Helping Members Prepare for Temple Worship | An Interview with Mark Mathews

This is a rebroadcast. The original episode aired in November 2019.
Mark Mathews was born in Houston, Texas. He served a mission in
Guatemala and met his wife at Brigham Young University. He later
earned a Ph.D. in Education from Utah State University and has been
involved with Seminaries and Institutes for 20 years. Mark has been
a favorite attraction teaching at BYU Education Week for many
interested in learning about the temple experience. Links
Understanding Priesthood Keys in Leadership | An Interview with
Mark Mathews ChurchofJesusChrist.org: Prepare for the House of the
Lord ChurchofJesusChrist.org: Prophetic Teachings on Temples Seek
Learning by Faith, by Elder David A. Bednar Understanding and
Embracing the Temple Endowment, by Mark Mathews Prepared to Obtain
Every Needful Thing, by Elder David A. Bednar Holiness and the Plan
of Happiness, by President Henry B. Eyring God’s Plan for Families,
by Mark Mathews Trust in the Lord, by President Dallin H. Oaks
Spiritual Treasures, by President Russell M. Nelson Follow Mark
Mathews on Facebook Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints
community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to
the Core Leader Library Scriptures Referenced The Book of Moses
Exodus 40:12-13 Doctrine and Covenants 88:74-75 Doctrine and
Covenants 109:21 2 Nephi 2:25 Doctrine and Covenants 132:19
Doctrine and Covenants 131 Doctrine and Covenants 109:22 Highlights
2:50: Mark’s BYU Education Week presentation was on the temple,
motivating Leading Saints to have a podcast on how best leaders can
prepare members to attend the temple for the first time. How does
Mark as a bishop help members have a positive first-time
experience? 5:00: Members have a natural desire to better
understand the temple. Early chapters in the Book of Moses are an
excellent template and place to start when studying the endowment
ceremony. 6:45: Experiencing the endowment by viewing the video
combined with the attendance of the Holy Ghost is akin to having a
vision. Joseph Smith did the same for the early saints when the
endowment ceremony was acted out. 7:45: The “practical” approach of
reviewing the worthiness standard, explaining what can be shared
about temple clothing, is still very vague. 8:33: Elder Bednar’s
talk Seek Learning by Faith: “The most important learnings of life
are caught—not taught.” Speaking at or telling people what to do or
how to prepare may not be fully absorbed. Providing members with
materials that they can read over time and with the attendance of
the Holy Ghost is far more effective in helping them “catch” and
discover truth for themselves. (See “Links” section above.) 10:30:
How we can better understand what leaders can say about the temple.
13:08: Quoting Elder Bednar: “Two basic guidelines can help us
achieve the proper understanding emphasized by President Benson.
“Guideline #1. Because we love the Lord, we always should speak
about His holy house with reverence. We should not disclose or
describe the special symbols associated with the covenants we
receive in sacred temple ceremonies. Neither should we discuss the
holy information that we specifically promise in the temple not to
reveal. “Guideline #2. The temple is the house of the Lord.
Everything in the temple points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We
may discuss the basic purposes of and the doctrine and principles
associated with temple ordinances and covenants.” 14:40: Preventing
members from feeling uncomfortable about temple worship after their
initial experience. Help members understand that “the ultimate
purpose of the temple endowment is to bring us into the presence of
God.” 19:37: How to come into the presence of God: one must be
prepared through ancient ritual, instruction, and covenant—all of
which are part of the endowment ceremony. Washing and anointing
Symbolism of “pouring” Temple garments and other sacerdotal
vestments Covenants Law of Obedience