Subject: Kirtland Temple
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001

R,
Will you finish the Kirtland temple endowment article in your website?   Or should say when?   Maybe you could write me a couple of paragraphs about it.     What was it?    Where can I find out about it?    Why was it a higher endowment?  etc.

Thanks
(name withheld)
 

Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 6:55 AM
Subject: Re: Kirtland Temple

Hello (xxxxxxxx).  Yes, I have had the Kirtland Temple endowment as "coming soon" for about two years now.  (c:
 
It seems that I am always busy with something else that I am more interested in.  But, it is funny that I've recently been feeling that I ought to type out the Kirtland endowment essay.    So, maybe I ought to get to it.
 
For now, here are a brief summary of the basic ideas:
 
God speaks to men in symbolism, but most never notice the symbolism or do not understand it   Everything is symbolized in the very creation that surrounds us... to be read by anyone who notices it.
 
There are many symbolic messages in the floor-plans/construction/external carvings on the temples that one needs to notice.   The temples are not only symbolic of the individual person, but what happened in history and what is going on in the present time.   The Kirtland temple consisted of two gathering rooms and an attic floor, which is symbolic of the trifold nature of man as well as the doctrine of gathering (by assembly halls).   The Kirtland endowment is not the highest.   Rather, the highest is given in the true temple, where God has promised to meet you.  The true temple is the body.

The Nauvoo Temple had a floor plan like that at Kirtland, except for the basement with font.  The construction of the Nauvoo Temple was an evolving construction.   It was not used for what it was designed, so the Nauvoo endowment (of masonry) was carried out on the attic floor that was adapted for this purpose.   The outer motiffs on the temple (eg. the inverted star) were added mid-way through construction (as this was developing on the inside).   This created a situation where the Nauvoo endowment was symbolically placed over the Kirtland endowment.   Being out of the proper order (polluted temple), the Nauvoo Temple was destroyed.
 
The Salt Lake Temple has the Kirtland Temple built over the Nauvoo Temple. The endowment (at SL) ends in the celestial room, which room is not the highest room in the temple.  There is an assembly room over the celestial room.  This room is patterned after that at Kirtland and Nauvoo, and tells one that this is the higher order (by its placement in the temple).   The SL temple held the history of the saints up till that time.
 
Current temples are built with only a ground level floor and a font that sits below ground.  This symbolizes the loss of the higher teachings today.   The saints are stuck at the level of the ground (earth--Telestial) and the level of the font below ground (being lost --dead -- in darkness).
 
Going back to Kirtland.... the endowment there consisted of three things: school of the prophets, the sacrament, and the washing of feet.  This is the same thing (endowment) that Jesus gave his disciples and it too is symbolic of the true trifold (whole-holy) nature of man.  Of course, there were higher teachings than this endowment (since it is a 'token' of the true order), but the disciples were not ready yet to receive it (so they only had the token).   Only after Jesus was killed were they able to find wholeness in their very being (the real endowment).   Also, these things in the Kirtland endowment point back to the two greatest commandments: the new and everlasting covenant (being one with God) and the brotherhood of man (loving your neighbor as yourself).   But, there is really only one law (a law) in heaven upon which all blessing are predicated (the first commandment).    The first commandment is the highest endowment (being one with God -- the everlasting covenant).    As it is received (all the time -- continuously -- a continuous endowment in the true temple), then all good things follow behind it (eg. the second commandment) as naturally as a cart follows a horse.  That is what Jesus (the great exemplar) showed how to do (to be the Christ).
 
Well, I hope that helps to generate some new thoughts.   XXXX has read me some of your messages (eg. on Jacob and polygamy).  Realize where these things come from.   By stilling your mind and in this quietness of soul letting the things flow from the deepest part of you, it will be good (God) and deeply profound.   That is where you get your true answers, which thing you are now realizing.   My words are, at best, only things you can consider.    And one doesn't have to be a genius to understand the things of God.  They are so plain that a child can grasp the concept.  The biggest barrier to understanding is that most of us are adults.
 
If I can give any useful advice at all it is this:   When you try to comprehend God, try to imagine the highest, the best, the most good and perfect thing that you can imagine.   This is what I was told to do.   By doing it, you will always be led in the right direction and you will find that God is much more than you can imagine.   I think that you will be totally delighted by the experience.
 
Best of luck to you.
 
R