Can I know the temple covenants before my endowment?

Core response

Yes. The Church publicly explains the five covenants of the endowment. They concern obedience, sacrifice, the gospel of Jesus Christ, chastity, and consecration. You can discuss what keeping each would mean before you schedule an appointment. The Handbook treats the decision as personal and readiness as individual. If you want more time, tell your bishop and contact the temple about your appointment. Church explanation · General Handbook §§27.2, 27.2.2

Read more

• See what each covenant asks of you
• Read why some attendees felt unprepared
• See what the Handbook says about timing
• Take three questions into a preparation conversation

What can I learn before my endowment?

You can read what the five covenants ask of you before making an appointment. The Church’s public explanation and General Handbook §27.2 list them. In the endowment, members covenant with God to live these laws. About the Temple Endowment · General Handbook, chapter 27

Elder David A. Bednar addressed temple preparation in 2019. He said members may discuss the purposes, doctrines, and principles of the ordinances and covenants. He asked them to keep certain sacred symbols and information private. You can ask what a covenant means and what keeping it would require of you. That discussion fits the Church’s guidance. Bednar, Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing · General Handbook §27.1

What did first-time attendees report?

Katie Harmon said she arrived at her endowment the day before her wedding without knowing the covenants she would make. She remembered being told she could leave and described how difficult that felt with loved ones present and the wedding approaching. Writer Linda Hamilton recalls that her preparation class covered the importance of covenants but left her unsure what she would promise. She also describes the pressure of an upcoming temple wedding. Hamilton welcomed the Church’s publication of the covenants and wanted members to be able to learn more before attending. A public explanation can help people prepare today, while leaving open what any given person was taught before their own endowment. Harmon interview, 1:49:13–1:50:11 · Hamilton, A Mormon Woman’s Consent

Church News reported that the December 2020 Handbook release added the list of covenants. In 2023, Jana Riess reported that attendees described a revised presentation that listed the covenants near the beginning. For preparation you can use the current Church explanation at home and ask questions before you arrive. Having an option to step out in front of a group and having time to decide privately are different experiences. Church News, January 2021 · Riess, Religion News Service, February 2023

Can I wait to receive the endowment?

Yes. The Handbook calls receiving the endowment a personal, prayerful decision and says readiness is assessed individually. It expects bishops and stake presidents to consider whether a person is prepared to understand and keep the covenants. Leaving for college, employment, or military service and wanting to attend someone else’s sealing are examples it gives of circumstances that do not determine readiness. The Handbook says members who have received a mission call or are preparing for a sealing should receive the endowment. It requires the endowment before a temple sealing and encourages civilly married couples to be sealed once they are prepared. General Handbook §§27.2.2, 27.3.1

If you already have a date and want more time, you can tell your bishop and contact the temple to discuss rescheduling. If a mission or sealing is involved, ask what the change would mean for those plans. If you are already at the temple and have a question or need to pause, ask your escort or a temple worker privately for help. The Handbook says the temple provides instructions when you book and can provide an escort if you need one. Prepare for your temple visit · General Handbook §§27.2.3.2–27.2.3.3

What should I ask before I go?

1. Read the five covenants and name the one you most want to understand. Ask, “What would keeping this covenant look like for me?”
2. Ask someone you trust to explain what they wish they’d understood beforehand. Read the Church’s public description of the two parts of the endowment and ask the temple what to expect on arrival.
3. If you are unsure, say so before the appointment. “I want to make these promises sincerely. I need time to understand them and decide when I’m ready.”

I believe the endowment is a gift from Jesus Christ. I want a person considering it to have room to learn, ask, and choose. A friend who says they felt rushed deserves to be heard even when you had a different experience. About the Temple Endowment · General Handbook §§27.1.2, 27.2.2