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History of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Temples|
One must be a member in good standing of the church in order to enter a temple. However, the public is welcome to attend meetings in local chapels. |
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A temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a building reserved for special ceremonies and meetings, much as the Jewish Temple in the time of Solomon or Herod? was used. It is believed that Joseph Smith was directed to build a temple again, in modern times. This article is covers some of the special events that occur in Temples. One must be a member in good standing of the church in order to enter a temple. However, the public is welcome to attend meetings in local chapels. |
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The most important ordinance, or ceremony, that is performed by members of the church is the Temple Endowment. The term Endowment comes from the Greek enduein, meaning "dress", "clothe", or "put on a garment". The name is fitting, because it is in the course of the Endowment ordinance that a patron receives the "Garment of the Holy Priesthood". More information about the Garment itself is discussed below. |
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The most important ordinance, or ceremony, that is performed by members of the church is the Temple Endowment. The term Endowment comes from the Greek language word enduein, meaning "dress", "clothe", or "put on a garment". The name is fitting, because it is in the course of the Endowment ordinance that a patron receives the "Garment of the Holy Priesthood". More information about the Garment itself is discussed below. |
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The Endowment ritual was first introduced in the Nauvoo temple in 1842 by Joseph Smith. It consists of four parts: |
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The Endowment ritual was first introduced in the [Nauvoo, Illinois]? temple in 1842 by Joseph Smith. It consists of four parts: |
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# Each patron receives a ceremonial washing and annointing with oil, either washing them clean (women), or washing them to become clean(men) from the blood and sins of this generation. This includes ceremonial blessings of various members of the body. After the annointing, the patron is given the "Garment of the Holy Priesthood". Each patron is given a "new name" which they are to use for the duration of the ceremony as a "key word", in order to pass. This name can be almost any name from the Bible or the Book of Mormon. All patrons on any given day are given the same name according to a monthly schedule, so that each female patron on the 11th of each month, for instance, might be given the name "Ruth", or a man "David" or "Abraham". If the patron's given name is the same as the "new name", the alternate "Adam" or "Eve" is given. # A set of lectures is presented concerning the Creation, depicing Elohim (God the Father), Jehovah (Jesus Christ), Adam and Eve, and others. Prior to a change in 1990, an orthodox Minister was also included, portrayed as being deceived by Satan, who is then converted. # Each patron makes a series of covenants, and is taught sacred Signs, Tokens and Words that represent the tests of righteousness required in order to enter the Celestial Kingdom (an LDS term for Heaven). The Signs are physical gestures, the Tokens are sacred handshakes, and the Words are the names of the Tokens. This concept of signs and tokens is extreemly similar to both Egyptian and early Gnostic rituals. Prior to the changes of 1990, a penalty was also involved in these covenants, swearing that they would pay the penalty of death should they reveal the tokens or signs. The penalties included such things as having their throats slit, disembowelment, and other penalties. In Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews, in the section on the covenant at Sinai Potok discusses the evidence for such gestures in the ancient world and in the Hebrew religion specifically. |
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# Each patron receives a ceremonial washing and annointing with oil, either washing them clean (women), or washing them to become clean (men) from the blood and sins of this generation. This includes ceremonial blessings of various members of the body. After the annointing, the patron is given the "Garment of the Holy Priesthood". Each patron is given a "new name" which they are to use for the duration of the ceremony as a "key word", in order to pass. This name can be almost any name from the Bible or the Book of Mormon. All patrons on any given day are given the same name according to a monthly schedule, so that each female patron on the 11th of each month, for instance, might be given the name "Ruth", or a man "David" or "Abraham". If the patron's given name is the same as the "new name", the alternate "Adam" or "Eve" is given. # A set of lectures is presented concerning the Creation, depicting Elohim (God the Father), Jehovah (Jesus Christ), Adam and Eve, and others. Prior to a change in 1990, an orthodox (non-LDS) Minister was also included, portrayed as being deceived by Satan, who is then converted. # Each patron makes a series of covenants, and is taught sacred Signs, Tokens and Words that represent the tests of righteousness required in order to enter the Celestial Kingdom (an LDS term for Heaven). The Signs are physical gestures, the Tokens are sacred handshakes, and the Words are the names of the Tokens. This concept of signs and tokens is extreemly similar to both Egyptian and early Gnostic rituals. Prior to the changes of 1990, a penalty was also involved in these covenants, swearing that they would pay the penalty of death should they reveal the tokens or signs. The penalties included such things as having their throats slit, disembowelment, and other penalties. In Wanderings: [Chaim Potok]?'s History of the Jews, in the section on the covenant at Sinai?, Potok discusses the evidence for such gestures in the ancient world and in the Hebrew religion specifically. |
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It has been observed by people with knowledge of both that the Endowment shares many attributes with the rites of Freemasonry. The church does not deny this, but instead claims that this is because the Masons use corrupted forms of the rituals that were originally given by God at the Temple of Solomon, and the LDS ritual is a reintroduction of those original forms. Joseph Smith is known to have been a Mason. For more information on this subject see http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_masons.shtml |
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It has been observed by people with knowledge of both that the Endowment shares many attributes with the rites of Freemasonry. The church does not deny this, but instead claims that this is because the Masons use corrupted forms of the rituals that were originally given by God at the Temple of Solomon, and the LDS ritual is a reintroduction of those original forms. Historically, Joseph Smith is known to have been a Mason. For more information on this subject see http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_masons.shtml |