For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is a sacred place where we go to draw closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, to make covenants, and to feel the Spirit. It is often described as a house of revelation, peace, and profound spiritual experience. Many Saints share stories of feeling overwhelming joy, personal guidance, or unmistakable confirmation of the Lord’s love while in the temple. These sacred experiences are real and meaningful, yet sometimes they can create unspoken expectations that everyone who enters the temple will have similar manifestations of the Spirit.
For some faithful members, the experiences of the temple are much quieter, or in some cases even absent, despite their hopes and righteous desires. When expectations of unmistakable moments of revelation in the temple—such as a burning in the bosom, tears, or immediate clarity—do not come, it can result in disappointment, confusion, and feelings of inadequacy. These doubts can leave individual members wondering why they seem spiritually disconnected while others around them are visibly uplifted.
However, these are thoughts cultivated by the adversary. As such it is incumbent upon us to understand spiritual experiences are deeply personal and come in diverse ways and on the Lord’s timetable. Elder David A. Bednar taught many of the promptings and confirmations we receive from the Holy Ghost are subtle, almost imperceptible—like the rising of the sun rather than the sudden flipping on of a light. These quiet whisperings and steady feelings of peace offered by the Spirit can be easy to overlook if we are focused on expecting larger emotional or spiritual experiences.
Elder Boyd K. Packer reinforced this principle stating, We are not always entitled to a strong, powerful spiritual witness. Most often, our confirmation will come through quiet feelings of peace and certainty—a reminder that the absence of a dramatic feeling does not mean the Spirit was absent.
Additionally, not feeling something in the temple does not mean we are unworthy, unloved, or spiritually broken. President Howard W. Hunter encouraged us to always be worthy of a temple recommend, even if we do not always feel the kind of sacred manifestations we may anticipate stating, Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us go not only for our kindred dead but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which are provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls.
His words encourage us to find joy in the process of temple worship itself, not just in specific, noticeable experiences. Regular temple attendance strengthens our spirits, shapes our character, and draws us closer to the Savior even when those blessings unfold quietly over time. Our worthiness and devotion are not validated by immediate emotional responses but by our willingness to return, to keep covenants, and to patiently seek the Lord.
Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34 states, Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. The Lord values consistent, faithful effort. Sometimes, continuing to attend the temple without extraordinary feelings is an act of quiet, steady discipleship. The very act of showing up, participating, and desiring to feel the Spirit is a form of worship that the Lord honors. Clearly, even when we do not feel an immediate spiritual reward, our temple service and covenants are building us into who the Lord wants us to become.
However, when we see others weep with joy or hear them share remarkable temple experiences, it can be tempting to equate our spiritual journey to theirs and asking, What’s wrong with me? or Why don’t I feel that way? We must take a step back and realize this practice of spiritual comparisons can be dangerously demoralizing and damaging. Each person’s relationship with God is unique, and the Spirit customizes experiences to our individual needs.
God’s love is not reserved for those who have grand spiritual moments. It is equally extended to those who quietly show up, serve, and keep their covenants even when feelings are not immediately present. Our Heavenly Father knows exactly where we are on our personal spiritual path and provides us with what we need, tailored to our growth. When we see others visibly touched or hear them share remarkable temple experiences, we must resist the urge to feel left out or inadequate. Their spiritual path is not ours. Our role is to trust that God knows how and when to speak to us.
Sometimes we may not feel spiritual impressions in the temple because of other influences. Fatigue, mental health challenges, distractions, grief, anxiety, physical illness, or even unmet expectations can all cloud our ability to feel the Spirit. Heavenly Father understands all these challenges perfectly and judges us with mercy, not harshness. The Lord understands the complexities of mortality perfectly. He is patient with us and will help us, even when we feel we are experiencing periods of spiritual quietness. Sometimes, He allows us to pass through these moments to build our faith and teach us to rely on Him without depending on external signs.
Perhaps the greatest spiritual lesson in these experiences is the power of persistence. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf beautifully reassured us stating, If you stumble, do not give up. Never stop striving. Heavenly Father is pleased every time you turn to Him for truth and righteousness—no matter how often that may be. Choosing to keep attending the temple, even when we feel spiritually dry, is a profound act of faith. It shows the Lord that we are committed to Him not because of immediate spiritual rewards, but because we love Him and trust in His promises.
Spiritual feelings may come later, sometimes even after we leave the temple, or perhaps years down the road as we look back and recognize the quiet influence that was with us all along. As Elder Holland once powerfully taught, Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. We can trust that the blessings of the temple—whether felt immediately or not—are real and lasting.
Ultimately, not having a spiritual experience at the temple while those around us seem to be uplifted can be challenging, but it does not mean we are failing or that God is distant from us. The Lord honors our consistent effort, our willingness to come, and our faith to keep trying. He knows our hearts and will bless us in His own time and way. The temple is always a place of peace, growth, and sacred work—even if we do not always feel it. As we patiently persist, trusting the Lord’s promises, the spiritual rewards will come—quietly, deeply, and often in ways we did not expect.
