wish you would have known before hand? What are some tips you can share with me?

I’ll take all the honest help I can get. :wtf:

I went through the temple for the first time about 25 years ago, so bear that in mind. My experience then is not what the experience is now exactly.

I recorded everything pretty well in my journal, so here are the main points. First, I wasn’t terrified, even with the temple ceremony being a little more edgy back then compared to the way it is now.

I found the annointing a bit unusual, but not uncomfortable in any way. After I was done and had garments, I felt secure — I think it might have been the sense I’d done something important, which I fully believed. But the biggest memory was how I felt truly clean and swept inside for 3 solid days. I felt the spirit very strongly for three solid days after I got home. Any time I lay on the bed alone, in my room, it was if I was washed over with spiritual feelings, which convinced me I’d done something good.

I can’t say I learned a lot. I never really learn a lot in the temple ceremony — learning tends to happen when I can be alone and reflect quietly on things. But that is just me. A ton of people claim solid enlightenment in the temple, and I don’t doubt that’s true, and that may be true for you ask well.

Afterwards, I also got hard on myself after that since I’d made new covenants, so when I made little mistakes I beat myseful up over them. I wish I hadn’t done that; it just made me miserable. I don’t do that now; I accept myself warts and all and tend to be more temperate about myself and my progress against the rules we have to obey.

Honestly, I think the experience will be unique for you, in your own way. Make sure you write it all down so when someone asks you about it (like you ask us), you can remember it all vividly!

It’s all symbol and allegory. If you take it literally, you won’t be able to really make sense of it. With the temple prep classes, you’ll do fine. When I went in ’64, I didn’t even know what garments were. Just remember it’s all there just to teach.

My short answer is:

What GB said.

There are some really good threads about the temple in our archives. I highly recommend reading them.

If you want to talk directly about how I explain the temple to my own children, at length, feel free to send me a Private Message. We can talk in that forum, or I can give you my cell phone number – if you don’t mind that and it wouldn’t feel too weird to you.

I remember being scared to death…then I went through the temple. My Temple Prep wasn’t all I needed and left me wondering and freaked out….then I went through the temple.

My advice is, it’s not nearly as scary or freaky as our minds tend to make it. Also just relax, you won’t grasp much of it the first time through, so just relax and enjoy the ride. Go through again to get the symbolisms and stuff, and they aren’t out of the norm It’s not wild and weird stuff you will learn, just expandings on stuff you’ve already been taught. No alien baby dancing on chicken feet or anything like that.

Thank you for bringing this up CL.

I’m quite scared of it. One night I even heard a voice tell me it was “counterfeit”. I worry about damnation or being locked into a contract I can’t get out of, but I can’t say this to church folk.

On the other hand, part of me looks forward to it, and I don’t feel a real Mormon without it.

I think we do a grave disservice to members by our refusal to talk about the temple much more openly.

Seriously, just about everything is available to the public now – and most of it has been explained in “faithful” writings. On top of that, there really isn’t very much that is forbidden to be discussed in the actual temple wording. When you listen really carefully and don’t credit all the things that individual members say, the only things that are forbidden specifically deal with one very narrow aspect – and I understand not talking about that aspect.

There is NOTHING that forbids me from explaining the entire endowment to my children – or anyone else – in great detail, as long as I am careful not to cross the line I mentioned above. I can explain that it is a play or movie, depending on the location – a presentation of the creation of the universe – of the creation of humans (figuratively) – of the conflict between following God or Lucifer – of the introduction of religion and the need to search for people who speak for Heavenly Father – of the things we need to accept and try to do in order to become like God – of our admission into the presence of God. I can explain that I view it all as symbolic – and why. I can talk about the covenants and how I interpret them. etc., etc., etc.

I can go into lots of detail – and I believe strongly that our Temple Prep classes should do so. There is NO solid reason, imo, that anyone should go to the temple for the first time and be surprised in any way – and I believe that deeply and passionately. It is one of our greatest failures in the Church, imo – and it is completely unnecessary, given what actually is said in the temple itself.

If anyone has ANY question about the ordinances performed in the temple, feel free to send me a PM and ask. I promise I will not cross any forbidden lines, but I also will provide as much detail as is desired without saying anything I shouldn’t say.

Know what’s going to happen and then relax.

Don’t try to understand it all, learn it all, memorize it all, etc. . . . Just sit back, clear your mind and go with the flow the first time. You don’t need to understand or remember a thing since there are people who will help with EVERYTHING.

Seriously, if anyone wants more details about what actually happens and doesn’t feel comfortable talking with someone face-to-face, let me know via a Private Message. I won’t cross any uncrossable lines, but I guarantee you won’t attend “in the dark”.