Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Forty-Two

Temples and Temple Worship Anciently

Temple ordinances have been performed in all prior dispensations. Joseph Smith taught: “It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given.” (D&C 128:9) The first specific mention of vicarious temple work (baptisms for the dead) in our dispensation is found in D&C 124:28-35.

In important ways the Garden of Eden was similar to modern temples. In the Garden of Eden God taught Adam and Eve and “gave them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption” (Alma 12:32). In modern temples God teaches us the plan of redemption, and then we are put under covenant to keep His commandments. Also, in the Garden of Eden we are told that “God blessed [Adam and Eve], saying, Be fruitful, and multiply…” (Genesis 1:22). The charge to be fruitful and multiply is part of the marriage ordinance performed in modern temples.

The first temple was at Adam-ondi-Ahman. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, which was located in Jackson County Missouri, they traveled 70 miles north to where they settled. The Lord named this area Adam-ondi-Ahman (see D&C 116:1) which means “Adam in the presence of God.” (Journal of Discourses 2:342)

This area was the cradle of civilization and where Adam received the gospel and taught his family. Here he built an alter and offered sacrifice. “And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.” (Moses 5:5-7)

Joseph Smith identified the spot where this alter had been built and he named it Tower Hill. “It was there that Adam and his family assembled to worship their God. Here their evening and morning prayer ascended to heaven with the smoke of the burning sacrifice, prophetic and symbolic of the greater sacrifice yet to be, and here angels instructed them in heavenly truths.” (History of the Church 3:40)

In the temple at Adam-ondi-Ahman ordinances were performed for the living. President Ezra Taft Benson spoke about Adam and Eve and their descendants receiving their temple endowment: “Adam and his descendants entered into the priesthood order of God. Today we would say they went to the House of the Lord and received their blessings.” (Ensign, August 1985)

However, work for the dead was not performed prior to the Lord’s ministry in the spirit world. It was there that He commissioned His righteous followers to preach His gospel to the dead. (See D&C 138:30-35) Prior to this time there was no purpose in doing vicarious temple work on earth for those in the spirit world.

After His resurrection Jesus likely introduced temple work for the dead to His followers in the Holy Land – Certainly His ancient apostles and other righteous followers were endowed during their mortal lives. The temple endowment gave great strength to latter day saints as they left Nauvoo and moved west. Also, the temple endowment gives great strength to His modern disciples enabling us to overcome the tests of modern life. The Lord knew His ancient followers faced great persecution and martyrdom, and would need to be endowed with power from on high. Peter, James, and John may have been endowed on the Mount of Transfiguration.

After His resurrection the Lord appeared to His apostles and disciples many times over a forty-day period: “To whom he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.” (1 Corinthians 15:6)

During His resurrected ministry in the Holy Land Jesus likely introduced vicarious temple ordinances. We know they were performing baptisms for the dead because Paul uses the fact that baptisms for the dead were performed as an evidence of the resurrection: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29)

Jesus likely introduced temple work for the dead during His resurrected ministry among the Nephites – Prior to the atonement of Christ the Nephites enjoyed the blessings of the temple. They built temples and participated in ordinances for the living because “whenever the Lord has had a people on the earth who will obey His word, they have been commanded to build temples.” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Temple)

Jesus introduced a new dispensation of His gospel to the Nephites. (See 3 Nephi 15:1-10) He spoke of the mission of Elijah. (See 3 Nephi 25:5-6) He “expounded all things unto them, both great and small…. even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory.” (3 Nephi 26:1,3)

Mormon explained that the greater part of what Jesus taught the Nephites would not be in the Book of Mormon, but that when people believe the Book of Mormon then the greater things shall be made manifest. (3 Nephi 26:6-18) The most “marvelous things…were forbidden that there should not any man write them…. And many of them saw and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful to be written.” (3 Nephi 26:16,18) They like us were commanded not to speak or write these things outside the temple.

Testimony. In a gospel sense a mystery is defined as “a spiritual truth that was once hidden but now is revealed, and that without special revelation it would have remained unknown.” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Mystery) By this definition the ordinances of the temple, as revealed in all gospel dispensations, are mysteries. Furthermore, the Prophet Joseph said things pertaining to the temple “are always governed by the principles of revelation.”

In the latter days the Lord promises to “reveal all mysteries” and to reveal “all things pertaining to my kingdom.” (D&C 76:7) In most important ways these revelations are received and these promises are fulfilled as we worship in the temple.

Released on November 2nd. 2025