Questions Asked to Determine Worthiness for a Temple Recommend in LDS, Mormon Church
(From the official manual)
The first step in becoming a Mormon is baptism. That's easy. The next step is much harder. You must take out your "endowments." This is done as part of a temple ceremony. Only catch is that you must meet many more qualifications in order to get that temple recommend. It is mandatory you have this recommend before being admitted to the LDS, Mormon temple. (If you are employed by the LDS Church, you must have a temple recommend in order to keep your job)
During the endowment ceremony, the member pledges to wear the "holy garments" day and night, 365 days out of each year and for the remainder of his/her life. Additionally, you will pledge to many more covenants during the course of the temple ceremony. Typically, a good Mormon member attends temple ceremonies once each month "to renew these covenants."
The following list of questions comes from the official LDS Church manual. Failure to answer positively to all fourteen questions will deny you the temple recommend. These questions lay out the plan for your expected future behavior. If you sense that some of these questions could not honestly be answered in the affirmative by any normal human being, you have sensed correctly. To live in our society, for example, we do have to associate with others not of our own religion or thinking. Agreeing to such impossible demands only forces one to lie through fear, social pressure, and intimidation. This often results in members taking on undeserved and unjustified guilt complexes. Naturally, such a tactic gives the Mormon Church tight control over the individual member.
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Temple Recommend questions remained unchanged from at least June, 1986 until this list, which was printed in the summer of 1991. This list was still in use as of September, 1992 and has since been modified. Questions 11 and 12 were combined and modified on the current form. The old questions are listed at the end.
Interviewing Instructions
Exercise great care when interviewing applicants for recommends to enter a temple. Make it clear that you represent the Lord in determining worthiness to enter his holy house. No unworthy applicant should receive a recommend. Be certain that each applicant is worthy as a result of living up to Church standards and principles. Acceptable answers to the recommend interview questions ordinarily will establish worthiness to receive a recommend. Do not assume that worthiness to enter the temple at one time is reason for a casual interview later. Discuss the interview questions with each applicant, and keep each interview private.
Require an applicant who is not living up to Church standards and principles to demonstrate true repentence before receiving a recommend to enter a temple.
When interviewing an applicant for a recommend, do not inquire into personal, intimate matters about marital relations between a husband and his wife.
Generally, do not deviate from the recommend interview questions. If, during an interview, an applicant asks about the propriety of specific conduct, do not pursue the matter. Merely suggest that if the applicant has enough anxiety about the propriety of the conduct to ask about it, the best course would be to discontinue it. If you are sensitive and wise, you usually can prevent those being interviewed from asking such explicit questions.
Interview Questions for Recommends to Enter a Temple
1. Do you believe in God, the Eternal Father, in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; and do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?
2. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator; and do you recognize him as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
3. Do you sustain the other General Authorities and the local authorities of the Church?
4. Do you live the law of chastity?
5. Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
6. Do you affiliate with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or do you sympathize with the precepts of any such group or individual?
7. Do you earnestly strive to do your duty in the Church; to attend your sacrament, priesthood, and other meetings; and to obey the rules, laws, and commandments of the gospel?
8. Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
9. Are you a full-tithe payer? (A full tithing is considered 10% of your GROSS income)
10. Do you keep the Word of Wisdom? (You do not smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or caffeinated drinks)
11. Have you ever been divorced or are you now separated from your spouse under order of a civil court? If yes, (a) - Are you current in your support payments and other financial obligations for family members, as specified by court order or in other written, binding commitments? (b) Were there any circumstances of transgression in connection with your divorce or separation that have not been previously resolved with your bishop?
12. If you have received your temple endowment -- (a) Do you keep all the covenants that you made in the temple? (b) Do you wear the authorized garments both day and night?
13. Has there been any sin or misdeed in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but has not?
14. Do you consider yourself worthy in every way to enter the temple and participate in temple ordinances?
In each interview, emphasize to the applicant the need to safeguard the recommend. It must never be loaned and should be reported immediately to the issuer if lost or stolen. (See "Lost, Stolen, or Revoked Recommends" on the preceding page.)
OLD Questions 11 & 12 (replaced by 11a & 11b)
11. Have you ever had a divorce that has not been cleared by appropriate priesthood authorities, where required?
12. If you have ever been divorced or separated, are you presently fulfilling your obligations for the support and maintenance of your family?
Page Modified January 25, 2005