Temple Parallels

Temporal and Spiritual Solutions Found in the LDS Endowment Ceremony

Endowment's encompassing progressional pattern for life provides a backdrop for receiving personal revelation regarding whatever is most pressing at the time.

By Sterling D. Allan
Copyright © Greater Things
December 22, 2002

I was reminded today of a parallel that I've not yet put into writing that has been of tremendous value in my own life, and which I hope can bless the lives of others as I share it now.

I will be adding this as an additional appendix to the book: The Vision of All: Our Past, Present, and Future, as Foretold in Book of Mormon History.

Part II of that book addresses the parallels between the history of the Book of Mormon and the House of Israel and of an individual's progression through life.

That same progressional pattern is laid out in the LDS Temple endowment ceremony.

Point for point, you can compare the turning points both of entire civilizations as well as of individuals as they wend their way toward a walk with God.

The pinnacle of Book of Mormon History is the appearance of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and a reign of peace that lasted nearly 200 years; which parallels the millennial reign of the Lord that will last 1000 years, soon to commence on this earth after its preliminary cleansings have taken place; which parallels the individual's coming into the presence of God on a personal, continual basis.

This is a primary function of the endowment ceremony -- to show how a person progresses from being but a babe in the Lord to coming into God's presence and communing continually.  It is the story of the fall of mankind and of his redemption, which is also the story of each person -- or can be anyway, if the person or civilization so chooses it to be.

Leading up to this pinnacle, the parallels are numerous as well, beginning with the creation paralleling our first motions as a baby, later to be baptized at the age of eight, paralleling the children of Israel in Egypt being taken across the Red Sea and toward the promised land; paralleling Lehi and his family leaving the old world and crossing over into the new.

The parallels could be developed at length.  Indeed, an entire book could be written to this end.  But out of sensitivity to the sacredness in which the endowment ceremony is held, such a treatise probably ought to be left unpublished.

It is sufficient to say that the parallels are numerous and instructive.  But whether or not a person identifies each parallel, or even if they don't recognize that the parallels exist, they can nonetheless benefit from the progressional pattern that is displayed as they attend the endowment ceremony.

No matter what is happening in a person's life at the time, consciously or subconsciously they can weigh their life against this template of eternal progression, and inevitably come to a greater peace about what is happening and what can be done to improve their walk with God.

The parallel nature of the endowment session to anyone's life is intrinsically instructive.

Sometimes this revelation manifests itself intellectually such as in the form of an answer that comes into focus to a hitherto perplexing question.  Sometimes, the revelation comes in the form of an emotional balm to sooth a weary soul.  Sometimes, the revelation is not perceived consciously, but is manifest in the subconscious mind where it can shore up the eternal foundations of the soul.

Whether the issue pertains to one's work, one's family, one's relationship with his/her spouse, one's calling in the community, there are sure to be solutions that a visit to the house of the Lord can enhance.

The promise is sure -- ask and ye shall receive -- and this promise can be greatly facilitated in the context of the temple endowment ceremony, especially for those who are there with a broken heart and contrite spirit -- the most fertile ground in which the Lord can plant his seeds of truth.

Paradoxically, the revelation might not seem to pertain directly to the context of the endowment ceremony; yet it was against this backdrop that the spiritual environment was created to invite the revelation; and is likely a function of the parallel nature that the revelations are enhanced.

Ultimately, we each realize that we are the temple of God, and this endowment becomes a living, breathing reality in our constant communion with God, whether or not we are present in an actual building called a temple.  Still, the LDS temple endowment ceremony is fruitful in providing the humble seeker with a means of facilitating personal revelation.  The parallel nature of the endowment ceremony to the progression of a person's walk with God from beginning to end surly adds to this propensity for revelatory gains.

This is my testimony of the value that can be had from regular temple attendance; and I would like to humbly submit it as being true, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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