~~  The Mormon Temple Endowment 2023  ~~

 
Post April 1990 Temple Presentation - Lucifer/Satan Edition (clip).
To see the full "post 1990 version" click here.

NARRATOR: We go now with Adam and Eve into the lone and dreary world. Brethren and sisters, this represents the Telestial Kingdom, or the world in which we now live. Adam, on finding himself in the lone and dreary world, built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words he uttered:

ADAM: Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.

Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.

Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.

(As Adam prays, Lucifer approaches from behind out of the shadows.)

LUCIFER: I hear you; what is it you want?

(Although Adam has already encountered Lucifer in the Garden of Eden, he fails to recognize him at this appearance. It is NOT Elohim or Jehovah that answers Adam's prayer.)

ADAM: Who are you?

LUCIFER: I am the God of this world.

ADAM: You, the God of this world?

LUCIFER: Yes, what do you want?

ADAM: I am looking for messengers.

LUCIFER: Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want religion, do you? There will be many willing to preach to you the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture.

ADAM: But I am looking for messengers from my Father.

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In February, the endowment ceremony was updated to inform the participants of what was going to happen and give them an ability to more accurately consent to it. In addition, the witness couple is removed and the officiators role is lessened giving the presentation itself more prominence. The presentation was also updated to include more depictions of Christ along with a deception of the War in Heaven. Lastly, all physical contact along with movement is removed until the very end when the person passes through the veil.

In short, anyone who has claimed that the LDS temple ceremonies or the garments have not changed is simply not honest. Things have changed and they have changed quite a lot in some instances. Many will argue whether the ordinances are of God, which is fine. However we really should be asking why the need to change at all? Where is the word of God requesting the change? Why are we allowing the leaders to make these changes that always seem to conform to modern political desires or whims of fashion?

Downplaying the dominant role of Lucifer from previous versions of the endowment and adding pictures of Jesus to the endowment misses the point when correcting the problem that the endowment has nothing to do with Jesus and the atonement. Getting signs and tokens to ‘pass by the angels’ and get you into heaven is kind of the opposite of accepting Christ, repenting, and getting to Heaven through the atonement. There is just no place in the gospel of Jesus Christ for an endowment with signs and tokens to get you back into the presence of God the Father. It is the opposite of the atonement. You can’t take something that denies the atonement, add a few pictures of Jesus, and suddenly it becomes Christ centered.

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2019→2023 Endowment Changes
(Part 1: Preface + Introduction)

Text: No change from previous version of endowment

Italics: Words added to previous version of endowment

Strikethrough: Words removed from previous version of endowment

Preface

Narrator: Before beginning the endowment session, we share the following statement from the First Presidency of the Church:

Brothers and sisters, since the temple endowment was first administered in this dispensation, occasional adjustments have been made by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, acting unitedly in their capacity as prophets, seers, and revelators.

Upon seeking the will of the Lord and after solemn prayer in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple, the Lord has again revealed inspired adjustments to the temple ceremonies.

These adjustments, which you will notice during your worship experience in the temple today, will bring harmony to the way men and women make covenants with God. They deepen our understanding of His will and His relationship with his daughters and sons.

You will notice that additional adjustments have been made in the presentation of the endowment, all of which are in harmony with the doctrine of the Savior's restored gospel.

These modifications do not affect the sacred and eternal covenants associated with the saving and exalting ordinances of the temple.

The temple covenants and ordinances remain the same.

As a reminder, due to the sacred nature of all temple ordinances, the fact and content of these changes should not be discussed outside the temple.

May you feel the Lord’s love as you serve in His holy house.

May you be blessed as you serve and worship in the House of the Lord today.

Introduction

Narrator: Brethren Brothers and sisters, we welcome you to the temple and hope you will find joy serving and worshiping in the house of the Lord this day today.

Those of you who are here to receive your own endowments should have been washed, anointed, and clothed in the garment of the holy priesthood. For those who are representing deceased persons, the ordinances of washing, anointing, and clothing in the garment of the holy priesthood, together with the ordaining on behalf of deceased brethren brothers, were performed previously. Each of you should have received a new name in connection with this company session. If any of you have forgotten the new name or have not received these ordinances as explained, please stand.

Please be alert, attentive and reverent during the presentation of the endowment.

As you are asked to proceed to the veil, please do so in an orderly manner, row by row, as directed. After passing through the veil into the celestial room, and in other areas in the temple, if you need to communicate, please whisper, thus helping us maintain the quiet reverence that should prevail in the house of the Lord. We will now proceed with the presentation of the Endowment.

Brethren Brothers, you have been washed and pronounced clean, or that through your faithfulness you may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation. You have been anointed to become hereafter kings and priests unto the Most High God, to rule and reign in the house of Israel forever.

Sisters, you have been washed and pronounced clean, and anointed to become hereafter queens and priestesses in the new and everlasting covenant.

Brethren Brothers and sisters, your endowment in the house of the Lord includes all those ordinances necessary for you to return to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the tokens, names, and signs pertaining to the holy priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation.

The endowment is a gift from your Heavenly Father. It is a symbolic representation of the plan of salvation, from your premortal life to your potential future exaltation in the celestial kingdom. The endowment is given by revelation. Thus, it is best understood by revelation, prayerfully sought with a sincere heart. As with other ordinances, during the endowment you will participate in sacred symbolic acts that teach about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If you proceed and receive your full endowment, you will be invited to enter into sacred covenants or agreements with God established by Him in his Love and mercy. As you make and keep these covenants you bind yourself to God the father and His son Jesus Christ. By exercising your agency to keep covenants throughout your life, you become more like Them and progress spiritually to return to Their presence. If you enter into a covenant with God and obey His laws, you will receive the blessings associated with that covenant. Those who violate covenants will bring upon themselves the judgment of God; for God will not be mocked.

Today you will be invited to covenant to keep five laws:

1. The Law of Obedience

2. The Law of Sacrifice

3. The Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

4. The Law of Chastity

5. The Law of Consecration

You will also receive tokens of the holy priesthood with their accompanying names and signs. You will covenant never to reveal them, except at a certain place in the temple that will be shown you.

During the endowment, you will dress in the robes of the holy priesthood, symbolic of being clothed with righteousness, power, and glory as you honor your covenants with God.

Brethren Brothers and sisters, if you are true and faithful, the day will come when you will be chosen, called up, and anointed kings and queens, priests and priestesses through the holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant, hereafter to rule and reign in the house of Israel forever, whereas you are now anointed only to become such. The realization of these blessings depends upon your faithfulness.

You have had a Each of you has had the garment placed upon you, which you were informed represents the garment given to Adam and Eve when they were found naked in the garden of Eden, and which is called the garment of the holy priesthood. It is a symbol of taking upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ and as a reminder of your temple covenants. This You were instructed to wear the garment throughout your life and You were informed that it will be a shield and a protection to you inasmuch as you do not defile it, and if you are true and faithful to your covenants.

You have had a new name given unto you, which you were told never to divulge reveal nor forget. This new name is a key word, which you will be required to give at a certain place in the temple today.

Your Endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and the tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation.

If you proceed and receive your full endowment, you will be required to take upon yourselves sacred obligations, the violation of which will bring upon you the judgment of God; for God will not be mocked.

If any of you desire to withdraw rather than accept these obligations enter into these covenants of your own free will and choice, you may now make it known by raising your hand.

Brethren Brothers and sisters, as you sit here, you will now hear the voices of three four persons who represent Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael, and Lucifer. Since the premortal realm, God the Eternal Father has also been known as Elohim, and the Savior Jesus Christ has also been known as Jehovah. Adam was known as Michael before he received a physical body. Satan was known as Lucifer before he was cast down.

As the presentation of the endowment begins, Elohim will preside over a council of His spirit children. He will present his plan for His children, and Jehovah will be chosen as the Savior and Redeemer. Lucifer will rebel against Elohim, and he and those who follow him will be cast down. Elohim will then command Jehovah and Michael to go down and organize a world. The work of the six creative periods will be represented. They will also organize man in their own likeness and image, male and female.

The Rebellion of Lucifer

Elohim: Worlds without number have I created, and I also created them for mine own purpose. For behold, this is my work and my glory: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. We will make an earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. If they yield to temptation, we will give unto them the Law of Sacrifice and we will provide a Savior for them, that they may be brought forth by the power of the Redemption and the Resurrection and come again into our presence and with us partake of eternal life and exaltation.

Whom shall I send?

Jehovah: Father, here am I, send me. Thy will be done, and the glory be Thine forever.

Lucifer: Here am I, send me. I will be Thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it. Wherefore give me Thine honor.

Elohim: I will send Jehovah, who is my Beloved Son.

Lucifer, because thou hast rebelled against me and sought to destroy the agency of man, thou shalt be cast down.

2019→2023 Endowment Changes (Part 2: The Creation)

The Creation

Text: No change from previous version of endowment

Italics: Words added to previous version of endowment

Strikethrough: Words removed from previous version of endowment

The First Day

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, see, yonder there is matter unorganized. Go ye down and organize it into a world like unto the other worlds that we have hereunto formed. Divide the light from the darkness. Call the light “day” and the darkness “night”. Call your labors “The First Day” and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim. Come, Michael, let us go down.

Michael: We will go down, Jehovah.

Jehovah: Michael, see, here is matter unorganized. We will organize it into a world like unto the other worlds that we have heretofore formed. We will divide the light from the darkness and call the light “day” and the darkness “night”. We will call our labors “The First Day” and return and report.

Elohim, we have done as Thou hast commanded and have called our labors “The First Day”.

Elohim: It is good.

The Second Day

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, go down again. Gather the waters together and cause the dry land to appear. The great waters call ye seas, and the dry land call ye earth. Form mountains and hills, great rivers and small streams, to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth. Place a firmament to divide the waters which are in the heavens from the waters which are below the heavens. Call your labors “The Second Day” and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim. Come, Michael, let us go down.

Michael: We will go down, Jehovah.

Jehovah: Michael, we will gather the waters together and cause the dry land to appear. The great waters we will call seas, and the dry land we will call earth. We will form mountains and hills, great rivers and small streams to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth. place a firmament to divide the waters which are in the heavens from the waters which are below the heavens. We will call our labors “The Second Day”, and return and report.

Elohim, we have done as thou hast commanded and have called our labors “The Second Day”.

Elohim: It is good.

The Third Day

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, return again to the earth that you have organized. Divide the light from the darkness. Call the light “day," and the darkness “night." Cause the lights in the firmament to appear; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. Cause the stars also to appear and give light to the earth, the same as with other worlds heretofore created. Gather the waters together and cause the dry land to appear. The great waters call ye “seas”, and the dry land call ye “earth”. Form mountains and hills, great rivers and small streams to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth. Place seeds of all kinds in the earth, that they may spring forth as grass, flowers, shrubbery, trees, and all manner of vegetation, each bearing seed in itself after its own kind. Call your labors “The Third Day” and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim. Come, Michael, let us return again to the earth that we have organized.

Michael: We will return, Jehovah.

Jehovah: Michael, we will divide the light from the darkness, and call the light “day," and the darkness “night." We will cause the lights in the firmament to appear, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night. We will cause the stars also to appear and give light to the earth; the same as with other worlds heretofore created. gather the waters together and cause the dry land to appear. The great waters we will call “seas”, and the dry land we will call “earth”. We will form mountains and hills, great rivers and small streams to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth. We will place seeds of all kinds in the earth, that they may spring forth as grass, flowers, shrubbery, trees, and all manner of vegetation, each bearing seed in itself after its own kind. We will call our labors “The Third Day” and return and report.

Elohim, we have done as Thou hast commanded and have called our labors “The Third Day”.

Elohim: It is good.

The Fourth Day

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, return and place seeds of all kinds in the earth that they may spring forth as grass, flowers, shrubbery, trees, and all manner of vegetation; each bearing seed in itself after its own kind. cause the lights in the firmament to appear, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. Cause the stars to appear and give light to the earth, the same as with other worlds created. Call your labors “The Fourth Day” and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim. Come, Michael, let us go down.

Michael: We will go down, Jehovah.

Jehovah: Michael, we will place seeds of all kinds in the earth that they may spring forth as grass, flowers, shrubbery, trees, and all manner of vegetation. We will call our labors the Fourth Day and return and report. cause the lights in the firmament to appear, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. We will cause the stars also to appear and give light to the earth, the same as the other worlds created. We will call our labors “The Fourth Day”, and return and report.

Elohim, we have done as Thou hast commanded and have called our labors “The Fourth Day”.

Elohim: It is good.

The Fifth Day

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, now that the earth is formed, divided, and beautified, and vegetation is growing thereon, return and place all manner of life upon the earth. Command the beasts, the fowls, the fishes, the insects, all creeping things, and other forms of animal life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind, and every kind of vegetation to multiply in its sphere, that every form of life may fill the measure of its creation and have joy therein. fishes of all kinds in the waters and fowls in the air in all their varieties. Command the fishes and the fowls to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind. Call your labors “The Fifth Day” and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim. Come, Michael, let us go down.

Michael: We will go down, Jehovah.

Jehovah: Michael, now that the earth is formed, divided, and beautified, and vegetation is growing thereon, we will place beasts upon the land: the elephant, the lion, the tiger, the bear, the horse, and all other kinds of animals; fowls in the air in all their varieties, fishes of all kinds, in the waters, and insects and all manner of animal life upon the earth. We will command the beasts, the fowls, the fishes, the insects, all creeping things, and other forms of animal life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind, and every kind of vegetation to multiply in its sphere, that every form of life may fill the measure of its creation and have joy therein. fishes of all kinds in the waters and fowls in the air in all their varieties. We will command the fishes and the fowls to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind. We will call our labors “The Fifth Day”, and return and report.

Michael: It is well good, Jehovah. Now that the earth is formed with vegetation growing thereon, and provided with all manner of life, it is glorious and beautiful.

Jehovah: It is, Michael.

Elohim, we have done as Thou hast commanded and have called our labors “The Fifth Day”.

Elohim: It is good.

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, return again and place beasts upon the land: the elephant, the lion, the tiger, the bear, the horse, and all manner of life upon the earth. Command the beasts, the insects, all creeping things, and every form of life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind. Also command the earth and everything thereon to fill the measure of their creation and have joy therein. Then return and report.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim. Come, Michael, let us return again to the earth that we have organized.

Michael: We will return, Jehovah.

Jehovah: Michael, we will place beasts upon the land: the elephant, the lion, the tiger, the bear, the horse, and all manner of life upon the earth. We will command the beasts, the insects, all creeping things, and every form of life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind. We will also command the earth and everything thereon to fill the measure of their creation and have joy therein. We will then return and report.

Michael: It is good, Jehovah. Now that the earth is formed, with vegetation growing thereon and provided with all manner of life, it is glorious and beautiful.

Jehovah: It is, Michael.

Elohim, we have done as Thou hast commanded.

Elohim: It is good.

The Sixth Day

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, is man found upon on the earth?

Jehovah: Man is not found on the earth, Elohim.

Elohim: Jehovah, Michael, then let us go down and form man in our own likeness and in our own image, male and female, and put into them their spirits; and let us give them dominion over all things on the face of the earth. We will plant for them a garden eastward in Eden and palace them in it to tend and cultivate it, that they may be happy and have joy therein. We will command them to multiply and replenish the earth, that they may have joy in their posterity.

We will place before them the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and we will allow Lucifer, our common enemy, whom we have thrust out cast down, to tempt them and to try them, that they may know by their own experience the good from the evil. If they yield to temptation, we will give unto them the Law of Sacrifice and we will provide a Savior for them, as we counseled in the beginning, that they may be brought forth by the power of the Redemption and the Resurrection and come again into our presence and with us partake of eternal life and exaltation.

We will call this the Sixth day, and we will rest from our labors for a season. Come, let us go down.

Jehovah: We will go down, Elohim.

Creation of Adam

Elohim: Jehovah, see the earth that we have formed; there is no man to till and take care of it. We are here to form man in our own likeness and in our own image.

Jehovah: We will do so, Elohim.

Elohim: Jehovah, man is now organized, and we will put into him his spirit, the breath of life, that he may become a living soul.

Creation of Eve

Elohim: Jehovah, is it good for man to be alone?

Jehovah: It is not good for man to be alone, Elohim.

Elohim: We will cause a deep sleep to come upon this man whom we have formed, and we will take from his side a rib, from which we will form a woman, to be a companion and helpmeet for him. that they may be companions and helpmeets for one another, and they shall cleave unto one another.

Narrator: Brethren Brothers and sisters, this is Michael, who helped form the earth. When he awakens from the sleep which Elohim and Jehovah have caused to come upon him, he will be known as “Adam”, and having forgotten all, will have become like a little child. The priesthood was first given to Adam, and he holds the keys of it from generation to generation.

Brethren Brothers, close your eyes as if you were asleep.

Elohim: Adam, awake and arise!

Narrator: All the brothers will please arise.

Elohim: Adam, here is a woman whom we have formed to be a your companion and helpmeet for you. that you may be companions and helpmeets for one another, and you shall cleave unto one another. What will you call her?

Adam: She will be called “Eve”, because she is the mother of all living.

Elohim: That is right, Adam, because she is the mother of all living she will be called “Eve”; for thus have I, the Lord God, called the first of all women.

Adam, Eve, we have organized for you this earth and have planted a garden eastward in Eden. We will place you in the garden and will there command you to multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity.

Jehovah, introduce Adam and Even into the garden which we have prepared for them.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

2019→2023 Endowment Changes (Part 3: The Garden of Eden)

The Garden of Eden

Text: No change from previous version of endowment

Italics: Words added to previous version of endowment

Strikethrough: Words removed from previous version of endowment

Introduction to the Garden of Eden

Narrator: We now go with Adam and Eve into the garden. The brethren brothers will please be seated.

Elohim: Adam, Eve, we have created this earth and have placed upon it all kinds of vegetation and animal life. We have commanded all these to multiply in their own sphere and element. Adam, Eve, We give you dominion over all these things. We now command you to multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity.

We have also planted for you this garden, wherein we have placed all manner of fruits, flowers, and vegetation. Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat. Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Remember these commandments which we have given unto you.

Now, go to, take good care of this garden, be happy and have joy therein. We shall go away, but we shall visit you again and give you further instructions.

The Fall of Man

Temptation of Adam

Lucifer: Well, Adam, you have a new world here!

Adam: A new world?

Lucifer: Yes, a new world, patterned after the old one where we used to live.

Adam: I know nothing about any other world.

Lucifer: Oh, I see, your eyes are not yet opened. You have forgotten everything. You must eat some of the fruit of that tree.

Adam, here is some of the fruit of this tree. It will make you wise.

Adam: I will not partake of that fruit. Father told me that in the day I should partake of it I should surely die.

Lucifer: You shall not surely die, but shall be as the Gods, knowing good and evil.

Adam: I will not partake of it.

Lucifer: Oh, you will not! Well, we shall see.

Temptation of Eve

Lucifer: Eve, here is some of the fruit of that tree. It will make you wise. It is delicious to the taste and very desirable.

Eve: Who are you?

Lucifer: I am your brother.

Eve: You, my brother, and come here to persuade me to disobey Father?

Lucifer: I have said nothing about Father. I want you to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that your eyes may be opened, for that is the way Father gained His knowledge. You must eat of this fruit so as to comprehend that everything has its opposite: Good and evil, virtue and vice, light and darkness, health and sickness, pleasure and pain. Thus your eyes will be opened and you will have knowledge.

Eve: Is there no other way?

Lucifer: There is no other way.

Eve: Then I will partake.

Lucifer: There! Now go and get Adam to partake.

Eve: Adam, here is some of the fruit of that tree. It is delicious to the taste and very desirable.

Adam: Eve, do you know what fruit that is?

Eve: Yes, it is the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Adam: I cannot partake of it. Do you not know remember that Father commanded us not to partake of the fruit of that tree?

Eve: Do we not you intend to obey all of Father’s commandments?

Adam: Yes, all of them.

Eve: Do you remember that Father commanded us to multiply and replenish the earth? I have partaken of this fruit, and by so doing shall be cast out, and you will be left a lone man in the Garden of Eden.

Adam: Eve, I see that this must be. I will partake that man may be.

Lucifer: That is right.

Eve: It is better for us to pass through sorrow that we may know the good from the evil.

I know thee now. Thou art Lucifer, he who was cast out of Father’s presence for rebellion.

Lucifer: Yes. You are beginning to see already.

Adam: We are looking for Father to come down to give us further instructions.

Lucifer: Oh! You are looking for Father to come down, are you?

Aprons Adorned

Elohim: Jehovah, we promised Adam and Eve that we would visit them and give them further instructions. Come, let us go down.

Jehovah: We will go down, Elohim.

Adam: I hear Their voices. They are coming.

Lucifer: See, you are naked! Take some fig leaves and make you aprons. Father will see your nakedness. Quick! Hide!

Adam: Come, let us hide!

Narrator: The eyes of Adam and Eve were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

Brethren Brothers and sisters, please put on your aprons.

Elohim and Jehovah Return

Elohim: Adam! Adam! Adam! Where art thou?

Adam: I heard Thy voice and hid myself because I was naked.

Elohim: Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil of which we commanded thee not to partake?

Adam: The woman thou gavest me, and commanded that she should remain with me, she Eve gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat.

Elohim: Eve, what is this that thou hast done?

Eve: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Expulsion of Lucifer

Elohim: Lucifer! What hast thou been doing here?

Lucifer: I have been doing that which has been done in other worlds.

Elohim: What is that?

Lucifer: I have been giving some of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil to them.

Elohim: Lucifer, because thou hast done this, thou shalt be cursed above all the beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust thou shalt eat all the days of thy life.

Lucifer: If Thou cursest me for doing the same thing which has been done in other worlds, I will take the spirits that follow me, and they shall possess the bodies Thou createst for Adam and Eve.

Elohim: I will place enmity between thee and the seed of the woman. Thou mayest have power to bruise his heel, but he shall have power to crush thy head.

Lucifer: Then with that enmity, I will take the treasures of the earth, and with gold and silver, I will buy up armies and navies, false priests who oppress, and tyrants who destroy, and I will reign with blood and horror on this earth.

Elohim: Depart!

Jehovah, let cherubim and a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of the Tree of Life, lest Adam and Eve put forth their hands and partake of the fruit thereof and live forever in their sins.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

Let cherubim and a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of the Tree of Life, lest Adam and Eve put forth their hands and partake of the fruit thereof and live forever in their sins.

It is done, Elohim.

Elohim: Adam, because thou hast partaken of the forbidden fruit, the earth shall be cursed for thy sake. Instead of producing fruits and flowers spontaneously, it shall bring forth thorns, thistles, briars, and noxious weeds to afflict and torment man. And by the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread all the days of thy life, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Law of Obedience

Elohim: Adam, Eve, inasmuch as you have eaten of the forbidden fruit, if you will covenant that from this time forth you will obey the law of the Lord keep the Law of Obedience, we will give unto you the Law of obedience and Sacrifice, and we will provide a Savior for you, whereby you may come back into our presence and with us partake of eternal life and exaltation.

Eve: Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.

Adam: Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.

Elohim: It is good. Jehovah, inasmuch as Adam and Eve have discovered their nakedness, make coats of skins as a covering for them.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

Narrator: Brethren and sisters the garment which has been placed upon you is to cover your nakedness and represents the coat of skins spoken of. The officiator will represent Elohim at the Altar. A couple will now come to the altar.

Brethren and sisters, this couple represents all of you as if at the altar. You must consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve.

Elohim: We will put each of Adam, Eve, we will now put you under covenant to obey the Law of the Lord keep the Law of Obedience, which is to obey my commandments.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Elohim, please raise your arm to the square as Instructed:

Elohim: Brethren and sisters Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and Each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this alter that you will obey the Law of the Lord and keep his commandments keep the Law of Obedience as it has been explained to you.

Each of you bow your head and say “yes”.

Adam and Eve: Yes.

Elohim: Thank you.

Law of Sacrifice

Elohim: Jehovah, inasmuch as Adam and Eve have discovered their nakedness, make coats of skins as a covering for them.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, the garment which has been placed upon you is to cover your nakedness and represent the coat of skins spoken of.

Elohim: Adam and Eve, please come to the altar.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve.

Elohim: Brethren and sisters We will now put you under covenant to keep the Law of Sacrifice as contained in the holy scriptures. This The Law of Sacrifice was given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, who, when they were driven out of the garden, built an altar on which Adam offered sacrifices. And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared, saying, “Why doest thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?” Adam said, “I know not save the Lord commanded me.” And then the angel spake, saying, “This is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, who is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son; and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.”

The posterity of Adam down to Moses, and from Moses to Jesus Christ, offered up the first fruits of the field and the firstlings of the flock, which continued until the death Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which ended sacrifice by the shedding of blood. And as Jesus Christ has laid down His life for the Redemption of mankind, so we you should covenant to sacrifice all that we possess, even our own lives if necessary, in sustaining and defending the Kingdom of God keep the Law of Sacrifice, which is that you will offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and sacrifice all else that I, the Lord God, require of you so that you can become holy, without spot, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Elohim, please raise your arm to the square as Instructed.

Elohim: Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and Each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this alter that you will observe and keep the law of sacrifice as contained in the holy scriptures as it has been explained to you. Each of you bow your head and say “yes”.

Adam and Eve: Yes.

Elohim: Thank you.

First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood

Elohim: We will now give unto you the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its

accompanying name and sign. Before doing this, we desire to impress upon your minds the sacred character of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign, as well as that of all other tokens of the holy priesthood with their names and signs, which you will receive in the temple today. They are most sacred and are guarded by solemn covenants made in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses to hold them sacred, and under no condition will you ever divulge reveal them except at a certain place in the temple that will be shown you.

The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood is given by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

Elohim: Adam, we give unto you the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. We desire all to receive it. All arise.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve receiving this token either for yourself or for the dead.

Elohim: If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand.

Elohim: Adam, Eve, we give unto you the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

The name of this token is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

The sign is made by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

I will now explain the covenant and obligation which are associated with this token, its name, and its sign, which you will be required to take upon yourselves. If I were receiving my own endowment today and had been given the name of “John” as my new name, I would repeat in my mind these words after making the sign:

“I, John, covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses that I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign.”

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Elohim, please make the sign as instructed:

Elohim: Each of you make the Sign of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign.

Now repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant:

“I” - think of the [name] - “covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses that I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign.”

Thank you.

The Expulsion

Elohim: Jehovah, see that Adam and Eve are driven out of this beautiful garden into the lone and dreary world, where they may learn from their own experience to distinguish good from evil.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

2019→2023 Endowment Changes (Part 4: The Telestial World)

The Telestial World

Text: No change from previous version of endowment

Italics: Words added to previous version of endowment

Strikethrough: Words removed from previous version of endowment

Narrator: We go now with Adam and Eve into the lone and dreary world.

Lucifer Offers Religion

Narrator: Brethren Brothers and sisters, this represents the Telestial Kingdom, or the world in which we now live. Adam and Eve, on finding themselves in the lone and dreary world, built an altar and offered prayer. And these are the words Adam uttered:

“O God, hear the words of my mouth. O God, hear the words of my mouth. O God, hear

the words of my mouth.”

Satan: I hear you. What is it you want?

Adam: Who are you?

Satan: I am the god of this world.

Adam: You, the god of this world?

Satan: Yes. What do you want?

Adam: We are looking for messengers.

Satan: Oh, you want someone to preach to you? You want religion, do you? There will be many willing to preach to you the philosophies of men mingled with scripture.

Adam: But we are looking for messengers from our Father.

The Messengers’ First Visit

Elohim: Jehovah, send down Peter, James, and John to visit Adam and Eve in the Telestial world without disclosing their identity. Have them observe conditions generally, see if Satan is there, and learn whether Adam and Eve have been true to the token and sign given to them covenants they made in the Garden of Eden. Then have Peter, James, and John then return, and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, through the ages Heavenly Father has sent messengers to communicate with His children. In the endowment, Peter, James, and John symbolically represent such messengers.

Peter: Good morning.

Satan: Good morning, gentlemen.

Peter: What are you doing here?

Satan: Observing the teachings of these people.

Peter: What is being taught?

Satan: I am teaching the philosophies of men mingled with scripture.

Peter: How is this teaching received?

Satan: Many receive it very well, except but these people do not seem to believe what is being taught.

Peter: Good morning. What do you think of this teaching?

Adam: We are looking for messengers from our Father to teach us.

Peter: That is good. Have you any tokens or signs? Have you been true to the covenants you made in the Garden of Eden?

Satan: Have you any money?

Peter: We have sufficient for our needs.

Satan: You can buy anything in this world with money.

Peter: Do you sell your tokens or signs for money? You have them, I presume. Have you been true to your covenants?

Adam: We have them, but we do not sell them for money. We hold them sacred. We have been true to our covenants and are looking for the further light and knowledge Father promised to send us.

Peter: That is right. We commend you for your integrity. Good day. We shall probably visit you again.

Satan: Now is the great day of my power. I reign from the rivers to the ends of the earth. There is none who No one dares to molest or make affraid oppose me.

The Messengers’ First Report

Peter: Jehovah, we have visited Adam and Eve in the Telestial world, as Thou didst command us. We found Satan there striving to lead Adam and Eve and their posterity astray with all manner of false doctrine. But they have been true and faithful to the token and sign given them covenants they made in the Garden of Eden, and they are waiting for the further light and knowledge You promised to send them. This is our report.

Jehovah: It is good, Peter, James, and John…Elohim—Peter James, and John have been down to Adam and Eve in the Telestial world and have done all that they were commanded to do.

Elohim: It is good….Jehovah, instruct Peter, James, and John to go down in their true character as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial world and to cast Satan out of their midst. Instruct them Peter, James, and John to give unto Adam and Eve and their posterity the Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as contained in the holy scriptures. It is that they will exercise faith unto repentance, come unto Jesus Christ, be baptized in His name, be sanctified by the Holy ghost, receive my ordinances, obey my commandments, and endure to the end, that they might become perfected through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Also To help them live this law, give unto them a charge to love the Lord their God and their neighbor and to avoid all light-mindedness, loud laughter, unworthy thoughts and actions, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice, and cause these to be received by covenant.

Instruct Peter, James, and John further to give unto them the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign. Then, have them Peter, James, and John return, and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

The Messengers’ Second Visit

Peter: I am Peter.

James: I am James.

John: I am John.

Satan: Yes! I thought I knew you. What are you going to do now?

Peter: We will dismiss you without further argument.

Satan: Ah! You have looked over my kingdom and my greatness and glory. Now you want to take possession of the whole of it.

I have a word to say concerning these people: If they do not walk up to keep every covenant they make at these alters in this temple this day today, they will be in my power.

Peter: Satan, we command you to depart.

Satan: By what authority?

Peter: In the name of Jesus Christ, our Master.

When you repent with real intent and seek forgiveness, you may be cleansed and forgiven through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. By exercising faith in Him, you will be given strength to overcome trials and be enabled to do all that God asks of you, for it is by His grace that you are saved, after all you can do.

Adam, Eve, we are true messengers from the Father and have come to give you the further light and knowledge He promised to send you.

Adam: How shall we know that you are true messengers?

Peter: By our giving unto you the token and sign you received in the Garden of Eden.

Adam: What is that?

Peter: The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Adam: Has it a name?

Peter: It has.

Adam: Will you give it to me?

Peter: I cannot, for it is the new name, and I have made a covenant not to disclose reveal it. But this is the sign.

Adam: Now we know that you are true messengers sent down from Father.

These are true messengers. We urge you to give strict heed to their counsel and teachings, and they will lead you in the way of life and salvation.

Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

Eve: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.

Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Narrator: The Officiator will represent Peter at the Altar.

Peter: A couple will now come to the altar. Adam and Eve, please come to the altar.

Brethren Brothers and sisters, this couple at the altar represents all of you as if at the altar, and you will be under the same obligations as they will be please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve. We are required to give unto you the Law of the Gospel which is the higher law taught by of Jesus Christ as contained in the holy scriptures. It is that you will exercise faith unto repentance, come unto Jesus Christ, be baptized in His name, be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, receive God’s ordinances, obey His commandments, and endure to the end, that you might become perfected through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

To help you live this law, we are also instructed to give unto you also a charge to love the Lord your God and your neighbor; and to avoid all light-mindedness, loud laughter, unworthy thoughts and actions, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice; and to cause you to receive these by covenants.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Peter, please raise your arm to the square as instructed:

Peter: Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

Each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses that you will observe and keep the Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and this charge as it they has have been explained to you.

Each of you bow your head and say “yes”.

Adam and Eve: Yes.

Peter: Thank you.

Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood

Peter: We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign.

This token is given by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We desire all to receive it. All arise.

Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve receiving this token either for yourself or for the dead.

If any of you have not received this token, please raise your hand. Adam, Eve, we give unto you the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. The name of this token is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

The sign is made by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign.

I will now explain the covenant and obligation which are associated with this token, its name, and its sign, which you will be required to take upon yourselves.

If I were receiving my own endowment today and if my first given name were “David”, I would repeat in my mind these words after making the sign:

“I, David, solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses that I will never reveal the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and Sign.”

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, As invited by Peter, please make the sign as instructed:

Peter: Each of you make the Sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign.

Now repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant:

“I” - think of the first name - “solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses that I will never reveal the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign.”

Thank you.

We will return and report.

The Messengers’ Second Report

Peter: Jehovah, we have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial world and have done all that we were commanded to do.

Jehovah: It is good, Peter, James, and John…Elohim—Peter, James, and John have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial world, have cast Satan out of their midst, and have done all else that they were commanded to do.

Elohim: It is good.

Jehovah, send down Peter, James, and John again to the Telestial world. Instruct them to clothe Adam and Eve and their posterity in the robes of the holy priesthood with the robe on the right shoulder, preparatory to participating in the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and introduce them into the Terrestrial world.

Instruct Peter, James, and John further to give unto them the Law of Chastity and put them under covenant to obey this law, which is that the women of my kingdom and the men of my kingdom my sons and daughters shall have no sexual relations except only with those to whom they are legally and lawfully wedded according to my law.

Give unto them the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail with its accompanying name and sign.

Then have them Peter, James, and John return, and bring me word.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

2019→2023 Endowment Changes (Part 5: The Terrestrial World)

The Terrestrial World

Text: No change from previous version of endowment

Italics: Words added to previous version of endowment

Strikethrough: Words removed from previous version of endowment

The Messengers’ Third Visit

The Law of Chastity

Peter: We are instructed to clothe you in the robes of the holy priesthood and introduce you into the Terrestrial world.

Remove the apron. Place the robe on your right shoulder. Place the cap or veil on your head with the bow over the left ear for the brethren. Replace the apron. Tie the girdle with the bow on the left side. Sisters, place the veil on your head. Brothers, place the cap on your head with the bow over your left ear.

You may now proceed to clothe.

Narrator: We now enter the Terrestrial world.

Peter: A couple will now Adam and Eve, please come to the altar.

Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve. We are instructed to give unto you the Law of Chastity, which is that the women of God’s kingdom and the men of God’s kingdom God’s sons and God’s daughters shall have no sexual relations except only with those to whom they are legally and lawfully wedded according to His law.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Peter, please raise your arm to the square as instructed:

Peter: Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and Each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses that you will observe and keep the Law of Chastity as it has been explained to you.

Each of you bow your head and say “Yes”.

Adam and Eve: Yes.

Peter: Thank you.

First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood

Peter: We will now give unto you the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail with its accompanying name and sign.

This token is received by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We desire all to receive it. All arise.

If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand.

Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve receiving this token either for yourself or for the dead.

Adam, Eve, we give unto you the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail. The name of this token is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign.

I will now explain the covenant and obligation which are associated with this token, its name, and its sign, which you will be required to take upon yourselves. If I were receiving the endowment today, either for myself or for the dead, I would repeat in my mind these words after making the sign:

“I solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses, in the name of the Son, that I will never reveal the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail with its accompanying name and sign.”

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Peter, please make the sign as instructed:

Peter: Each of you make the Sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign.

Now repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant:

“I solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses, in the name of the Son, that I will never reveal the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail with its accompanying name and sign.”

Thank you.

We will return and report.

The Messengers’ Third Report

Peter: Jehovah, we have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity and have done all that we were commanded to do.

Jehovah: It is good, Peter, James, and John…Elohim—Peter, James, and John have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity and have done all that they were commanded to do.

Elohim: It is good.

Jehovah, send down Peter, James, and John and instruct them to give unto Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial world the Law of Consecration, in connection with the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Law of Sacrifice. and to Cause them to receive it by covenant~~, to give unto them~~ Instruct Peter, James, and John to give unto Adam and Eve and their posterity the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign; and to teach them the order of prayer, and to prepare them in all things to receive further instructions at the veil. Then have them Peter, James, and John report at the veil.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

The Messengers’ Fourth Visit

Law of Consecration

Peter: A couple will now Adam and Eve, please come to the altar.

Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve. We are instructed to give unto you the Law of Consecration as contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in connection with the Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Law of Sacrifice, which you have already received.

It is that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which He may bless you, to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth, and for the establishment of Zion.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Peter, please raise your arm to the square as Instructed:

Peter: Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and Each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this alter that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants - in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which He may bless you, to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth, and for the establishment of Zion.

Each of you bow your head and say “yes”.

Adam and Eve: Yes.

Peter: Thank you.

Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood

Peter: We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign.

This token has reference to the Crucifixion of the Savior. When He was placed upon the cross, the crucifiers drove nails through the palms of His hands. Then, fearing that the weight of His body would cause the nails to tear through the flesh of the hands, they drove nails through His wrists. Hence, Therefore, in the palm is the Sign of the Nail and in the wrist is the Sure Sign of the Nail, or the Nail in the Sure Place.

This token is given by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We desire all to receive it. All arise.

If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand.

Brothers and sisters, please consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve receiving this token either for yourself or for the dead.

Adam, Eve, we give unto you the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail. This token has a name and a sign. You will be under the same sacred obligation in connection with never to reveal this token and sign with its accompanying name and sign as you are with the other tokens and signs of the holy priesthood which you have received in the temple today.

The name of this token will not be given to you at this stage of the endowment, but it will be given later on.

The sign is made by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, they built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words that Adam uttered: “O God, hear the words of my mouth,” repeated three times.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, as invited by Peter, please make the sign as instructed:

Peter: Each of you make the Sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

Peter, Adam, and Eve:...[if you know, you know (no changes here)],...[if you know, you know (no changes here)],...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

Peter: Thank you.

2019→2023 Endowment Changes (Part 6: The True Order of Prayer+The Veil)

True Order of Prayer

Text: No change from previous version of endowment

Italics: Words added to previous version of endowment

Strikethrough: Words removed from previous version of endowment

Peter: Brethren Brothers and sisters, with the robe on the right shoulder dressed in the robes of the holy priesthood, you are prepared to be taught the true order of prayer and to be introduced at the veil.

A few of you, including couples, Individuals and couples who desire to participate in the prayer circle will please come forward and form a circle around the altar.

Only the best of feelings should exist in the prayer circle. If any of you have unkind feelings towards any member of this circle, you are invited to withdraw so that the Spirit of the Lord may be unrestrained.

In the prayer circle we make the signs of all the tokens of the holy priesthood received in the temple today.

We will begin by making the Sign of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This is done by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign. The name of this token is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This is done by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign. The name of this token is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We will now make the Sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or sign of the nail. This is done by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. This is the sign. The name of this token is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail. This is done by...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

We have here a list of names of persons who are sick or otherwise afflicted whom we are requested to remember in our prayer. We will place this list upon the altar, and request the faith of those present in behalf of these persons.

Each brother in the circle will take the sister at his left by the right hand in the...[if you know, you know (no changes here)]. Each of you bring your left arm to the square and rest it upon the shoulder or arm of the person at your left. Those in the circle will repeat the words of the prayer spoken by the officiator.

[prayer officiator gives prayer]

The brothers and sisters in the circle will return to their seats.

Explanation of the Marks on the Veil

Peter: We will now uncover the veil.

Brethren Brothers and sisters, this is the veil of the temple. The Book of Hebrews teaches that the veil of the temple symbolically represents the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Mediator with the Father. It is only through Him that we can return to the holy presence of God the Father.

I will now explain the marks on the veil.

These four marks are the marks of the holy priesthood, and corresponding marks are found in your individual garment.

On the right is the mark of the square. It is placed in the garment over the right breast, suggesting to the mind exactness and honor in keeping the covenants entered into this day today.

On the left is the mark of the compass. It is placed in the garment over the left breast, suggesting to the mind an undeviating course leading to eternal life - a constant reminder that desires, appetites, and passions are to be kept within the bounds the Lord has set and that all truth may be circumscribed into one great whole.

This is the navel mark. It is placed in the garment over the navel, suggesting to the mind the need of constant nourishment to body and spirit.

This is the knee mark. It is placed in the right leg of the garment so as to be over the knee cap, suggesting that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.

These other three marks are for convenience in working at the Veil. Through this one, the person representing the Lord puts forth his right hand, to test our knowledge of the tokens of the Holy Priesthood. Through the one on our right, he asks us certain questions, through the one on the left, we give our answers.

Rehearsal of the Introduction at the Veil

Peter: As All of you will have be invited to pass through the veil~~, we will show you how this is to be done.~~ As you pass through the veil, each brother should consider himself as if he were Adam, and each sister should consider herself as if she were Eve.

We will show you how this is to be done from the perspective of Adam.

The person is brought to this point and the worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet, whereupon the Lord Elohim parts the veil and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is wanted?

Peter: Adam, having been true and faithful in all things, desires further light and knowledge by conversing with the Lord through the veil.

Lord: Elohim: Present him at the veil and his request shall be granted.

Peter: The person is then brought to this point, whereupon the Lord Elohim puts forth His right hand, gives the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is that?

Adam: The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Lord: Elohim: Has it a name?

Adam: It has.

Lord: Elohim: Will you give it to me?

Adam: I will through the veil.

Peter: The person then gives through the veil the name of this token, which is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

The Lord Elohim then gives the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is that?

Adam: The Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Lord: Elohim: Has it a name?

Adam: It has.

Lord: Elohim: Will you give it to me?

Adam: I will through the veil.

Peter: The person then gives the name of this token, which is...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

The Lord Elohim then gives the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail, and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is that?

Adam: The First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail.

Lord: Elohim: Has it a name?

Adam: It has.

Lord: Elohim: Will you give it to me?

Adam: I will through the veil.

Peter: The person then gives the name of this token, which is ...[if you know, you know (no changes here)].

The Lord Elohim then gives the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is that?

Adam: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail.

Lord: Elohim: Has it a name?

Adam: It has.

Lord: Elohim: Will you give it to me?

Adam: I cannot. I have not yet received it. For this purpose I have come to converse with the Lord through the veil.

Lord: Elohim: You shall receive it through the veil.

Peter: It is received as left hands are placed upon right shoulders through the veil.

The Lord Elohim then gives the name of this token and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is that?

Adam: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail.

Lord: Elohim: Has it a name?

Adam: It has.

Lord: Elohim: Will you give it to me?

Adam: I will through the veil.

Peter: The person then repeats back to The Lord Elohim the name of this token as he received it, whereupon The Lord Elohim says:

Lord: Elohim: That is correct.

Peter: The person is again brought to this point, and the worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet. The Lord Elohim parts the veil and asks:

Lord: Elohim: What is wanted?

Peter: Adam, having conversed with the Lord through the veil, desires now to enter His presence.

Peter: The Lord Elohim puts forth His right hand, takes the person by the right hand, and says:

Lord: Elohim: Let him enter.

Peter: He is admitted into the holy presence of the Lord God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

We will now report.

The Messengers’ Fourth Report

Peter: Jehovah, we have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial world and have done all that we were commanded to do.

Jehovah: It is good, Peter, James, and John…Elohim—Peter, James, and John have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial world and have done all that they were commanded to do.

Elohim: It is good.

Jehovah, instruct Peter, James, and John to introduce Adam and Eve and their posterity at the veil, where we will give unto them the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the nail, preparatory to their entering into our Presence.

Jehovah: It shall be done, Elohim.

Peter, James, and John, you will introduce Adam and Eve and their posterity at the veil, where we will give unto them the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, preparatory to their entering into our presence.

Peter: It shall be done, Jehovah.

Come, James and John, we will introduce them at the veil.

Introduction at the Veil

Peter: Brethren Brothers and sisters, we are instructed to introduce you at the veil, where you will receive the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, preparatory to your entering into the holy presence of God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.

Narrator: Brothers and sisters, thank you for your attendance in the temple today.

Temple workers will now assist you as you are presented at the veil.

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Revised LDS Temple Endowment Ceremony Now Includes More Pictures of Jesus
by Sharon Lindbloom 21 February 2023

 

I love to see the temple.
I’ll go inside someday.
I’ll cov’nant with my Father;
I’ll promise to obey.

“I love to See the Temple” is a popular Primary song in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kids as young as three years old sing about preparing themselves to attend an LDS temple someday because “This is [their] sacred duty.”

For most Mormons, attending the temple and receiving their “endowments” is the pinnacle of their religious life. They are promised that making and keeping temple covenants qualifies them for eternal life in Mormonism’s highest kingdom of heaven, the celestial kingdom. The “key words,” “signs,” and “tokens” they can learn only in the LDS temple endowment ceremony will enable them, they’re told, to one day return to the presence of God.

In early February 2023 the LDS church introduced a new version of the temple endowment ceremony. According to Latter-day Saints who have participated in this new iteration, many things have changed — from the way the ritual is presented, to the wording of the covenants temple patrons make with God. In reading comments found online it appears that some Mormons are happy about the changes, others not so much.

There are old-school Mormons who believe, as previous LDS leaders have taught, that the temple endowment ceremony was given to Joseph Smith by revelation and restored it to its original form from the time of Jesus. Joseph said the temple ordinances were “not to be altered or changed,” so some Latter-day Saints are uncomfortable with any modern changes to the ceremony at all.

Then there are Mormons who believe “a living prophet is more important to [them] than a dead prophet,” accepting from current church leadership a statement contrary to Joseph Smith’s. In 2019 the church’s First Presidency said, “Prophets have taught that there will be no end to such adjustments as directed by the Lord to His servants,” so the Latter-day Saints who put more stock in the things said by currently living prophets welcome changes that they believe improve the endowment ceremony in some way.

Several of these welcome changes have been reported by those who have already experienced them (see “14 changes to the Mormon temple endowment ceremony” by Jana Riess), but the change that really stands out to me is the ceremony’s new and apparently noteworthy emphasis on Jesus. According to online reports, the endowment now includes more pictures of Jesus, a linking of Jesus to temple covenants, more spoken references to Jesus, and multiple announcements that the symbolism in the ceremony points to Jesus. However, one LDS temple-goer said he thought all the new inclusions of Jesus “felt REALLY forced.”

When podcast personality RFM (Radio Free Mormon) was notified of the endowment ceremony changes that emphasize Jesus, he replied, “Well, this is something new, because up to this point, there has been scarcely any reference at all to Jesus in the endowment.”

Therein lies my piqued interest in these particular temple changes.

 

When questioned about whether Mormonism is a Christian religion, Latter-day Saints often point to a Book of Mormon passage that says, “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ…” (2 Nephi 27:26). But apparently this has not been the case in LDS temples. One commenter on the Mormon blog site Wheat & Tares (who had not yet been through the new endowment ceremony) noted, 

“I’m interested to see how they increase Christ’s role in the endowment. I certainly hope it amounts to more than just inserting a correlated still image here or there. I’ve long complained that in the narrative of the endowment, Christ is at best a minor character who does little more than delegate instructions. Satan has…a much more consequential role. I always thought that was strange in a church that bears Christ’s name…”

These things raise questions for me. Questions like:

• Why hasn’t Jesus always been front and center in the LDS endowment ceremony? Why has He been minimized in Mormonism’s most sacred and salvific temple ceremony for the past 180 years? 
• Why has it taken so long for the LDS church to teach its members that some of the temple symbolism is actually about Jesus? 
• What have Latter-day Saints previously (mis)understood regarding the symbolism of the ceremony and how has that misdirected their faith?
• If it’s true, as one LDS man believes, that “the covenants have been recast as a way to have a relationship with Christ and to become more like him,” what was the previous meaning of the temple covenants to which Latter-day Saints have bound themselves? 
• New to the ceremony is instruction that the temple veil “symbolizes Christ, and how we have to go through Christ in order to get to God.” Before now, the temple veil has been understood to be the “symbol for a separation between God and man,” as suggested on the LDS website. It has been recognized as representing the barrier between God and man; but now it does not symbolize a barrier; instead, it represents the way through a barrier. Has the LDS church changed the meaning of the temple veil? If not, why have LDS temple-goers been allowed to completely misunderstand this important symbolism for so long?
• If the temple veil has always represented Christ, why is it hidden from visitors during temple open houses?
• And if going through the temple veil represents going through Jesus to get to the Father, why does the LDS church miss every opportunity to speak that important aspect of its faith to temple open house visitors?

I believe the LDS temple endowment ceremony has never been about Jesus. As Brigham Young explained, 

“Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being able to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 416)

There’s no place for Jesus in Brigham Young’s description of the endowment. “Anna,” an online commenter, got to the heart of the issue when she wrote,

“To me adding pictures of Jesus to the endowment misses the point when correcting the problem that the endowment has nothing to do with Jesus and the atonement. Getting signs and tokens to ‘pass by the angels’ and get you into heaven is kind of the opposite of accepting Christ, repenting, and getting to Heaven through the atonement. There is just no place in the gospel of Jesus Christ for an endowment with signs and tokens to get you back into the presence of God the Father. It is the opposite of the atonement. You can’t take something that denies the atonement, add a few pictures of Jesus, and suddenly it becomes Christ centered.”

Back before 1990, before a different set of sweeping changes to the endowment ceremony had occurred, LDS temple patrons waiting at the temple veil were given a detailed recap of what they had learned in their endowment ceremony, as well as added instructions. At the end of what was known as the “Lecture at the Veil,” Latter-day Saints were told, “All this is done for the glory, honor and endowment of the children of Zion” (Tanners, Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony: 1842-1990, 41).

I don’t believe the focus of the endowment ceremony has changed. Pictures and spoken references notwithstanding, the endowment ceremony is not about Jesus. It’s not about the preeminence of Christ, or about Jesus reconciling sinful man to holy God by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:15-22). It’s about bringing glory and honor to men and women who decline the gift Jesus offers, who choose not to rely on the grace and mercy of Christ for their eternal salvation. 

The LDS temple endowment ceremony bypasses reliance on Jesus and His righteousness, instead focusing on one’s own perceived self-righteousness, coupled with key words, signs, and tokens. This is what the endowment promises will get Latter-day Saints through the veil that separates them from God.

It’s not about Jesus at all.

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