Some family came to France to visit and we went to see the sites in Paris and took them to see the new Paris temple. I’d love to tell you about it but I can’t, it’s a secret. We went a few times last year to the public open house to take some people that aren’t members inside, it was stunningly beautiful and the stained glass is exquisite. Wish I could show and tell you more, but these temples are a secret. The worst kept secret in the world!

It’s no secret that everyone joins the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by entering into a covenant with the Lord, and through the ordinance of baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. But when we are adults or members of the church for at least a year, we can go to the temple and enter into a higher covenant through two more ordinances called the Initiatory and Endowment. The initiatory ordinance is received individually and includes tremendous blessings regarding your heritage and potential as a son or daughter of God. The endowment ordinance is completed in a group setting where we are taught principles of the plan of salvation, the creation of the world, the fall of Adam and Eve, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the apostasy and restoration, as well as instruction on how all people can return to the presence of the Lord.  But tell no one… (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples)

The covenants made with these ordinances include: The Law of Obedience, the Law of Sacrifice, the Law of the Gospel, the Law of Chastity and the Law of Consecration. As we grow to understand these covenants and strive to live them, God promises us blessings in this life and the opportunity to return and inherit everything He has to offer. I think I may have said too much. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/what-is-temple-endowment)

• Law of Obedience
• Law of Sacrifice
• Law of the Gospel
• Law of Chastity
• Law of Consecration

The rooms of the temples are exquisitely beautiful and at the end we symbolically return to the Lord’s presence and enter the most beautiful room in the temple called the celestial room. Here you can sit in peace, to ponder, silently pray and seek guidance, read the scriptures or quietly discuss your experience and ask questions.

Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost as well as the temple initiatory and endowment ordinances are necessary steps toward salvation and receiving everything that the Messiah is offering those who seek Him and are willing to follow His example. And naturally, we believe all of the potential blessings of the temple ordinances are dependent on our faithfulness. And because these ordinances are required, once we’ve been through the temple for ourselves, we return again and again to do the ordinances vicariously, or, on behalf of those of our relatives that passed away without this knowledge or opportunity. One of our Late prophets, President McKay not long before he died and after nearly 64 years as an apostle, speaking of the endowment said, “I think I’m finally beginning to understand.” David O. McKay The ordinances are simple but the doctrines run deep, and by returning often we are able to remind ourselves of our own covenants throughout our lives. The dead are taught and made aware of the work that has been done for them in the temples and have the choice to accept the ordinances that have been preformed on their behalf.

Are there aspects of the temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are secret? Of course! Since the beginning, sacred things of God were to be treated with respect, not to be treated lightly, let alone to be exposed to public mockery and ridicule. We get criticized for this, even from fellow Christians who are obviously unaware of their own primitive Judaeo/Christian history of secrecy.

In some of the earliest Christian writings we have, Clement of Alexandria recording his process of conversion while he was taught by none other than the apostle Peter himself. Peter uses the word, “circumlocution.” Circumlocution is the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.

circumlocution
/ˌsəːkəmləˈkjuːʃ(ə)n/
– the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.

Peter explains to Clement, “Nothing is more difficult… than to reason concerning the truth in the presence of a mixed multitude of people. For that which is [true] may not be spoken to all as it is, on account of those who hear wickedly and treacherously; yet it is not proper to deceive, on account of those who desire to hear the truth sincerely. What, then, shall he do who has to address a mixed multitude? Shall he conceal what is true? How, then, shall he instruct those who are worthy? But if he set forth pure truth to those who do not desire to obtain salvation, he does injury to [Christ] by whom he has been sent, and from whom he has received commandment not to throw the pearls of His words before swine and dogs, who, striving against them with arguments and sophisms, roll them in the mud of carnal understanding, and by their barkings and base answers break and weary the preachers of God’s word. Wherefore I also, for the most part, by using a certain circumlocution, endeavour to avoid publishing the chief knowledge concerning the Supreme Divinity to unworthy ears. (The Recognitions of Clement III:1)

Peter avoids publishing the chief knowledge concerting the Supreme Divinity to unworthy ears because of Christ’s command to “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. (Matthew 7:6)” Things of precious value are not to be given to people that are going to treat them basely. So not only are you to be prudent about what you share, there is a warning attached that says those who denigrate the sacred, will “trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” That means they will treat what you’ve shared with contempt and then try to injure you with it. Just look at the comments below by the people who haven’t even watched the video up to this point. Websites, Youtube channels and organizations who’s sole purpose is not to build up and share their religion, but who’s only dedication is to denigrate and mock our doctrine is a perfect example of this principle in action, even if they claim they are doing it because they love Mormons. 

It is difficult dealing with the issue of speaking to a mixed multitude of the sincere and the antagonistic. Remember how the Lord addressed “a great multitude” and spoke much of the time in parables. When he was finally alone with his followers they asked him, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables? (Matthew 13:10)” The Lord replied with, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries… but to them it is not given. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Matthew 13:12-13)” Understanding the doctrines of Christ require a bit of sincere detective work and the Spirit.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah saw in vision, the temples that would be built in the last days, as well as the faithful who would enter these sacred houses of worship and he prophesied: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths… (Isaiah 2:2-3).” “All nations shall flow” to the temple and “many people” will go and invite others to the temple to learn of his ways and walk in his paths. And of this momentous temple experience of learning his ways and walking in his path, Isaiah makes no mention of the doctrines that will be taught there-in. How important is this prophesied event for the Latter-day Saints? 

President Nelson reminds us that “every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house. Our efforts to proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead all lead to the temple. Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families” (“Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, 32; Liahona, July 2001, 37). 

Just like Paul’s brief comment about the extensive doctrine of Salvation for the Dead, Isaiah’s prophecy of the latter-day temple is so small, who could have understood the enormity of its fulfillment? Secrecy from those who don’t believe or who are too impatient to understand seems to be a continuous principle in the scriptures, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)“ “Not unto all the people, but unto witnesses chosen. (Acts 10:41)“ “For it seemed good . . . to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. (Acts 15:28)”

Even for those who believe, there is an order to teaching and learning, “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more…” (2 Nephi 28:30)

Paul ran into trouble with some of the Jewish converts and literally had to back them up and reteach some foundational principles because they were not understanding the doctrines correctly. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age… (Hebrews 5:12-14)” “Full of age” here refers to maturity of understanding. 

It’s a great analogy to express that we progress from understanding to understanding and that it can be a determent if the weightier doctrines are introduced before foundational doctrines are understood. Paul expected after a certain time they should be sharing the gospel with others, but it was clear they had no business teaching the doctrines yet, because they did not understand correctly themselves. And it’s a good thing they had a living prophet among them because their previous teachings and their documents of the doctrine were not enough to guard them from misunderstanding what was said and written.

Peter also taught Clement, “Let such a one then hear this: The teaching of all doctrine has a certain order, and there are some things which must be delivered first, others in the second place, and others in the third, and so all in their order; and if these things be delivered in their order, they become plain; but if they be brought forward out of order, they will seem to be spoken against reason. And therefore order is to be observed above all things, if we seek for the purpose of finding what we seek (The Recognitions of Clement III 34).”

Latter-day Saints are often accused that our temple ordinances are not Biblical. Well, they are certainly not taught in the Bible, and our critics always like to point out that they are not taught in the Book of Mormon either. But even Old Testament temple rights were very sacred and secret. Very little is written about them, I even asked a Jewish friend about how they expect to go about rebuilding the temple and reintroduce those rights. He sincerely said, “We don’t know, we’re waiting on God to reveal it again.” Temples are mentioned in the Book of Mormon but they never discuss anything about what went on inside. In fact, the only a brief mention of vicarious work for those who have passed away is in the Bible, by Paul to the Corinthians and that was only mentioned as a support for the teaching that the dead will live again. “If the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the  dead?” If you haven’t watched my previous episode on baptism for the dead, you’ll definitely want to watch that one too, I’ve heard it’s really good.

The point of all of this is, there is a very good reason you will not find the ordinances of the temples in the Bible or The Book of Mormon. It’s because it is supposed to be kept secret, the Bible and the Book of Mormon are for the world to see and read, and test ones belief and obedience to the basic principles first. 

To illustrate this principle, I’m going to share a few verses from the Apocrypha. If I understand correctly, Protestants a few centuries ago removed the books of the Apocrypha from the Bible as “questionable,” then eventually said, “awe, let’s trash ‘em.” But this is what the Lord told Joseph Smith when he asked if he should include the Apocrypha in his translation process of the Bible.

“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men.” Interpolations means – “to alter or corrupt something, such as a text, by inserting new or foreign matter.” “Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; And whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. (Doctrine & Covenants 19:1-6)” “…they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Matthew 13:13)”. So those of you who huffed with disdain when I said ‘The Apocrypha,’ you probably won’t get much benefit from this.

Ezdras is the Greek pronunciation of Ezra in the Old Testament, so this is the same prophet. In fact, that’s how Ezra is written in French. This is from the second Book of Ezdras chapter 14. Ezdras with 5 scribes were commanded to go and seclude them selves from other people, in secrecy, so as not to be disturbed for 40 days. They prepared themselves by following several weeks of strict fasting and prayer. After doing everything the Lord instructed them, Ezdras said, “…my heart uttered understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit strengthened my memory:  And my mouth was opened, and shut no more. The Highest gave understanding unto the five men, and they wrote the wonderful visions of the night that were told, which they knew not: and they sat forty days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they ate bread.  As for me. I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night. In forty days they wrote two hundred and four books. And it came to pass, when the forty days were filled, that the Highest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly, that the worthy and unworthy may read it: But keep the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to such as be wise among the people: For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge. (Ezdras 14:40-48)” 

Here the principle of secrecy is found again. Of the 204 books of prophecy that they wrote, 134 of them were published openly. 70 of them were to be kept secret. For the books he did publish openly, the Lord gives Ezdras this warning of the flack he’s gong to receive from the unbelievers. “Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the incredulity of them trouble thee, that speak against thee. (2 Ezdras Chapter 15:3)”

So as far as the temple ordinances are concerned, they are very sacred and we are to keep them from public display. The temple ordinances that are practiced aren’t really a secret though, I mean we teach about them and the covenants. But there are aspects of the ordinances that we are not to discuss in public or even in private amongst ourselves, just like the primitive Saints did. What were Peter and the primitive Saints keeping out of the public view?

As Clement was investigating the church and learning of the doctrines and essential ordinances of salvation, he put 2 and 2 together and asked Peter, “If those shall enjoy the kingdom of Christ, whom His coming shall find righteous, shall then those be wholly deprived of the kingdom who have died before His coming?” The joyful news of these essential ordinances of salvation are overshadowed for Clement and others, by the dreary reality of those who died before these doctrines and ordinances of salvation were made known to them. But Peter turns hesitant as they delve into deeper doctrines of salvation for the dead and says, “You compel me, O Clement, to touch upon things that are unspeakable (meaning to make public things that aught not to be discussed). But so far as it is allowed to declare them, I shall not shrink from doing so. (Recognitions of Clement I, 52)” Peter goes on with a bit of “circumlocution” but clarifies that “their souls are kept in good and blessed abodes,” not cast into hell for not knowing as many Christian sects believe today. Consistent with what Clement was told, Peter continuing his “circumlocution” in the Bible,   God being just will not pass judgment on anyone who is not aware of Him and His rules. My episode on Heaven and Hell goes into detail on the doctrine of mercy, justice and judgment, which I have also heard is excellent!

So if everything that is done in our temples is leaked to the world, is it really secret? You see, even we Latter-day Saints are not to speak of the specifics of the temple ordinances even amongst ourselves, and only in the temple itself are we able to freely discuss the ceremonies. But perhaps many of you don’t know that the temple ceremonies have always been leaked to the public. The initiatory work was introduced in the Kirtland Temple in 1836, which was almost immediately divulged to the world. In Nauvoo, baptism for the dead was introduced and practiced out in the open in the Mississippi River until sufficient time was given the Saints to construct the Nauvoo Temple, when all vicarious baptisms for the dead were then required to be done in the secret privacy of the temple. 

Joseph Smith was to introduce the endowment to the apostles and some other church leaders before the Nauvoo Temple was complete. And after Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered in 1844, there was a huge effort to hurry and finish the temple so that the general membership could receive their endowment, which means “gift.” After four years of unprecedented financial sacrifice and hard labor, the temple was finally open for only six weeks for endowments, and then Nauvoo and the holy temple could finally be left behind by the Saints who fled from the United States into the western wilderness to find a place where they could live their religion in safety. But even then, what was sacred and secret in 1846 was quickly published to the world.

So if the secret is out and the world knows about our temple ceremonies, why do we even keep them secret from each other, what’s the point? Remember the law of obedience? “My brothers and sisters, the great test of this life is obedience. ‘We will prove them herewith,’ said the Lord, ‘to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them (Abraham 3:25).’ Declared the Savior, ‘For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world (Doctrine & Covenants 132:5).’ No greater example of obedience exists than that of our Savior. Of Him, Paul observed: ‘Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9).’” President Thomas S. Monson – Obedience Brings Blessings, April 2013 general conference

How hard is it to remain obedient and keep a simple secret? It will be easily demonstrated when we are all “judged according to our works (Revelation 20:12-13, 2 Corinthians 11:15, Revelation 2:23,26, 1 Peter 2:12, James 2:24, Mosiah 3:24, 1 Nephi 15:32, Alma 9:28, Doctrine & Covenants 138:59 etc. etc.) who in the end were willing to make simple covenants, who were obedient to their covenants and who He can trust with His secrets, and whom he can’t. The Lord provides each individual with plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their works, of which they will be judged. Following Christ into the waters of baptism isn’t difficult and the temple secrets are not difficult to keep. You know people in your life you can trust with an important secret and others you would never trust. God is letting us learn with little secrets so that he can one day give more important things to those who prove trust worthy.

And in accordance with the Law of Sacrifice, we give up something of lesser value to gain something of greater value. When we choose to do something, we are sacrificing everything else we could have done, so the idea is to be wise and never sacrifice things of greater value for things of lesser value. The olympic athlete, the amazing musician, any one that gains mastery of some skill sacrifices things left and right and endure’s physical and emotional pain, while taking direction from someone who knows the path to succeed in that thing, so they can obtain the prize. 

My favorite example of this is from the original Karate Kid movie. Daniel wants badly to learn Karate from Mr. Miyagi, who agrees to train him upon the condition that Daniel does everything he’s told without question. Daniel agrees and Mr. Miyagi begins his training by having him wash and wax bunch of classic cars, with specific instructions on exactly how to do it. “Wax on, wax off.” Mr. Miyagi tells him to come back in the morning. The next day, instead of Karate lessons, he has to He has to sand his sprawling wooden deck, with very specific instruction on how to do it. “Right circle, left circle.” Daniel sands all day and finishes in the evening and is told to come again tomorrow. He ends up painting the huge fence, up, down. Up, down. On the 4th day, Mr. Miyagi leaves a note on the door, “Paint house. No up, down. Side, side.”

It’s dark when Mr. Miyagi comes back, and he’s holding a fishing pole with a string of fish while Daniel has been painting all day long. Daniel says, “Hey, why didn’t you tell me you were going fishing?” Mr. Miyagi’s like, “You no here when I go.” Daniel’s like, “Maybe I would have wanted to go, did you ever think of that?” And Mr. Miyagi’s like, “You Karate training.” And Daniel’s like, “I’m what? I’m being your slave man, we had a deal?” “So?” “So? So you’re supposed to teach and I’m supposed to learn, remember? For four days I’ve been working on your house, I haven’t learned a darn thing!” Mr. Miyagi’s like, “You learned plenty.” Daniel’s like, “I’ve learned plenty… I learned how to sand your decks, wash your cars, paint your house, paint your fence, yea, I’ve learned plenty.” Mr. Miyagi’s like, “Not everything is as seems.” And Daniel’s like, “Oh forget it man, I’m going home.” Daniel storms off and Mr. Miyagi’s like, “Daniel san. Daniels san!” Daniel stops and’s like, “What?” “Come here.” Mr. Miyagi gets in Daniels face, “Show me sand floor.” Daniel’s like… (circles) “Aht, aht, aht, oi! Big circle. Sand floor.” “Now Show me wax on, wax off.” Daniel’s sloppily does the motions, “Wax on, wax off.”

Mr. Miyagi gets stern, “Concentrate, always look eye.” He goes on, “Show me paint fence, up, down. Lock wrist. Look eye, always look eye. Now show me paint house, side, side. Lock wrist.” After he gets done going over all four techniques, Mr. Miyagi’s throws some aggressive punches and kicks that Daniel instinctively blocks using the motions that he has been using for washing the cars, sanding the deck, painting the fence and painting the house. Daniel is shocked to realize that he had been strengthening his body and practicing the motions for all the basic blocking techniques in Karate. Mr. Miaygi was training him for Karate the whole time and Daniel didn’t realize it.

Just like the ordinance of baptism is a simple representation of the death and burial of our imperfect and corrupt mortal bodies being raised in glorified, immortal and perfected bodies because Christ, in the ultimate vicarious act, overcame death and sin on our behalf. That simple reenactment of baptism as a faint shadow of things to come, will be fulfilled in glorious, literal exactness in a way that is beyond any of our comprehension now. What we do now ceremonially and symbolically, over and over again to help get it into our feeble little brains, will be fulfilled in profound reality, if we remain faithful to our covenants, fulfilling the principle taught in Jesus’ famous parable of the talents of silver, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)”