The Church has announced a revision in the temple recommend questions. These are the questions that priesthood leaders are instructed to be ask members seeking recommends to participate in Temple ordinances. Of the fifteen questions, eleven have been modified. Here are the questions from the announcement:

1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
    
2. Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?
    
3. Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
    
4. 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?
    
5. 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?
    
6. Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
    
7. Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
    
8. 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?
    
9. Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?
    
10. Are you a full-tithe payer?
     
11. Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?
     
12. Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children?
    
    If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
     
13. Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple, including wearing the temple garment as instructed in the endowment?
     
14. Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?
     
15. Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?

Church leaders will begin using these questions immediately.

I like the changes. For example, instead of simply asking, "Do you live the law of chastity?," the revised question invites members to consider their thoughts and behavior in terms of the principle of moral cleanliness. The question on honesty is also clarified with the phrase "in all that you do," which is helpful in reminding us of its importance.

These questions are not calling for perfection, but ask us to prepare carefully to be able to enter the Lord's house in good faith.

The Temple has been a significant blessing in my life. It is the powerhouse of the Lord's kingdom, giving purpose and meaning to many aspects of our lives and of the Gospel. To understand its purpose, its beauty, its ancient roots and its covenant nature centered on Jesus Christ can help make our Temple experiences be more meaningful and can give us strength in many of the challenges we face in mortality.


Continue reading at the original source →