Saints Alive Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 What is the optimal age for one to receive their endowment?Generally (and according to the CHI) one is not recommended to receive their own endowment until one of two things has happened: they have received a mission call, or they are to be married in the temple. Those who don’t go on a mission, or are not getting married become eligible when they and their bishop feel that they are spiritually ready for those covenants. So what is the ideal age for someone to receive their endowments if they are not covered by the two categories listed above? The CHI states both that: routine criteria such as reaching a certain age should not be used, and members in their late teens and early twenties, should not be recommended. Beyond that what is the ideal age? Is it something that each individual must decide for themselves (with their bishop’s guidance) or is there a time in a person’s life when they should be ready and going beyond that time is just delaying blessing?I did not go on a mission and was not married when I went to the temple, I was 22 and joining the military (which was probably the only reason I convinced my reluctant stake president to give me a recommend) was I too young? During that same time (and shortly after I had received my recommend) there was another Brother (again not going on a mission or getting married) only a few years older than I who the Stake President encouraged to get his recommend. Is there truly a difference between a 22 year old and a 24-25 year old? As my children reach adulthood I wonder when they will be allowed to receive a recommend (if they choose not to go on a mission or get married). Is it something personal for each individual (this is what I suspect) or, as I said before, is there an age when you are simply delaying blessing? [i apologize for the scattered nature of this post, feel free to hone in on whatever aspect catches your interest]
thesometimesaint Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 Saints Alive:It is really up to the Bishops discretion. The Endowment is a life changing experience, with eternal consequences. For some 19-20 year olds it is perfectly fine, some need to spiritually mature a bit more. I would say that a person should be out of mom and dads hair, and on their own, for at least a year before going. But I'm not a Bishop, and don't get to make those decisions.
cinepro Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 I'm assuming it should be based on spiritual maturity. As my kids get older and I see more and more of the youth in the Church, it's not too hard to see the ones that are spiritually "mature" and those that aren't. I'm assuming Bishops and Stake Presidents are more able than I to discern a candidate's preparedness.I do think the Church should make "provisional" recommends available for worthy friends and family members to attend weddings in the Temple without needing to have gone through an endowment session.
Freedom Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 Young men, or course, receive their endowment when they prepare to go on a mission. Otherwise, people are encouraged to wait until they get married. For women, if marriage does not seem to be forthcoming they may take out their endowments. This is the direction we received last Spring from Elder Nelson at a priesthood leadership training in our region. One of the reasons for this is, should you get endowed and get married to a non-member, or get married to a non-endowed member, the garments tend to cause tension in marriages. There were a few other reasons he gave but they are perhaps not appropriate to post here. This is a good question for a stake president or a temple president. They deal with these questions on a regular basis and have clear instructions on how to address it.
KevinG Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 I do think the Church should make "provisional" recommends available for worthy friends and family members to attend weddings in the Temple without needing to have gone through an endowment session.A bit of education and a public ring ceremony and reception goes a long way towards mollifying any hurt feelings. Ours is the only LDS family in our extended family and our family understood our reasons and respected them. We did everything we could to include them in our special day, including having them on Temple grounds with a trusted friend so as soon as the ceremony was over we all took pictures and greeted friends together.
KevinG Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 (edited) RE the OP - it is more a matter of need and maturity than age. I can't add much more than what Freedom shared from Elder Nelson except to say we don't want to commit someone to a high level of covenant without including the support system to keep those covenants found in a marriage, mission companions or other similar situation. Edited December 14, 2011 by DaddyG
Freedom Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 RE the OP - it is more a matter of need and maturity than age. I can't add much more than what Freedom shared from Elder Nelson except to say we don't want to commit someone to a high level of covenant without including the support system to keep those covenants found in a marriage, mission companions or other similar situation.This was one of the points discussed as well at our training, the idea of covenants not being for individuals but for families. They are designed to involve more than one person for a reason. It is sensitive doctrine, however, when you consider the many faithful singles. There is no point in getting the endowment just for the sake of it. It is a stepping stone to greater and higher covenants. I am grateful that I am not one who has to make the judgement call.
Saints Alive Posted December 14, 2011 Author Posted December 14, 2011 For women, if marriage does not seem to be forthcoming they may take out their endowments. What about males who converted in their twenties who are not going on missions? Is Elder Nelson saying that they shouldn’t receive their endowment or is he just speaking generally and assuming that the majority of men go on missions? One of the reasons for this is, should you get endowed and get married to a non-member, or get married to a non-endowed member, the garments tend to cause tension in marriages. I can understand that but if that is the case should it not be a blanket rule to wait until marriage?There were a few other reasons he gave but they are perhaps not appropriate to post here. This is a good question for a stake president or a temple president. They deal with these questions on a regular basis and have clear instructions on how to address it.This subject has always peaked my interest and the Stake Presidents that I have asked about this in the past always seem to have vastly different answers (perhaps that is why the question peaks my interest). If you feel comfortable and feel it would be appropriate, perhaps you could share some of the other reasons in a PM?
Saints Alive Posted December 14, 2011 Author Posted December 14, 2011 I do think the Church should make "provisional" recommends available for worthy friends and family members to attend weddings in the Temple without needing to have gone through an endowment session.I think the main reason this is not allowed is that it would violate the covenant of not revealing certain signs given in the endowment.
ERMD Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 I think the main reason this is not allowed is that it would violate the covenant of not revealing certain signs given in the endowment. When one attends a wedding/sealing in the temple, it is not necessary to participate in an endowment session prior to the ceremony. The guests may simply go into the sealing room, witness the wedding/sealing, and then leave.The bride and groom wear ceremonial clothing. Others who have not attended and endowment session wear appropriate street clothes.
David T Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 When one attends a wedding/sealing in the temple, it is not necessary to participate in an endowment session prior to the ceremony. The guests may simply go into the sealing room, witness the wedding/sealing, and then leave.The bride and groom wear ceremonial clothing. Others who have not attended and endowment session wear appropriate street clothes.I think the reference is to what the Bride and Groom do with their hands, ERMD.
Saints Alive Posted December 14, 2011 Author Posted December 14, 2011 I think the reference is to what the Bride and Groom do with their hands, ERMD. Thats correct
Saints Alive Posted December 14, 2011 Author Posted December 14, 2011 It is odd that it is ok for you to see if you are under 21 but after that you must be endowed.
David T Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 It is odd that it is ok for you to see if you are under 21 but after that you must be endowed.That is an interesting point.
Saints Alive Posted December 15, 2011 Author Posted December 15, 2011 That is an interesting point. whats more, that is not only to witness siblings sealings but also to be sealed to ones parents after the age of 20 one must be endowed.So being sealed to your parents is sufficient reason to receive one's endowment but (in theory) one would not be allowed to receive their endowments if they wanted to see a sibling sealed to their parents or spouse or if they simply wanted to go on their own.
mfbukowski Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 (edited) It is odd that it is ok for you to see if you are under 21 but after that you must be endowed.Age is not the issue it is spiritual maturity and the importance of the blessings given. One who is not going on a mission at 19, I would argue, has not demonstrated the spiritual maturity and commitment to the gospel necessary at that point in their life to receive the endowment.Missionaries need the endowment of blessings contained in- well, there is a reason they call it "the endowment"!People going into the service could be marching to death, and they certainly need all the blessings they can get.But if you're hanging around home or college and are just curious about what goes on in the temple, or just in general if you are not spiritually mature and committed to the church, the endowment could be more of a curse than a blessing.That is why it is up to the bishop. Just my two cents. Edited December 15, 2011 by mfbukowski
mfbukowski Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 So being sealed to your parents is sufficient reason to receive one's endowment but (in theory) one would not be allowed to receive their endowments if they wanted to see a sibling sealed to their parents or spouse or if they simply wanted to go on their own.One can be sealed to one's parents as a baby.I don't think we should allow 4 year olds to receive their endowments- do you? This line of argument makes no sense to me.
Saints Alive Posted December 16, 2011 Author Posted December 16, 2011 If u are under 21 you can be sealed to your parents without receiving your endowment, if you are 21 or older you must be endowed to be sealed to your parent. It can and does occur among converts that one, who would not have otherwise been endowed, is so that they may be sealed. What is your confusion?
Freedom Posted December 17, 2011 Posted December 17, 2011 What about males who converted in their twenties who are not going on missions? Is Elder Nelson saying that they shouldn’t receive their endowment or is he just speaking generally and assuming that the majority of men go on missions?I can understand that but if that is the case should it not be a blanket rule to wait until marriage?This subject has always peaked my interest and the Stake Presidents that I have asked about this in the past always seem to have vastly different answers (perhaps that is why the question peaks my interest). If you feel comfortable and feel it would be appropriate, perhaps you could share some of the other reasons in a PM?I don't feel comfortable posting them because of nature of the topics and the nature of the training meeting. If was a general priesthood training session I would feel more comfortable. I would say that, unless you are going on a mission or getting sealed in the temple, that the advise is to not go to the temple. I think that the primary message of the meeting was to be sensitive and to ponder the matter carefully with each individual. The church does not have an official policy on the matter from what I understand, but each individual situation has to be considered independently. The greatest concern was to not make the temple the cause of marital problems. The church leadership would rather see successful marriages between members and non-members than having the endowment become a source of contention leading to divorce. At least, that is how I interpreted the discussion. Remember, that the training session was several months ago and since I was not a bishop or stake president I didn't take too many copious notes on the matter.
David T Posted December 18, 2011 Posted December 18, 2011 (edited) I joined the Church when I was 23. I left to serve a mission when I was 25.I was pressing to recieve my endowment without a mission at age 24, thinking a Mission wasn't possible for me. The Bishop believed otherwise. I was incredibly frustrated. I felt I was getting caught up in bureaucratic red tape. Eventually, after lots of prayer and pondering, I found out that mission was something that, in a very miraculous sort of way, was made available for me. While not everyone will be in the same place, for me, I am incredibly grateful this is how I proceeded. If I had just shrugged off the idea of a mission and tried to plow forth otherwise, my life would truly be significantly different than it is now. I certainly wouldn't have married the woman I did when I did, and have the amazing family and opportunities I've had since.It also allowed my future in-laws (who I love dearly) to serve as my escorts, and be there for the experience rather than someone else who I would otherwise have had no connection with.So...from experience, I can relate to those young/mid twenty-somethings who want their temple experience, and feel that the Church is somehow using it as a dangling carrot. I felt that way, too. My personal experience has made me wiser, and has seen that event, and the intents of the Bishop, in a very, very different light. And I'm grateful for it. Edited December 18, 2011 by nackhadlow
ChristKnight Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 I joined the Church when I was 23. I left to serve a mission when I was 25.I was pressing to recieve my endowment without a mission at age 24, thinking a Mission wasn't possible for me. The Bishop believed otherwise. I was incredibly frustrated. I felt I was getting caught up in bureaucratic red tape. Eventually, after lots of prayer and pondering, I found out that mission was something that, in a very miraculous sort of way, was made available for me. While not everyone will be in the same place, for me, I am incredibly grateful this is how I proceeded. If I had just shrugged off the idea of a mission and tried to plow forth otherwise, my life would truly be significantly different than it is now. I certainly wouldn't have married the woman I did when I did, and have the amazing family and opportunities I've had since.It also allowed my future in-laws (who I love dearly) to serve as my escorts, and be there for the experience rather than someone else who I would otherwise have had no connection with.So...from experience, I can relate to those young/mid twenty-somethings who want their temple experience, and feel that the Church is somehow using it as a dangling carrot. I felt that way, too. My personal experience has made me wiser, and has seen that event, and the intents of the Bishop, in a very, very different light. And I'm grateful for it.Interesting, thanks. I guess I'm in a similar situation, as I converted earlier this year at 24 (I'm 25 now), and although I'd love to be able to serve a mission, I don't think now is a good time for a number of reasons (especially because of my non-member family and how they would react). So, I'm looking to hopefully be endowed in February/March, and my bishop is encouraging me to prepare for that.
mfbukowski Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Interesting, thanks. I guess I'm in a similar situation, as I converted earlier this year at 24 (I'm 25 now), and although I'd love to be able to serve a mission, I don't think now is a good time for a number of reasons (especially because of my non-member family and how they would react). So, I'm looking to hopefully be endowed in February/March, and my bishop is encouraging me to prepare for that.Good to see you! Glad all is well and congratulations!
ChristKnight Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 (edited) Good to see you! Glad all is well and congratulations!Thanks! I've been lurking more for the past couple months. Ordained an elder a month ago, I'm a ward missionary, and loving the restored gospel more and more each week! Can't wait to be endowed. Edited December 19, 2011 by ChristKnight 1
mfbukowski Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Thanks! I've been lurking more for the past couple months. Ordained an elder a month ago, I'm a ward missionary, and loving the restored gospel more and more each week! Can't wait to be endowed. :good: :good: :good:
Recommended Posts