Welcome to the House of the Lord
Preparing to Enter the Temple and Learning through Symbolism
"The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation," general conference October 2021)
Personal Preparation
“If we change our preparation to enter the temple, we will change our experience in the temple, which will transform our lives outside of the temple” (Elder Ulisses Soares, “Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ,” General Conference, April 2024).
There is a difference between being worthy to enter the House of the Lord and being perfect. God doesn't require perfection now, but He does have standards for those who want to worship in and enjoy the blessings of His holy house. Your willingness to live by these standards prepares you to enter the temple, not just once, but repeatedly. Just as we prepare throughout the week for the sacrament each Sabbath, we should also prepare daily for our next visit to the House of the Lord. Daily repentance is a key part of this preparation.
To worship in the house of the Lord, whether for the first time or the hundredth, we need to be repentant, align our lives with Jesus Christ, and strive to be clean before God. The Lord said, "Sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:74). The sacrament can sanctify our souls and prepare us for the temple, where we can find the Savior and draw closer to Him through sacred covenants.
Ponder:
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What have you already done to prepare yourself to receive your own temple ordinances and make sacred covenants with God?
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Prayerfully seek guidance from the Holy Ghost about the following question: How can you continue to prepare yourself, even if you've already been to the temple before?
Write down the impressions you feel. Really! Write them down! As you record and then act on the promptings you receive from the Holy Ghost, you show the Lord He can trust you to listen. That is how you grow into the spirit of revelation and actually receive His power to more completely keep your covenants and receive God's power to overcome this world!
President Russell M. Nelson has taught:
"Spiritual preparation is enhanced by study. I like to recommend that members going to the temple for the first time read short explanatory paragraphs in the Bible Dictionary, listed under seven topics: “Anoint,” “Atonement,” “Christ,” “Covenant,” “Fall of Adam [and Eve],” “Sacrifices,” and “Temple.” Doing so will provide a firm foundation.
One may also read in the Old Testament and the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. Such a review of ancient scripture is even more enlightening after one is familiar with the temple endowment. Those books underscore the antiquity of temple work" (Russell M. Nelson, "Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings," Ensign, May 2001).
Symbolism
Ponder:
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What do you already know about learning through symbolism?
Discuss:
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What are some examples of where you see symbolism in your life and how does it help you learn or remember things?
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Why do you think the Lord might use symbolism in the gospel?
Temples are filled with symbolism, from the planter boxes on the grounds to the stonework, exterior doors, and architecture. Even the words and actions in the ordinances, as well as the floor plans, can be symbolic. President Russell M. Nelson once said: "In the temples, symbols are utilized to teach us spiritual things. For example, we admire that beautiful chandelier in the celestial room. … Look at the many innumerable pieces in that chandelier, each one made beautiful as it reflects the light behind it. Can you see that each piece in that chandelier could represent some of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob illuminated by the light of the Lord?
"Elsewhere in the temple, we admire the altars. They become more important to us when they symbolize the importance of prayer. The sculptured carpets on the floor signify the sure foundation of truth, below which we do not descend, as devoted Latter-day Saints. …
"The whiteness of temple clothing suggests purity, and the similarity of our dress symbolizes the fact that we are all sons and daughters of God. In the temple, there is no segregation according to position held, color, wealth, or the lack of it.
"In this temple, there is a symbolic pathway of progression. The baptismal font is located in the lowest part of the temple, symbolizing the fact that Jesus was baptized in the lowest body of fresh water on planet earth. There He descended below all things to rise above all things. In Solomon’s temple, the baptismal font was supported by twelve oxen that symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel. … From the baptismal font of the temple, we progress upward through the telestial and terrestrial realms to the room that represents the celestial home of God" (“Symbols and the Temple,” St. Louis Missouri Temple Dedication, session eighteen, June 5, 1997).
Study:
Ponder:
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What do you learn from Alma about the purpose of symbolism in the ordinances of the gospel?
Ponder and Discuss:
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What symbols do you see in the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, and the sacrament?
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And what can you learn from those symbols about the covenant you make when you participate in that ordinance?
Take a moment to reflect on this: Symbols in the gospel carry deeper meanings than we often realize. They teach us in layers, revealing more as we grow spiritually. The more you honor your covenants and actively seek to learn, the more the Holy Ghost will reveal through these symbols. Your effort and preparation determine the depth of understanding you gain.
Study:
Ponder:
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What does this verse teach you about how the Lord wants to teach His children?
Regular temple attendance offers endless learning opportunities. Elder Neal A. Maxwell highlighted that some Church members only skim the surface of their faith, missing deeper discipleship and a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ. He noted, "they may even pass through our holy temples, but alas, they do not let the holy temples pass through them."
In the temple, the Lord reveals eternal mysteries. However, only those who come frequently and with open hearts and minds will truly receive these revelations (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:49-50).
Ponder and Discuss:
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How do you feel you can increase your opportunities to learn from the Lord each time you worship in His house?
President Russell M. Nelson has taught:
"Each temple is a house of learning. There we are taught in the Master’s way. His way differs from modes of others. His way is ancient and rich with symbolism. We can learn much by pondering the reality for which each symbol stands. Teachings of the temple are beautifully simple and simply beautiful. They are understood by the humble, yet they can excite the intellect of the brightest minds" (Russell M. Nelson Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings," Ensign, May 2001).
"When you bring your temple recommend, a contrite heart, and a seeking mind to the Lord’s house of learning, He will teach you" (Russell M. Nelson, "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation," Liahona, November 2021).
"The Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. … As we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power" (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 93–94).
"When you look at a temple, you should realize it is a symbol of Jesus Christ, as He is our Mediator with the Father. Only by Him and through Him can we reach our Heavenly Father" (Russell M. Nelson, in Sarah Jane Weaver, “Video: President Nelson Shares How Temples Are ‘a Symbol of Jesus Christ,’” Deseret News, Aug. 15, 2022).
The Temple Recommend
The temple is the Lord's house, and participating in its ordinances is a sacred privilege. This privilege is for those who are spiritually prepared and committed to living the Lord's standards, as determined by authorized priesthood leaders (see General Handbook 31.2.5). To take part in temple ordinances, you'll need to have an interview with your bishop and stake president to receive a temple recommend.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband teaches us of the temple recommend: "In your interview you have the opportunity to search your soul about your personal faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. You have the blessing to express your testimony of the restored gospel; your willingness to sustain those whom the Lord has called to lead His Church; your faith in the doctrine of the gospel; your fulfillment of family responsibilities; and your qualities of honesty, chastity, fidelity, obedience, and observance of the Word of Wisdom, the law of tithing, and the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Those are bedrock principles of a life devoted to Jesus Christ and His work.
“Your temple recommend reflects a deep, spiritual intent that you are striving to live the laws of the Lord and love what He loves. … And you commit yourself to those standards when you sign your name to that sacred document. …
"… Let me emphasize, whether you have access to a temple or not, you need a current temple recommend to stay firmly on the covenant path" (Ronald A. Rasband, “Recommended to the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 23–25).
President Russell M. Nelson also taught this about the temple recommend interview:
"Our Redeemer requires that His temples be protected from desecration. No unclean thing may enter His hallowed house. Yet anyone is welcome who prepares well. Each person applying for a recommend will be interviewed by a judge in Israel—the bishop—and by a stake president. They hold keys of priesthood authority and the responsibility to help us know when our preparation and timing are appropriate to enter the temple. Their interviews will assess several vital issues. They will ask if we obey the law of tithing, if we keep the Word of Wisdom, and if we sustain the authorities of the Church. They will ask if we are honest, if we are morally clean, and if we honor the power of procreation as a sacred trust from our Creator.
Why are these issues so crucial? Because they are spiritual separators. They help to determine if we truly live as children of the covenant, able to resist temptation from servants of sin. These interviews help to discern if we are willing to live in accord with the will of the true and living God or if our hearts are still set “upon riches and … vain things of the world.”
"Such requirements are not difficult to understand. Because the temple is the house of the Lord, standards for admission are set by Him. One enters as His guest. To hold a temple recommend is a priceless privilege and a tangible sign of obedience to God and His prophets" (Russell M. Nelson, "Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings," Ensign, May 2001).
Prepare well for your temple recommend interviews. The members of your bishopric and stake presidency represent the Lord in these meetings. This is your chance to affirm your faith, testify of the gospel, and show your commitment to keeping His commandments and covenants. It's a sacred experience, so dress appropriately and prepare spiritually to be inspired and ready to enter the Lord's house.
Here are each of the temple recommend interview questions. Review each one and take some time to think about what each question means to you.
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Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
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Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?
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Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
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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?
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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?
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Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
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Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
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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?
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Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?
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Are you a full-tithe payer?
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Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?
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Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
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Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
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Do you honor your sacred privilege to wear the garment as instructed in the initiatory ordinances?
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Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?
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Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?
Learning Activity:
To prepare for temple ordinances and covenants, spend some time considering how you'll get ready to partake of the sacrament each Sunday. Think about what you can do during the week to be spiritually prepared to make covenants with the Lord during the sacrament.
