Welcome! This is our third episode of the fireside discussions on the temple, facilitated by Goolge+ Hangouts on Air. We’re glad you could join us. Tonight’s discussion is about the first chapter in Andrew Skinner’s book Temple Worship. You can watch the recording below. Or view the machine transcription here. You can also download an MP3 audio version here.
In this discussion we talk about the temple as being the “ultimate” of our worship, what it means to “serve” in the temple, where temples or temple worship can take place on the earth, the first endowments given in the Nauvoo Temple attic, temple “work” vs. temple “worship,” the fact that the Nauvoo temple was only in use for 2 months (8 weeks) before it was destroyed which makes us reflect on the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in ancient times, what it means to have a “fullness of the Holy Ghost” which we can attain to in the temple, and the profound importance of the temple in the lives of Latter-day Saints and in our worship in the Church.
Panelists include Bryce Haymond, Gary Anderson, Gerald Smith, and William Hamblin.
Adding to the fireside comment about prayer circles in Utah tabernacles, one of my professors at BYU mentioned one day that this rite was also performed in high council rooms of meetinghouses and that the last remaining vestige of this had finally been removed from a meetinghouse in Provo. I’d have to dig up my notes, but this was probably in 2006 or 2007.
While there is much we can talk about, with rare exception, what goes on in the temple stays in the temple. Regarding the comment about prayer circles performed in homes, I don’t know about the early days, but this is definitely not admissible now–in my mission a stake president was excommunicated for this.
One’s home should be next in holiness to the temple, and there are many reasons for this, but this cannot be misconstrued. Regarding terminology, I agree with the comments made about worship or service vs. work. Also, we “receive” our endowment, we do not “take out” our endowment, as if to bring it somewhere else–such as a home, despite its relative holiness. Receive is the scriptural term, which is only proper relative to a gift, which is what an endowment is. But in one way, what we do take out is what reminds us of the covenants we make there.
I’m thinking that the comment about prayer circles — or something akin to them in our homes — referred to families holding hands around a dinner table while praying over the meal, or holding hands during family prayer. I agree that holding a true prayer circle in a home should not be done.
About prayer circles being held in earlier days in Tabernacles and Meeting houses, our current Temple President — who used to write curriculum for the Church — told us about that practice in a prayer meeting at our Temple months ago; so I’m pretty sure that is accurate information.
For those who might be interested, the restored Nauvoo Temple was announced during April Conference of 1999 and dedicated on June 27, 2002.
In reference to Gary Anderson’s poignant reference to his gazing across the Mississippi River at the restored Nauvoo Temple from the little rise near the river outside of Montrose, Iowa; my family and I parked our covered wagon there in June of 2002 at the end of a reverse wagon train from Garden Grove, Iowa, which celebrated the restoration and coming dedication of that Temple. That is a sweet remembrance for me and my family as well.
I had ancestors who once lived in the area of Old Commerce (by the current large grain elevators situated on the River) who were among the last to receive their endowments in February of 1946 and who then left Nauvoo and their beloved Temple in June of 1946. (Some even left with the poor saints in September of that year.)
I’m sure all were also deeply moved and saddened by that last view of their beloved Temple, but were buoyed up by the knowledge of the blessings they had received in that Temple prior to their exodus.
I can’t imagine how grateful they all were that Brigham Young decided to give them that blessing in lieu of an earlier departure from the city for both himself and his family.
I haven’t followed along enough to know how books are selected for discussion. When you’re finished with Andew Skinner’s book you may enjoy reading and discussing a compilation by Joseph C. Muren, “The Temple and its Significance.”
Mormon FAIR-Cast 106: Temple Study Fireside 3–Importance of the Temple | FAIR Blog
[…] was conducted live on August 22, 2012 through Google’s Hangouts on Air. It was streamed live on TempleStudy.com, where the video can also be found. A rough transcript of the discussion can be found […]