Temple Worthiness

Objective: To encourage sisters to be worthy to receive the ordinances of the temple and to help redeem the dead.

“The House of the Lord.” These words are on the outside of every temple. Within its sacred walls, the Lord may dwell—literally or in Spirit—and may give revelation to his people.

The temple is a place of instruction, commitment, service, and communion. It is the holiest place on earth. It is there that we receive many of the ordinances necessary for salvation. In the endowment and temple sealing ordinances, we make sacred covenants to the Lord and receive the promises of eternal life. In the temple, we also perform those saving ordinances for the dead.

Whether or not we have received the ordinances of the temple, we can all contribute to the work of the temple. Sisters who have not yet received their endowments may attend the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. Single sisters may receive their own endowments or make plans to do so in the future. Sisters who have married outside the temple may also go to the temple if they are recommended by their bishop or branch president and obtain their husbands’ approval. They can also encourage their families to go to the temple to be sealed. Those who have already received their temple ordinances should strive daily to honor the covenants they have made.

Submitting names and going to the temple to perform ordinances for the dead are the most obvious ways we can all participate in temple work. But, says Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve, there are other ways we can participate. Ward family history consultants; workers in libraries, date entry, and name extraction; and ordinance workers all help in the work of redeeming the dead. (See Elder Oaks’ article “In Wisdom and Order,” in this issue.)

If we prepare to attend the temple with a humble spirit, we will be blessed with strong testimonies that within those walls we will be able to feel the Lord’s Spirit. Those of us who have yet to receive the ordinances of the temple can still participate in temple worship through activities related to redeeming the dead, and through living worthily of receiving the ordinances in the future.

Suggestions for Visiting Teachers

You or the sister you visit may want to share your feelings about attending the temple (if you or she has done so) or about preparing to do so.
Lovingly invite the sister you visit to live to be worthy of a temple recommend.

(See Family Home Evening Resource Book, pages 48–51, 84–88, 189–90, 205–207, 216–28 for related materials.)

Photography by Royce L. Bair