A long boring video about the creation of the world and Adam and Eve. Throughout it there are instructions about secret handshakes and wearing some funny costumes. There are lots of promises you make to obey various commandments.
Kellie - nickname gave you the real deal answer. The mormon answer is that it is a super sacred (read, secret) ceremony in the mormon temple you go through to eventually bring about your eternal salvation in the next life.
More read deal info..you have NO idea what you are in for when going into it. All you are told is how sacred it is and that is about it. In my opinion its very wrong to make people sign up for something so binding that they have NO disclosure about before hand what they are signing up for. During the ceremony they promise they are ok with being killed if they reveal the things told to them during the ceremony and do chants and learn handshakes (very cultish) that they believe they will have to know to get into heaven in the next life.
The whole "agreeing to be killed if you reveal the secrets" part has been removed from the ceremony relatively recently.
You do still promise to give everything you are, have, and ever will posses to the church, though. Without being given any time to consider the implications of such a promise.
i was over whemed when i met missionaries as i had strong faith and was happy, i wanted to be baptised but now only 3 months later i'v never felt so wrong and lost that special somet i had before, i want out and when i'm asked yet again whats up i will be telling them, i have not been told to much in what they believe into recently and i'm alone on this no family members just me,
Also I recommend you go through the formal name removal process so that they know you are serious and so you can claim to no longer be a person on their records they feel they are free to contact. here is some info:
No family members in TSCC, only three months in? Lucky you! I know you might feel a bit embarrassed for being duped, but you figured it out in only three months.. Took me three DECADES to discover the truth!
Just tell them to leave you alone, you studied more about the church and you are withdrawing your membership. Make sure you have your name removed from the records so that they will not follow up with you anymore.
I never had my endowment, but I was surprised to find out in my research that the initial reason it was secret is because it was for the purpose of conducting polygamous marriages, which were still hidden from the members. Joseph and a few select were being "sealed" to multiple women. The original temple ceremony was quite bland (washing, etc..) Only after brother Joe felt the need to start marrying multiple (some under age) women, did the ceremony become "sacred" and thus secret.
Excellent web sites to get informed and know what you are promising to do with your life. I am a proponent of more information given by the LDS CHurch on the temple and not holding back anything. I'm for Full Disclosure not general statements.
Religions often have "secret-sacred" rituals. The LDS Church does also.