Sharing Temple Insights?


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I need to know if I'm getting good or bad information on the "rules" of the temple.

Through much prayer and study, I've come across some ideas about interpreting the temple symbols that I wanted to share with my family.  But just to make sure I wasn't saying things I shouldn't say outside the temple, I invited my wife and all my endowed children to a family meeting in the Celestial room.

When I did so, one son said that he had been counseled that any special revelation or insights we receive about the temple symbols should be kept to ourselves.  They are not meant to be shared (in or out of the temple).

I'd never heard this counsel.  Does this sound familiar to anyone here?

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Nope, sounds like someone’s personal policy that they want you to adhere to.

We don’t do that.

It’s obvious what we are not allowed to talk about outside the temple.  

Inside the Temple we can talk about anything, especially with family in the celestial room. Especially if you are the patriarch. 

Edited by mikbone
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I tend to agree with @mikbone, but...

1. Have you prayed to ask the Lord to confirm your decision to share your insights with your endowed family members?

2. The thing that stands out most to me is that if we receive revelation that is not already public knowledge (or known to the general membership, e.g. via temple ordinances), that it is for us and us alone.  But I think you have to balance this out - are you sharing a new way of looking at things (such as new interpretations of scripture parables such as Elder Bednar sometimes uses in his GC talks), or are you receiving as-yet-unrevealed knowledge?

3. Is it in your stewardship?  Is it consistent with revealed knowledge?  Etc. Etc. Etc.  I'm sure you know all these questions.  So, consider them, make your decision, pray, and move forward as the answer to your prayer indicates.  If needed, explain all that to your family who are concerned about your actions (assuming you move forward with explaining your insights).

FWIW.

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FWIW - that is one of the main reasons I go to the temple.  So I can learn something new.  If I sit thru an endowment session and didn’t learn something new - bad on me.  And most of the learning is symbolic.

I always share my thoughts with my wife and ask her is she had any insight or personal revelation.  

And just because I got some personal revelation dosent mean it has to be true for my wife and vice versa.  But we are usually insync.  

Something that may be precious to me might be ho-hum for her though, and vice-versa.

If we go with family or friends we do the same thing.

 

If I had a son censure me in the temple, I’d let him know that he does not have to listen - but if anyone else is interested they are welcome to stay.  

I am not about to argue in the temple.

Edited by mikbone
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22 hours ago, zil2 said:

1. Have you prayed to ask the Lord to confirm your decision to share your insights with your endowed family members?

I have. 

Answer: complex.

22 hours ago, zil2 said:

2. The thing that stands out most to me is that if we receive revelation that is not already public knowledge (or known to the general membership, e.g. via temple ordinances), that it is for us and us alone.  But I think you have to balance this out - are you sharing a new way of looking at things (such as new interpretations of scripture parables such as Elder Bednar sometimes uses in his GC talks), or are you receiving as-yet-unrevealed knowledge?

Apparently, all of this has been revealed through scholarly pursuits.  Others have collected data points.  I've listened and perceived them to be true.  I believe them to be true.  The evidence appears to be accurate and real.  And their interpretations reasonable.

Then I took of those new pieces of knowledge and immediately came up with something that all of these things seemed to be pointing to.  That's when it hit me as "I have been wondering that ever since... (etc.)"

22 hours ago, zil2 said:

3. Is it in your stewardship?  Is it consistent with revealed knowledge?  Etc. Etc. Etc.  I'm sure you know all these questions. 

Is it in my stewardship to reveal things to my family that has not been revealed by general authorities?  Since it's MY family, it seems that I hold keys to give revelation to my family. 

But is this supposed to be revealed to anyone?  I dunno.  It seems like there must be a reason the GAs have not made a public statement to answer a question that so many have asked the Church throughout my life (and I'm assuming it was asked a lot before my birth as well).

22 hours ago, zil2 said:

So, consider them, make your decision, pray, and move forward as the answer to your prayer indicates.  If needed, explain all that to your family who are concerned about your actions (assuming you move forward with explaining your insights).

Well, yeah.  But I was hoping to get some other insights from this board. :)

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34 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

But is this supposed to be revealed to anyone?  I dunno.  It seems like there must be a reason the GAs have not made a public statement to answer a question that so many have asked the Church throughout my life (and I'm assuming it was asked a lot before my birth as well).

It is my opinion that one of the reasons President Nelson said it wouldn't be possible to survive the coming days without the Spirit is not just to discern deception when the enemy presents it, but also to learn those things which we individually (or as families) need to know to progress and prepare ourselves as much as possible for whatever comes.  So I see no issue with the Lord helping you to see something, know what's coming, and using that knowledge to prepare your family so that they in that much better prepared.

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On 9/23/2024 at 6:25 PM, Carborendum said:

I need to know if I'm getting good or bad information on the "rules" of the temple.

Through much prayer and study, I've come across some ideas about interpreting the temple symbols that I wanted to share with my family.  But just to make sure I wasn't saying things I shouldn't say outside the temple, I invited my wife and all my endowed children to a family meeting in the Celestial room.

When I did so, one son said that he had been counseled that any special revelation or insights we receive about the temple symbols should be kept to ourselves.  They are not meant to be shared (in or out of the temple).

I'd never heard this counsel.  Does this sound familiar to anyone here?

I would ask the Temple President if I had a question about sharing, holding sharing meetings and other matters of decorum in the Celestial Room. He has the keys for the rules of that temple, so if such questions have not successfully been answered privately through prayer, he is our go-to.

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On 9/23/2024 at 6:25 PM, Carborendum said:

Through much prayer and study, I've come across some ideas about interpreting the temple symbols that I wanted to share with my family.  But just to make sure I wasn't saying things I shouldn't say outside the temple, I invited my wife and all my endowed children to a family meeting in the Celestial room.

I already think you're being overly conservative in how you go about sharing your insights. If you pay close attention to the covenants you make in the temple, the only things you covenant not to reveal outside of the temple are the names, signs, and tokens you receive as part of the ordinance. There is nothing wrong with discussing the covenants, insights, or lessons gained in the temple with others outside the temple. 

Note: I'm not advocating for sharing every detail willy-nilly. As open as I am about sharing my experiences in the temple, I still try to keep my discussions respectful and relevant. But I have very few reservations about sharing my insights with close friends and family that have made the same covenants.

I'm also aware that there is a lot of advice and counsel out there about not sharing details of the temple ordinances. Lots of it from various prophets, apostles, and general authorities. I'm still going to stand strong on the text of the actual covenants made, and posit that there are times when more openness is warranted than what is culturally recognized.

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When I did so, one son said that he had been counseled that any special revelation or insights we receive about the temple symbols should be kept to ourselves.  They are not meant to be shared (in or out of the temple).

I could get on board with "some special revelation or insights." But "any"? That's squarely in the realm of preposterous. Your son got bad advice from someone he trusted. I hope you're able to persuade him otherwise. 

I'm going to say this, and it will sound a little braggy, but I promise I don't mean it to. It just sets context for my point. When I was younger, I was an ordinance worker on an early morning shift where I would officiate either two or three endowment session each shift (I was the young guy...). I estimate that in the three years I was an ordinance worker, I officiated somewhere between 150 and 200 endowment sessions*, as well as hundreds of additional sealings, initiatories, baptisms, and confirmations. Now my point: with all that time and exposure, nothing has enhanced my understanding of the temple more than conversations with my parents, close friends, and other workers. Hearing their insights and perspectives was absolutely essential in inspiring new questions to ponder when sitting in the temple. 

 

* I know that isn't actually a lot. A person who attends the temple once per week for an endowment session will hit 150 sessions in three years and 200 in four years. At the time, however, I lived two hours away from the temple and was both a full time student and full time employee. But another way to look at it is this: the typically weekly patron will spend about eight hours per month in the temple. Between my two shifts, I would spend twelve to fourteen hours in the temple each month. And I still needed to talk to other people to really develop an understanding and appreciation for what I was experiencing.

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I certainly agree with the principle that the more we needlessly share (or otherwise trivialize/sensationalize) our revelations, the fewer such revelations we are likely to get in the future.

But it seems odd to me that we would be admonished to go into the temple specifically for the purpose of getting revelation to navigate the vicissitudes of day-to-day living, but would then be expected never to share the insights gained from those revelations with those with whom we share our lives and over whom the patriarchal order gives us some degree of stewardship

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There are things we covenant not to share.  Those things I feel are items that we probably should not talk about explicitly in any form or place except when told to directly by the Lord. 

However, there are many things about the Temple and in the temple that have no such restrictions.  I feel, especially if you are doing it in the role of a patriarch of your family, that such a discussion could be beneficial.

However, although the Celestial room is an appropriate place to do such things in one way, it could also be an inappropriate place.  It depends on how large your family group is and how much discussion there will be.

If I were to do something like this I would probably talk to the Temple President.  I would see if they would be okay to let me have a family discussion about such things and where they might wish to allow us to have it.

This way you do not disturb others who may be meditating or praying in the Temple (unless, of course, your family were the only ones present) and have an area specifically set apart by the Temple President for the discussion. 

This also allows you to have an uninterrupted discussion with your family in an area where you can discuss it as much as you wish amongst yourselves, while at the same time not interfering with others experiences who have come to the temple to worship.

Edited by JohnsonJones
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This does not directly address the OP, but for the general issue of what should and shouldn’t be discussed about temple ordinances, I’ll provide the following snippets from section 27 of the handbook of instruction:

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Temple covenants and ordinances are sacred. The symbols associated with temple covenants should not be discussed outside the temple. Nor should we discuss the holy information we covenant in the temple not to reveal. However, we may discuss the basic purposes and doctrine of temple covenants and ordinances and the spiritual feelings we have in the temple.

Members often have questions after receiving temple ordinances. Endowed family members, the bishop, other ward leaders, and ministering brothers and sisters may meet with members to discuss their temple experience.

Leaders also encourage members to seek answers to their questions through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. In the temple, the Spirit can provide answers to many of the questions that members may have about their temple experience.

The endowment is received in two parts. In the first part, a person receives preliminary ordinances called the initiatory. The initiatory comprises three ordinances: washing, anointing, and clothing (see Exodus 29:4–9). It includes special blessings related to the person’s divine heritage and potential.

During the initiatory, the member is instructed to wear the temple garment. The garment is a sacred symbol of Jesus Christ. It is also a reminder of temple covenants. When members keep their covenants, including the sacred privilege to wear the garment as instructed, they will have greater access to the Savior’s mercy, protection, strength, and power. For more information about the garment, see 38.5.

In the second part of the endowment, the plan of salvation is taught, including the Creation, the Fall of Adam and Eve, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Members also receive instruction on how to return to the Lord’s presence.

In the endowment, members are invited to make sacred covenants as follows:

     Live the law of obedience and strive to keep Heavenly Father’s commandments.

     Obey the law of sacrifice, which means sacrificing to support the Lord’s work and repenting with a broken heart and contrite spirit.

     Obey the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which means:

        Exercising faith in Jesus Christ.

         Repenting daily.

         Making covenants with God by receiving the ordinances of salvation and exaltation.

         Enduring to the end by keeping covenants.

         Striving to live the two great commandments. These are to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 39).

       Keep the law of chastity, which means abstaining from sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman, which is according to God’s law.

     Keep the law of consecration, which means that members dedicate their time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed them to building up Jesus Christ’s Church on the earth.

  In return, Heavenly Father promises that those who remain faithful to their temple covenants will be endowed “with power from on high” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:32, 38; see also Luke 24:49; Doctrine and Covenants 43:16).

And speaking of related sacred things, this is what section 38.5 of the Handbook has on the garment:

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The First Presidency has provided the following guidance on wearing the garment:

“The garment of the holy priesthood reminds us of the veil in the temple, and that veil is symbolic of Jesus Christ. When you put on your garment, you put on a sacred symbol of Jesus Christ. Wearing it is an outward expression of your inner commitment to follow Him. The garment is also a reminder of your temple covenants. You should wear the garment day and night throughout your life. When it must be removed for activities that cannot reasonably be done while wearing the garment, seek to restore it as soon as possible. As you keep your covenants, including the sacred privilege to wear the garment as instructed in the initiatory ordinances, you will have greater access to the Savior’s mercy, protection, strength, and power.”

The garment should be worn beneath the outer clothing. It is a matter of personal preference whether other undergarments are worn over or under the temple garment.

Members should not modify or alter the garment to accommodate different styles of clothing.

Members should not inappropriately display the garment to those who do not understand its significance.

There’s a brief segment here about what should and should not be shared, but I included more because I think it’s worth considering the Church’s own example in this matter.

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God often provides His own form of divine censorship if we carelessly share revelation or spiritual experiences that are only meant for us by not giving us more. Hopefully that is enough to make us cautious about what we share. 

Also, we should be mindful of who we share things lest they are not ready to hear what we have to share. He who receives the greater light will receive the greater condemnation if they fail to live in accordance with that light.

In the end it's really up to the sharer to make sure they are being a responsible steward with the light God has given them.

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