Requirements for a Temple Recommend

[JessicaHarper]

What are the requirements for a temple recommend? What can cause you to loose your recommend?

Thanks!

Edited February 19, 2010 by john doe

[JessicaHarper]

Sorry, that font size is huge.

[Maureen]

Even though I am non-LDS I know that being a full tithe payer and keeping the WofW are requirements.

M.

[Idaho]

Here is a basic list.

To enter the temple you must be a member of the church who keeps baptismal and other covenants.

You need to attend church.

You need to have a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

You need to have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer.

You need to have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel (Christs original message and authority).

You need to believe and support the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who has the authority (given to him by God) to be God's representative to the world. You need to support the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. You need to sustain the other authorities the Church as well.

You need to live a chaste life.

You need to treat your family right and support them.

You need to support the church and its teachings.

You need to keep the commandments.

You have to be honest in your dealings with your fellowmen.

You need to pay a full tithe.

You can't drink alcohol, use tobacco, or abuse drugs

If those guidelines fit you can go to the temple. If at any time a person doesn't comply with one or more of those requirements they shouldn't/can't go to the temple until fixing the problem (most of which you need to talk with a bishop who helps in the repentance process) (your recommend could be taken away if you have done significant things against the above requirments until you are eligible to enter again with the same requirements listed above).

I hope this was helpful.

[Maureen]

You can't drink alcohol, use tobacco, or abuse drugs...

Are you putting coffee and tea under the "abuse drugs" category?

M.

[Idaho]

I forgot to mention that. Sorry. No coffee nor tea. That is Part of the word of wisdom (the same law that the drugs/ tobacco/ alcohol falls under) as well. I just made a list. I could be forgetting a few things. You can look online at lds.org I'm sure they probably talk about it there too.

[marts1]

When you say you need to see the Bishop concerning repentance, your talking about the more grievous sins for example adultry, fornication, murder etc. aren't you.

[JohnOF123]

Here is a basic list.

To enter the temple you must be a member of the church who keeps baptismal and other covenants.

You need to attend church.

You need to have a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

You need to have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer.

You need to have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel (Christs original message and authority).

You need to believe and support the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who has the authority (given to him by God) to be God's representative to the world. You need to support the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. You need to sustain the other authorities the Church as well.

You need to live a chaste life.

You need to treat your family right and support them.

You need to support the church and its teachings.

You need to keep the commandments.

You have to be honest in your dealings with your fellowmen.

You need to pay a full tithe.

You can't drink alcohol, use tobacco, or abuse drugs

If those guidelines fit you can go to the temple. If at any time a person doesn't comply with one or more of those requirements they shouldn't/can't go to the temple until fixing the problem (most of which you need to talk with a bishop who helps in the repentance process) (your recommend could be taken away if you have done significant things against the above requirments until you are eligible to enter again with the same requirements listed above).

I hope this was helpful.

Do most LDS member consider this difficult to obtain/maintain... or is this expected of everyone?

And you mentioned that was a basic list. Is there a lot more, or just a little?

Thx!

Edited February 20, 2010 by JohnOF123

[Dravin]

Do most LDS member consider this difficult to obtain/maintain? Or is this expected of everyone? And you mentioned that was a basic list?

I imagine very few of us are privy to the difficulties of most members. Personally I don't find it overly difficult (not that I'm some sort of perfect person with no temptations mind you, but I feel the standard is attainable without requireing one be some kind of saint (in the Catholic sense)), the shortened condense version of that list is called living the gospel. And yes, those are the standards everyone who is a member should be living. We (collectively) being human often fall short and sometimes short enough that we aren't in a proper spiritual state to worship in the temple (which does not require perfection).

I think he means basic as in not overly detailed. He doesn't explained what everything on the list means. For instance he didn't go on and explain exactly what the baptismal covenants and the commandments are and as evidence he forgot to explicitly mention part of the Word of Wisdom.

He also forgot one of the more important questions though, the most difficult to answer (in my mind), "Do you feel worthy (to enter the temple)?"

Edited February 20, 2010 by Dravin

[marts1]

That one question alone could be all that is asked, as I recall.

[JohnOF123]

He also forgot one of the more important questions though, the most difficult to answer (in my mind), "Do you feel worthy (to enter the temple)?"

Good point there. Thx..

[Idaho]

When you say you need to see the Bishop concerning repentance, your talking about the more grievous sins for example adultry, fornication, murder etc. aren't you.

I think that it is important to seek help in all forms of grievous sin in the all the matters listed. Including any type of family or other abuse, problems with faith and testimony in Christ and his Church, problems with substance abuse, violations of the law of chastity, dishonesty (telling a small lie could be taken care of between you, the person you lied to, and the Lord, but if you have been ripping people off or living lies etc. you need to talk to the bishop), etc.(i. e. the list can go on). Some are more grievous sins and there are some minor ones that don't need to be discussed with the bishop. But my list was not made to go into detail as to what each of those categories implied. For example one doesn't need to seek the bishop's help for a minor family dispute, but help does need to be sought from him for any type of abuse. I was just making a general statement. All of the things listed are very important to me, and I think that it is very beneficial to seek the help of those who I consider to be the servants of the Lord. We believe that they are judges in Israel and that they are commissioned and given the authority of God in helping us in our journey back to Christ. All problems need to be addressed to the Father in prayer. In the long run that is the key part of repentance. The Lord has not left us alone in this. Jesus Christ gave his life for us and provided the way and the power to repent and progress. The point of a bishop isn't to just have an individual confess sins, the bishop helps the repentant to apply the atonement of Christ and get back to the route of progression (i. e. Christ's path). I'm sorry if I caused any confusion, I suppose I should have included more detail for that statement. I hope this clears up what I meant.

[Idaho]

Do most LDS member consider this difficult to obtain/maintain... or is this expected of everyone?

And you mentioned that was a basic list. Is there a lot more, or just a little?

Thx!

It would be impossible to do without Christ's help. It is a challenge every day, but with his help it is definitely obtainable. I think the key is always keeping the Lord in mind and seeking his help. I know that I have problems when I start to forget him and when I am doing better at keeping him in my life things go smoother. It could be looked at as both big and little. There are a few subjects bet they in and of themselves are huge topics that could be expounded upon immensely. Take family relationships for example. You could go on and on about what is considered treating them right and wrong but the principle is actually pretty simple. Do you love them and do your actions reflect love? Do you treat them as the great gift from God that they are. So in answer to your question the list of principles are small but could be expounded. The Lord doesn't expect you to be perfect now He just wants you in his path so he can heal you, but he does want you to be prepared to a point before going to the temple.

Thanks for the help in getting me to clarify my jumbled comments.

[marts1]

The reason I mentioned anything concerning the Bishop is becuase I have heard Bishopric's complain many times that members are often setting up needless appointments concerning repentance.

[havejoy]

We have a couple that never come to church because they can't. The Sacrament is taken to them every week and they aren't able to go to the Temple for the same reason they cannot attend church. They still have Temple recommends though.

It's important to them that they are able to wear their garments and maintain a TR.

All this to say that attending church isn't a hard requirement if it isn't possible to get there.

[JohnOF123]

We have a couple that never come to church because they can't. The Sacrament is taken to them every week and they aren't able to go to the Temple for the same reason they cannot attend church. They still have Temple recommends though.

It's important to them that they are able to wear their garments and maintain a TR.

All this to say that attending church isn't a hard requirement if it isn't possible to get there.

Yes, good post havejoy. This reminds me of what we call in my world "leagalism".

There are some Christians who claim that dancing is wrong or the mere act of ingesting alcohol. Now please understand that I don't drink or dance for that matter, but it is one thing to say that if someone dances it is sinful and if alcohol enters your body it is sinful, than to say that dirty dancing is sinful and getting drunk is sinful.

For instance, when David danced to God is wasn't sinful similarly when Joseph Smith had a bit of wine in the Carthridge jail it wasn't sinful.

So "legalism" is a list of "do not because it's sinful", but in reality, it is possible to do something on their list apart from sin. We have freedom in Jesus and make our choices in life based on truth. The Jews claimed that Jesus healed on the Sabbath and therefore was sinful, they were legalists.

I'm not sure if you agree with this, but your post really reminded me of legalism.

Edited February 20, 2010 by JohnOF123

[marts1]

Interesting. I havn't heard before of this wine drinking thing. Was it because that was all they gave the prisoners to drink perhaps. Or was it before the word of wisdom revelation came about? Do you have a source or link for that one John?

[JohnOF123]

Interesting. I havn't heard before of this wine drinking thing. Was it because that was all they gave the prisoners to drink perhaps. Or was it before the word of wisdom revelation came about? Do you have a source or link for that one John?

Well, I doubt they gave everyone in jail nothing but wine; would be a pretty classy jail, hehe. I would assume that things were very stressful and it was to lift their spirits.

I believe it is referenced in the History of the Church, Vol. 6, page 616

I'm not sure I would agree that they simply tasted it, however I do not condemn Joseph for this since I believe simply the act of wine entering the body does not make one sinful, but that doing it just to get drunk is. Many people in the Bible drank wine, though just like food is not evil, gluttony is.

"The Bible displays an ambivalence toward intoxicating drinks, considering them both a blessing from God that brings joy and merriment and potentially dangerous beverages that can be unwisely and sinfully abused." -Waltke

Edited February 21, 2010 by JohnOF123

[marts1]

True to a point John.:) For members any alcoholic sipping at all would be trouble. I would imagine that if all peoples would refrain from drinking too much there would be no need for that commandment. There is also a simple matter of obedience involved as well.

[Just_A_Guy]

The WoW was not received by the Church as "commandment" until well into the Utah period. Before then it was taken as being "by way of greeting, and not of commandment"--just as the beginning of D&C 89 says.

[JessicaHarper]

Here is a basic list.

To enter the temple you must be a member of the church who keeps baptismal and other covenants.

You need to attend church.

You need to have a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

You need to have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer.

You need to have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel (Christs original message and authority).

You need to believe and support the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who has the authority (given to him by God) to be God's representative to the world. You need to support the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. You need to sustain the other authorities the Church as well.

You need to live a chaste life.

You need to treat your family right and support them.

You need to support the church and its teachings.

You need to keep the commandments.

You have to be honest in your dealings with your fellowmen.

You need to pay a full tithe.

You can't drink alcohol, use tobacco, or abuse drugs

If those guidelines fit you can go to the temple. If at any time a person doesn't comply with one or more of those requirements they shouldn't/can't go to the temple until fixing the problem (most of which you need to talk with a bishop who helps in the repentance process) (your recommend could be taken away if you have done significant things against the above requirments until you are eligible to enter again with the same requirements listed above).

I hope this was helpful.

Very helpful! Thank you.

[quathy]

where can i find an official list of temple recommend interview questions on the internet?

[Dravin]

I don't think the temple recommend questions are posted online by the Church, so technically speaking nowhere. A quick spin with any search engine can get you unofficial listings, but as they are unofficial the veracity of the lists could be suspect.