What Are Temple Envelopes?

Salt Lake City temple in Utah.

A temple envelope is used by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inside their temples. It is made of soft, white fabric and holds ceremonial clothing that is used during ordinance work. The envelope makes it easier to carry what is needed for the ordinance. Latter-day Saints believe that temples and all that goes on inside them are sacred and holy.

Ordinances

Baptism is done by total immersion in the water.

A strong belief of the LDS faith is that the gospel is for all people, past, present and future. They believe that certain ordinances -- outward actions that symbolize inward beliefs -- are necessary in order to live with God again one day. Members of the church perform these ordinances in place of their ancestors who have passed on. They believe their ancestors have the right to either accept that work or reject it. Some of the ordinances that take place in the temple are baptisms and endowments. The temple envelope is used during the endowment.

Sealing Power

Hawaii temple in Laie on Oahu island

Latter-day Saints believe that sealing powers were restored to the earth by the old prophet Elijah from the Old Testament. They believe that we can be with our family members throughout eternity in the presence of God, through these sealing powers of the priesthood during the sealing ordinance inside the temple. There are beautiful sealing rooms where an altar sits in the middle of the room. Couples kneel across from one another at the altar and are sealed for all time and eternity by a priesthood holder who has been given this power.

Genealogy and Ancestors

Families are forever.

Latter-day Saints place strong value on family. They perform extensive genealogy work to research their ancestors. They continue to search, going back as far as they can. They believe that doing ordinance work for themselves and for their ancestors will link them together in an eternal family unit. The temple sealing is an ordinance that not only unites husband and wife together for all eternity, but the entire family.

Ceremonial Clothing and the Temple Envelope

Oakland, Calif., temple at dusk.

People wear white clothing inside the temple to represent purity and holiness. Just as Catholic clergy or church officers from other religions where ceremonial robes or clothing, so do members of the LDS church inside the temple. It is a place set apart from regular services where specific ceremonial work takes place. The endowment is an ordinance that reiterates the teachings of the beginning of time and where we came from. It goes over our purpose here during mortality and life after death.

References

• LDS: The Holy Temple

Resources

• Good Reads: The Holy Temple by Boyd K. Packer