On the Edge of Eternity — The Symbolism of the Garment

I recently went through the new temple recommend interview.  Pretty much  just like the old temple recommend interview, except there’s more about wearing the temple garment.

One bit made me realize something that I am probably the last Latter-day Saint to figure out.

The garment and the veil have the same symbols on them.   Thus the garment represents the veil, and the veil the garment.

The veil is what stands between mortal life and the celestial world.  Thus it represents death.

The garment then is a kind of memento mori.  The message is similar to C.S. Lewis’ essay ‘What if this was the world’s last night?”  The message is that you stand on the edge of eternity.

At the veil you speak to the Lord.  The message of the garment then is that you stand in front of the Lord.  The gestures you make, the words you speak, the reaching out you do, you do it to the Lord.  At the edge of eternity.