A veil of secrecy surrounds Mormon temple worship. While officially intended to preserve the sacredness of the experience, the silence leaves many Latter-day Saints mystified. What are the derivation and development of the holy endowment, and if these were known, would the experience be more meaningful? Modern parishioners lack context to interpret the arcane and syncretistic elements of the symbolism. For instance, David Buerger traces the evolution of the initiatory rites, including the New Testament-like foot washings, which originated in the Ohio period of Mormon history; the more elaborate Old Testament-like washings and anointings, which began in Illinois and were performed in large bathtubs, with oil poured over the initiate's head; and the vestigial contemporary sprinkling and dabbing, which were begun in Utah. He shows why the dramatic portions of the ceremony blend anachronistic events--an innovation foreign to the original drama. Buerger addresses the abandonment of the adoption sealing, which once linked unrelated families, and the near-disappearance of the second anointing, which is the crowning ordinance of the temple. He notes other recent changes as well. Biblical models, Masonic prototypes, folk beliefs, and frontier resourcefulness all went into the creation of this highest form of Mormon Temple worship. Diary entries and other primary sources document its evolution.

Providing a fascinating chronology of developments associated with Latter-day Saint temples and temple ordinances, this source book discusses the origins of the temple concept, comparative rituals, and changes in ceremonies. Buerger charts the abandonment of the adoption sealing which once linked unrelated families and examines the near disappearance of the second anointing, once considered the crowning ordinance of the temple.

KNOWING of nothing that aims to present in one volume, the various mysteries of the New Testament, it has been a happy service to pen these papers, hoping thereby to minister to the profit of some who, while of the household of faith, may have given little or no attention to truths of such vast importance. The teaching set forth is not original with the writer. He is indebted to many, both through oral and written ministry, for most of the instruction he now seeks to impart to others. May it be yours, reader, to test all by the word of the living God, and thus find true profit.

Many vital truths are given to us in the Bible that lead us to a vastly greater understanding of Him than the most intelligent heathen without a Bible could ever know. We refer to these truths as mysteries, not because man has invented this term, but because it is the word that God Himself has chosen to inform us of His wonderful way of salvation. In The Mysteries of God , author Maurice Roberts reminds us that it is important that we be thoroughly informed about God’s mysteries because they are His eternal purposes by which He has given Christ to be our Savior; understanding and believing them give us eternal life with God in the glory of heaven. In an edifying and easy-to-understand style, the author “investigates” twelve of the great mysteries of the Bible, including the mystery of God, the mystery of the gospel, the mystery of Christ’s glorious indwelling, and the mystery of the last things. Table of Contents: 1. What Is a New Testament Mystery? 2. The Mystery of God 3. The Mystery of God’s Covenant 4. The Mystery of Godliness 5. The Mystery of the Gospel 6. The Mystery of the New Birth 7. The Mystery of Christ’s Glorious Indwelling 8. The Mystery of the Gospel Offer 9. The Mystery of the Gentiles 10. The Mystery of Israel 11. The Mystery of Iniquity 12. The Mystery of the Last Things 13. The Mystery of the Resurrection 14. When All Mysteries Are Finished

Teens' Guide to Identity from FamilyLife All teens wrestle with the question "Who am I?" and wonder, What makes me special? Though these questions linger for life, they are most intense in the teen years, where confusion, awkwardness, and a desperate grab for identity reign. So how does a young person answer these critical questions? Where do young men and women find their significance, worth, and value? True Identity is perfect for parents and youth workers to give to the teenagers (14-16) in their lives to help them in their journey. Drawing on experiences and wisdom from a wide array of experts, the book provides compassionate answers to help teens discover who they really are, emphasizing their identity in Christ above all other ways our culture defines them. As the book walks teens through the steps to make their faith their own, it highlights healthy independence and God-honoring relationships. The Passport2Identity curriculum launched in April 2016, and True Identity is its trade book companion.