While serving as stake president, we had a visit from Elder C. Richard Clark of the Seventy. He taught us that there was a ladder to scripture study. Each step of the ladder, he said, helps take us a step closer to feasting on the scriptures. The first step, he said, was to read the scriptures. The second step was to study them, the third was to search them with real and deep intent. The fourth was to ponder the scriptures in our hearts and the final step, he said, would lead to a great love and feasting on the scriptures.
I took his recommendation to heart and began to move up the scripture study ladder in my personal scripture reading. Gradually, I began to be more involved in scripture study and eventually I started to search them. Finally, I learned to ponder [them] in my heart through the Holy Ghost. Eventually, I started to feast and love the scriptures more.
While feasting on the scriptures in my personal worship [as] I looked in the scriptures, I found each of the steps of the ladder Elder Clark used was reflected in the scriptures as a mandate or recommendation by the prophets. I found many verses recommending to read, study, search, ponder, and to feast on the scriptures.
Later, while serving as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple, I asked myself if there was a possibility that there was an equivalent ladder of personal temple worship or service. I determined there was. The temple worship ladder, as I began to call it, is powerful in helping one worship and serves those who have left this life needing the temple ordinances.
The Temple Worship Ladder:
If I did not listen,
I could not hear.
If I did not receive,
I could not accept.
If I did not understand,
I could not embrace.
And if I did not embrace,
I could not feast on the Spirit and teachings of the ordinances of the temple and the teachings of the Spirit.
The Temple Worship Ladder is meant to help patrons and ordinance workers enhance their temple experience. Even as we are there to do work for those who could not do the work for themselves, we can enhance our experience. If patrons and ordinance workers will use the ladder in their temple worship, they will have a greater spiritual experience in the temple and become closer to God. Personal worship is one of the great benefits of attending the temple. As we grow in the depth of our personal worship, we grow in loving the work we perform there. As Alma observed: “But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst” (Alma 32:41-42).
The eight steps of the temple worship ladder are: One, listen. Listening is the first step to be taken in our worship. It is a prerequisite for all other steps. If listening is done with the purpose of understanding, we are able to hear. Nonetheless, listening is a precursor to hearing. One can listen but not hear. Hearing is a step higher than listening. It requires more of an effort and openness to what is being said to truly hear. One must first listen in order to hear.
Two, hear. Hearing is an important step in the progression. The scriptures teach us that the Lord wants us to hear Him, but we must be prepared to hear. Samuel said, “Speak Lord and and I will hear” (1 Sam. 3:4). We are required by the Lord to hear and “give ear” (Isa.1:2, D&C 76:1). Matthew taught that he “that hath ears to hear let him hear” (Matt.1:15). If we are His sheep, we will hear His voice and if we hear, we will be given more, but if we do not hear, He will not receive us (Mark 4:24, John 10:27, Mosiah 26:28). Further, the scriptures teach that those who are of “the truth heareth His voice” (John 18:37). Acts teaches that when we hear the word of the Lord< the Spirit falls upon us (Acts 10:44). Finally, we are commanded to hear the word of the Lord ( D&C 70:1) just as Joseph Smith was commanded when the Father and the Son visited him and the Father said to Joseph, “—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JSH 1:17).
Three, receive. Once we hear the word of the Lord, we are requested to take the next step to receive the word. Receiving is more than hearing. Receiving is taking the temple experience into our souls. It requires an openness to what is being heard and seen. Matthew states that “he that receiveth a prophet … shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matt. 10:41). In Matthew we also find the report of the parable of the sower: “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matt. 13:19-23). Receiving the temple ordinance into our heart will result in a magnification of what is heard. Alma counsels that we must prepare our hearts to receive the word and then we will have joy: “And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God” (Alma 16:16-17). Finally in the Doctrine and Covenants we read: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continuity in God, receiveth more light; and that light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:24). Opening our hearts and receiving the temple experience into them will result in the same outcome.
Four, accept. Receiving is one thing but accepting what is offered is another. Accepting what we learn and hear in the temple is an essential ingredient in our salvation and progress. However, if we reject what we are offered, our rejection will lead to condemnation. “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory” (D&C 132:4).
Five, understand. Understanding the temple ordinances and the temple experience comes as we open our hearts and minds to the symbolism of the temple and the mysteries that are revealed therein. Understanding will be given to all who seek. The Savior said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand” (Luke 8:10). We must ponder the temple experience and prepare our minds for the enhanced and deepened learning that can and will come to those who are prepared for it. The Savior taught when visiting the Nephites: “Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again” (3 Nephi 17:3). We should do likewise as we attend the temple. When we are thus prepared, the Spirit will open our eyes and understanding and we will be enlightened. “By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God” (D&C 76:12).
Six, embrace. Embrace means “to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug and to take or receive gladly or eagerly and to accept willingly” (Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language). When we take the temple experience into our arms and bosoms, great joy comes. Embracing the ordinances should be done with singleness of heart. “And this commandment shall be given unto the elders of my church, that every man which will embrace it with singleness of heart may be ordained and sent forth, even as I have spoken” (D&C 36:7). We will feel the great love of the Savior and those that are saved similar to what is reported in Moses about the people of the city of Enoch. “And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other” (Moses 7:63).
Seven, rejoice. The joy that comes with temple worship cannot be surpassed. It warms the soul and heals the wounds of our sorrows. Rejoicing comes as we accept, understand and embrace the temple experience. John records what the Savior said happens when we reap. This could apply also to the “wages” we get for service in the temple. “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together” (John 4:36). We can, as Mosiah taught, be filled with great joy as we serve in the temple. “And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy” (Mosiah 5:4). Let us rejoice in the fulfilling experience of the temple. “Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made” (D&C 25:13).
Eight, feast. Feasting is the ultimate result of temple worship. Feasting comes as we rejoice in temple service and are consumed with blessings that are poured out upon us through our service. “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15). We are commanded to feast on the words of Christ. Where can this be done more powerfully than in His temple? “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).
We will feast on our temple experience if our minds are “firm, forever.” “O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever” (Jacob 3:2).
In conclusion, just as there is a ladder of scripture study, there is a ladder for temple worship [that] when practiced will lead to greater feasting on the experiences in the temple.
Addendum: The steps of the temple worship ladder covered here apply not only to the temple but also to our learning in general. They can apply to conference talks and scripture study and also to themselves. These universal principles help one appreciate the great truths around us.