What is the Latter-day Saint Temple Prayer Circle?

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Third Hour Staff

Joined: Nov 2023

Alright, guys so we’ve done a couple of other episodes about what Latter-day Saints do inside their sacred temples. If you haven’t watched those episodes, I suggest you do so—specifically, this one, which gives a general overview of the Endowment ceremony. Towards the end of the Endowment ceremony today, Latter-day Saint temple patrons can participate in what is known as a prayer circle. And that prayer circle is what we’re going to talk about today.

Alright, so to Latter-day Saints, temples are extremely sacred and, culturally, because they’re so sacred, there are lots of opinions about which aspects of the temple are and are not appropriate to talk about publicly. There are a few specific aspects of the temple that Latter-day Saints promise not to talk about outside the temple, but the vast majority of what goes on inside is open to reverent, respectful discussion. In fact, a ton of information has already been published by the Church or Church-affiliated sources. You just have to know where to look.

For example, according to The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, which was largely produced by BYU, “the prayer circle is a part of Latter-day Saint temple worship, usually associated with the Endowment ceremony. Participants, an equal number of men and women dressed in temple clothing, surround an altar in a circle formation to participate unitedly in prayer.”

To read more: Faith&Beliefs