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Holiness to the Lord: Latter-day Saint Temple Worship
Across a wide array of religious traditions, temples are sacred, private spaces where observers can worship with other members of their congregation. Temple worship in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon Church, is kept virtually secret from outsiders. And even Mormons themselves might find certain aspects of worship confusing. While respecting the privacy of church members, Jonathan A. Stapley's Holiness to the Lord provides an insightful, fresh overview of Latter-day Saints temple worship, including the initiatory washing and anointing rituals, the endowment ceremony, and relational sealings.
Within a year of organizing a church in the early 1800s, Joseph Smith began revealing liturgies, introducing increasingly expansive ceremonies and cosmologies and establishing temples as their liturgical center. After Smith's murder, church leaders worked to broaden access to the temple liturgy, bringing forth regular periods of change and reform. Stapley offers new insights into both the historical exclusion of Black people from the temple and the simultaneous integration of Native Americans, Polynesians, and other non-white racial and ethnic groups into the religion. He traces the contemporary fight against racism in the church and its adjacent communities, all while centering temple liturgy and the religious construction of participants' inclusion into a priesthood of heaven and earth.
Stapley's deep dive into Mormon history, cosmology, and ritual sheds fresh light on contemporary Mormonism.
Within a year of organizing a church in the early 1800s, Joseph Smith began revealing liturgies, introducing increasingly expansive ceremonies and cosmologies and establishing temples as their liturgical center. After Smith's murder, church leaders worked to broaden access to the temple liturgy, bringing forth regular periods of change and reform. Stapley offers new insights into both the historical exclusion of Black people from the temple and the simultaneous integration of Native Americans, Polynesians, and other non-white racial and ethnic groups into the religion. He traces the contemporary fight against racism in the church and its adjacent communities, all while centering temple liturgy and the religious construction of participants' inclusion into a priesthood of heaven and earth.
Stapley's deep dive into Mormon history, cosmology, and ritual sheds fresh light on contemporary Mormonism.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
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110 people want to read
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November 25, 2025Thorough, informative, and surprisingly captivating. I really enjoyed reading this history of the temple in our dispensation, and I’m grateful for the ways it opened my mind.
November 8, 2025
I read Stapley's 2018 book "The Power of Godliness" and loved it. I still draw from it when I think about or talk about or discuss LDS concepts of priesthood, particularly Stapley's insightful and helpful formulation of "cosmological priesthood," which surfaces again and again in "Holiness to the Lord" as well. This volume is every bit as good as "The Power of Godliness," albeit narrower in scope; here Stapley focuses exclusively on the background and evolution of LDS temple liturgies. As far as I know, he doesn't skip anything, treating washings and anointings, endowments, and sealings, as well as defunct temple practices like second (temple) baptisms, second anointings (calling and election made sure), and temple adoptions. None of this was new to me, but I found Stapley's treatment of it all refreshingly respectful and concise without feeling like he cut corners. It was nice to have all of it sort of summarized in one place.
It might seem that this volume would only be of interest to LDS readers, and a certain type of LDS reader at that. That's true to an extent, I would think. But the first chapter or two, in particular, would probably be very interesting to those not of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but who are nevertheless curious about aspects of LDS temple worship that were for decades upon decades jealously guarded secrets of initiated Mormons and LDS church leadership. The LDS church has opened up considerably over the past ten or fifteen years, and Stapley very helpfully introduces temple ceremonies and temple clothing, as well as the reasons we have temples in the first place, all very circumspectly. Students of LDS temple history will find the rest of "Holiness to the Lord" very satisfying, as Stapley walks through Freemasonry's heavy influence on Joseph Smith's early builds of sacred LDS liturgies that would eventually be housed in temples, traces the ways that the Mormon hierarchy changed aspects of temple work throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and also how our reasons for temples and the sacraments performed inside them have shifted, and even clarifies lexical evolution that continues to cause enormous and critical misunderstandings surrounding temple work; to give just one example, LDS understanding (or misunderstanding) of the term "ordinance" means that most of us view certain aspects of temple rituals as unchangeable, when in reality we've conflated "ordinances" with "sacraments." This seemingly semantic wire-crossing is deeply problematic in ways Stapley explains.
Overall, this is just a really helpful book. It's restrained yet insightful. Stapley is academic and simultaneously readable. I'd definitely recommend this book to curious, thoughtful Mormons as well as serious students of religion outside the LDS sphere.
It might seem that this volume would only be of interest to LDS readers, and a certain type of LDS reader at that. That's true to an extent, I would think. But the first chapter or two, in particular, would probably be very interesting to those not of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but who are nevertheless curious about aspects of LDS temple worship that were for decades upon decades jealously guarded secrets of initiated Mormons and LDS church leadership. The LDS church has opened up considerably over the past ten or fifteen years, and Stapley very helpfully introduces temple ceremonies and temple clothing, as well as the reasons we have temples in the first place, all very circumspectly. Students of LDS temple history will find the rest of "Holiness to the Lord" very satisfying, as Stapley walks through Freemasonry's heavy influence on Joseph Smith's early builds of sacred LDS liturgies that would eventually be housed in temples, traces the ways that the Mormon hierarchy changed aspects of temple work throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and also how our reasons for temples and the sacraments performed inside them have shifted, and even clarifies lexical evolution that continues to cause enormous and critical misunderstandings surrounding temple work; to give just one example, LDS understanding (or misunderstanding) of the term "ordinance" means that most of us view certain aspects of temple rituals as unchangeable, when in reality we've conflated "ordinances" with "sacraments." This seemingly semantic wire-crossing is deeply problematic in ways Stapley explains.
Overall, this is just a really helpful book. It's restrained yet insightful. Stapley is academic and simultaneously readable. I'd definitely recommend this book to curious, thoughtful Mormons as well as serious students of religion outside the LDS sphere.
October 14, 2025
Holiness to the Lord: Latter-day Saint Temple Worship, by Jonathan A. Stapley, is a rich exploration of the history, symbolism, and function of Latter-day Saint temples. The book traces temple development from the earliest Kirtland and Nauvoo structures to present-day edifices. Each chapter addresses both the physical details—materials, floor plans, artwork—and the spiritual purposes, including covenant-making, ordinances for the living and the dead, and temple dedication practices. The author contextualizes temples within broader Church history. The text draws on official Church statements, historical documents, and personal accounts, blending narrative history with doctrinal commentary in an accessible style.
The book demonstrates a high level of cultural and religious sensitivity toward Latter-day Saint beliefs. Sacred ordinances are referenced with care, avoiding explicit descriptions of temple ceremonies while still explaining their importance. There is a lot of stellar scholarly analysis of temple theology and temple rituals and practices, but the tone is respectful and affirming, emphasizing the temple as a place of divine instruction and personal revelation rather than as a topic for outsider scrutiny. He steers clear of sensationalism or speculative interpretation. Photographs and illustrations are chosen with similar care, staying close to the types of images the Church itself publishes on the topic.
I would highly recommend this book to instructors of temple preparation courses in the Church and maybe even to people who are preparing to enter the temple. For the latter, a particularly notable chapter is the first one, which offers a nice overview of the temple and its rituals. The subsequent couple of chapters offer a fantastic overview of the development of temple worship in the Church. Some of the latter chapters aren’t as directly relevant to temple preparation so much as to historical and scholarly concerns (i.e., there is a chapter about race and the temple, which is an important topic, but not for that setting). It offers a nice complement with more rigor and depth to the discussion than the official church manuals on the topic.
Compared to Boyd K. Packer’s Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, Holiness to the Lord is much more focused on historical and architectural details, while Preparing is primarily devotional and preparatory. Packer’s work speaks directly to individuals approaching their first temple experience, emphasizing personal worthiness, covenant responsibility, and spiritual readiness. In contrast, Holiness to the Lord functions more as an informative resource for a general audience, including both members and respectful non-members, offering context on temple history and symbolism without assuming the reader is about to attend for the first time. Where Preparing uses scriptural and prophetic exhortation, Holiness often uses historical narrative and visual storytelling.
The Church’s Endowed from on High manual is a doctrinal and instructional resource intended for those learning about priesthood ordinances and the temple endowment in a classroom setting. It contains concise explanations, lesson outlines, and scriptural references meant to support formal gospel teaching. Holiness to the Lord, by contrast, is not structured as a manual but as a thematic book, weaving doctrinal discussion into broader historical and artistic analysis. Both works avoid disclosing sacred details, but Endowed from on High is overtly prescriptive—teaching what should be understood and done—while Holiness is descriptive, explaining how temples have evolved and what they represent.
Coming from a more intellectual perspective, as someone who has studied temple history and liturgy extensively, I found that there was a lot I learned in the process of reading Holiness to the Lord. And at a couple of points, Stapley tackled some of the big questions that float around about temples in the Church. For example, in one section, he discusses the claim that temple rituals should not change and that changes to them indicate apostasy. He looked at the original sources to the June 11, 1843, sermon by Joseph Smith that usually undergird such accusations, and concluded that “The ‘not to be altered or changed’ quotation … was from a reconstruction of the sermon made years after Joseph Smith’s murder.” After examining the two primary sources behind the reconstruction, he concluded that “Joseph Smith’s logic here is clear. All people need the ordinances of faith, repentance, and baptism, regardless of whether they are living or dead,” rather than the specifics of the rituals remaining static. “Thus Latter-day Saints and their antagonists today often conflate Smith’s statements with a type of cosmic fundamentalism. Joseph Smith did not leave any specific teachings about the acceptability of changing the ceremonies that Latter-day Saints now call ordinances. What he left was a history of regular revision to the rituals of the church” (p. 75).
Another major question he tackles is whether Latter-day Saints consider plural marriage to be essential for exaltation. “While there was no doubt that temple marriage was necessary for exaltation, a vital question for many Latter-day Saints in the nineteenth century was whether plural marriage was technically necessary.” He noted that it was often during “moments of extreme pressure” when Church leaders “emphatically declared that exaltation was only possible for those who practiced polygamy,” but that “sometimes the same leaders who asserted the requirement for plural marriage, also made statements that were more nuanced, and Latter-day Saint communities debated a diversity of views.” Brigham Young, for example, repeatedly responded when asked that monogamists could obtain Celestial Glory. Even John Taylor left room open for the idea that monogamists could be exalted if they were unable to practice plural marriage (see pp. 100–103). It’s an important discussion in a Church that is still enmeshed in a history of polygamy.
Holiness to the Lord offers rich historical depth and visual appreciation, making it both a valuable resource for Latter-day Saints and an accessible introduction for interested outsiders.
The book demonstrates a high level of cultural and religious sensitivity toward Latter-day Saint beliefs. Sacred ordinances are referenced with care, avoiding explicit descriptions of temple ceremonies while still explaining their importance. There is a lot of stellar scholarly analysis of temple theology and temple rituals and practices, but the tone is respectful and affirming, emphasizing the temple as a place of divine instruction and personal revelation rather than as a topic for outsider scrutiny. He steers clear of sensationalism or speculative interpretation. Photographs and illustrations are chosen with similar care, staying close to the types of images the Church itself publishes on the topic.
I would highly recommend this book to instructors of temple preparation courses in the Church and maybe even to people who are preparing to enter the temple. For the latter, a particularly notable chapter is the first one, which offers a nice overview of the temple and its rituals. The subsequent couple of chapters offer a fantastic overview of the development of temple worship in the Church. Some of the latter chapters aren’t as directly relevant to temple preparation so much as to historical and scholarly concerns (i.e., there is a chapter about race and the temple, which is an important topic, but not for that setting). It offers a nice complement with more rigor and depth to the discussion than the official church manuals on the topic.
Compared to Boyd K. Packer’s Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, Holiness to the Lord is much more focused on historical and architectural details, while Preparing is primarily devotional and preparatory. Packer’s work speaks directly to individuals approaching their first temple experience, emphasizing personal worthiness, covenant responsibility, and spiritual readiness. In contrast, Holiness to the Lord functions more as an informative resource for a general audience, including both members and respectful non-members, offering context on temple history and symbolism without assuming the reader is about to attend for the first time. Where Preparing uses scriptural and prophetic exhortation, Holiness often uses historical narrative and visual storytelling.
The Church’s Endowed from on High manual is a doctrinal and instructional resource intended for those learning about priesthood ordinances and the temple endowment in a classroom setting. It contains concise explanations, lesson outlines, and scriptural references meant to support formal gospel teaching. Holiness to the Lord, by contrast, is not structured as a manual but as a thematic book, weaving doctrinal discussion into broader historical and artistic analysis. Both works avoid disclosing sacred details, but Endowed from on High is overtly prescriptive—teaching what should be understood and done—while Holiness is descriptive, explaining how temples have evolved and what they represent.
Coming from a more intellectual perspective, as someone who has studied temple history and liturgy extensively, I found that there was a lot I learned in the process of reading Holiness to the Lord. And at a couple of points, Stapley tackled some of the big questions that float around about temples in the Church. For example, in one section, he discusses the claim that temple rituals should not change and that changes to them indicate apostasy. He looked at the original sources to the June 11, 1843, sermon by Joseph Smith that usually undergird such accusations, and concluded that “The ‘not to be altered or changed’ quotation … was from a reconstruction of the sermon made years after Joseph Smith’s murder.” After examining the two primary sources behind the reconstruction, he concluded that “Joseph Smith’s logic here is clear. All people need the ordinances of faith, repentance, and baptism, regardless of whether they are living or dead,” rather than the specifics of the rituals remaining static. “Thus Latter-day Saints and their antagonists today often conflate Smith’s statements with a type of cosmic fundamentalism. Joseph Smith did not leave any specific teachings about the acceptability of changing the ceremonies that Latter-day Saints now call ordinances. What he left was a history of regular revision to the rituals of the church” (p. 75).
Another major question he tackles is whether Latter-day Saints consider plural marriage to be essential for exaltation. “While there was no doubt that temple marriage was necessary for exaltation, a vital question for many Latter-day Saints in the nineteenth century was whether plural marriage was technically necessary.” He noted that it was often during “moments of extreme pressure” when Church leaders “emphatically declared that exaltation was only possible for those who practiced polygamy,” but that “sometimes the same leaders who asserted the requirement for plural marriage, also made statements that were more nuanced, and Latter-day Saint communities debated a diversity of views.” Brigham Young, for example, repeatedly responded when asked that monogamists could obtain Celestial Glory. Even John Taylor left room open for the idea that monogamists could be exalted if they were unable to practice plural marriage (see pp. 100–103). It’s an important discussion in a Church that is still enmeshed in a history of polygamy.
Holiness to the Lord offers rich historical depth and visual appreciation, making it both a valuable resource for Latter-day Saints and an accessible introduction for interested outsiders.
December 3, 2025
Not the book I would read before going through the temple the first time. While the author is respectful, it’s scholarly and historically focused. Intellectually oriented, not spiritual. I did find the writing engaging and appreciated that he called things out as he sees them. He sure walked a careful line to impress fellow scholars without offending members and leaders of the Church.
December 21, 2025
Excellent overview and faithful purpose giving to ritualized worship
I enjoyed the story telling of history combined with developing worship practices to connect us to one another and to our God. Definitely the book to have in your personal library and to share pages with loved ones as they apply in their lives
I enjoyed the story telling of history combined with developing worship practices to connect us to one another and to our God. Definitely the book to have in your personal library and to share pages with loved ones as they apply in their lives
December 31, 2025
Enjoyed reading a more comprehensive history of the LDS temple liturgical practices. Highlights the grand purpose of creating a heavenly host of priests & priestesses, and the practices, changes, etc that have led us to where we currently are and give hope for continued restoration.
November 28, 2025
Very informative. We learn and grow into disciples of Jesus Christ.
Listened to him on the Church History Matters podcast.
Listened to him on the Church History Matters podcast.
January 6, 2026
Very well thought out book- recommend for any member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
January 7, 2026
A fine enough scholarly read, and meticulously researched. Probably best as a primer for those who are well familiar with Church history generally but are relatively unfamiliar with the subject of temple history; Stapley speeds through a lot of subjects here that deserve entire books of their own (and which have gotten them, but which I haven't read). An interesting overview overall.
Two historical nuggets I did not know previously:
- Sealing as genealogy vs. sealing as adoption. I'd heard that "adoption" sealings (being sealed to Church leaders as part of a community) were a thing, and the implication was that they were relatively common -- but in reality they were a post-Joseph Smith innovation, and only 211 were performed in the 40 years between JS's death and Wilford Woodruff's emphasis on sealings as genealogy.
- Brigham Young was staunchly in the "polygamy is not a requirement of exaltation" camp. Again, I'd read that it was taught in the Church, but I was surprised that BY was not as dogmatic about this as I'd been led to believe.
Two historical nuggets I did not know previously:
- Sealing as genealogy vs. sealing as adoption. I'd heard that "adoption" sealings (being sealed to Church leaders as part of a community) were a thing, and the implication was that they were relatively common -- but in reality they were a post-Joseph Smith innovation, and only 211 were performed in the 40 years between JS's death and Wilford Woodruff's emphasis on sealings as genealogy.
- Brigham Young was staunchly in the "polygamy is not a requirement of exaltation" camp. Again, I'd read that it was taught in the Church, but I was surprised that BY was not as dogmatic about this as I'd been led to believe.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews