Temple Endowment Ceremonies Part 4 Terrestrial World

23 August

Temple Endowment Ceremonies Part 4 Terrestrial World

THE LAW OF CHASTITY

PETER: A couple will now come to the altar.

We are instructed to give unto you the law of chastity. This I will explain.

To the sisters, it is that no one of you will have sexual intercourse except with your husband to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded. To the brethren it is that no one of you will have sexual intercourse except with your wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded.

Sisters, please arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will observe and keep the law of chastity, as it has been explained to you.

Each of you bow your head and say, “Yes.”

That will do.

Brethren, please arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will observe and keep the law of chastity, as it has been explained to you.

Each of you bow your head and say, “Yes.”

That will do.

THE FIRST TOKEN OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD OR SIGN OF THE NAIL

PETER: We will now give unto you the first token of the Melchizedek priesthood, or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name, sign, and penalty.

Peter:  This token is received by bringing the right hand into this position: the hand vertical, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended; and the person giving the token placing the tip of the forefinger of his right hand in the center of the palm, and the thumb opposite on the back of the hand of the one receiving it, in this manner.

We desire all to receive it. All arise.

[All initiates receive the token as various temple workers circulate around the room to administer token. Peter then reveals the name, sign, and penalty for this token.]

PETER: If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand. The name of this token is “the Son”, meaning the Son of God.

The sign is made by bringing the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square; the right hand is also brought forward, the palm down, the fingers close together, with the thumb extended, and the thumb is placed over the left hip. (The Officiator makes the sign.)

This is the sign. The Execution of the Penalty is represented by drawing the thumb quickly across the body and dropping the hands to the sides. (Officiator completes the action.)

I will now explain the covenant and obligation of secrecy which are associated with this token, its name, sign, and penalty, which you will be required to take upon yourselves.

If I were receiving the endowment today, either for myself or for the dead, I would repeat in my mind these words, after making the sign, at the same time representing the execution of the penalty:

I covenant in the name _________ that I will never reveal the first token of the Melchizedek priesthood, or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name, sign, and penalty. Rather than do so, I would suffer my life to be taken.

[Peter leads the initiates in repeating this oath.

All arise

PETER:  Each of you make the sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail by brining the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square; also by bringing the right hand forward, the palm down, the fingers close together, the thumb extended, and by placing the thumb over the left hip. This is the sign.

Now repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant, at the same time representing the Execution of the Penalty:

I covenant in the name of the Son that I will never reveal the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name, sign and penalty. Rather than do so, I would suffer my life to be taken.

[Patrons perform the action as the Officiator guides them.]

PETER:  That will do.

PETER:  We will return and report.

[Peter, James, and John exit.]

THE MESSENGERS’ THIRD REPORT

[Elohim, Jehovah, and their messengers are heard speaking outside the Terrestrial Room.]

PETER: Jehovah, we have been down to the man Adam and his posterity, have placed the robe on the right shoulder, and have introduced them into the terrestrial world. We have put them under covenant to observe and keep the law of chastity. We have also given them the first token of the Melchizedek priesthood, or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name, sign, and penalty. This is our report.

JEHOVAH: It is well, Peter, James, and John.

Elohim–Peter, James, and John have been down to the man Adam and his posterity, have placed the robe on the right shoulder, and have introduced them into the terrestrial world. They have also put them under covenant to observe and keep the law of chastity. They have given unto them the first token of the Melchizedek priesthood, or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name, sign, and penalty. This is their report.

ELOHIM: It is well.

Jehovah, send down Peter, James, and John, and instruct them to give to the man Adam and his posterity in the terrestrial world the law of consecration, in connection with the law of the gospel and the law of sacrifice, and to cause them to receive it by covenant; to give unto them the second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the patriarchal grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign; and to teach them the order of prayer and prepare them in all things to receive further instructions at the veil. Then have them report at the veil.

JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim.

Peter, James, and John, go down to the man Adam and his posterity in the terrestrial world and give unto them the law of consecration, in connection with the law of the gospel and the law of sacrifice, and cause them to receive it by covenant.

Give unto them the second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the patriarchal grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign.

Teach them the order of prayer and prepare them in all things to receive further instructions at the veil. Then report at the veil.

PETER: It shall be done, Jehovah. Come, James and John, let us go down.

THE LAW OF CONSECRATION

[Peter, James, and John return to the Terrestrial Room.]

PETER: A couple will now come to the altar.

We are instructed to give unto you the law of consecration as contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in connection with the law of the gospel and the law of sacrifice, which you have already received.

It is that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.

All arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the law of consecration as contained in this, the book of Doctrine and Covenants [he displays the book], in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.

Each of you bow your head and say, “Yes.”

That will do.

THE SECOND TOKEN OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD

PETER: We will now give unto you the second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the patriarchal grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign.

[Peter demonstrates the token. This token is given by clasping the right hands, interlocking the little fingers, and placing the tip of the forefinger upon the center of the wrist, in this manner. The Officiator demonstrates this token with male witness.]

We desire all to receive it. All arise.

[All initiates receive the token as temple workers administer the token and then patrons sit after receiving it.]

Patrons giving sign of 2nd Token of Melchizedek Priesthood.

This token has a name and a sign, but no penalty is mentioned.

However, you will be under just as sacred an obligation of secrecy in connection with this token and sign as you are with the other tokens and signs of the holy priesthood which you have received in the temple this day.

The name of this token will not be given unto you at this stage in the endowment, but it will be given later on.

[Peter demonstrates the sign for this token and then leads initiates in making the following sign.]

The sign is made by raising both hands high above the head and while lowering the hands repeating aloud the words:

Pay Lay Ale
Pay Lay Ale
Pay Lay Ale

[The hands are lowered in three distinct movements, one move for each word. [1] Pay–hands above head, [2] Lay–both arms dropped to the square, [3] Ale–both hands lowered to the height of chest.]

PETER: When Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden, he built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words that he used, which interpreted are: “Oh God, Hear the words of my mouth!” repeated three times.

All arise. 

PETER:  Each of you make the sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure sign of the Nail, by raising both hands high above the head, and while lowering the hands repeating aloud the words:

Pay Lay Ale
Pay Lay Ale
Pay Lay Ale

[As the patrons make the sign they repeat words with recording as described before.]

PETER:  That will do.

THE ORDER OF PRAYER

PETER: Brethren and sisters, with the robe on the right shoulder you are prepared to be taught the true order of prayer and to be introduced at the veil.

A few couples will please come forward and form a circle around the altar.

[The couples are arranged so that men and women alternate around the circle. James directs the prayer circle.]

OFFICIATOR: We would like to invite the witness couple, any receiving their own personal Endowment, and any who are about to be married to join us in the Prayer circle at this time.

JAMES: Only the best of feelings should exist in the circle. If any of you have unkind feelings toward any member of this circle, you are invited to withdraw so that the Spirit of the Lord may be unrestrained.

In the circle we make the signs of all the tokens of the holy priesthood.

[James leads those in the circle in making each sign, in succession. As they do this, he reminds initiates of the name for each token, except the second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the name of which has not yet been revealed.]

We will begin by making the Sign of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This is done by brining the right arm to the square, the palm of the hand to the front, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended. This is the sign. The name of this token is the New Name received in the temple today. The Execution of the Penalty is represented by placing the thumb under the left ear, the palm of the hand down, and by drawing the thumb quickly across the throat to the right ear, and dropping the hand to the side.

We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This sign is done by bringing the right hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the right hand forming a square, and the left arm being raised to the square. This is the sign. The name of this token is your first given name if you are going through the temple for your own Endowment, or if you are going through for the dead, it is the first given name of the person for whom you are officiating. The Execution of the penalty is represented by placing the right hand on the left breast, drawing the hand quickly across the body, and dropping the hands to the sides.

We will now make the sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail. This is done by bringing the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square. The right hand is also brought forward, the palm down, the fingers close together, the thumb extended, and the thumb is placed over the left hip. This is the sign. The name of this Token is “the Son”, meaning the Son of God. The Execution of the penalty is represented by drawing the thumb quickly across the body, and dropping the hands to the sides.

We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure sign of the Nail. This is done by raising both hands high above the head, and while lowering the hands repeating aloud the words:

Pay Lay Ale
Pay Lay Ale
Pay Lay Ale

signifying, “Oh God, Hear the words of my mouth!”

We have here a list of names of persons who are sick or otherwise afflicted, whom we are requested to remember in our prayer. We will place the list upon the altar and request the faith of those present in behalf of these persons.

The sisters in the room will please veil their faces.

Each brother in the circle will take the sister at his left by the right hand in the patriarchal grip.

Each of you bring your left arm to the square and rest it upon the shoulder or arm of the person at your left.

The brethren and sisters in the circle will repeat the words of the prayer.

OFFICIATOR: [the officiator kneels at the altar, and makes the sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood by bringing his right hand forward, with the hand in cupping shape, resting it upon the altar.

His left arm is raised to the square. The prayer is spoken by the Officiator, who decides its form and content. He speaks a few sentences at a time, which are repeated in unison by the patrons in the circle. After the prayer, the patrons in the circle release the grip, the Officiator rises, and the audio tape resumes.]

PETER: The sisters will unveil their faces, and the brethren and sisters in the circle will return to their seats.

We will now uncover the veil.

The next ceremony is referred to as “The Veil”.

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