My next lesson: The blessings of the temple

I would mention that multiple apostles have said it all is symbolic, including Pres. Packer (to appease the more conservative members), but that there can be some incredible meaning in that symbolism. I would focus on the overarching idea of having our hearts knit to the entire family of God and how that should make us humble and charitable and non-judgmental – that if God asks us to turn our hearts to everyone, no exceptions, he must love and value everyone, no exceptions.

I then would ask people to share what their favorite part of the temple is and why.

I think it could be a truly powerful experience for the class.

I like the repetition. I like to meditate & think about the relative I’m going through the temple for.

I like to focus on their life & the influence they made in my life. I am completely out of my life &

problems. I hope & pray that in some small way I’ve made a positive impact in their life.

I hope they are looking on & are pleased with the effort.

I haven’t attended the temple in a while nor am I particularly fond of it. However, I respect that people find meaning and truth there.

Is there a way to work this refreshingly honest comment into a good, uplifting lesson, I wonder. I would give my eye teeth to have a discussion leader who felt comfortable saying something like this, but only if it was true, which in your case it is.

I often make admissions like this in my class, and they almost always help the discussion. People seem to appreciate the honesty of imperfection. Though it’s easier to say that about topics like FHE or sabbath observance than temple attendance. However, the aim of my lesson isn’t going to be about temple attendance per se, but rather about getting the most out of it–which may include talking about it more, or dealing with misgivings–so I could make such an admission, but would have to phrase it a little different.

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I often make admissions like this in my class, and they almost always help the discussion. People seem to appreciate the honesty of imperfection. Though it’s easier to say that about topics like FHE or sabbath observance than temple attendance. However, the aim of my lesson isn’t going to be about temple attendance per se, but rather about getting the most out of it–which may include talking about it more, or dealing with misgivings–so I could make such an admission, but would have to phrase it a little different.

A woman in our ward has been a new member for a few years now. She was recently endowed and came to church the next day with a look of horror and bewilderment. It was as though the church she had known now looked so strange and foreign to her. TBM DW said that everyone in RS was patronizing to her about how great it was and how she will get used to the wierdness in time. This was a few months ago and this woman has not been back to church. I don’t know if it would have made a difference, but I wish that someone could have taken this new member woman aside and told her that it was ok. It was ok not to like the temple and it is ok if it was the opposite of a spiritual experience for you. Many people love it and find great peace and meaning there. Others don’t and that doesn’t mean that there is anything deficient or wrong with them. The temple is just not their thing.

I wonder if she might have come back to church if she felt that it was ok to continue with the church stuff that she liked and not have to swallow up the “temple experience” entree with every subsequent church meal.

So I would hope for an opportunity to say that the temple isn’t your thing.

To be fair on the flip side, I love Fiona Givens suggestion of encouraging people who have never attended the temple to attend some Catholic Masses, both are rituals in symbolism. Complete with kneelings, standings, hand wavings, and group prayers. Another point you could bring up is temple grounds. Even thought I too haven’t gone in for a long time, there is a beauty, serenity, joy, calm on the outside. I recently drove past ours in the car, and just looking at it briefly was calming and happify-ing to me.

You will do great. We are all cheering for you.

Thanks for the idea from FG, that is a great insight, I’m going to see if I can find where she said that.

Thanks also for all your stories both positive and negative for the temple experience. I want the lesson to be for both groups whether explicitly exploring both sides or not. It’s good to keep those in mind while preparing, and making a lesson that will appeal to both camps.

My experience was pretty neutral. I just accepted it out of obedience. I have had insights into the cosmos and creation both pre and post FC. I have also had times where I felt I was wasting an afternoon.

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A woman in our ward has been a new member for a few years now. She was recently endowed and came to church the next day with a look of horror and bewilderment. It was as though the church she had known now looked so strange and foreign to her.

That was my experience too. I haven’t found joy in attending the temple since, except on my wedding day and baptizing my kids there. I really don’t have the desire to attend at all right now (and I haven’t for several months). But my TBM DW loves the temple. I don’t want to go, but I don’t want to stop her from going, either. What’s the best way to navigate this conflict? When I go just to please her, it makes me resent going even more. But I know it really bothers her that I don’t want to go.

I am like you in that I never really enjoyed going to the temple. The necessity of following prescribed actions on pain of being called out was particularly difficult for me, as was being a veil worker. I went once and never went back again as a veil worker. And the temple actually hurt my non-member family, and my life when they couldn’t go in. This would be a hard lesson for me to teach.

However, always up for a teaching challenge, I might have groups reflect on blessings of the temple in certain categories:

Social benefits

Eternal benefits

Goal-oriented benefits

Other categories that come to mind, and then have them share them. Another technique I’ve used is have everyone brainstorm in groups, and then have them share the benefits. I have three, unlabelled columns on the board, and as they make the comments, I sort them into the categories above. It creates a kind of suspension about what the columns mean, which can be engaging. Then you unveil what your sorting means, and it all makes sense to the class. Try it — it works very well.

You could also focus on the peace benefits of the celestial room, or how it can be cleansing to someone, as washings and annointing can have that effect. They did with myself….