Approaching The Temple

[Bryce Haymond]

The temple ceremonies and ordinances are sacred and secret. There is a level of secrecy connected with anything that is sacred. By definition, something sacred is consecrated, hallowed, holy, sanctified, respected, dedicatory, set apart, spiritual, reverent, venerated, and worshiped. Christ once taught, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Matt. 7:6). So there naturally proceeds a certain amount of secrecy associated with anything that is holy or sacred. It is not to be given to anyone and everyone, which makes it secret to those who are not ready to receive it. That which is sacred is set apart for those who prepare themselves and make themselves worthy to partake of it. It was never meant for all to partake of. That is precisely what makes it sacred.

President Hinckley cautioned members regarding keeping the temple sacred in the April 1990 General Conference:

I remind you of the absolute obligation to not discuss outside the temple that which occurs within the temple. Sacred matters deserve sacred consideration. We are under obligation, binding and serious, to not use temple language or speak of temple matters outside. I first went to the temple fifty-seven years ago. It was different from any other experience I had had in the Church. A young man of my association went about the same time. Thereafter, he was wont to use phrases from the language of the temple in a frivolous way. It was offensive. It was a betrayal of a sacred trust. I have watched him through the years. Once faithful, he has drifted from all Church activity and forsaken the faith of his fathers. I think that much of what has happened to him began with that small irreverential thing that he did in trivializing language which is not trivial.

Please, brethren, do not discuss outside of the temple that which occurs in the temple. While there, you are at liberty to do so. If you have questions, you may speak with the temple president or one of his counselors. But when you leave the doors of the House of the Lord, be true to a sacred trust to speak not of that which is holy and sanctified. Said the Lord, â??Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit.â? (D&C 63:64.) And again, â??Trifle not with sacred things.â? (D&C 6:12.) (Hinckley, â??Keeping the Temple Holy,â? Ensign, (May 1990))

To "speak not of that which is holy and sanctified" will naturally mean that certain things will be kept secret to certain people. Such secrecy arises out of its very nature of being "holy and sanctified." Elder Packer has taught,

Our reluctance to speak of the sacred temple ordinances is not in any way an attempt to make them seem more mysterious or to encourage an improper curiosity about them. The ordinances and ceremonies of the temple are simple. They are beautiful. They are sacred. They are kept confidential lest they be given to those who are unprepared. Curiosity is not a preparation. Deep interest itself is not a preparation. Preparation for the ordinances includes preliminary steps: faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, a maturity and dignity worthy of one who comes invited as a guest into the house of the Lord" (Packer, Holy Temple, 27.)

So, no, we are not at liberty to freely discuss anything and everything about the temple practices outside of that sacred space. To do so would be to take that which is sacred and make it profane, by removing it from its sacred space into a profane space. By experiencing it only in a sacred space it remains sacred. Some things are explicitly referred to keep sacred, but this does not preclude the entirety of the temple experience from also being kept sacred.

That being made very clear, I think that many members take the instruction of sacred secrecy to extremes that are not necessary, and that tend to do more harm than good.

First, by not ever referring to the temple outside of that space, it can harm the spiritual well-being of the members themselves, and their families. Many members do not feel the need to study the temple, its ordinances, the symbolism and meaning, the deeper aspects of the rites, and by so doing miss out on many deeper spiritual blessings that await those who do. Joseph admonished, "O, I beseech you, go forward and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of godliness" (TPJS, 364). Dr. Hugh Nibley once remarked:

What the Mormons like best about their temples is the obligation of secrecy that exonerates them from ever having to speak, and hence to think, about what they have learned by the ordinances and teachings. So strict are they in observing the confidential nature of those teachings that they, for the most part, scrupulously avoid dropping so much as a hint to outsiders by putting any of them into practice. (Petersen, Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life, 361)

President Benson voiced similar sentiments about overzealousness:

Because of [the Templeâ??s] sacredness we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the Temple to our children and grandchildren. As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the Temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into. (President Benson, â??What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children about the Temple,â? Ensign, August (1985): 6-10)

Second, if the world has absolutely no clue as to what the temple is about, it breeds ignorance, prejudice, misinformation, distortion, falsehoods, hate, and misunderstanding. We can see that at almost every turn in the media these days. Many people today believe that the temple is a dark, occult, mysterious, satanic, hidden, odd, strange, crazy thing because of the dearth of good, honest, and respectful information out there. When they try to ask members about the temple to clear up misconceptions, many members may brush them off with a "Oh, that is sacred and we don't talk about it." This does not help the LDS position and understanding amongst our brothers and sisters in the world. This is one of the reasons I started my blog, TempleStudy.com.

If there really was no aspect of the temple that could be discussed outside of the temple, then that would evaporate the invaluable research and work of much of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute at BYU, including the work of some of the best LDS scholars this century has produced such as Hugh Nibley, Daniel Peterson, Andrew Skinner (his recent Temple Worship book is excellent), John Welch, Bill Hamblin, Matthew Brown, and many others. General Authorities such as Elder Packer and Elder Talmage, as well as others, have written entire books on the subject. Do all of these believe that there is absolutely no aspect of the temple that we can discuss? No. Again, to use Elder Packer's words, "there is much we can discuss . . . and we will" (Holy Temple, 39.). I might add, "and we should!" It all depends on how we do it, and with the spirit as our guide.

We can easily look beyond the mark in these matters, which could be just as deleterious as letting the cat out of the bag. Let's not have zeal without knowledge. Let's be intelligent and respectful and appropriate in studying, discussing, answering questions, teaching, and learning more about the pinnacle of our worship, the holy temple.

[Helorum]

I think that many members take the instruction of sacred secrecy to extremes that are not necessary

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism has a great deal of detail about temple ordinances that is appropriate for public discussion.

I wish that this text was used in conjunction with all temple prep classes so that people who are about to receive the temple ordinances could get an accurate (and in context) idea about what they are going to experience.

This would help reduce the culture shock of modern people experiencing ancient rites.

[jwhitlock]

Quite a bit of what is said in the temple is also contained in the scriptures. Some of that content and the context it is in is appropriate to speak of outside of the temple. Other content / context is not.

[Anijen]

I purposely do not discuss almost anything about the Temple outside the Temple. I will refer people to the book The Holy Temple or House of the Lord. We did speak a little about temple content while I was in the MTC but was told that was the only exception because it was also dedicated for a place for the Savior to be.

Other sources I use;

the temple prep book

scriptures

church magazines

[Billy]

Quite a bit of what is said in the temple is also contained in the scriptures. Some of that content and the context it is in is appropriate to speak of outside of the temple. Other content / context is not.

Is your statement really true about the temple ceremony that if it is contained in the scriptures it "is appropriate to speak of outside of the temple"?

Would anyone here mind if I asked a question about the temple ceremony as long as it is based in the scriptures?

[kawikadave]

Would anyone here mind if I asked a question about the temple ceremony as long as it is based in the scriptures?

Based on your recent posting history, I'd probably mind. You're generally strident, ill-willed, and looking for conflict.

[Billy]

Based on your recent posting history, I'd probably mind. You're generally strident, ill-willed, and looking for conflict.

Hey, are you trying to hurt my feelings?

[LifeOnaPlate]

Is your statement really true about the temple ceremony that if it is contained in the scriptures it "is appropriate to speak of outside of the temple"?

Would anyone here mind if I asked a question about the temple ceremony as long as it is based in the scriptures?

How about asking about the scriptures? Sounds good to me.

Good thread, by the way.

[kawikadave]

Hey, are you trying to hurt my feelings?

Nope, just calling it like I see it. I haven't liked your desire to paint anyone who doesn't believe exactly like you as evil or questionable.

However, if you think you can be respectful, please ask your question.

[Bryce Haymond]

If it is a question about the scriptures, then it is probably ok. If it is a question about the scriptures that involves a temple answer, it is probably not ok. Depends on the nature of the question.

[Garden Girl]

I think that anyone who has been endowed can benefit from works such as Hugh Nibley's "Temple and Cosmos" (excellent), or papers such as John A. Tvedtnes "Early Christian and Jewish Rituals Related to Temple Practices" (Available from FAIR). Studying works such as these helps us gain insights into the richness of symbology used in the temple...

I also like Wilcox's "House of Glory"...

Garden Girl

[LifeOnaPlate]

I recommend Marcus von Wellnitz, â??The Catholic Liturgy and the Mormon Temple.â? BYU Studies 21:1 (1981): 3-35.