Temple Endowment

President Russell M. Nelson reminded 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).

Typically, worthy members may receive their own endowment once they are at least 18 years old, have completed high school, and feel a desire to receive and honor temple covenants throughout their lives (see General Handbook (GH) Section 26.5.1).

The Year Before

We invite you to use the year preceding your temple endowment as a time to prepare to receive this sacred gift from God.

As you prepare, please review the following material with your parents or another trusted adult, such as a member of the Elders Quorum or Relief Society presidency, a ministering brother or sister, or a temple preparation instructor.

Preparing for the Temple Endowment

• Appendix A: For Parents--Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime on God's Covenant Path, found in the back of the Come, Follow Me manual

• A Sacred House of the Lord (video) a Tour Hosted by Elder and Sister Stevenson and Elder and Sister Renlund

• The Temples section of the church website, especially

  • About the Temple Endowment

  • Prepare for the House of the Lord

• Gospel Study Guide: Temples in the Gospel Library

• Gospel Study Guide: Endowment and Sealing Ordinances in the Gospel Library

• The Everlasting Covenant, by President Nelson

• GH Section 27.2: The Endowment

• The temple recommend interview questions (GH Section 26.3.3.1), which you will be asked by your Bishop and Stake President

Preparing to Wear the Garment of the Holy Priesthood

"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." (GH Section 27.2: The Endowment)

To prepare to wear the garment of the holy priesthood, we invite you review the following material with your parents or another trusted adult:

• Sacred Temple Clothing (video), which discussed the robes of the holy priesthood and the garment of the holy priesthood

• Topics and Questions: Garments in the Gospel Library

• The Garment of the Holy Priesthood, by President Holland

• GH Section 38.5: Temple Clothing and Garments, especially

  • 38.5.1 (Temple Clothing)

  • 38.5.2 (Obtaining Temple Clothing and Garments)

  • 38.5.5 (Wearing the Garment)

  • 38.5.6 (Caring for the Garment)

  • 38.5.9 (Disposing of Garments and Ceremonial Temple Clothing)

Optional Resources

You may also find the following additional (optional) resources helpful as you prepare. Your parents, leaders, and others may have additional suggestions of ways to prepare and resources you can study.

• Prophetic Teachings on Temples

• Virtual Tour of Rome Italy Temple (video) guided by Elder Bednar and Elder Rasband

• 360 Degree Tour of the Washington DC Temple (video)

• Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple

• The Endowed from on High temple preparation manual

• Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple by Elder Russell M Nelson, Ensign, October 2010

• Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings by Elder Russell M Nelson, Ensign, May 2001

The Weeks Before

When you are ready to receive your temple endowment, please complete the following steps:

• Contact your Ward Executive Secretary to let him know you'd like to schedule an appointment with your Bishop to receive your living ordinance recommend for your temple endowment

• Meet with your Bishop to discuss your preparation and worthiness to receive your temple endowment; your parents are welcome to join you

• Contact the Stake Executive Secretary to schedule a meeting with the Stake President; inform him this meeting is to receive your temple endowment

• Meet with your Stake President to discuss your preparation and worthiness

  • Your parents are invited and encouraged to join you for this meeting

  • We will discuss what you learned from studying the preparation material outlined above

  • Please bring with you the physical temple recommend that was signed by your Bishop

After Your Temple Recommend is Signed

Once you have your temple recommend signed by you, your Bishop, and your Stake President, please complete the following steps:

• Call the temple of your choice to schedule an appointment to receive your endowment

• Invite family members and others to worship with you in the temple at that time

• Determine someone of the same gender to serve as your escort while you receive your temple endowment

• With the assistance of an endowed member with a current temple recommend, purchase a few pair of garments from Distribution Services (inside Deseret Book)

• If possible, make plans to purchase white clothing to wear in the temple and your own robes of the holy priesthood (see GH Section 38.5.1: Temple Clothing)

• Take one pair of unopened garments with you to the temple when you receive your endowment

After You Receive Your Temple Endowment

• Take a moment to record your experiences of the day

• Make plans to attend the temple regularly

• If time and circumstances allow, consider serving as a temple worker; if you are interested, discuss your interest with your Bishop

We hope that you enjoy the knowledge, power, direction, hope, comfort, and peace that the Lord offers through this precious gift of the endowment.