The first time I went through the temple it really freaked me out. What people wore and what they did and what they said, etc. It made me wonder what all the hype is growing up in the church and wanting to prepare for the temple.
I didn’t start feeling the Spirit or trying to put forth effort to understand the temple until 8 years later when one of my newly converted friends wanted to go on a regular basis. I started going and slowly I started feeling a little more humble, a little softer-hearted.
A couple years later, my wife was called as a temple worker. I still had some great hesitation with going to the temple and sacrificing so much time (5 hrs.) to work there. In the begining I went because I was supporting her, but soon the Spirit kept nudging me and prompting me over the course of a year that I needed to be a worker too. I resisted until I couldn’t resist the promptings anymore. The interview with the temple president was scheduled and I became a temple worker.
For the past year or so as I’ve gone with my wife, I have had many occasions where the Spirit is so strong and I feel so pure in the temple. After becoming a worker, recently I’ve started to see things symbolically in a way that is amazing along with feeling the sweetness of the Spirit as well. Virtually everything in the temple points us to Christ’s atonement.
I don’t understand a lot about why we do certain things in the temple or even why it is necessary. All I know is that the more I go the more spiritual and closer to Jesus I feel.
Since I feel my testimony of the temple and it’s importance growing, my new favorite blog is: http://www.templestudy.com/. I like the insights given about temples and the many references to temples that are found throughout the scriptures.
Critics say there isn’t a need for temples and after Jesus’ death they were done away with. Those who say that are probably those who say that God can’t speak to man or reveal truths or doctrines. They are wrong. God speaks to us in ways I’ve never felt before as I’ve been in the temple.
I invite everyone to visit that blog and learn about temples. For those of you who may have not been through the temple, some of the information on the templestudy website may not be understood. You can also visit another temple website: http://www.mormon-temple-ceremony.com/ for basic information on the temples.
Grace for Grace 
3 comments
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February 12, 2008 at 5:44 am
hesadanza
Hey ama49! Thanks for the endorsement of my blog, Temple Study! I really appreciate it.
I hope my blog will help us all learn more about the temple, its symbolism, and gain a greater appreciation for its blessings. I hope it will help open up more appropriate discussion of the temple. I think that the more we learn about the temple, the more our testimony of the gospel will grow, our knowledge of God will increase, and we will better understand our purposes in this world. We will also be better able to dodge the fiery darts of the anti-Mormon propaganda who think Joseph Smith somehow made this all up.
You are right that some things that I mention on the blog will not be completely understood by those who have not been through the temple. As I’m sure you know, that was a conscious decision. Some things we cannot directly talk about because of their sacredness and the covenants we have made. But we can talk about the major doctrines and principles, and other ancient historical patterns which have similarities to our own temple practice, while not making direct comparisons between the two, and by staying silent on our own. This has been the preferred and trusted method of temple study by many LDS scholars, pioneered mostly by Hugh Nibley. Those members who have been through the temple will clearly see the connections with the ancient patterns without explicitly pointing them out.
Since I had never seen a blog before with the focus on the temple, temple studies, scholarship, symbolism, etc., I decided to create one. I hope you and your readers will continue to visit and comment often on Temple Study.
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February 13, 2008 at 3:34 am
Jay and Susan
The whole gospel scene boils down to faith, and the confirmation that each Latter Day Saint recieves from the Holy Ghost. There are many things which can’t be answerd until we get on the other side of the veil, but, I’m not so sure that if we did have tangible answers to every thing that it would really make much difference. Look at all the miracles Christ performed, and many people witnessed them, but he was still crucified. The strongest proof we can receve is from the spirit. Yes, I will agree that when I went through the temple the first time, I was a little confused, but as I returned and felt a confirmation of the spirit, and realized the symbolic importance of the temple, it began to make sense. Do I understand everything? No! But I sit and watch TV, not really understanding how the beautiful picture and sound can travel through the air, and come into my living room. I sit and talk on my cell phone while billions of other people can do it at the same time without disturbing what I am doing. Do I need to understand it fully to enjoy it or feel good about it? No! It is the same with the temple. A time will come when we will all have a more perfect knowledge of every aspect of the gospel, but until that time comes, we need to have faith in our leaders, stay close to the spirit, nourish our faith through participation in the temple, study the written word, and pray to understand what is important for us to know, and not trifle with concepts that really probably can’t be completely understood in this life. For me, the temple is a beautiful place of comfort and peace that I can’t find anywhere else on earth. I know that the feeling I receive in the temple comes from the spirit. I know that as I sit in the celestial room and contemplate life, all my thoughts are directed towards Jesus Christ. My testimony of Jesus Christ has surely grown through temple attendence.
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February 15, 2008 at 2:39 pm
ifokus
I really enjoyed your post, and will be checking out the temple study blog. I have been going to the temple regularly for about four years now, and I always seem to learn something new each time I go. I don’t understand everything about the temple ceremonies, but then again, I don’t understand everything about the atonement either, but the Spirit is felt strongly at the temple, so I know that is where I am suppose to be. tfs
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