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Endowed with Power: How Temple Symbols Guide Us to Christ's Atonement
Prepare not only to go to the temple but to be in it as well. TEMPLES ARE FILLED with ancient symbols that point directly to the Atonement. These symbols are all around— in scriptures, cultural motifs, and architectural details. C. Robert Line, doctor in sociology of religion, o ers help to those wanting to make sense of certain aspects of the temple and the endowment. By showing how these symbols all point back to Christ’s Atonement, he aims to enrich and enliven the worship experience that Church members can and should expect when they attend the House of the Lord. Learn to recognize the true meanings of temple symbols, such as the circle in the square motif, the tree of life, and sacred temple clothing, and allow their meanings to bring you closer to Christ.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 30, 2019
Love it! I learned so much! I went to the temple between chapters so I could ponder and apply the things I learned from the book. It was truly inspiring. I highly recommend it.
February 25, 2020
What would you expect from a book about temple symbols? C. Robert Line covers a variery of gospel topics in his Endowed with Power, but lacks to cover the very book scope - temple symbols. Except for the square and circle in the beginning of the book, all other symbols are very slightly mentioned. Chapter 7 has some mentions to endowment symbols, which I expected to be detailed from the beginning of the book tp the end. This book is far from being an academic research, since about half the book are quotes from the scriptures and from Church leaders. If you're like me who wants to learn more about temple symbols and enrich temple worship experience, you will find this book very disappointing. But, if you want to check it by yourself, happy reading!
April 14, 2024
10/10 would recommend this book to any endowed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanting to get more out of their temple experience.
C. Robert Line stays true to the goal stated at the beginning of the book, “to point us to Christ and His infinite Atonement.” I think that’s ultimately what made this book feel like a faithful approach to deepening temple worship, not flippant or mysterious or inappropriate (or any of the other ways I could see a book like this going awry).
My highlights:
- One of my favorite parts of this book was learning about the coronation of the British monarch. The anointing, the ball and the staff, the special attire, the procession, the oaths - all of that brought new life to the words in the Doctrine and Covenants, describing those who will inherit the celestial kingdom, “They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory.”
- Quoting Brigham Young, “I would say to my young friends, that if you go on a mission with lightness and frivolity in your minds and not having your minds riveted, yes I may say riveted on the cross of Christ, you will go and return in vain. Let your minds be centered.”
- I’ve always interpreted “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father…is perfect” to mean that we should be as perfect as Father. Reading the book I interpreted it for the first time that we should be perfect in the same way that Father is perfect. So, in what way is our Father in Heaven perfect? What does that mean for us?
- To those who would say the belief that man can become a God is blasphemy, 1) the miracle of a zygote becoming a ruler of companies and nations is lost on us because it is so commonplace (and our science can explain it), and 2) the idea that we can become Gods is at once ennobling and utterly game-changing (it literally changes the game) - we don’t need to succumb to every whim of the flesh, we don’t need to aspire to the aspirations of the world, for our reward is in heaven.
- Salvation isn’t about acting in such a way that we are good enough for heaven. We cannot earn heaven, Christ has paid the price himself. “The issue is whether we will let go of what we already have,” if we’re willing to trade our humble mortal cottages for royal courts on high.
- Quoting C. S. Lewis, “We may indeed be sure that perfect chastity, like perfect charity, will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God’s help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness. Pick yourself up and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards us not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity or courage or truthfulness or any other virtue, maybe this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God…we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and we need not despair even in our worst.”
- “As Church members receive their endowment and participate in this beautiful ceremony repeatedly throughout their lives, they should take care not to construe every single aspect of the creation account as being exactly literal. There are only basics given, which…serve the purpose of helping us, not so much to understand the exact specifics of The Creation, but rather to understand thy which Father in Heaven is teaching us about Christ’s Atonement.” I’ve always wondered why The Creation features so prominently in the endowment. This is an interesting perspective, worthy of more study.
- The Hebrew word for Atonement, caphar, means to cover over. Wearing the garment as a reminder of taking upon ourselves the name of Christ can take on new meaning when we realize that “we are clothed, or covered, in and by the Savior’s Atonement.”
- Christ is the ultimate realization of the fact that “it is better that one man should perish, than that a nation should dwindle and perish because of unbelief.”
- “Most, if not all, symbols of the temple deal with one of two things: 1) Christ and His Atonement or 2) outcomes of His Atonement. Every place we sit, every action we make, everything we see and say, all of it combined in one way or other symbolically points us to one of these two realities.”
- An alternative interpretation of Christ receiving “grace for grace,” beyond the typical “like upon line” interpretation, is that Christ received grace in exchange for grace. He received grace or power because He offered it to others.
- “Power is bestowed in the temple, not just to gratify our ambition. No, it is given for the sole purpose of building up God’s kingdom in homes and lands around the world.”
Plumb (adj.), impute, epochal, filigree
C. Robert Line stays true to the goal stated at the beginning of the book, “to point us to Christ and His infinite Atonement.” I think that’s ultimately what made this book feel like a faithful approach to deepening temple worship, not flippant or mysterious or inappropriate (or any of the other ways I could see a book like this going awry).
My highlights:
- One of my favorite parts of this book was learning about the coronation of the British monarch. The anointing, the ball and the staff, the special attire, the procession, the oaths - all of that brought new life to the words in the Doctrine and Covenants, describing those who will inherit the celestial kingdom, “They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory.”
- Quoting Brigham Young, “I would say to my young friends, that if you go on a mission with lightness and frivolity in your minds and not having your minds riveted, yes I may say riveted on the cross of Christ, you will go and return in vain. Let your minds be centered.”
- I’ve always interpreted “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father…is perfect” to mean that we should be as perfect as Father. Reading the book I interpreted it for the first time that we should be perfect in the same way that Father is perfect. So, in what way is our Father in Heaven perfect? What does that mean for us?
- To those who would say the belief that man can become a God is blasphemy, 1) the miracle of a zygote becoming a ruler of companies and nations is lost on us because it is so commonplace (and our science can explain it), and 2) the idea that we can become Gods is at once ennobling and utterly game-changing (it literally changes the game) - we don’t need to succumb to every whim of the flesh, we don’t need to aspire to the aspirations of the world, for our reward is in heaven.
- Salvation isn’t about acting in such a way that we are good enough for heaven. We cannot earn heaven, Christ has paid the price himself. “The issue is whether we will let go of what we already have,” if we’re willing to trade our humble mortal cottages for royal courts on high.
- Quoting C. S. Lewis, “We may indeed be sure that perfect chastity, like perfect charity, will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God’s help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness. Pick yourself up and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards us not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity or courage or truthfulness or any other virtue, maybe this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God…we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and we need not despair even in our worst.”
- “As Church members receive their endowment and participate in this beautiful ceremony repeatedly throughout their lives, they should take care not to construe every single aspect of the creation account as being exactly literal. There are only basics given, which…serve the purpose of helping us, not so much to understand the exact specifics of The Creation, but rather to understand thy which Father in Heaven is teaching us about Christ’s Atonement.” I’ve always wondered why The Creation features so prominently in the endowment. This is an interesting perspective, worthy of more study.
- The Hebrew word for Atonement, caphar, means to cover over. Wearing the garment as a reminder of taking upon ourselves the name of Christ can take on new meaning when we realize that “we are clothed, or covered, in and by the Savior’s Atonement.”
- Christ is the ultimate realization of the fact that “it is better that one man should perish, than that a nation should dwindle and perish because of unbelief.”
- “Most, if not all, symbols of the temple deal with one of two things: 1) Christ and His Atonement or 2) outcomes of His Atonement. Every place we sit, every action we make, everything we see and say, all of it combined in one way or other symbolically points us to one of these two realities.”
- An alternative interpretation of Christ receiving “grace for grace,” beyond the typical “like upon line” interpretation, is that Christ received grace in exchange for grace. He received grace or power because He offered it to others.
- “Power is bestowed in the temple, not just to gratify our ambition. No, it is given for the sole purpose of building up God’s kingdom in homes and lands around the world.”
Plumb (adj.), impute, epochal, filigree
December 30, 2018
Although I didn’t agree with all his ideas, this book was still filled with wonderful thought-provoking quotes and ideas. I really appreciated his insights into framing temple worship to focus on the Atonement while at the same time reminding us that it is through our Father in Heaven that all goodness and Christ’s power exists. I had recently been told by someone at church that she had been counseled in her seminary training that every single lesson and comment needed to be brought around to Christ or they shouldn’t be shared and that didn’t sit well with me. Christ himself taught that He had come to do His Father’s will and I think that sometimes in our lessons we tend to focus more on our Savior than on our Father who is in charge of all and we are living His plan.
There were chapters on symbolism between the Adam and Eve story and Nephi and Levi’s dream of the Tree of Life that I found very interesting. He shared several wonderful quotes by CS Lewis and I’ve highlighted several passages, it’s definitely a book I will flip through from time to time to revisit the highlighted areas.
There were chapters on symbolism between the Adam and Eve story and Nephi and Levi’s dream of the Tree of Life that I found very interesting. He shared several wonderful quotes by CS Lewis and I’ve highlighted several passages, it’s definitely a book I will flip through from time to time to revisit the highlighted areas.
June 24, 2024
Okay, so this was a book club read, and not probably one I'd have picked up for my own reading. I liked that there was not any explicit telling of "this is this and that is that," because, as we are taught as ordinance workers, God will do His own teaching in the temple. We are not to interpret for the patrons or share what we may have learned for ourselves by personal revelation. That being said, there was far less talking about symbolism and a lot of talking about stuff (good stuff, mind you) that was out of the scope of the title and subtitle. Felt like the book wandered a bit. I did find some things to think about, and I feel like the author used good sources in addition to scripture to make his points. Not sure the author's credentials make me rush to take his word as gospel truth. I know a lot of the ladies in the book club thought it was fantastic. It just wasn't my style or type of gospel read.
March 13, 2018
This was a fantastic book about symbols in the temple. It primarily focused on how the atonement is the main thing to which all temple symbols are focused. Some really great discussions here about the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. There was also a great section on symbols used in royalty and the connection to temple rites. He had a whole chapter on Temple worthiness which was excellent. Also a chapter on how we shouldn’t forget to acknowledge God the Father and not get too focused on Christ. I did a lot of underlining in this book and I believe will be one that I will re-read a couple more times.
April 4, 2021
This is a great book about the whole purpose of why we go to the temple and how to think more about the symbolic representations we find there. I only wish we were back in the temple so I could think about the book while attending. But we will get back there some day, and I can reread the book! 🥰
I have read many books pertaining to the temple. This is my favorite so far. Lots of new insights and ways to rethink what I have thought for years.
I have read many books pertaining to the temple. This is my favorite so far. Lots of new insights and ways to rethink what I have thought for years.
January 18, 2023
Great book! It touches on many of the foundational doctrines of the temple that are easy to forget. The point, he says of the temple, is all about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And he uses scriptures to illustrate that point. As someone who has personally struggled with how archaic the practices in the temple feel, this illuminated my understanding and gave me a greater desire to keep visiting the temple.
December 11, 2024
Loved it so much, I immediately bought a hard copy. Listening to it as an audiobook was not my favorite as I had to pause and rewind a lot while I processed my thoughts. It was everything I would want in a book about the temple: discussed the tabernacle and clothing in the Old Testament,laid out ceremonies featuring temple symbols (royal coronations 🤯) and pointed everything to Christ’s atonement.
July 16, 2019
Great insight into understanding the temple
This was really lovely! I only wish it went into greater detail about each topic discussed. There were so many beautiful themes that really helped me understand the temple better. I suppose it’s up to me, to now go search out the greater details for myself:)
This was really lovely! I only wish it went into greater detail about each topic discussed. There were so many beautiful themes that really helped me understand the temple better. I suppose it’s up to me, to now go search out the greater details for myself:)
March 10, 2020
Soooo good!! ❤️
I love the insight and information that I gained from this book it was so well put together and easy to understand. And even after 20 years of attending the Temple almost monthly, I was able to learn even more and to gain better insights into beautiful and precious truths.
I love the insight and information that I gained from this book it was so well put together and easy to understand. And even after 20 years of attending the Temple almost monthly, I was able to learn even more and to gain better insights into beautiful and precious truths.
September 19, 2019
Clarity of lessons taught
I thought enjoyed this book. So many of my personal questions were addressed and answered. Lots of references given. The simplicity of topics made it a joy for me to read. Thank you
I thought enjoyed this book. So many of my personal questions were addressed and answered. Lots of references given. The simplicity of topics made it a joy for me to read. Thank you
May 13, 2024
I made the mistake of starting this book right before my Sunday nap, so I may have fell asleep for part of it… I love his use of scripture stories and then relationship to the temple. I’m grateful for the temple and the chance I have to come closer to God there.
October 13, 2017
Amazing... Loved the insights!!
The coronation stuff blew my mind. I loved his research and opinions to open my eyes and heart to more of what there is to learn.
The coronation stuff blew my mind. I loved his research and opinions to open my eyes and heart to more of what there is to learn.
February 8, 2021
Not a quick read by any stretch but deep, insightful and informative.
June 1, 2022
A very quick read that gives lots of insights into temple symbolism and how it points to Jesus Christ.
November 25, 2023
I really loved new insights gained while reading this book! I'm grateful a friend shared it with me.
December 13, 2024
I read this over many months but it gave me so much to think about esp in the temple. It was excellent!
March 5, 2025
It was a little deep than what I wanted. Didn't finish the last 1/4 of the book
March 30, 2025
I really really liked this book. It had wonderful insights that made me think for several days. I highly recommend this book.
November 21, 2019
Great! I have been going to the temple for over 40 years, and this taught me many things. Line points out that the temple is sacred, not secret. We can talk about many things. We should teach our children and each other.
July 20, 2019
Five stars PLUS for me! I loved this book. I don't normally talk much about the books I'm reading with my husband, but this one, this one I did! It was so good. This is now one of my favorite books about the temple. This book focuses on Christ and His Atonement. As President Nelson has said, "The basis for every temple ordinance and covenant...is the Atonement of Jesus Christ." This central focus of the temple is what is brought out in this book, and I loved it!
Some of the things talked about in this book:
*The Big Dipper on the Salt Lake Temple
*The Temple and the Circle and the Square
*The Temple and the Four pillars of Eternity (Goodhood, Creation, Fall and Atonement)
*The Temple and the Creation--We don't know everything about the creation and that's OK, the purpose of the creation accounts in the scriptures is not to teach us about the Creation, but about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For example: To become a spiritual being is the process of coming to earth, where our spirits are first clothed in an earthy or physical body and then undergo the process of being "born again," as Christ taught Nicodemus, "by water and the spirit" thus putting off the natural man.
One of my favorite quotes of this section: "As an anthropologist, as a scientist, I do not believe in theories. As a scientist, I USE theories." Do you see the difference? A good scientist does not believe in a theory, a good scientist uses a theory. a theory is the best that empirical knowledge has produced. It is the current, in-vogue, cutting-edge way of looking at things. such theories are also subject to change.
*Symbolism of Cherubim and a Flaming Sword
*The Tree of Life in the Book of Mormon and other scriptures
*Symbolic Trees of the Garden of Eden--the close proximity of the bitter and the sweet. Remember Lehi saw a river of water and it was Nephi that had to point out that it was filthy water? One of the keys to avoiding the ever-encroaching river of sin in our lives is to have OUR MINDS AND ACTIONS FOCUSED ON MANY OTHER GOOD AND UPLIFTING THINGS--to the point where there is not time or interest in sin itself. "and so much was his (Lehi's) mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water" 1 Nephi 15:27.
*Sacred Clothing and Christ's Atonement--Laban's clothes and Nephi
* Kings and Queens/Coronation
*Staying in the spiritual "Goldilocks Zone". Earth is in a Goldilocks zone.
*Grace
Some of the things talked about in this book:
*The Big Dipper on the Salt Lake Temple
*The Temple and the Circle and the Square
*The Temple and the Four pillars of Eternity (Goodhood, Creation, Fall and Atonement)
*The Temple and the Creation--We don't know everything about the creation and that's OK, the purpose of the creation accounts in the scriptures is not to teach us about the Creation, but about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For example: To become a spiritual being is the process of coming to earth, where our spirits are first clothed in an earthy or physical body and then undergo the process of being "born again," as Christ taught Nicodemus, "by water and the spirit" thus putting off the natural man.
One of my favorite quotes of this section: "As an anthropologist, as a scientist, I do not believe in theories. As a scientist, I USE theories." Do you see the difference? A good scientist does not believe in a theory, a good scientist uses a theory. a theory is the best that empirical knowledge has produced. It is the current, in-vogue, cutting-edge way of looking at things. such theories are also subject to change.
*Symbolism of Cherubim and a Flaming Sword
*The Tree of Life in the Book of Mormon and other scriptures
*Symbolic Trees of the Garden of Eden--the close proximity of the bitter and the sweet. Remember Lehi saw a river of water and it was Nephi that had to point out that it was filthy water? One of the keys to avoiding the ever-encroaching river of sin in our lives is to have OUR MINDS AND ACTIONS FOCUSED ON MANY OTHER GOOD AND UPLIFTING THINGS--to the point where there is not time or interest in sin itself. "and so much was his (Lehi's) mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water" 1 Nephi 15:27.
*Sacred Clothing and Christ's Atonement--Laban's clothes and Nephi
* Kings and Queens/Coronation
*Staying in the spiritual "Goldilocks Zone". Earth is in a Goldilocks zone.
*Grace
January 11, 2018
My perspective on temple attendance and worship has been tweaked. I wasn't completely aware of how much my Heavenly Father is very much a part of my life still and now, after reading this book, I see Him around and a part of me more. I gave this 4 stars because there are a couple ideas the author presents in the book that I don't agree with.
March 24, 2018
This was a very short, but thought-provoking read. I don’t necessarily agree with all of the theories he presents, but there was certainly some information that I had never heard before and I think it will give me a lot to think about the next time I go to the temple.
April 1, 2024
extremely healthy perspective
The insight in this book is so valuable as one coming to the temple for the first time, coming back after a long absence or for one who routinely has that temple as part of his/her life! Thank you!m brother Line!
The insight in this book is so valuable as one coming to the temple for the first time, coming back after a long absence or for one who routinely has that temple as part of his/her life! Thank you!m brother Line!
October 15, 2017
For Latter-day Saint readers who want to enrich their understanding of the temple, I would definitely recommend this book!
August 1, 2018
I want to read this book again in the future.
October 31, 2018
This is now my favorite book on the temple.
March 25, 2019
I learned so much about the Temple from this book and even the symbolism in coronation of kings and queens! Fantastic read and so uplifting and inspiring!
April 12, 2019
I learned a lot! Highly recommend this one to anyone preparing to go to the temple or who has gone for years.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews