Temple, garments, secrecy

They say

John 18:20 — Jesus said nothing in secret. Your temple is a cult.

John 18:20 is Jesus before Annas about His public teaching — not a ban on sacred space. He explained parables only to the Twelve. Matthew 7:6: do not give what is holy to dogs. Exodus 28: holy clothing for the priest. Israel already had a Holy of Holies. Early Christians also kept some sacred rites private.

• Matthew 7:6

  KJV · Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine.

  NRSVUE · Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine.

• Exodus 28:2, 42

  KJV · Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. … linen breeches to cover their nakedness.

  NRSVUE · You shall make sacred vestments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. … linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh.

• Gospel Topics

  Temples

• FAIR

  The temple endowment

• Gal1:8 library

  Temple worship

They say

Nephi never put on a garment or learned handshakes.

Nephi built a temple after the manner of Solomon (2 Nephi 5:16). The endowment’s presentation is Restoration, not 1830 public preaching. Sacred space is already in the book. The details are later, by commandment — D&C 124.

• 2 Nephi 5:16

  And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon.

• Gal1:8 library

  Secret temple rites

They say

Masonry. Joseph copied the lodge.

D&C 124: the Lord commands a house so He can reveal ordinances kept hid from the foundation of the world. Masonry is a 19th-century overlap of ritual grammar, not the source of the covenants. Garments are a personal reminder of covenants, not a costume. Do not describe signs. Say ‘sacred like the Holy of Holies.’

• Doctrine and Covenants 124:40–41

  Let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people; For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world.

• Gospel Topics

  Temples

• Gal1:8 library

  Masonry and the temple

They say

If it’s true, put it on YouTube.

FAIR: sacred, not secret in the conspiracy sense. Nibley’s Temple and Cosmos is the deep cut when they can read more than a meme. Gospel Topics: Temples. Invite them to walk the grounds and read Psalm 24. Do not describe signs.

• FAIR

  The temple endowment

• Hugh Nibley

  Temple and Cosmos

• Gospel Topics

  Temples