~~  My Temple Experience  ~~

    This page is not to bore you with all the details of the entire temple experience I had but simply to point out some of the things that came to my attention during the Endowment Ceremony that extremely bothered me and caused me to leave with many unanswered questions.

    These events of the ceremony bothered me so much that I asked my Bishop and one of his Counselors to come over to my home so I could talk to them. After presenting the issues they both could not help me. They asked me if I had asked any of these questions while in the temple. I informed them that I had not since I had not returned because the problems had bothered me so much that I knew I needed answers before I could return. I then sent a several page letter to dear friends of mine in California. A couple that hosted a few of the meetings with the LDS Missionaries when I was "investigating" the church before joining. A return letter never arrived. 

    Here I will present those issues to you and hope you will see the importance of them. I am no longer looking for answers to these concerns, for I now fully understand their meaning.

    We will begin in the Garden of Eden at the point of Lucifer tempting Adam and Eve to partake of the fruit.

LUCIFER: Well, Adam, you have a new world here.
ADAM: A new world?
LUCIFER: Yes, a new world, patterned after the old one where you 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.

(Lucifer plucks fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and presents it to Adam.)

LUCIFER: 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.

    This of course was the first lie ever portrayed to man, that we would become as the gods. After this event all men would eventually die. It was not God's will for man to experience death but to live in a paradise environment forever. Yes, man did now understand the difference between good and evil, and some would say in that aspect they did become like God but only in that aspect. So we continue with the story....

(Lucifer goes in search of Eve and hears a lamb bleating. He turns his head and finds Eve carrying a small lamb.)

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.

(Eve takes the fruit from Lucifer, and bites it. Lucifer approves and places the other piece in her hand.)

LUCIFER: There, now go and get Adam to partake.

(Eve turns, and seeks Adam, fruit in hand. She finds him kneeling by a brook dipping his hand into the water. Fish are seen swimming below the surface, and white doves fly nearby. As Eve speaks to Adam, he stands and smiles as he sees her.)

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 that Father commanded us not to partake of the fruit of that tree?
EVE: Do you intend to obey all of Father's commandments?
ADAM: Yes, all of them.
EVE: Do you not 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.

(Adam takes a bite, and Lucifer walks to their side with a look of approval.)

LUCIFER: That is right.
EVE: It is better for us to pass through sorrow that we may know the good from the evil.
EVE: 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.

    Members of the LDS church will tell you that God gave Adam and Eve two commandments in the garden (multiply and replenish the earth, and not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge) and it was necessary for them to break one in order to fulfill the other. This places an air of evil over the sexual relationship between husband and wife. Why would anyone or any religion assume God would give a commandment he intended to be broken. Why not assume God gave these commandments specifically as they implied. Man would multiply and replenish the earth while remaining in the Garden of Eden or a paradise earth. Members of the LDS church do not refer to these events as the fall of man but actually a step up. We will continue on as Satan plays a very dominant role in the "House of the Lord"....

ADAM: What is that apron you have on?

(Lucifer draws his cloak up to reveal a black apron.)

LUCIFER: It is an emblem of my power and Priesthoods.

    Key point, what is the significance of Lucifer wearing an apron? He says it is an emblem of his power and Priesthoods. Note that the LDS church claims more than one form of priesthood. They claim the Aaronic and the Melchizedek Priesthoods. Technically there never was any priesthood named after Aaron, for Aaron held the Levitical Priesthood. It is reported that in the early years of the endowment Lucifer's apron had the Masonic emblems of the compass, rule, and square on it.

    These same marks can be found on the "Garments" every Mormon who has been through the temple are wearing. They also can be found on the "veil" of the temple that every participant in the ceremony must pass through upon completion of the ceremony. Let us now continue on with the ceremony.

ADAM: I am looking for Father to come down to give us further instructions.
LUCIFER: Oh, you are looking for Father to come down, are you?

(The Gods' voices are suddenly heard in the garden.)

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: Brethren and sisters, put on your aprons.
(The film pauses temporarily and the lights are turned up while the patrons remove their fig-leave aprons from the bundles. All patrons tie the aprons on around their waists. The lights are again turned down and the film resumes. The camera pans down and presents the Gods' perspective as they descend. Adam hides behind foliage.)

    Please show me where in the Bible it is that Lucifer is standing in Adam and Eve's presence and commands them to make fig leaf aprons and put them on? According to these exact words from the ceremony who is telling the audience to put on their aprons? Lucifer right? Why do members follow Lucifer's command and put on aprons as well?

    So we will move on now and watch as Lucifer takes more control of this ritual.

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 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.
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?

    Isn't the god of Mormonism all knowing? Why must he ask what Lucifer has been up to?

LUCIFER: I have been giving some of the fruit of the Tree of the 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.

    Pay close attention to the words of Elohim, later we will pick up on this point.

(As Lucifer speaks he becomes angry and a storm begins to well up and the winds blow.)

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 heal, but he shall have power to crush thy head.
LUCIFER: Then with that enmity I will take the treasure of the earth, and with gold and silver I will buy up armies and navies, false priests who oppress, and tyrants who destroy, and reign with blood and horror on the earth!
ELOHIM: Depart!

(Thunder cracks and the storm ceases as Lucifer looks defiantly at Elohim; he then turns and walks away.)

    Lucifer actually raises his voice to God in this scene. I will skip a little and get to another important point. Adam and Eve will now make a covenant unto God called the "Law of Obedience".

ELOHIM: Inasmuch as Eve was the first to eat of the forbidden fruit, if she will covenant that from this time forth she will obey the Law of the Lord, and will hearken unto your counsel as you hearken unto mine, and if you will covenant that from this time forth you will obey the Law of Elohim, 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: Adam, I now covenant to obey the Law of the Lord, and to hearken to your counsel as you hearken unto Father.
ADAM: Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.
ELOHIM: It is well. 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.

(At this point the film pauses and the lights come on.)

NARRATOR: Brethren and sisters the garment that was placed upon you in the washing room 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.

    This scenario of the ceremony was more severe in the past. The change in the ceremony in April 1990 made it a little less offensive to women to be under such strong obedient control of their husbands. All of the women in the ceremony take this oath by raising their right hand and bowing their heads and saying yes.

    But the point I really want to make is the coat of skin. At the fall, man became sinful and has been ever since. Man attempted to hide or cover up his sin by the making of his own hands. God rejected this and actually made the first animal sacrifice to provide that coat of skins and in doing so made an atonement for their sin. We would see this become more prevalent later in the coming Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon's Temple.

    I will take you past a small section of oaths, covenants, signs, and tokens and move to the point were God has cast Adam and Eve out of the garden into "the lone and dreary world or the world in which we now live".

(As the lights are turned down the film presentation continues. Adam and Eve, both clad in animal skins, are shown hurriedly exiting the garden of Eden amidst a storm. Various animals scamper about on the ground. The lone and dreary world reveals animals in their natural habitats, and in a carnivorous state.)

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.

(The scene changes to a view of Adam and Eve kneeling across from one another at an altar. The altar is made from a pile of stones with two large, flat stones making the top. Adam raises his hands above his head as he prays.)

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. Also, (this is the point I wanted to pick back up on from earlier) even though God cursed Lucifer to crawl on his belly and eat dust all the days of his life he appears as a man walking upright no different than when we saw him in the garden. Does the Mormon God have no power to truly curse Lucifer? Continue,....

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 is kneeling at this altar with Eve and calls upon God. He doesn't mention which god. Does Heavenly Father the God of Heaven or Jesus Christ the Son of God answer his prayer? No! Lucifer does!

    Here is another snip of the general attitude that Satan is portrayed as having in the "House of the Lord" below. Question: why is Lucifer even in this so called "House of the Lord" anyway???

LUCIFER: Aah! You have looked over my kingdom, and my greatness and glory. Now you want to take possession of the whole of it. (Lucifer turns, and stares into the camera). I have a word to say concerning these people. If they do not walk up to every covenant they make at these altars in this temple this day, they will be in my power!

    Wow, he really has a lot of power and control in this ceremony.

    Next, I will now skip a great amount of tokens, signs, oaths, and covenants to get to the  another section and point out the falseness of one of the tokens, it's name we will address a little later, which really isn't a name but an entire sentence. This is the 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, 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 clasping the right hands, interlocking the little fingers, and placing the tip of the forefinger upon the center of the wrist, in this manner (The Officiator demonstrates this token with male witness.).

    Historical evidence shows that Jesus was not the first and surely not the last person to be crucified. Those who did the crucifying were professional executioners. Where do we get this lie about them putting nails in the hand and then being stupid of their job said they better put them in the wrist to make sure he doesn't slip. Come on!

    Okay lets continue on.

We desire all to receive it. All arise.

(As the witness couple returns to their seats various temple workers administer the token as before, and each patron sits after receiving it.)

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

This token has a name and a sign. You will be under the same sacred obligation in connection with this token and sign as you are with the other tokens and signs of the Holy Priesthood which you have received in the temple this day. The name of this token will not be given to you at this stage in the Endowment, but it will be given later on.

The sign is made by raising both hands high above the head (The officiator demonstrates), and while lowering the hands repeating aloud the words: "Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!" repeated three times.

PETER: When Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden, he built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words that he uttered: "Oh God, Hear the words of my mouth!", repeated three times.

All arise. (All patrons stand.) Each of you make the sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, by raising both hands high above the head, and while lowering the hands repeating three times the words:

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 the patrons make the sign they repeat words with the recording as described before.)

PETER: That will do. (all patrons sit down.) With the robe on the right shoulder you are prepared to be taught the True Order of Prayer; and to be introduced at the Veil.

    THE PRAYER CIRCLE AND THE TRUE ORDER OF PRAYER

PETER: A few of you, including couples, will please come forward and form a circle around the altar.

(The audio recording stops and the Officiator says in his own words a statement to the following effect.)

OFFICIATOR: We would like to invite the witness couple to take their place at the head of the altar, and an equal number of brothers and sisters to join us in the circle. Any receiving their own personal Endowment, and any who are about to be married are especially invited to join us in the Prayer Circle at this time.

(The tape recording again resumes.)

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

In the Circle we make the signs of all the tokens of the Holy Priesthood.

(Patrons make each sign as they are mentioned by the Narrator.)

We will begin by making the Sign of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This is done by bringing the right arm to the square, the palm of the hand to the front, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended.

This is the sign. The name of this token is the New Name received in the temple today. (Mine is Moses)


We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This sign is done by bringing the right hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the right hand forming a square, and the left arm being raised to the square. This is the sign. The name of this token is your first given name if you are going through the temple for your own Endowment, or if you are going through for the dead, it is the first given name of the person for whom you are officiating.


We will now make the sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail. This is done by bringing the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square. The right hand is also brought forward, the palm down, the fingers close together with the thumb extended. This is the sign. The name of this Token is "the Son", meaning the Son of God.

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 raising both hands high above the head, and while lowering the hands repeating three times the words:

Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!


(The Officiator now holds a small white cloth pouch in view of the patrons, and sets it upon the altar.)

    Back in the garden scene we saw that it was Lucifer who was wearing an apron as an emblem of his powers and priesthoods. We heard him tell Adam and Eve that they must go and make fig leaf aprons and to put them on. The filmed stopped and we as the posterity of Adam and Eve are commanded by Lucifer to put aprons on as well. Now we are directed to stand around an alter as Adam did and repeat the very same words we are told he said. Remember when he said "Oh God hear the words of my mouth" which god it was that answered his prayer? Which god will answer our prayer? Are we not standing in the "House of the Lord", which lord that is exactly seems obvious, wearing an apron that the god of this world told us to put on, and standing around an alter calling upon the god of this world?

    Let's move on to the veil of the temple.

(The curtain at the front of the endowment room is now drawn aside to reveal the Veil. Several segments can be seen by the patrons, and the Officiator approaches one of them with a pointer in his hand and prepares to draw attention to the marks on the veil as they are explained.)

PETER: Brethren and sisters, this is the Veil of the temple. 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.

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 unto 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 the 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 shall 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.

(As the Officiator, who now represents Peter, steps to the front of the Veil another male worker stand behind it to represent the Lord. A mallet hangs on the metal frame which supports the Veil.)

    I will move pass all of the verbal correspondence and the sharing of the handshakes to the final portion of the veil ritual. This is when we are allowed to know the "name" of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

(At this point, a temple worker motions to the patrons, row by row, directing them to the various Veil segments. A worker stands at each segment to introduce the patron to "the Lord" who is on the other side of the Veil. The worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet.)

LORD: What is wanted?
WORKER: Adam, having been true and faithful in all things, desires further light and knowledge, by conversing with the Lord, through the Veil. [for and in behalf of _____, who is dead].
LORD: Present him at the Veil, and his request shall be granted.....

(The Lord gives the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood.)

LORD: What is that?

PATRON: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I cannot. I have not yet received it. For this purpose I have come to converse with the Lord through the Veil.
LORD: You shall receive it through the Veil.

 

 

(The Lord and the patron, still holding the grip, place their left arms through the marks of the compass and square, which are cut through the Veil. The patron's left arm goes through the mark of the compass, and the Lord's left arm goes through the mark of the square. They rest their left hands on each other's right shoulders.)

LORD: This is the name of the Token--"Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity."
LORD: What is that?
PATRON: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I will, through the Veil--Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity.
LORD: That is correct.

(The Lord and patron break the ceremonial embrace, and the temple worker gives three taps with the mallet.)

LORD: What is wanted?
WORKER: Adam, having conversed with the Lord through the Veil, desires now to enter his presence.
LORD: Let him enter.

(The Veil is now parted and the Lord takes the patron by the right hand, and pulls him or her gently through the Veil into the Celestial Room.)

Passing Through the Veil into the Celestial Room	LDS Temple Celestial Room

    So now let's get this straight, back in the garden we heard Lucifer say his apron was an emblem of his power and priesthoods. After Adam and Eve are instructed by Lucifer to put on aprons, we follow that lead and do the same in the ceremony. We are told that the witness couple who are instructed during the ceremony to come and kneel at the alter represent Adam and Eve and each one of us. Adam and Eve are cast out of the garden but not before God rejects the fig leaf apron as a covering and provides coats of skin to cover their nakedness. We do not remove our aprons but continue wearing them. We again follow Adam's lead and stand around an alter calling upon the god that answered his prayer. Then we proceed to the veil still wearing the apron Lucifer told us to put on. Now we learn the name of the second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood which sounds more like a spell or incantation. Exactly whose power in the priesthood are we putting upon ourselves and our posterity forever? We then enter into the Celestial Room which is supposed represent the Celestial Kingdom and entering into the presence of God. Does anyone really believe they will enter into God's presence wearing an apron Satan told us to put on? Did not the blood of Jesus wash away all of our sin in the Atonement? Why do we wear a covering before God in heaven? Some Mormons will say it is all symbolic. But I ask, symbolic of what exactly? Members of the LDS church who have been through the Endowment Ceremony are actually buried in their temple clothes when they die. They really expect that when they are resurrected by their worthy priesthood holder husband that they will stand in God's presence wearing their temple clothes including the green fig leaf apron Lucifer told them to put on! Hmmm....Cause for concern?

Rodney Roy
12/12/03