Lesson 204: Temple Preparation

Jesus Christ Is at the Center of All Temple Worship

“Jesus Christ Is the Reason We Build Temples”

lady viewing a statue of the Savior

Throughout time, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples. In our day, we have seen a great increase in temple building. Jesus Christ is at the center of all we do in the temple. This lesson can help students feel a greater desire to worship Jesus Christ in His house.

Possible Learning Activities

The Savior at the center of our worship

Consider displaying pictures of people partaking of the sacrament, youth attending church, and young adults serving as full-time missionaries.

taking the sacrament

entering church on the Sabbath

missionaries teaching a family

• How do you think Jesus Christ is at the center of partaking of the sacrament, attending Church, or serving a full-time mission?

• How would someone’s experience be impacted if they didn’t focus on the Savior while participating in these activities?

Show students an image of a temple near you along with a picture of the Savior. Invite students to reflect on the following questions. They may benefit from writing their responses in their study journals.

Reflect on your own experiences in the temple or preparing for the temple.

• To what degree is the Savior at the center of your preparation to participate in the temple and the experiences you have when you are there?

• How might focusing more on the Savior impact your temple experience?

Encourage students to invite the Spirit to guide them as they seek to learn more about how the Savior is at the center of temple worship.

The Lord commands His people to build temples

The following pictures are depictions of some of the holy places and temples the Lord commanded His people to build anciently. Consider displaying them and asking students if they can identify the buildings depicted (the tabernacle Moses built in the wilderness [see Exodus 25:8], Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem [see 1 Kings 6:12–13], the Nephite temple in the city Bountiful [see 3 Nephi 11:1]).

the tabernacle of Moses

King Solomon’s temple

the Nephite temple in Bountiful

In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord commanded the Saints to build temples (see Doctrine and Covenants 57:3; 109:2; 115:7–8; 124:26–27). This command follows the pattern the Lord established anciently.

The First Presidency has declared:

Whenever the Lord has had a people on the earth who will obey His word, they have been commanded to build temples. (“First Presidency Releases Statement on Temples,” Jan. 2, 2019, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Read Doctrine and Covenants 109:2, 5, 12–13, looking for what the Lord teaches about the temple.

• What did you discover?

• How would you describe verse 13 in your own words?

  One truth students might identify is that the temple is the house of the Lord, a place of His holiness.

• What blessings can come to us knowing this truth for ourselves?

As appropriate, encourage students to share experiences they have had where they have felt close to the Lord in the temple or have felt that the temple is a holy place. Sharing your own experiences can help students share theirs too.

The Savior is at the center of the temple

The following statements can help students understand how the Savior is at the center of the temple. As students read the statements, invite them to look for a central purpose of the temple.

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

President Russell M. Nelson

The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 93–94)

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:

Elder David A. Bednar

Everything that is learned and all that is done in the temple emphasize the divinity of Jesus Christ and His role in Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness. (David A. Bednar, “Let This House Be Built unto My Name,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 86)

• What do you feel is important about these statements?

• Why do you think it is important to know that the temple helps us understand and come to know Jesus Christ better?

If possible, invite students to search temple photos at temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and to explain how a certain image reminds them of Jesus Christ. You may also want to discuss the importance of the phrases “Holiness to the Lord” and “The House of the Lord,” found on each temple.

The following prompts are intended to help students discuss ways they can see the Savior at the center of their temple experience. Invite students to complete these prompts together as small groups. Each group can complete these prompts together on a single sheet of paper.

As you complete the following prompts, think about how the temple reminds you of Jesus Christ.

1. The white clothing we wear in the temple reminds us of Jesus Christ because …

2. What we see in the temple reminds us of Jesus Christ because …

3. What we do in the temple reminds us of Jesus Christ because …

4. How I prepare to go to the temple reminds me of Jesus Christ because …

When groups finish, you could invite them to share what they wrote with another group in class. By sharing what they learned, they can deepen their understanding and strengthen their testimonies of the Savior.

A desire to be with Jesus Christ in the temple

Consider inviting students to respond to the following questions in their study journals. If possible, you may want to play soft music that can help students think of the temple. Music can help invite the Spirit in gospel learning. You could play music from a hymn about the temple. Or you could play a video of a choir of young women performing “In That Holy Place,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• What have you discovered or felt today about the Savior as the center of our temple worship?

• How might what you learned or felt influence the way you prepare for and worship the Lord in His house?

Ensure that students have had sufficient time to respond before inviting willing students to share their thoughts. You may also share ways you make the Savior the center of your temple experience.

Additional Resources

Why has the Lord commanded His Saints to build temples?

The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught:

the Prophet Joseph Smith

The Lord commanded us, in Kirtland, to build a house of God; … this is the word of the Lord to us, and we must, yea, the Lord helping us, we will obey: as on conditions of our obedience He has promised us great things; yea, even a visit from the heavens to honor us with His own presence. We greatly fear before the Lord lest we should fail of this great honor, which our Master proposes to confer on us; we are seeking for humility and great faith lest we be ashamed in His presence. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 415)

President Russell M. Nelson explained:

President Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ is the reason we build temples. Each is His holy house. Making covenants and receiving essential ordinances in the temple, as well as seeking to draw closer to Him there, will bless your life in ways no other kind of worship can. For this reason, we are doing all within our power to make the blessings of the temple more accessible to our members around the world. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023, 127–28)

How can the temple help us come unto Jesus Christ?

Elder David E. Sorensen (1933–2014) of the Presidency of the Seventy explained:

Elder David E. Sorensen

Temples are of great value to us because they help us express our core theology, that of coming to Christ.

Temples do this in at least two ways. First, they symbolically and literally remind us and teach us about Christ and His Father. … Our temple worship today includes many symbolic references to Christ, from the spires on the outside that point our minds heavenward, to the white clothing we wear inside the temple. …

Beyond their physical presence and outward symbolism, temples can inspire us to come unto Christ in a second way—that is, by the ordinances we perform in them. All temple ordinances are centered in Jesus Christ and His divine mission, and they are performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. (David E. Sorensen, “Small Temples—Large Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 1998, 64–65)

How can I focus on the Savior when attending the temple?

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Elder Richard G. Scott

While participating in temple ordinances, consider your relationship to Jesus Christ and His relationship to our Heavenly Father. This simple act will lead to greater understanding of the supernal nature of the temple ordinances. (Richard G. Scott, “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 43)

Supplemental Learning Activities

The Savior can manifest Himself to us through the blessings of the temple

In Doctrine and Covenants 109:5, the Savior taught that He can manifest Himself to His people in the temple. To help students see how temple blessings can be evidence of the Savior’s manifestation to them, consider doing the following activity.

You could invite students to make a list of blessings that can come from attending the temple. To do this, students could watch “The Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History Work 2” (4:04) while making their list.

Next to some of the blessings they listed, students could write how that blessing could be considered evidence of the Savior manifesting Himself to them.

The Savior’s peace in the temple

One way the Savior can manifest Himself to us in the temple is through the peace He gives us. To help students see how a young man was blessed with the Savior’s peace, consider reading the following statement and then watching “Blessings of the Temple,” from time code 4:14 to 9:02.

President Thomas S. Monson

As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart. We will grasp the true meaning of the words of the Savior when He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” [John 14:27]. (Thomas S. Monson, “Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 91–92)

Draw Nearer to Christ

To help students see how the temple can help them draw nearer to Jesus Christ, you could invite them to visit the page “Draw Nearer to Christ” at temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Students could read portions of the article, looking for how the temple is centered on the Savior. You might encourage them to read the last paragraph of the section titled “Mediator Between God and Men” to learn how Heavenly Father focuses our attention on the Savior in the temple.

Video options

To help students feel a greater desire to worship Jesus Christ in the temple, consider showing one of the following videos:

Individuals share how ancient and modern temples help us connect with heaven.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong invited young adults to share how serving in the temple has helped them come closer to the Savior. You could help students know that this is a possibility for them after they are endowed.

As part of the rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple, President Russell M. Nelson explained how the temple is a symbol of Jesus Christ.

“A Symbol of Jesus Christ”