Missionary Chat: Omniscience vs. endowments

Today’s missionary chat is based on a question my wife raised that I always found interesting: If God is omniscient, then why do Mormons have endowments done?  Wouldn’t God know who to let into the Celestial Kingdom without evidence of having an endowment done?  Here’s the chat:

Angie: hi!

Bob (me): Hi Angie.

Angie: hello! how are today?

Bob: I’m well.  How are you?

Angie: Fantastic! 🙂

Angie: Is there anything that we can help you with?

Bob: Yep, I have a question.

Angie: alright! what is it?

Bob: First, do you believe that God is omniscient (i.e., knows everything)?

Melody: We know that he know every things

Bob: Okay. I just wanted to make sure. That leads to my primary question. If God is omniscient, then why do Mormons have to receive the endowment? If I’m not mistaken, the endowment is a gift of knowledge that includes learning handshakes and passwords to get past angels who stand as sentinels to the Celestial Kingdom. If God knows who is worthy and who isn’t, why the handshakes and passwords?

Angie: sorry, I really don’t know about that because as a purpose of a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ. and we Share the Basic belief.

Bob: Hmm… Aren’t endowments required to get into the Celestial Kingdom?

Angie: yes all the I know that we need to do all the Temple ordinances,because it is a command to us

Angie: so you are a member in the church?

Bob: No. I’m just very interested in Mormonism and someone pointed out that this seems odd.  So I thought I’d ask a missionary.

Melody: Where are you from?

Bob: I live in Florida right now.

Angie: cool! so did you meet before the missionaries?

Bob: Yep. I’ve met with many missionaries.

Angie: so how is it?

Bob: Not sure what you mean.  If you’re wondering what I think of the missionaries, I’d say that I don’t find their arguments compelling enough to join the LDS Church.

[The chat session has ended.]

They killed the chat at this point.

So, this question was clearly too “deep” for these missionaries.  I’m not convinced they even knew what “omniscient” meant.  I also find it sad that people do things because it is a “commandment,” no questions asked.  And, finally, I am transcribing the chat exactly as it occurred.  So, the typos and grammar of the missionaries are exactly what they wrote.  I’m not sure how well they end up representing the LDS Church when they write so incoherently.