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SALT LAKE CITY — With the first 12 temples set to reopen for all living ordinances next week, The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced changes to the temple endowment ceremony on Monday.
“With a concern for all and a desire to enhance the temple learning experience, recent changes have been authorized to the temple endowment ceremony,” President Russell M. Nelson, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring said in a letter.
The temple endowment is a sacred ceremony for Latter-day Saints where believers make covenants, or promises, with God. Simple, symbolic actions accompany the making of temple covenants — actions that can be compared to symbolism found in baptism, prayer and marriage, the letter said.
“Through inspiration, the methods of instruction in the temple experience have changed many times, even in recent history, to help members better understand and live what they learn in the temple,” the letter said.
In 2008, for example, the church made the change to require less standing during the endowment, making it easier for members of the church to do the ceremony.
The church did not specify details of the most recent changes.
“Given the sacredness of the temple ceremonies, we ask our members and friends not to engage in speculation or public discussions about these changes,” the letter wrote. “Rather, we invite church members to continue to look forward to the day when they may return and fully participate in sacred temple work prayerfully and gratefully.”
On July 27, 12 temples, including four in the United States (Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Nebraska) will begin Phase 2 of the church’s reopening plan following worldwide closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Temples in Denmark, Germany, Finland, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan and the Netherlands will also begin Phase 2. Temples in the Phase 2 stage will open for all living ordinances — including the endowment ceremony.
The 15 Utah temples that have been reopened will remain in Phase 1, which only allows for living marriages, or sealings, to be performed.
Temples to enter Phase 2:
- Billings Montana Temple
- Bismarck North Dakota Temple
- Columbus Ohio Temple
- Copenhagen Denmark Temple
- Frankfurt Germany Temple
- Freiberg Germany Temple
- Helsinki Finland Temple
- Seoul Korea Temple
- Stockholm Sweden Temple
- Taipei Taiwan Temple
- The Hague Netherlands Temple
- Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple
