The Temple Recommend and Interview

"Temple recommend interviews allow members to demonstrate that they have a testimony and are striving to obey God’s commandments and follow His prophets. Priesthood leaders also affirm, through the interview, that the member is worthy" (General Handbook, 26.3).

Parents have the vital responsibility to help their children prepare to receive the blessings of eternal life. They teach their children to love and serve God and others (see Matthew 22:36–40). They teach them to pray to Heavenly Father and study the word of God (see Alma 37:36–37, 44–46). They help their children understand the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Doctrine and Covenants 68:25). They also help them prepare to make covenants as they receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation" (General Handbook, 2.1.3).

Below are the youth temple recommend questions, along with other questions you can discuss with your child to help them answer informed and honestly. These resources can aid in preparing for a home evening lesson or one-on-one discussion about key gospel principles related to each interview question. The resources include important teachings from the For the Strength of Youth Guidebook. (Additional questions posed to adult and endowed members can be found at the bottom of this page).

1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?

Discussion Questions:

What do we know about each member of the Godhead?
What does it mean to have faith in them?
What does it mean to have a testimony of them?

Additional Study Resources:

"Jesus Christ Will Help You," For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

Dallin H. Oaks, “The Godhead and the Plan of Salvation,” general conference, April 2017

2. Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?

Discussion Questions:

What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
Why do I need a Savior and Redeemer?
What does it mean to have a testimony of these things?

Additional Study Resources:

"Jesus Christ Will Help You," For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent is to Bring You Home,” general conference, April 2024

3. Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Discussion Questions:

What is the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Why was the Restoration necessary?

Additional Study Resources:

"The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World"

4. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?

Discussion Questions:

What does it mean to sustain someone?
What is a prophet? a seer? a revelator?
What are priesthood keys?

Additional Study Resources:

President Russell M. Nelson, "Sustaining the Prophets," general conference October 2014

President Russell M. Nelson, "Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys," general conference April 2024

5. The Lord has said that all things are to be “done in cleanliness” before Him (Doctrine and Covenants 42:41). Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior? Do you obey the law of chastity?

Discussion Questions:

What is moral cleanliness and what is the law of chastity?
Why is the law of chastity important?

Additional Study Resources:

“Walk in God’s Light,” For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

"Your Body is Sacred," For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

6. Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?

Discussion Questions:

What does it look like, practically, to follow the teachings of Christ’s Church in our private and public behavior?

Additional Study Resources:

“Love God, Love Your Neighbor,” For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

President Russell M. Nelson, "Welcome Message," general conference, April 2021

7. Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Discussion Questions:

What does it mean that a particular teaching, practice, or doctrine is contrary to those of Jesus Christ’s Church?
Why is it important to align our lives with the Lord and His prophets?

Additional Study Resources:

President Russell M. Nelson, "Let God Prevail," general conference October 2020

8: Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

Discussion Questions:

Why is it important for us to keep the promises we made with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What does it mean to keep the Sabbath day holy? Why do we do it?
What does it mean to prepare yourself for the sacrament? Why might that be important?

Additional Study Resources:

“Love God, Love Your Neighbor,” For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

“Walk in God’s Light,” For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

J. Anette Dennis, “Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ,” general conference, April 2024

9. Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?

Discussion Questions:

Why might striving to be honest be required to enter the Lord’s house?

Additional Study Resources:

“Truth Will Make You Free,” For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

Jack N. Gerard, “Integrity: A Christlike Attribute,” general conference, April 2024

10. Are you a full-tithe payer?

Discussion Questions:

What is tithing?
What does it mean to be a full-tithe payer?

Additional Study Resources:

“Love God, Love Your Neighbor,” For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

President Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial,” general conference, October 2023

11. Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?

Discussion Questions:

What is the Word of Wisdom?
Why is the Word of Wisdom important for our spiritual progress back to Heavenly Father?

Additional Study Resources:

"Your Body is Sacred," For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

12. Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?

Discussion Questions:

What is repentance and what does it mean to truly repent?
How is the Savior a part of true repentance?
Why is daily repentance part of coming unto Christ?

Additional Study Resources:

"Jesus Christ Will Help You," For the Strength of Youth Guidebook

Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent is to Bring You Home,” general conference, April 2024

13. Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?

Questions that are also asked of endowed or adult members include:

Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?

Discussion Questions:

Do you intentionally think about the covenants you have made in the temple?
What are those covenants?
How can you increase your faithfulness to those covenants today?

Additional Study Resources:

Dallin H. Oaks, "Covenants and Responsibilities," general conference, April 2024

Do you honor your sacred privilege to wear the garment as instructed in the initiatory ordinances?

Discussion Questions:

As you dress in the garment each day, do you allow it to remind you of your temple covenants and of the love the Lord has for you to allow you to wear a symbol that represents Him throughout the day?
Do you seek to wear the garment always?
When you participate in an activity that cannot reasonably be done while wearing the garment, do you seek to restore the garment as soon as possible?

Additional Study Resources:

Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Garment of the Holy Priesthood," Liahona, September 2024

J. Anette Dennis, "Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ," general conference, April 2024