Lesson 2: Worthy to Enter the Temple

 Lesson 2: Worthy to Enter the Temple

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/endowed-from-on-high/lesson-2?lang=eng

Today we are going to discuss some things all church members are continually working on in order to feel worthy to enter the temple:

Moral cleanliness; Tithing; Word of Wisdom; and the Sabbath Day.

The real reason that we are having these discussions is to help you understand and feel prepared to enter the temple.

The reason that it’s important to learn commit yourself to living those four commandments that are listed, is that when you are in the temple, you will make further covenants with the Lord to keep certain laws: for instance, the law of Chastity corresponds to moral cleanliness; the Law of Sacrifice corresponds to paying tithing, and so does the Word of Wisdom. The Law of Consecration really corresponds to keeping the Sabbath day holy as well.

So you’ll feel way more comfortable, or worthy, to be in the temple making those covenants if you are already working on keeping them.

Right now, we are going to discuss the process of getting a temple recommend; and then will discuss the commitments that we should be working on currently before we go, and continually after we go.

Here is my temple recommend. Notice whose signatures are on it.

The Bishop is called as a judge in Israel. He will ask us certain questions to help us determine our readiness to go to the temple. If you feel like there is something you need to discuss with him and clear up; go ahead and do it now. You don’t need to wait until this class is over. He is the kindest man. He’ll always be happy to listen and help.

Here are some things that will help you understand the types of questions the Bishop will ask you.

Do you have a testimony of Heavenly Father and of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost? Do you believe in Them? Do you feel of their love? Are you exercising faith in Them?

Do you believe that we have a prophet on the earth today? Do you know His name? Do you know that he’ll be speaking to us in October?  

Do you support the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe His words over the philosophies of the world?

Are you partaking the sacrament at sacrament meeting and participating in the prayers and songs, and listening to the speakers? Are you attending other Sunday meetings? Are you working on fulfilling your callings?

Are you working on keeping the commandments? Do you pay tithing? Are you honest? Do you follow the guidelines in the Word of Wisdom? Do you keep the law of Chastity (are you morally clean)? Do you treat others with respect?

Do you follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and make changes in your life to repent and progress?

After you are interviewed by your Bishop, you’ll sign your recommend; then he will. Then you will also be interviewed by the Stake President, who will also sign your recommend.

If for some reason you don’t feel ready to sign it, the Bishop will help you know if you are, or if you need a little more time to prepare. Either way, it’s okay. You’ll get there.

What does being worthy mean to you? What does temple worthy mean?

To be worthy for something, you need to meet certain conditions or qualifications. You do NOT have to be perfect.

One of Jesus Christ’s name is Worthy. So we become more worthy as we become more like Him. As we learn of Him and take Him as our Example, He will lift us up and help us feel prepared and worthy too. The Spirit will guide us to know that what we are doing is right and in harmony with His desires for us.

Lesson 2 Readings

Those who enter the temple must show their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by living the gospel and keeping the commandments. They must be morally clean, pay a full tithing, obey the Word of Wisdom, keep the Sabbath day holy, and strive to live righteously in all other ways. They must also be interviewed by the bishop or branch president and the stake or mission president and be found worthy to receive a temple recommend.

“I … invite the members of the Church to establish the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of their membership and the supernal setting for their most sacred covenants. It would be the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church be temple worthy. I would hope that every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it” (President Howard W. Hunter).

Moral Cleanliness

The Lord and His prophets have repeatedly taught the great importance of being morally clean. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: “We believe in chastity before marriage and total fidelity after marriage. That sums it up. That is the way to happiness in living. That is the way to satisfaction. It brings peace to the heart and peace to the home” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 68; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 49).

Scriptures: Doctrine and Covenants 42:22–24 (The Lord wants us to really love our spouse and not to look for that kind of relationship with anyone else);
Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 (How do we let virtue garnish our thoughts?);
 1 Nephi 10:21 (Be an example of purity);
Articles of Faith 1:13 (We believe in being chaste.)

What ills have you seen as a result of infidelity?
What blessings have you seen in the marriages of those who are faithful to each other?

Tithing

Doctrine and Covenants 119:4 “And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.”

The First Presidency has given the following explanation of a proper tithe: “The simplest statement we know of is the statement of the Lord himself, namely, that the members of the Church should pay ‘one-tenth of all their interest annually,’ which is understood to mean income” (First Presidency letter, 19 Mar. 1970). Tithing funds are used to build meetinghouses and temples, to sustain missionary work, and to build the kingdom of God on earth.

President James E. Faust:

“Tithing is a principle that is fundamental to the personal happiness and well-being of the Church members worldwide, both rich and poor. Tithing is a principle of sacrifice and a key to the opening of the windows of heaven. … Members of the Church who do not tithe do not lose their membership; they only lose blessings” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 73–74; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 58–59).

Scriptures: Leviticus 27:30 (All things are the Lord’s; He’s commanded us to give back one-tenth);
 Malachi 3:8–11 (Have you ever considered that we might be robbing God when we don’t keep His law of tithing?);
D&C 104:14 (How is not paying tithing robbing God?)

What blessings can we receive from paying tithing?

Each year we have the opportunity to meet with the Bishop to declare our tithing.

The Word of Wisdom

Before we may enter the temple, the Lord desires us to be free of practices that make our lives unclean and unhealthy, both spiritually and physically. He wants us to have wonderful experiences In the temple, where we can feel His Spirit more fully.

President Boyd K. Packer:

“What you learn spiritually depends, to a degree, on how you treat your body. That is why the Word of Wisdom is so important.

“The habit-forming substances prohibited by that revelation—tea, coffee, liquor, tobacco—interfere with the delicate feelings of spiritual communication, just as other addictive drugs will do.

“Do not ignore the Word of Wisdom, for that may cost you the ‘great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures’ promised to those who keep it. And good health is an added blessing” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 78; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 61).

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (Our bodies are temples);
Doctrine and Covenants 89 (The Word of Wisdom):
Verses 1–9 discuss the things we should not take into our bodies; 
verses 10–17 discuss the things that are good for our bodies; 
verses 18–21 describe the Lord’s promises to those who keep His commandments (what are some great treasures of knowledge);
Doctrine and Covenants 29:34 (How does keeping the Word of Wisdom bless us both physically and spiritually?)

The Sabbath Day

Exodus 20:8–11
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Elder James E. Faust:

“Why has God asked us to honor the Sabbath day? The reasons I think are at least threefold. The first has to do with the physical need for rest and renewing. …

“The second reason is, in my opinion, of far greater significance. It has to do with the need for regeneration and the strengthening of our spiritual being. …

“The third reason may be the most important of the three. It has to do with obedience to commandments as an expression of our love for God. Blessed are those who need no reasons other than their love for the Savior to keep his commandments” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 46–47; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 35).

Scriptures: Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–13

What are some blessings promised for keeping the Sabbath?

What blessings have you received as you’ve tried to keep the Sabbath day holy?

The best thing we can do as we prepare to receive a temple recommend and to be life-long temple servers is to keep our focus on Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as our Redeemer. As we feel His love, that love will be extended by Him through us to many more people as we participate with Jesus in His work of salvation. (Testimony)

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.