Latter-day Saint Temples/Endowment

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The Mormon Endowment ordinance

Adam-God and the "Lecture at the Veil"

Summary: Was "Adam-God" ever taught as part of the temple endowment ceremony? I've read about something called "the lecture at the veil" that was supposedly in the endowment at one time.

Changes to the Endowment ordinance

Summary: Important note: Members of FAIR take their temple covenants seriously. We consider the temple teachings to be sacred, and will not discuss their specifics in a public forum.

Jump to details:

• Question: Why would the Church remove or alter elements of the temple ceremony if these ceremonies were revealed by God?
• Question: Did other ceremonies or practices ever change in the ancient Church?
• Question: Is it ever allowable to modify a religious ceremony?
• Question: Was there an oath in a former version of the temple endowment that required vengeance upon the government of the United States?
• Question: Does the Oath of Vengeance have any biblical precedent?
• Question: Why were "penalties" removed from the Endowment?
• Question: Was the "Adam-God" theory ever taught as part of the temple endowment ceremony as something called "the lecture at the veil"?

Modern and ancient temple rituals

Summary: Latter-day Saint temple ritual, though it has some points of contact with nineteenth century ideas, also seems to have selected precisely those elements with analogues in early Christian practice, suggesting that Joseph Smith was indeed inspired to restore something genuinely Christian and genuinely ancient.

Relationship between the Endowment and Freemasonry

Summary: Some critics of Mormonism see similarities between the rites of Freemasonry and LDS temple ceremonies and assume that since Joseph Smith was initiated as a Freemason shortly before he introduced the Nauvoo-style endowment he must have plagiarized elements of the Masonic rituals. This viewpoint leads them, in turn, to conclude that the LDS endowment is nothing but a variant form of Masonic initiation and therefore not from a divine source.

All Seeing Eye

Summary: The claim is sometimes made by critics that since the All-Seeing Eye of God is displayed on the exterior and interior of the Salt Lake Temple[1] and the All-Seeing Eye is an emblem utilized by the Freemasons then the Mormon usage must be an indication of a connection between Mormon temples and Freemasonry.

A former version of the temple endowment contained an "oath of vengeance"

Summary: In nearly every anti-Mormon discussion of the temple, critics raise the issue of the "oath of vengeance" that existed during the 19th century and very early 20th century. These critics often misstate the nature of the oath and try to use its presence in the early temple endowment as evidence that the LDS temple ceremonies are ungodly, violent, and immoral.

Consecration of time and talents to the Church

Summary: It is claimed that covenants that they make to consecrate all they they have to the Church implies that those who have been elected to political office must be subservient to the dictates of Church leaders rather than their constituents.

Was the endowment introduced as a way of keeping polygamy a secret?

Summary: The original endowment ceremony presented in the Nauvoo Temple included instruction about polygamy. Was this done as a way to introduce members to the practice of plural marriage while keeping polygamy a secret?

Mormonism and temple garments

Summary: Hostile critics of the Restoration often mock the LDS practice of wearing temple garments. They refer to these ritual items of clothing as "magic underwear" in order to shock, ridicule and offend.

Mormonism and temple clothing

Summary: Responses to questions related to ritual temple clothing.