One Crucial Phrase We Often Get Wrong in the Church (+ How It Can Change Our Temple Experience)

Keywords

precision in language, sacramental prayers, temple endowment terminology

Abstract

Words matter. Precision in communication matters. For example, the words used in sacramental prayers over the bread and water are prescribed (see D&C 20:77, 79). The bishop as an overseer (the literal meaning of the word for “bishop” in Greek is episkopos, meaning “overseer”) ensures that the priests have said the prayer properly, correctly, and with precision. Otherwise, the prayer needs to be said again, correctly.

Though there are heaven-prescribed ways of talking about receiving an endowment, too often in our culture we use or hear the incorrect and imprecise phrase, “I took out my endowment” or “she took out her endowment” instead of “I received my endowment” or “she received her endowment.”

Original Publication Citation

One Crucial Phrase We Often Get Wrong in Church and How It Can Change Our Temple Experience, LDS Living, February 21, 2017.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017

Publisher

LDS Living

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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