Teaching Choral Concepts

Review

The endowment is a re-enactment of scriptural images and symbols. It is literally a gift--a gift of God's power. Church members who have been through the temple will be inspired as they listen to Endowed From On High.

While carefully maintaining the sacred confidentiality of the temple ordinances, these CDs provide scriptural correlations which will open up rich new areas of understanding to them. Those who listen will be better informed about the scriptural authority and symbolism of the sacred ordinances, and they will be better prepared and motivated to apply those scriptural symbols in their lives as they strive to become more like Christ. 

A symbol has two parts: a signifier and a signified. The signifier is the symbol itself, and the signified is the meaning of the symbol. Almost every scriptural image used in the endowment has not just one meaning, but a complex network of signified meanings. This makes the endowment an experience so rich that an alert participant can continue to learn from it throughout his or her lifetime as awareness, knowledge and spirituality increase. 

This book points out more than twenty scriptural symbols which correlate with the temple service. The central focus of these symbols is found in Brigham Young's oft-quoted statement of the ceremony's ultimate purpose: to enable recipients to pass by the angelic sentinels who guard the entrance to God's kingdom as they "walk back to the presence of the Father." 

Endowed From On High teaches that revelation occurs during the endowment, that promises are required before blessings are granted, that covenants are the channels through which blessings flow, and that the Lord is voluntarily "bound" when we obey His commandments. It is a unique and reverential guide to growth in this, the most sacred of all areas of our relationship with the Savior and our Heavenly Father. Listening as this book is read, and pondering its message, will be a choice experience for all Church members.

Table of Contents

1. Editor's Preface

2. Observations Concerning the Endowment
Maintaining the Sacred Nature of Temple Covenants
Many Sources of Information About the Temple Are Available
The Endowment Is a Re-enactment of Scriptural Images and Symbols

3. The Central Focus of the Endowment
Learning Celestial Passwords
The Image of Passing Angelic Sentinels
The Use of Sacred "Key Words"
Revelation Occurs During the Endowment
Promises Are Required Before Blessings Are Granted
Covenants Are the Channels Through Which Blessings Flow
The Image of "Binding God"
Gospel Ordinances Take the Form of a Covenant

4. An Ancient Ceremony Restored Through Joseph Smith
The Restoration of an Ancient Ceremony
Unique Elements for Modern Times
God Adapts His Words to Particular Needs

5. Ongoing Preparations for the Blessings of the Endowment
Keep the Commandments and Endowment Covenants
Study the Endowment-related Portions of the Scriptures
Learn to Understand Symbols that Both Reveal and Conceal
Learn to Recognize Both "Signifiers" and "Signifieds"
Pray for Understanding of Specific Elements of the Endowment
Pray and Meditate While in the Temple

6. A Symbolic Initiation into the Priesthood
The Initiatory
The Meaning of Initiatory Symbolism
An Endowment Is a Gift of God's Power
Endowment Means Power From God and Is Associated with Temples

7. Being Pronounced Clean Before God
A Commandment to Cleanse Your Hands and Your Feet Before God
Being Pronounced Clean from the Blood of This Wicked Generation
The Washing Is Accompanied by Blessings to Empower Righteous Living
The Washing Recalls Ceremonial Washing from Old and New Testament Times

8. Being Consecrated Kings and Priests Unto God
The Anointing Is a Symbol of Being Chosen and Consecrated by God to Be a Ruler
Becoming Kings and Priests Unto God
The Anointing Is a Symbol of Obligations and Promises

9. Receiving a Protective Shield
Old Testament Priests Wore Special Clothing to Ensure Modesty
The Image of God Giving Special Clothing to the Faithful
The Images of Defiled Garments and White Clothing
Donning Temple Garments Is a Ceremonial Pre-enactment of God's Giving White Raiment to the Faithful
The Images of Nakedness and Wearing the Robe of Righteousness
The Image of Covering Over Guilt Through Christ's Atonement
God Provides Physical Reminders of Covenants Made
Symbols Remind Us of Commitments to Righteous Conduct
The Garment Is a Protective Shield

10. A Significant and Sacred Key
God-given Names Signify a New Relationship with Him
Zion Shall Be Called by a New Name in the Last Days
A New Name Will Be Given to Those Allowed to Enter the Celestial Kingdom
The New Name Is a Symbol of Meriting Eternal Life
The New Name Is a Key Word
The Sacred and Confidential Nature of the New Name

11. The Ceremonial Drama
The Pedagogy of the Temple Service
Prophets Were Shown Ceremonial Dramas to Help Them Understand God's Plan
The Endowment Depicts Man's Progression From the Creation to Exaltation
Donning Ceremonial Clothing Resembling Old Testament Priests
Priestly Clothing Symbolizes Authorization to Enter into God's Presence

12. The Creation
God the Father Commanded His Spirit Children to Create the Earth
The Father Created the Earth by His Son Jehovah
The Father and Son Together Created Man and Then Woman

13. Events in the Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve Were Given Agency and a Prohibition
Disregarding the Prohibition Set the Plan in Motion
Satan Sought to Tempt and Beguile Eve
Adam's Desire that They Obey the Command to Multiply and Replenish the Earth
Willingness to Hearken unto Each Other's Counsel
Adam and Eve Become Subject to Death and Are Cast Out of Eden
Satan is Cursed
Satan Vows to Tempt Mankind
God Makes Mortality a Probationary State
The Process of Teaching How to Return to God's Presence Begins

14. The Telestial World
Telestial-world Inhabitants Cannot Come to Where the Father and Son Dwell
God Sent Messengers to Teach the Plan of Salvation
Satan Enticed Men to Be Carnal, Sensual, and Devilish
Those who Fail to Keep God's Laws Will Be in Satan's Power

15. The Terrestrial World
Terrestrial-world Inhabitants Can be with Christ but Not the Father
Obedience to the Law of Chastity Is Required
Willingness to Consecrate All for the Building of Zion Is Required
To Build Up Zion Is to Build Our Own Eternal Home

16. A Symbolic Entry into the Presence of God
In the Old Testament Tabernacle, a Veil Separated the People from the Most Holy Place
In the Temple, a Veil Separates the People from the Celestial Room
The Rich Symbolism of Passing Through the Veil

17. The Glory of the Celestial Kingdom
The Celestial Room Symbolizes the Glory of God's Presence
Quiet Joy and Peaceful Meditation in the Celestial Room

18. Living the Endowment
Without Doing Temple Work for Our Dead, We Cannot Be Made Perfect
The Purpose of the Endowment Is to Make Us More Christlike

Order Information

Title:

Endowed From On High: Understanding
the Symbols of the Endowment (2CDs)

Author:

John D. Charles

Retail Price:

$14.99

Available:

Now

ISBN:

0-88290-812-X

Order Number (SKU):

3010

Contents:

2 CDs

Size:

5.5" x 6.5"

Binding:

Plastic Binder with CD Sleeve