What Can We Say Outside of the Temple?

Hey guys, so in 1985 President Ezra Taft Benson said the following: “The temple is a sacred place, and the ordinances in the temple are of a sacred character. Because of its sacredness, we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the temple to our children and grandchildren. As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into.”

President Benson hit the nail on the head. But many Latter-day Saints are left with the question, “Because the temple is so sacred, what is OK to say about the temple, outside the temple?” The answer may be more than you might think. Let’s talk about it.

Alright, what is OK to say about the temple, outside the temple? There’s not necessarily a one-size fits all answer to that question. What may be appropriate in one setting and circumstance may not be appropriate in another. Latter-day Saints should seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help them find that balance. But another thing we can do is sort of build a framework for ourselves by looking at what the Church is already openly saying about the temple in their official publications.

For example, here’s a 2019 quote from Elder David A. Bednar: “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.”

To read more of the article: Saints Unscripted