Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Two

The Temple (the Lord’s University) and Our Spiritual PHD (Peace, Hope, and Direction)

The temple endowment is a gift that gives for eternity – A financial endowment is often given to an institution such as a university.  Donors want their gifts to be used to further the mission of the institution.  Wise donors require that their gift be invested at interest so that only the income is used and the principle is preserved.  This ensures that their gift keeps on giving over many years.  The temple endowment is a gift from our Heavenly Father which enables us to fulfill our mission on the earth to become like Him.  The temple endowment is a gift that gives for eternity.  The temple is truly the Lord’s university where we receive our spiritual PHD (peace, hope, and direction).

The temple is the best example of the divine pattern of teaching the gospel – This divine pattern was used with Adam and Eve:  “Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made know unto them the plan of redemption” (Alma 12:32).  In other words Adam and Eve were first taught the plan of salvation and then they were given commandments.  This pattern is used by missionaries.  They first teach that there is a plan or purpose in this life and then they invite those they teach to keep commandments.  Wise parents do the same thing with their children.  A young child is taught the basics of the plan and as they gain understanding they are taught to keep commandments to tell the truth and not take things that don’t belong to them, etc.  In the temple we learn more about the plan of salvation than anywhere else.  The more we learn about the plan of salvation the greater our desire to keep commandments.

The temple endowment is a symbolic presentation of the plan of salvation – In the presentation of the endowment we hear, we see, and we participate.  We are taught of the creation, the fall, and the atonement which are the fundamental doctrines of the plan of salvation.  As we are taught the plan of salvation we are put under covenant to keep commandments.  The temple endowment can be likened to a three act play where we see, we hear, and we participate.  The name and theme of this play is the Plan of Salvation.  The title to each act of this eternally important presentation is: 

Salt Lake Temple Creation Room before renovation

  1. The Creation/pre-earth life – We believe that we were begotten by Heavenly Parents, and as their children we were taught our first lessons in the pre-mortal existence.  It was there that we developed our personality, interests, and talents which we brought with us to this life.  The earth, and all things on it, was created so God’s children could continue to “progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life” (The Family a Proclamation to the World). 

  2. The Fall – The Fall was not a fall down but because of the atonement of Jesus Christ it was a fall forward.  The Fall is an essential part of the plan of salvation.  “It was our glorious Mother Eve—with her far-reaching vision of our Heavenly Father’s plan—who initiated what we call ‘‘the Fall.” Her wise and courageous choice and Adam’s supporting decision moved God’s plan of happiness forward. They made it possible for each of us to come to earth, receive a body, and prove that we would choose to stand up for Jesus Christ now, just as we did premortally” (Russell M. Nelson, Sister’s Participation in the Gathering of Israel, Ensign, November 2018).

  3. The Atonement of Jesus Christ – Everything about the temple points us to Christ.  Joseph Smith said:  “If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord” (Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 308).

The plan of ordinances – In the temple we learn of what Joseph Smith described as “the plan of ordinances.”  The Lord explained the importance of priesthood ordinances:  “And the greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.  Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest” (D&C 84:19-20).  In the temple we receive many of the ordinances of the priesthood, and we are taught the mysteries of the kingdom and the key of the knowledge of God.  If we are worthy, we receive power, even the power of godliness.

Temple covenants and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ – As we attend the temple we must remember the importance of keeping temple covenants. Doing so is an essential part of temple worship. It is by keeping temple covenants that we receive the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. “This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts….It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible” (Bible Dictionary, Grace).