Is it allowed to bring a pen and paper into the Celestial Room?
Question
Gramps,
Writing is an important part of my thought process. We are encouraged to go to the temple to seek out answers, and I was wondering why I never see people write down their impressions in the Celestial Room. Is it not allowed to bring a pen and paper into the celestial room?
Jacob
Answer
Jacob,
You are a questioner after my own heart! As a matter of habit I usually keep a pen and writing pad with me wherever I go. When I go to the temple, I leave the pen and pad in my locker after changing into my temple clothing. Certainly it would be helpful to be able to write down impressions as they come in the Celestial Room; but I have always assumed that the practice would be discouraged because of–for example–concerns over keeping the temple ceremony confidential, or simply avoiding creating distractions for other temple patrons. This might be a good question for you to take to a member of your local temple presidency for further explanation.
I would gently suggest, however, that the meditative experience we associate with temple worship doesn’t need to end once we walk out of the Celestial Room. If I can continue that pondering process even as I return to the locker room and prepare to leave the temple, my experience is that the things I have learned will linger long enough for me to get my trusty pad and pen, sit down in the foyer for a few moments, and commit those new insights to paper before leaving the building.
Gramps
I asked my temple president the same thing (swiss temple president). He asked salt lake because he had heard different things … the answer was that the material provided by the temple should be used. (we should not take pen or paper nor our patriarchal blessing into the cel. room). If the Lord wants us to follow this counsil, he will help us remember the spiritual impressions we had when we are writing it down.
And it is true that inspiration mostly comes when we are ready. Try this: Have pen and paper in front of you when you pray, and tell heavenly father that you will write down the spiritual impressions that you get, and that you will also wait after the prayer (not getting distracted but just 10mi after prayer sit there and just listen … he might tell you something or he might not, but you were ready. i believe sometimes we are not listening and he would like to tell us something. till we are listening, like for example when we go to the temple. Like when we think we want to go to the cel. room to get answers.. we can get answers anywhere. We get answers when we are receptive. (for some this is a certain time period (like when they are in need), for some it is special places …
I write my impressions, feelings, etc. as soon as I can after while it’s fresh on my mind. In the Nauvoo temple I was allowed to sit in the baptistry chapel and journal/reflect on my experience there.
I used to be an ordinance worker in the temple, and they instructed us not to allow journals, books, pens, paper, or any other outside sources or recording into the sessions or wherever ordinances are performed. I believe it helps us keep our covenants to not disclose that which is taught in the temple.
I have noticed a number of people with a tiny notepad and pencil in the temple-primarily to write down the name of the person they have just done the work for, if it was not a family name. So I don’t think it is forbidden. Don’t now about taking notes in the Celestial Room, though.
I’ve seen it, but never in the Celestial room. Just about the temple.