Changes to Temple Ordinances
Many people who seek to prove the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrong will sometimes claim that there have been changes to the LDS Temple ordinances. They use this as a weapon when referring to Joseph Smith's statement that "Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 308.)
Analogous Changes
In August, 1830, the prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation pertaining to the ordinance of the sacrament. In this revelation Joseph Smith was told "it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins." (Doctrine and Covenants 27:2) In other words, food and drink, or bread and wine, were not the most essential elements of the ordinance.
Symbolism is a language like any other. Different symbols mean different things to different people in different cultures. The Temple endowment was revealed in English, but has since been translated into many different languages. Similarly, there have been minor changes in some of the symbolism of the Endowment over the years, however, the fundamental message, covenants, and bestowal of authority have remained the same.
