Preparing to Enter the Temple Worthily

In recent years the Lord has accelerated the building of temples across the world. Now more than ever, members of His Church have greater opportunities to enter His holy house when they are ready and worthy to do so.

Read the following passages. Mark what you learn about entering the Lord’s house.

• Psalm 24:3–4 (“Hill of the Lord” can represent the temple.)

• Jeremiah 7:1–3 (Jeremiah was the prophet during a time of wickedness in Judah.)

• Ezekiel 44:4–5, 9 (“Mark well” in verse 5 could mean to “pay attention to”; “uncircumcised in heart” in verse 9 could mean not separating themselves from sin and the world.)

Living the Lord’s standards helps you to become like Him. Keeping the Lord’s standards can bless you with His Spirit and peace. Everyone is invited to prepare to go to the temple; all who choose to enter His house must meet the Lord’s standards of worthiness.

Brother Bradley R. Wilcox of the Young Men General Presidency taught:

Some mistakenly receive the message that they are not worthy to participate fully in the gospel because they are not completely free of bad habits. God’s message is that worthiness is not flawlessness. Worthiness is being honest and trying. (“Worthiness Is Not Flawlessness,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 62)

worthiness, repentance

Ponder how the Lord’s standards to enter His temple are evidence of His love for you.

One way to assess your progress on the covenant path is to review the temple recommend interview questions. They are the questions you are asked when you are interviewed to receive a temple recommend. Read through the temple recommend questions and ponder (1) if you understand what the questions are asking and (2) how living these standards can prepare us to enter the Lord’s holy house.

• Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?

• Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?

• Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

• Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?

• The Lord has said that all things are to be “done in cleanliness” before Him (Doctrine and Covenants 42:41). Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior? Do you obey the law of chastity?

• Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?

• Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

• Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

• Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?

• Are you a full-tithe payer?

• Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?

• Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?

• Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?

Select one of the questions that you would like to learn more about.

Use one or more of following resources to guide your study. Record what you find in your notebook:

1. Find one or more scripture verses that could help you understand this standard from the Lord.

2. Look at sections in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices [2022] that might be useful to understand more about this standard. Note: Many of the temple recommend questions are listed at the end of each section in the guidebook.

3. Use Gospel Library to learn about words or phrases that could help a teenager understand the Lord’s standards to enter His house. For example, you could search in Topics and Questions or Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023].