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New Temple Recommend Holder.


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So as I plan on going to the temple, I wanted to solicit advice from you trusted folks on here.  Once we are ready to go (we need to get my husband's sealing to his first wife dealt with before we are sealed), I'm planning on going to get my endowment.  I've taken the temple prep class, but I'm really looking for some down to earth "this is what you need to do" kind of advice… whether it is what you bring, something I must read, how much time I allot, day of the week… temple clothing…. I would like to hear whatever insights you would like to provide to me.  We will be attending the Boston Temple.  It's a 4 hour drive.  Thanks so much!  Very exciting… but per usual… I've taken my time getting to this point :)  

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One thing you need to bring is your recommend :) .  For your own endowment, I believe you will also have a special recommend for that.  You should call the temple before hand and schedule a session with them so that they can be ready for you.  They'll make sure you have an escort who will help guide you from place to place.  If you have a friend or family who has a temple recommend, you can ask that they be your escort.

 

You don't need to bring temple clothing because you can rent everything at the temple.  I didn't purchase any temple clothing until 3 years later.  I believe you will need to bring a pair of garments.  Check with the temple to be sure.

 

I'm not sure how long it will take but I'm guessing it will be between 3 and 4 hours.

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Congratulations Of course bring your recommend. Waiting in the lobby isn't much fun. Also bring an open mind. The Temple is not like any other church experience you've ever had. You won't learn it all in one go through. Heck I stll learn more every time I go through and I've been going for 41 years. You won't remember much of what and where you make the covenents. But pay attention and you'll do fine. There are plenty of members and staff to help you along the way. If you at a bigger Temple you can rent your clothing the first couple of times you go. After that feel feel to buy your own. They're not expensive. Again CONGRATULATIONS. :clapping:

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Hello W2K...

Needless to say, this thrills me no end... and, I'm glad you've taken your time... as a former ordinance worker I want to share a couple little things/suggestions with you, so I'll PM you...

 

GG

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So as I plan on going to the temple, I wanted to solicit advice from you trusted folks on here.  Once we are ready to go (we need to get my husband's sealing to his first wife dealt with before we are sealed), I'm planning on going to get my endowment.  I've taken the temple prep class, but I'm really looking for some down to earth "this is what you need to do" kind of advice… whether it is what you bring, something I must read, how much time I allot, day of the week… temple clothing…. I would like to hear whatever insights you would like to provide to me.  We will be attending the Boston Temple.  It's a 4 hour drive.  Thanks so much!  Very exciting… but per usual… I've taken my time getting to this point :)

You might find this helpful:

 

http://www.mormonmonastery.org/temple-preparation/

 

As far as timing goes, it might be best to ask a local member what their experience is as it may be different for different temples.  They can tell you what the best time to go for what you want...do you want any local members to be going with you, do you want to go when it is less crowded if that is less stressful for you, etc.

 

You will need to make an appointment for the sealing, but I can't remember if you need to for your own endowment or not...I think it would be wise to tell them when you make the appointment for the sealing, what your plans are for your own endowment and then they can give you that info.  

 

Here is a link to an old article that info is still good, though more slanted to weddings, not just sealings:

 

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=2&sourceId=5aea82178cb9b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

 

The driving time was so different for each of the temples I've gone to and I've never really paid much attention to time once I am inside temple walls....time just seems to fade away for me...that I don't really have a clue how long it actually takes just inside the temple as opposed to overall, which is very dependent on where one lives.

Edited by calmoriah
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For scheduling and other info, including a phone number you can call if you want to get information from someone at the temple:

 

http://www.lds.org/church/temples/boston-massachusetts?lang=eng#tab=address

 

LDS.org site on FAQ for the temple, including what one should wear:

 

http://www.lds.org/church/temples/frequently-asked-questions?lang=eng

 

Will you be having the sealing ordinance the same day as your endowment?

 

Much more current article on planning a temple wedding which has some relevant info for sealings:

 

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2004/10/planning-your-temple-wedding?lang=eng

Edited by calmoriah
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You don't need to bring temple clothing because you can rent everything at the temple.  I didn't purchase any temple clothing until 3 years later.  I believe you will need to bring a pair of garments.  Check with the temple to be sure.

My memory says some temples don't rent out temple clothing any more, so definitely check.

 

And you will definitely need to bring a pair of garments with you unless you purchase them right before if there is a store attached to the temple...check with your Relief Society president, Visiting Teacher or a friend about how to go about purchasing them ahead of time (if there isn't a place near you, you can order them online though lds.org and you might want to get one pair in a couple of different versions at first to try for sizing and fit before ordering enough for every day use as there are a couple of different styles and a variety of fabrics...I prefer the feel of cotton and can only sleep in that, but for keeping dry in hot months or if you sweat a lot, there is a special fabric that I can't remember the name of...maybe even a couple of different ones to give a variety of textures).

 

add-on:  GG can probably help you with advice in this area with any more personal details.  :)

Edited by calmoriah
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You hopefully get to go with the new temple movie.  Which I've yet to see, my TR is expired and I haven't been in to update it.  My first time was in 1984, so I was able to see the first temple movie made, I believe.  Since then it's been updated and recently updated again.  So you'll probably experience it much more differently than I did the first time.  It has evolved from the day that JS introduced it to the church.  I've no doubt you'll have a good experience.  And glad you had the temple prep class, I never did, and first my experience was fine, but that's all I'll say about it.  My many nieces and nephews I have in my family seem to do much better than I did. 

 

Being endowed in the temple makes your life in Mormonism concrete, it secures your testimony more than anything else in the church.  So if you are truly converted to our church, it's a good step to take.  Many will say it changed their life and changes their life each time they go, for the better.  I'm sad my testimony didn't stand the test of time, maybe if I'd been better at going to the temple, it would have.  Probably not the advice you were after, but it's all I have, but on the lighter side....don't wear a lot of jewelry in the session, fine to wear it to the temple, just take it off when you dress for the session, and don't forget it on the top shelf of the locker or wherever you place it, afterwards.  Don't forget a tissue, maybe take a mint or life saver in case you get a dry throat.  And don't be miffed if you see someone dozing off, they shouldn't, but understand they've been there hundreds of times and are probably not sleeping and they've seen and know it by heart and may just be meditating.  In fact my MIL has done this and she was a weekly attender for many years.  I have more, but I'm sure you'll get better from our friend GG!

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For scheduling and other info, including a phone number you can call if you want to get information from someone at the temple:

 

http://www.lds.org/church/temples/boston-massachusetts?lang=eng#tab=address

 

LDS.org site on FAQ for the temple, including what one should wear:

 

http://www.lds.org/church/temples/frequently-asked-questions?lang=eng

 

Will you be having the sealing ordinance the same day as your endowment?

 

Much more current article on planning a temple wedding which has some relevant info for sealings:

 

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2004/10/planning-your-temple-wedding?lang=eng

Hi and thanks Calmoriah!  I will definitely look at these links when I get a minute.  We won't be doing it all in the same day. I'm definitely not up for that.  Plus, in my observations of others going through this process in our branch is that it all seems to be a branch "event" where everyone able to attends.  Which at once warms me and also freaks me out a bit.  One other thing, since our boys aren't members, when we do the sealing, our daughter will be sealed to us.  His son was sealed to he and his first wife.  My son, however, is not a member and doesn't want to be at the moment.  So I'm feeling at odds with that.  Any comfort, inspiration or advice would be great !  Thanks for the replies folks!  

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The Mesa Temple rented clothing and sold garments as the first pair when I went through. Though not a member anymore, I have my remaining garments and temple clothing locked up in a chest. I could never bring myself to get rid of them. I still look at them from time to time.

 

Congrats to the OP! I hope it is as amazing for you as it was and is for many others.

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Pick a time to go when you can go again for as many as five times in short order.  Going again soon after the first experience will help you become accustomed to this a different way of worship.  And it will help you become comfortable there.

 

You will need an escort (though a sister at the temple will do that if you don't bring one).  People have different views about whether to bring an entourage (I mean asking lots of people to attend your sealing.   My dh and  I eloped to the temple and spent an hour alone together discussing our life after our marriage.  But it was a  non-busy time for that temple.  You have some control over this so be sure to ask questions.  We recommend taking no one.  But some want to be surrounded by family.

 

Different schools of thought on using your original wedding dress if it is suitable, or buying and using the temple dress that you will use from then on so you can recall your sealing each time you return.

 

You will buy garments (without opening them) before you go to the temple.  If you are near distribution center, you'll be able to try on patterns (not garments, just material that looks like them).   Many women buy garments of different fabrics to see what they like, before settling on material and style that works for them.   The 100% cotton kind run really big, and are often only available online (someone endowed will have to buy them for you if you do it before you get your temple recommend recorded in the data base). 

 

If you are among those for whom that first temple visit is not everything you dreamed of, no worries.  If you return frequently, you'll become more comfortable there.

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You will buy garments (without opening them) before you go to the temple.  If you are near distribution center, you'll be able to try on patterns (not garments, just material that looks like them). 

Completely forgotten this....good catch.

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So excited for you Want2Know!

 

Everyone has already given wonderful advice. 

 

I was pretty nervous the first time I went (i'm the kind of person who does not do well when I don't know what is expected of me-I threw a fit about going to kindergarten because I was sure they were going to expect me to be able to read and I was not going to know how to do it!)  If you are at all nervous yourself, I would say just try to relax and not worry about being lost, forgetting anything, or doing something wrong.  First of all, if it happens no one will make any kind of a deal about it, most won't even notice, and the few that do will expect if from someone going through the first time, and second of all, everyone knows you have no idea what's expected of you so they quite literally do EVERYTHING for you that they can anyway so you probably won't even have a chance to contemplate trying to get things right. 

 

And just try to remember that the entire temple ceremony is all about symbolism.  Things in the temple can seem or look weird if they are taken too literal.  If something seems odd or surprising to you, try to think of what it might be trying to teach instead of focusing on what it is.  You probably will be too overwhelmed with the experience to worry too much about this the first time, but as you go back, this might be something to try to focus on.

 

I also second trying to go more than once that first day.  And as you go back for the first few times, if you go without a friend who is aware of your newness to the experience, do not be afraid to turn to a sister next to you and ask for help.  I LOVE it when I can help sisters who are less familiar with parts of the ceremony and I know I am not alone. 

 

:)

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Print out this quote from President McKay, and leave it on the dashboard of the car so when you drive home, you can read it and perhaps reflect on it:

 

Do you remember when you first went through the House of the Lord? I do. And I went out disappointed. Just a young man, out of college, anticipating great things when I went to the Temple. I was disappointed and grieved, and I have met hundreds of young men and young women since who had that experience. I have now found out why. There are two things in every Temple: the mechanics, to set forth certain ideals, and symbolism, what those mechanics symbolize. I saw only the mechanics when I first went through the Temple. I did not see the spiritual. I did not see the symbolism of spirituality. Speaking plainly, I saw men, physical state, which offended me. That is a mechanic of washing....I was blind to the great lesson of purity behind the mechanics. I did not hear the message of the Lord, "Be ye clean who bear the vessels of the Lord." I did not hear that eternal truth, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." The symbolism was lost entirely....And so with the anointing, following the washing. Do you see the symbolism?...How many of us young men saw that? We thought we were big enough and with intelligence sufficient to criticize the mechanics of it and we were blind to the symbolism, the message of the spirit. And then that great ordinance, the endowment. The whole thing simple in the mechanical part of it, but sublime and eternal in its significance.

Address delivered by David O. McKay at the dedicatory services of the additions to the Arizona Temple, December 30, 1956, as cited in "David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism" page 277

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