LDS Temple Prep: An Introduction

This blog hosts the presentations I used to teach the LDS temple preparation course taken from Endowed from on High: Temple Preparation Seminar. While this course follows the same outlines given in the Temple Preparation manual, and teaches the same concepts, this course goes much more in-depth and addresses some of the main weaknesses of that text--namely, that the course covers very little about the temple itself. Those who are preparing to go through the temple want to know about the ordinances, the covenants, the symbols, and the doctrines of the temple; not out of curiosity, but because they want to be prepared for what they hope will be a meaningful spiritual experience.

The current Church manual does not cover many of these aspects of the temple, which means that those who go through the temple may still experience confused, shocked, and overwhelming feelings when they enter the temple.

This is not an official Church site; this course is simply the course I prepared, and I found it to be very successful. I decided to put it on a blog so that other teachers could access it--if not to use it, than to find different concepts that could be used in their own Temple Preparation course.

Each lesson has its own PowerPoint presentation and note pages (with lecture notes; the notes are also available in PowerPoint itself). I will put up each on in their own post, and they are listed below:

Lesson 1: The Temple & the Plan
Lesson 2: The Temple, the Recommend, & the Initiatory
Lesson 3: The Temple, the Initiatory (continued), & the Development of Temple Worship
Lesson 4: The Temple, the Covenants, & the Sealing
Lesson 5: The Temple & the Symbols
Lesson 6: The Parts of the Temple as One Great Whole
Lesson 7: The Temple, the Keys, & the Power
Self-Study Handout
FAQ

All course materials can be accessed here.

Do you have a question or concern about this course or the Temples Prep course in general? I'd love to hear from you. Please check out the "FAQ" post to see if your thoughts are discussed there; if not, use the Blogger Contact Form on the right side of the blog (not available on the mobile site) to contact me.

LDS Temple Prep - Temples Study Guide

The study guide for this course is available here:

Temples Study Guide

This study guide was prepared to go along with this course. If desired, you can pass this study guide out at the beginning of the course and invite members to prepare for the lesson beforehand. You can also pass out the study guide at the end of the course so that members can study and review the course after it has ended.

LDS Temple Prep - Lesson 7: The Temple, the Power, & the Keys

The course materials for this lesson are available here:

Lesson 7: The Temple, the Power, & the Keys - PowerPoint Presentation
Lesson 7: The Temple, the Power, & the Keys - Lecture Notes

Objectives of this lesson:

• The manual suggests that this lesson be given after members have gone through the temple. This may not be possible in many settings, and it is still appropriate to give this lesson if members have not yet gone through the temple.
• Help members understand the importance of lifelong temple attendance. Share your own ideas on how we can continue to value temple attendance in every stage of life.
• Teach members about the priesthood keys that were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple.
• Help the members understand that the temple helps us in every aspect of our life. If we understand this, then lifelong temple attendance becomes natural and desired on our part. This lesson attempts to accomplish this by discussing how those who go through the temple receive their own power that teaches them about themselves, how to grow closer to God, and how to keep our covenants. The power that we receive includes priesthood keys of knowledge and power.
• Share your own experiences in how the temple has empowered you in your own life. You may also want to invite others who have received temple ordinances to share their own experiences.

LDS Temple Prep - Lesson 6: The Parts of the Temple as One Great Whole

The course materials for this lesson are available here:

Lesson 6: The Parts of the Temple as One Great Whole - PowerPoint Presentation
Lesson 6: The Parts of the Temple as One Great Whole - Lecture Notes

Objectives of this lesson:

• Help the class understand that temple ordinances all fit together to teach us about the gospel and how it works in our lives. Encourage them to think about how the ordinances are related to each other.
• Give class members an overview of what happens in the temple when they go through for the first time. This includes the recommend desk, the locker rooms, the initiatory, the endowment ceremony, and the sealing (if applicable).
• As a part of the overview, teach class members about temple ceremonial clothing and other instructions we receive during the endowment. Reassure them that their escort, along with temple workers, are with them every step of the way. They do not need to worry about feeling embarrassed or making a mistake.
• Help members understand that everyone may not "love" the temple--either the first time they go through, or perhaps for many years (or ever). Teach them that they should not panic or feel guilt if this occurs. Encourage them to keep attending, that understanding will come with time, and that we have many ways to commune with God in the Church--the temple ordinances are only one aspect of divine communication.

LDS Temple Prep - Lesson 5: The Temple & the Symbols

The course materials for this lesson are available here:

Lesson 5: The Temple & the Symbols - PowerPoint Presentation
Lesson 5: The Temple & the Symbols - Lecture Notes

Objectives of this lesson:

• Introduce the class to the importance of symbolism in temple ordinances and teachings.
• Help the class understand that unlike sacrament meeting and other Sabbath meetings, temple worship is much more ritualistic and formal. Teach the class that while this may be unfamiliar the first few times, they will become more comfortable as time goes on, and gain valuable insights from this type of worship.
• Review the setting, characters, and events taught in the endowment, and help the class to understand that all of these teachings are symbolic. The endowment is not a documentary; the things we learn aren't meant to be a history lesson of literal events. It is meant to give us a chance to symbolically place ourselves in the plan of salvation.
• Teach the class that there are other sacred symbols we learn about in the temple. At their core, these symbols remind us of the sacred covenants we are making.
• Reassure the class that it is over the course of many years of attending the temple that we will understand and gain appreciation for the symbols.

LDS Temple Prep - Lesson 4: The Temple, the Covenants, & the Sealing

The course materials for this lesson are available here:

Lesson 4: The Temple, the Covenants, & the Sealing - PowerPoint Presentation
Lesson 4: The Temple, the Covenants, & the Sealing - Lecture Notes

Objectives of this lesson:

• Help the class understand why covenants are an important part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Introduce class members to the different covenants that are made during the temple endowment. Provide them with an understanding of each covenant and how they relate to each other.
• Help class members see how the covenants of the endowment add to the concept of progression that is central to the endowment.
• Teach class members about the importance of the sealing covenant and how it relates to eternal marriage and eternal families.

LDS Temple Prep - Lesson 3: The Temple, the Initiatory (cont.), & the Development of Temple Worship

The course materials for this lesson are available here:

Lesson 3: The Temple, the Initiatory (cont.), & the Development of Temple Worship - PowerPoint Presentation
Lesson 3: The Temple, the Initiatory (cont.), & the Development of Temple Worship - Lecture Notes

Objectives of this lesson:

• Discuss the anointing portion of the initiatory ordinance.
• Discuss the clothing portion of the initiatory ordinance.
• Discuss the temple garment, its importance, its symbolism, and the guidelines surrounding its use. Help the class understand the sacred nature of the garment.
• Briefly discuss examples of ancient temples. Help the class understand that even though the temples were different from modern-day LDS temples, they carried much of the same symbolism, and still helped fulfill the purpose of housing sacred ordinances.
• Briefly discuss the history of temple ordinances in our dispensation. Show what understanding we have of how Joseph Smith received temple ordinances. Help the class to understand that temple ordinances can be adjusted over time by Church leaders, along with revelation. If taught successfully, class members will not be concerned when they hear about changes made to temple ordinances, or about the history of those ordinances.