Few who regularly attend the latter-day temples comprehend the deep meanings behind the teachings of the endowment or other ordinances.  The purpose of this essay is to assist one in uncovering some of the ways that one looks at these teachings as well as those contained in the scriptures.   It is hoped that this essay will assist in looking at the teachings of the endowment and ordinances in the temple with new eyes and new understandings, that one might begin to see anew.  The material contained in this essay does not pretend to be authoritative, nor does it masquerade as either complete or the full truth.  It is just "food for thought" which hopefully some will find valuable in assisting them in their own personal quest in finding the truth of all things.

    Many Levels of Understanding.  One thing that one must understand when approaching the endowment or any of the saving ordinances is that there are many levels of understanding.  Sometimes what appears as a simple story or ordinance has many deeper spiritual levels of understanding if one is prepared and willing to find them.   In the case of the endowment, the creation of man and his state of being is presented as a parable which is not very different than that contained in the book of Genesis or other places in scripture, but to which a few things are added.  Unfortunately, many temple attendees do not take the creation parable, nor the tokens, signs, and penalties (penalties were recently removed from the ceremony) at much more than face value.  Many view the tokens and signs in a fairly literal fashion, thinking they are like passwords, such as one might receive when joining an exclusive club or organization, despite the fact that many secret societies and brotherhoods use these same tokens and signs.  The temple building itself is viewed in the same literal manner and few realize the deeper symbolism behind it.  Many feel fairly comfortable in just finding time in their busy schedules to attend the temple regularly, when in actuality they have damned themselves by walking in darkness at noonday.  While this might sound harsh, it hopefully will become more obvious that this is the actual case after reading this entire essay and then making further discoveries on ones own.

    This essay will try to uncover what is meant by the forgoing words by briefly contrasting two major levels of understanding which are referred to in the scriptures as being "carnally minded" versus "spiritually minded".  But first, one should realize that there are many levels to understanding of the teachings of the endowment or its cognate ordinances.  In this sense, the creation parable presented in the endowment (or the scriptures) is like an onion with many layers that can be peeled off to always reveal a new layer underneath.  However, it is not the purpose of this essay to uncover these deeper meanings.  Rather, the purpose is to help others to wake up to their existence.  Thus, only a few of the potential spiritual meanings will be spoken of in order to illustrate the difference between ways that people approach the temple and its teachings.

    But, to realize the existence of these deeper truths and to find them is to know the mysteries of God.  Many will see and hear the same things, but never perceive or understand.  As Christ said to his disciples when they asked why he spoke in parables, "…Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."  (Matthew 13:11-13).

    Carnal versus Spiritual Understanding.  Speaking in very general terms, there are two opposing ways to look at things.  Again, the phrases  "carnally minded" versus "spiritually minded" are sometimes used.  Other times,  words such as "external" versus "internal", or "profane" versus "holy" are used.

    Those who have a tendency to view things in a carnal fashion usually see things on a outward or literal level.  The perceptions are filtered through the senses rather than the spirit.  This is as a result of  fallen man being of a carnal nature, or a creature of the senses who, by virtue of partaking of the Tree of Knowledge, believes that all things can be judged outwardly.

     An illustration of judging things outwardly, or by the senses, is portrayed in the  conversation  of Jesus with Nicodemus, a religious leader who sought Jesus by night… "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? …How can these things be?"  (See John 3:1-12).

    In carnal versus spiritual understanding, there is really a fundamental difference in basic philosophy.  Carnal man works from the outside in;   Spiritual man works from the inside out.

    Carnal man is always looking for things outside of himself and is thereby always trying to improve his environment, thinking that this will bring him happiness.   He has a tendency to externalize everything.   He feels that outward saving ordinances and performances like those done in temples must be of the utmost importance over everything else.

    Spiritual man realizes that the inner cup (his soul) is to be cleansed first, then all things will be added.  So, he internalizes the search for that which is thought to be found externally by carnal man.  Spiritual man understands that all ordinances are only outward symbols of what should have already occurred within himself.   But, to him, it is the inner counterparts of the outer  ordinances that are most important.

    Thus, to carnal man, ‘being born of the water’ is a dunking process.  To spiritual man it is the rebirth of the soul.

    To a carnal man, the temple takes on an undue importance that overshadows other things.  He sees it as an important place that he must go.   He attends regularly to do work for his kindred dead, but does not realize that it is he himself who is found among the (spiritually) dead or that the work he does in the temple is more for his own benefit than for his ancestors.   He speaks of the temple often, hangs pictures of it in his home, and gets angry when others do not show as much reverence for the building as he does.

    Spiritual man realizes that the temple edifice is no more than a symbol of himself  and that he is a walking temple of God as said in the scriptures (cf.  1 Corintihians 3:16).  Spiritual man realizes that God can create a building much more grand than the best built by human hands.  But, to create a son of God is much more difficult and that this is the work of creation and Glory of the Fathers.  He respects the building, but sees it as a symbol of himself and does not revere it excessively.  He loves others, despite their words or actions, because he sees them as God’s grandest creation (true temples).   Spiritual man is a temple that is built without hands.

    Carnal man sees the creation parable (in the endowment)  little more than a historical account of the creation of the earth outside of him and how man came to be.   He sees the fall of man as a literal event caused by eating from a certain tree that was prohibited.  He sees the way back to God in the context of all the things that he must DO rather than what he must BE.

    Spiritual man realizes that all that is taught in the endowment is about he, himself.   He realizes that he is the man Adam spoken of in the creation story.  On a deeper level of understanding, he understands that man is a trinity composed of body, mind, and spirit, and realizes that Adam represents his own spirit and that Eve represents his own body.  He sees that this is why Eve must be subject to Adam because the body must be subject to the spirit, otherwise there is death.  He understands that God is a part of this trinity and that he (Adam; the spirit) can hear his voice if he will just pay attention and listen.

    Carnal man perceives the signs and tokens given in the endowment as grand secrets that are given to the elect of God and feels that he himself is one of these elect.  He thinks that he must protect the signs and tokens from being divulged on the peril of his own life because it is the mere knowledge of these secret signs and  tokens will allows one to pass by angels and gain entrance into heaven.  He cannot understand what will happen to others who know the signs and tokens, but received them from another place without having attended the temple.  He thinks that these impostors will somehow be sifted out from those who received the signs and tokens legitimately.

    Spiritual man realizes that the signs and tokens have a deep spiritual meaning and that they are a mirror of what he should be doing.  He realizes that the mere knowledge of them exalts no one.  He knows that it is his state of being and his relationship to God is what is symbolized by the tokens.  He knows that he is not to reveal an improper state of being (of being in true fellowship with God) to the world (by his actions).

    Carnal man sees the true order of prayer as an outward rite that he is convinced will surely make his voice heard by God.  But he cannot fathom why the rites of many groups that worship Lucifer are done the same fashion as the LDS true order of prayer, so he puts this idea out of his mind.  He ignores the warning given in the endowment that when Adam speaks aloud and calls upon God, that Lucifer shows up and responds "I hear you!"

    Spiritual man realizes that the true order of prayer is symbolic of what occurs within himself when he prays after the true order.  He knows that Peter represents the voice of his spirit and that Adam and Eve (in the circle) represent his body.  He realizes that he must retire to the secret place for prayer (Matthew 6:6) and that when his spirit and body become one and are united in prayer after the true order, then it is heard by God!

    Carnal man lives in fear.  He believes that when times get tough, he can save himself by his external preparations (eg. food storage), but is always fearful (rightfully so) that he has not prepared enough.  He suspects that the ‘holy place’ spoken of  by Jesus (Matthew 24:15) means a place in the temple (building), but he cannot fathom how all can get crowded into the temple when the Abomination that makes Desolate appears.

    Spiritual man lives by faith and finds that perfect faith casts out all fear..  He knows that true peace begins within himself and that the ‘holy place’ spoken of is his own heart.  He does not fear what happens externally, because he knows that whatever happens will be for his own profit and learning.   He takes no thought for the morrow, but relies totally on God (Matthew 6:25-34).

    Carnal man is continually trying to subdue the world around him and is thereby continually at war with it.  He believes that he must tame the hostile world over which the Father has given him dominion.  He is always searching for new knowledge that will help him accomplish this and in so doing, he is "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."   (2Timothy 3:7)   Carnal man  is always searching for heaven, but never seems to be able to find it.  He is confused when others cry "Lo here….. here is the kingdom of heaven!"   But, carnal man eventually chooses one of them and becomes convinced that the way he has chosen is the correct one and that all others are in error.  He trusts in the arm of the flesh and never finds heaven because he looks in the wrong place.

    Spiritual man realizes that the creation parable teaches him that the new earth over which Adam is given dominion symbolizes his own physical body.   He realizes that he has been given dominion to overcome the "lusts of the flesh" and make his world (body) a celestial abode.  When others cry "Lo here", he is unmoved, for he does not seek externally for the kingdom of God, for he realizes that it is found within.  He comprehends the words spoken by Jesus that  "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:   Neither shall they say, Lo here!  or, lo there!  for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21).  He searches diligently in the correct place and ultimately finds what he seeks.

    Carnal man thinks that life is a test and has a destination.  He is seldom happy or truly joyful because of stressful thoughts that arise of his own potential failure of failing the test or not arriving fully at the destination.

    Spiritual man realizes that life is a training process and a journey.  He knows that none can fail at training and thereby finds great joy in the experience of life.  He finds that this is one of the keys to finding eternal joy and happiness in progression that extends much beyond this life and is eternal.   Thus, spiritual man ultimately finds God and enjoys life eternal.