aclaire11 Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 (edited) I'm 19, and have been a member since late June. I've been thinking of receiving my temple endowment next summer or fall, and I'm wondering if you all think that is a good idea. I know most girls wait until marriage or a mission, but I know some end up going to the temple before all that. What is your opinion? Thanks Edited December 15, 2008 by aclaire11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenamarie Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 I think, at your age, you'll be encouraged to wait until marriage or a mission, or at the very least until you're in your mid-20's. Also, since you haven't been a member a year yet, you'll have to wait until next June or July at the very very earliest to recieve your own. I don't know what any (if there are any) written "rules" there are about the proper age to recieve your own Endowments if you're not about to be married or go on a mission, but from personal experience, I've never known of anyone under the age of 24 who recieved them without having one of those two events about to occur in their lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palerider Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Thats up to you and your Bishop.....:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Most bishops will recommend that you wait until you are (1) getting married; (2) going on a mission; or (3) in your mid-to-late twenties and neither of those has happened yet or is happening on the horizon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truegrits Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Why? What is the reasoning for waiting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 I'd also go with Pale's answer since he has been a Bishop twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aclaire11 Posted December 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Why are we supposed to wait until marriage or a mission? Is there a specific reason, or is it just an unwritten rule kind of thing? And I know that I will have to wait; that's why I said next summer or fall. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jadams_4040 Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 I think, at your age, you'll be encouraged to wait until marriage or a mission, or at the very least until you're in your mid-20's. Also, since you haven't been a member a year yet, you'll have to wait until next June or July at the very very earliest to recieve your own. I don't know what any (if there are any) written "rules" there are about the proper age to recieve your own Endowments if you're not about to be married or go on a mission, but from personal experience, I've never known of anyone under the age of 24 who recieved them without having one of those two events about to occur in their lives. Why wait? anything could happen.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aclaire11 Posted December 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Let me rephrase, I guess...What would be the negative consequences to receiving them next fall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenRaines Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 With greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. Greater knowledge means greater condemnation for violation of the covenants. Directions are given to Bishop in General Handbook of Instructions that Bishop and Stake President have a copy of. Ben Raines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elgama Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 (edited) Discuss it with your Bishop - I was 25 when I went, I did get engaged shortly afterwards but I had just decided to go through on the 10th anniversary of my baptism (however went through a week before) However I have a couple of friends who after consultation with their Bishop went at 19/20 it was felt they were mature enough to do so. I would always go through several months to a year before a mission or marriage as then your full focus is on the ceremony and not why you are there. However having been through - and you being a new convert my personal advice would be to wait a bit, I know going through a full ten years after my baptism was worth the wait, as the learning I had received outside the temple enriched what I learned within -Charle Edited December 15, 2008 by Elgama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalpromise516 Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 claire, i am also a young convert of your age :) and have been thinking about going through the temple. sometimes i feel as if i'm spirtually mature enough to want to tell my bishop i'd like to consider going through once i've been a member for a year and a half or so, but then there's times i don't think i'm anywhere near ready, you know what i mean? for me, i hear so much about how incredible the blessings are that the temple gives you in your life and how people say they feel like they've truly felt like they've gone home to HF, etc... and every part of me wants it so badly. so, essentially i'm going to agree with the PPs that have recommended speaking with your bishop. definately stay in touch, it's good to know there's another girl out there my age and also a new convert -Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarginOfError Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Palerider's advice is what I would say, too. Bishops have general guidelines for when to let people go to the temple, but ultimately it's about your emotional and spiritual maturity. If both you and your bishop feel you've reached a point where your emotional and spiritual maturity is at a point that taking on temple covenants is the next step of your progression, then that will happen, regardless of your age. I commend you on working toward such a noble goal. I just hope that you won't be disappointed if your bishop feels a little more time is needed. If you trust him and wait to go until you both feel that it is what you need, then your temple experiences will be infinitely better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemidakota Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 When we finally receive our last covenant in the walls of the Temple, our journey of perfection begins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palerider Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 claire,i am also a young convert of your age :) and have been thinking about going through the temple. sometimes i feel as if i'm spirtually mature enough to want to tell my bishop i'd like to consider going through once i've been a member for a year and a half or so, but then there's times i don't think i'm anywhere near ready, you know what i mean? for me, i hear so much about how incredible the blessings are that the temple gives you in your life and how people say they feel like they've truly felt like they've gone home to HF, etc... and every part of me wants it so badly. so, essentially i'm going to agree with the PPs that have recommended speaking with your bishop. definately stay in touch, it's good to know there's another girl out there my age and also a new convert -Laura I would encourage you to speak with him....:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aclaire11 Posted December 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Thanks for all the advice! I guess I will talk with my bishop either over the summer or during the fall. Hopefully over the summer, because I can get to the NY temple fairly easily, and I don't know how easy it will be or how much time I will have to go to the temple when I'm at college. For all I know, my college could be either 20 minutes or 2.5 hours away from the nearest temple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KayaLove00 Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 going to the temple to receive endowments is a HUGE step in ones life and I would wait until I was older if I were you. It takes major commitment, and not to say that you are not mature already, but it takes someone mature with a very, very strong testimony to personally be ready for that. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmy- Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 I've thought about it.. and i've realized that i'm simply not mature enough. I don't want to play with fire and get burned.. It's much like the process of my baptism really.. I put it off for a year.. I didn't "know enough". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 I'm 19, and have been a member since late June. I've been thinking of receiving my temple endowment next summer or fall, and I'm wondering if you all think that is a good idea. I know most girls wait until marriage or a mission, but I know some end up going to the temple before all that. What is your opinion?Thanks I would encourage you to discuss this issue with your bishop. It is very unlikely that you can take your endowment before going on a mission or marriage. On the average your life has way too much on the front end which is not clearly defined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aclaire11 Posted December 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 I would encourage you to discuss this issue with your bishop. It is very unlikely that you can take your endowment before going on a mission or marriage. On the average your life has way too much on the front end which is not clearly defined.Thank you for the advice, but could you clarify/explain the last bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elgama Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 Claire if you are going I found Hebrews, Pearl of Great Price, Isaiah, and Exodus gave me the most understanding before I went. -Charley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 Thank you for the advice, but could you clarify/explain the last bit?The Temple is sacred space like no other on earth. We should have a certain level of maturity in order to understand, appreciate and hold on to the covenants we receive in the Temple. Young men receive their endowments in preparation to receive a call from the prophet of the Lord to serve their Heavenly Father but not before.For young single women the counsel of the Lord has been to prepare them to receive their endowment as part of the Temple marriage. So usually you will receive your endowment right before you get married at the Temple. If no prospect of marriage is evident then your bishop may counsel you to wait a few until such time. If you are closer to 30 than 25 and you have been faithful and true in all things and you truly desire the blessings of the Temple and are not married yet then your bishop may counsel with you about it. After prayer and consideration the Priesthood me issue a recommend for you to go and receive your endowment. There are many things that the bishop may discuss with you which I do not feel are appropriate for public discussion. No secrecy but privacy. Again, you should discuss your questions with your bishop and he will be more than glad to help you and explain in further detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefche Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 I don't have anything more to add than what has been said regarding the advice to seek the counsel of your bishop. I would urge you to be humble so that if your bishop says you are not ready that you will take that in the spirit it was given. If you do receive your endowments, then I would encourage you to ask a woman with whom you feel comfortable to be your escort. An escort is someone who remains with you throughout the endowment (not completely as there are some things that an escort cannot be a part of). My escort was my best friend who had received her endowments a year previous. She sat me down the night before and explained what to expect in the temple (without divulging sacred things). She relieved my mind tremendously as I knew what to expect and it took some of the mystery out of it. I wasn't scared of the endowment, but just of doing something I had never done before (much like I felt the first time I flew in an airplane). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mavreenrose Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 i received my endowments last year...but i prepared for it for two years.. one sunday, my stake president told my bishop to give me a temple recommend and i was surprised when he did that.. so my bishop called me in for an interview and we talked about it.. but i felt unprepared for it.. i wasn't going on a mission and i was not getting married so i did not understand why... so we talked about how to prepare for it... i took two temple preparation classes..one wasn't enough for me to feel prepared...i've attended the temple several times but only for baptisms.. never for my endowment.. before last year's stake temple trip, my bishop called me again for an interview.. and this time i felt ready... before the endowments though, a temple worker expressed concern why i am getting endowed at such a young age ( i heard the stake presidents were issued a letter that single girls who are not going on missions or are not getting married cannot receive their endowments before age 23)...but that was between me and my bishop... and so i received my endowment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SisterofJared Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Several of my children attended a singles ward, and I've noticed that in the singles ward the bishop much more promotes single women getting their endowment, even if they are not getting married or going on a mission. I think the practice of young single women not getting endowed came from habtis.... you need to be endowed to serve a mission, and all worthy young men are strongly encouraged to go on a mission, so therefore they are encouraged to receive their endowment. Young women were not very encouraged to go on a mission, because they traditionally had their greatest marriage opportunities then.... so there was no need for them to take out endowments then. Today that is changing somewhat. More and more women serve missions, not just the "factory rejects" as they were called years ago. So they need to endowment equally with the men serving missions. And the age at which women marry is creeping up. So the idea that they need to wait for marriage is begining to fade away. Which is good, because as a rule women are generally more spiritual than men, and those poor young women who were told to wait were usually much more prepared for the temple that all those young men getting endowments so they could go on a mission! I think old habits linger greatly in family wards, the changes are much more visible in singles wards. Sister of Jared Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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