Gospel Basics

Temple Work

Temples are the house of the Lord. We can receive ordinances and make covenants with Him in temples. We can also perform ordinances in the temple for our ancestors.

Photograph of Barranquilla Colombia Temple by Bruno Lima

Throughout history, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples. Temples are holy places where we can feel God’s love, receive ordinances, and make promises with Him. The Church is building temples around the world so more and more people can have these blessings.

The Endowment

Church members who are living righteously go to the temple to receive ordinances and make covenants, or promises, with God. One ordinance we receive in the temple is the endowment. The word endowment means “a gift.” The temple endowment is a gift from God. In this ordinance we learn about Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation, and we make covenants to keep God’s commandments. If we are faithful to the covenants we make, God will bless us.

Sealing Families Together

Photograph of couple walking by Manila Philippines Temple by Cristina Smith

A marriage in the temple is also called a sealing. When a couple are sealed in the temple and they keep their covenants, they will be married forever. If they have children, those children will also be sealed to them. Parents who are sealed after they have had children can have their children sealed to them. If they live righteously, they will be a family throughout eternity.

Temple Work for All of God’s Children

Photograph of Lisbon Portugal Temple baptistry by Leslie Nilsson

We do family history work to find out about our ancestors. We then do temple work on their behalf. We perform for them all the ordinances that the living need: baptism, confirmation, receiving the priesthood (for men), endowment, and sealing. They can then choose if they want to accept these ordinances. In this way, all of God’s children can enjoy the blessings of the gospel.

Blessings of Temple Work

If we keep the covenants we make in the temple, we will be blessed, protected, and strengthened. We will have the power of the priesthood with us. Our families will be together forever.

The temple is also a place of peace and revelation. As we do temple work, we can receive spiritual guidance and feel God’s love.

From the Scriptures

The Lord’s people are commanded to build temples (see Doctrine and Covenants 124:39).

The work done in temples includes sealing families together (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:47–48).

The ordinances we perform on earth are binding in heaven (see Matthew 16:19; Doctrine and Covenants 132:46).

Also in This Issue

We hope you have enjoyed learning about temple work. Here are some other gospel words from this issue:

Ministering: Attending to others’ needs in a Christlike way to help everyone feel loved within the Church. (See page 18.)

Deacons: The first office in the Aaronic Priesthood. One of the most visible duties of a deacon is to pass the sacrament. (See page 38.)

Revelation: Communication from God to His children. It comes through the Holy Ghost, usually as a thought or feeling. (See page 32.)