Question
Gramps,
When do I need to repent for not going to the temple? How long after going to the temple is it considered a sin not to go?
Dillon
Answer
Dillon,
The important thing to understand is that the Lord has encouraged temple attendance, but the Church has not established a universal rule requiring members to attend the temple every week, every month, or a set number of times each year. There is a difference between neglecting something spiritually important and committing a sin simply because we haven’t done it recently.
The Church’s General Handbook is actually very clear on this subject. Section 25.1.1, titled “Individual Responsibility for Temple Attendance,” states:
“Members determine for themselves when and how often to worship in the temple. Leaders do not establish quotas or reporting systems for temple attendance.”
That statement is important because it makes clear that temple attendance is an individual responsibility, not a requirement tied to a specific schedule. Does that mean temple attendance isn’t important? Absolutely not. The temple is one of the most sacred places in the restored gospel. It is where we participate in sacred ordinances, make covenants with God, and learn more about His plan for His children. However, the Lord wants us to attend because we love Him, want to worship Him, and desire to strengthen our relationship with Him, not simply because we fear being guilty if we don’t go often enough.
So, when does someone need to repent for not attending the temple? This is where we need to understand the difference between neglecting an opportunity and committing a sin. Repentance is necessary when we knowingly violate God’s commandments, disregard His teachings, or fail to keep the covenants we have made. However, simply not attending the temple for a period of time does not automatically mean we have committed a sin.
For example, someone might have a current temple recommend but not have attended for six months. Perhaps they have health problems, financial difficulties, family responsibilities, transportation issues, or other circumstances that make attending difficult. Those circumstances are not automatically sins. Even someone who could attend but hasn’t made it a priority should not immediately assume that they have committed a serious transgression.
Of course, we should also be careful not to use our circumstances as an excuse to deliberately turn away from the Lord. If we recognize that we have become spiritually complacent, ignored opportunities to worship, or allowed other things to consistently take priority over our relationship with God, that may be an invitation to examine our choices and make some changes. But that doesn’t mean we should automatically assume that every missed temple visit requires repentance. Sometimes we simply need to recognize that we could do better and make an effort to bring the Lord more fully into our lives.
We should also remember that repentance is not meant to be driven by fear or by an endless sense that we are never doing enough. It is about turning our hearts toward Jesus Christ and becoming more like Him.
What about the amount of time between temple visits? Does it become a sin after two weeks, three months, six months, or a year? The answer is no. There is no established time limit. The Church has not established a required number of temple visits or a deadline for returning after your last visit. In fact, the General Handbook specifically places the decision about how often to attend in the hands of individual members.
This is consistent with what Carol B. Thomas taught in her April 1999 general conference address, “Preparing Our Families for the Temple.” She addressed the question of how often members should attend and explained:
“Our leaders will never tell us how often we should attend the temple because it is different for every person.”
She went on to discuss how some members who live close to a temple may attend weekly, while others with full-time jobs or young children may only be able to attend once a month or less frequently. She even shared counsel from President Boyd K. Packer that young parents should not feel inadequate or guilty if they cannot afford the time or money to attend a distant temple frequently.
That is an important reminder because we shouldn’t measure our spirituality by comparing how often we attend the temple with how often someone else attends. Someone who lives five minutes from a temple and attends every week may have very different circumstances from someone who lives several hours away or has physical limitations. The Lord understands those differences.
That doesn’t mean we should lose sight of how important the temple is. In Doctrine and Covenants 109:13, during the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith prayed that the Lord’s glory would rest upon His people and that those who entered His house would feel His presence. Temples provide opportunities to make sacred covenants, participate in ordinances, serve those who have passed away, and feel the peace that comes from worshipping in the Lord’s house.
President Howard W. Hunter also offered beautiful counsel on temple attendance. He said:
“Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow.”
Notice that he didn’t say we must attend every week or every month. He specifically included our time, means, and personal circumstances. President Hunter also encouraged members to maintain their temple worthiness and carry a current temple recommend, even when living close to a temple wasn’t possible, or frequent attendance wasn’t practical.
Ultimately, not attending the temple for a certain period does not automatically make someone a sinner. There is no specific number of days, weeks, or months after which a person must repent for not going. What matters is our relationship with the Lord, our willingness to keep our covenants, and our desire to follow Him.
The temple should be a place we look forward to attending because of our love for the Lord, not a place we feel pressured to attend because we are afraid of how long it has been since our last visit. If you have a desire to return to the temple, that’s wonderful. Start when you can. If life has made it difficult to attend, don’t assume the Lord is disappointed in you.
He knows your heart, He knows your circumstances, and He wants you to draw closer to Him. That relationship is far more important than keeping track of how many times you have walked through the temple doors.
Gramps
