Why do I call this "Spiritual Twinkies?" 

The scriptures talk about doctrine as milk or meat. I think this is something else. I think these kind of discussions can be fun, but not the kind of thing that will be the foundation of your testimony.

Elder Holland described "theological Twinkies" as a kind of spiritual empty calories. President John Taylor described them as "fried froth."

If you want real spiritual nourishment, I suggest you worship at the temple. 

These are my musings about symbols I see in the Richmond Virginia temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

This is nothing official from the church and nothing about this should be considered canonical doctrine, just my best understanding. I am still learning new things all the time.

However, I do find it insightful and fun to ponder on the House of the Lord and I think it might be interesting and maybe meaningful to other people, too. 

Enjoy.

We are sometimes reluctant to talk about sacred things. I get that. But if we take that too far, the temple becomes an aloof concept.

President Benson said, “The temple is a sacred place, and the ordinances in the temple are of a sacred character. Because of its sacredness we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the temple to our children and grandchildren. As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into. I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple."

I seek to follow these guidelines suggested by Elder Bednar:

• Guideline #1. Because we love the Lord, we always should speak about His holy house with reverence. We should not disclose or describe the special symbols associated with the covenants we receive in sacred temple ceremonies. Neither should we discuss the holy information that we specifically promise in the temple not to reveal.

• Guideline #2. The temple is the house of the Lord. Everything in the temple points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We may discuss the basic purposes of and the doctrine and principles associated with temple ordinances and covenants.

I make use of scriptures and materials published by the church and images available online.

Here I emphasize the architecture, the furnishings and paintings and how they point us to Christ or remind us of temple covenants.

I am mindful of President Nelson's instruction: 

Too many people focus on the physical beauty of the temple and its furnishings rather than on the covenants that patrons enter into for themselves and their ancestors, the ordinances received, and the spiritual strengthening that occurs in the temple. It is incumbent upon us that we do much more to help our people understand the power of covenants.

I hope that these discussions help connect the physical beauty of the temple and its furnishings with the ordinances and covenants that are going on.