26. Temples -- Holy Houses of the Lord
- L Rshaw
- Sep 2, 2019
- 20 min read
Updated: Sep 11, 2022
"The crowning jewel of the Restoration is the holy temple"
--- Russell M. Nelson (Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
A temple by the simplest definition is a place of worship. For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, temples are the holiest places on Earth. What makes temples of the Church different from our meetinghouses is that they're places of covenant-making. These are ceremonious promises that cannot be performed anywhere but inside the temple, making them essential structures of our religion. As with ordinances such as baptism, it is the priesthood --- the authority of God, which was restored after being lost for nearly 1800 years and is unique to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, that makes temple ordinances valid in the eyes of God (See "Priesthood" and "Baptism by Immersion"). Understanding the eternal purpose of temples goes hand-in-hand with understanding our relationship to Heavenly Father and our eternal potential as His children. That's what this blog post will delve into. Enjoy!
**NOTE: If you wish to get in contact with missionaries of the Church to learn more, you can do so at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/missionary-visit
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WHO CAN ATTEND THE TEMPLE?
For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the temple is unlike any other place. They serve a purpose. Temples are some of the Holiest places on Earth where we can set aside worldly things for a moment and be closer to God. In order to enter the temple, true to the inscription above the entrance of every temple “Holiness to the Lord”, attendees must be a member of the Church in good standing and at least 11 years old [1]. Church membership isn't meant to discriminate or exclude people from entering the temple, rather it is meant to help us appreciate that the temple is a sacred and not a casual experience; the temple is a privilege and requires spiritual readiness and commitment to the commandments on the part of each attendee (See "Obedience: A Sign of Love").
The temple is a place to make sacred covenants with the Lord -- sacred promises -- and the first covenant we make is baptism. Understanding this, without being a baptized member of the church, entering the temple would have no purpose or significance to the patron anyway. We go to the temple foremost to make covenants for ourselves and those who have passed on.
The temple is sometimes referred to as a "House of Learning" too (D&C 88:119). It's a place to feel the peaceful influence of the Holy Ghost more abundantly and where we might feel closer to God and receive inspiration or personal revelation (See "A Still, Small Voice"). Anciently, the prophets usually went to the mountains to commune with God and receive instruction (See "Prophets and Callings" and "Theophany"; 1 Nephi 17:7; Exo. 19:3; Moses 1:1). And Jesus often taught in the temple (Luke 2:46; 21:37-38). For this reason, temples, even today, are sometimes referred to as "the mountain of the Lord", a place of learning from "on high":
"In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Micah 4:1-2; 2 Nephi 2:2-3)
TEMPLES RECOMMENDS
It should be pointed out as well though, that not all members of the Church can attend the temple either unless they are in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ and of a certain age. A current temple recommend certifies that a person meets these requirements to attend the temple. This tiny record is provided in an ecclesiastical interview with the local bishop of the Ward that the Church member attends, or his counselors, and either the Stake President or one of his counselors as well (See "Set Apart and Setting Out"). These men strive to be good "shepherds" and care for those over whom they preside, following the perfect example of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, whom they represent whenever we have interviews with them (See "Bishops and Shepherds"). Bishops, Stake Presidents, and their counselors do their best to invite the Spirit of Christ to the interview, beginning with and ending with a prayer; in many ways, it is an interview with the Lord, and with the Holy Ghost as much as an interview between two imperfect people in a room. To get the most out of the temple recommend interview experience, we might see it as symbolic of an interview with the Lord Jesus Christ, He who leads the Church. I wouldn't be surprised if, on "the Judgment Day", we have an interview with Him that's very similar to a temple recommend interview. (See "Lord, Is it I?")
A "temple recommend" is a tiny document that indicates that the "recommend holder" is living in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. But what it should mean to the individual is significant. Your temple recommend reflects a deep, spiritual intent that you are striving to live the laws of the Lord and love what He loves: humility, meekness, steadfastness, charity, courage, compassion, forgiveness, and obedience. And you commit yourself to those standards when you sign your name to that sacred document. Every 2 years, we get to renew our temple recommends, have the interview again, and reaffirm our commitment and testimony of the gospel. This is what is meant by having a "current" temple recommend, one that is up to date.
We often use the adjective "WORTHY" within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This shouldn't be misconstued to mean someone is "perfect" or is of "worth". Nobody is perfect and everyone has worth! (See "More Than Good"). When we speak of "worthy" members of the Church, or "worthy" priesthood holders, we really mean to say individuals who qualify for a temple recommend, that is to say, that they are in harmony with the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
In a temple recommend interview, you have the opportunity to search your soul about your personal faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. You have the blessing to express your testimony of the restored gospel; your willingness to sustain those whom the Lord has called to lead His Church; your faith in the doctrine of the gospel; your fulfillment of family responsibilities; and your qualities of honesty, chastity, fidelity, obedience, and observance of the Word of Wisdom, the law of tithing, and the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Those are bedrock principles of a life devoted to Jesus Christ and His work. The interview questions are made public so members of all ages can better understand the requirements for temple worship and prepare to enter the temple. Responses to these questions only require an honest "yes" or an honest "no", as the individual self-reflects in his or her heart their attitude and practices in accordance with the Lord and His teachings. If changes are needed to live in harmony with the gospel, then such efforts should be made before getting a temple recommend.
Temple recommend interviews should not be rushed. They should be private. However, the person being interviewed may invite another adult to be present. A youth may invite a parent or another adult to be present during an interview for a recommend.
I again reiterate that these are questions intended for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; if you're not a member of the church, you will likely be unfamiliar with what many of the questions are talking about. The interview questions for temple recommends are exactly as follows:
Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?
Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators?
Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?
The Lord has said that all things are to be “done in cleanliness” before Him (D&C 42:41).
Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior?
Do you obey the law of chastity?
Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?
Are you a full-tithe payer?
Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?
Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children?
If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple, including wearing the temple garment as instructed in the endowment?
Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?
Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?
Also, it might be noted that the youngest someone can be baptized and become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is 8 years old (See "Baptism by Immersion"). So even though children can become members of the Church, they would also not be able to attend the temple until they were at least 11 or 12 years old. The reason for this is the same for everyone; entering the temple requires spiritual preparation and little children cannot yet fully understand the spiritual significance of temple ordinances. Furthermore, the only proxy ordinances that individuals under 18 years old can participate in are proxy baptisms and confirmations [2]. (See also "Redeeming the Dead")
CONVERTS & TEMPLE ATTENDANCE:
For newly-baptized members of the Church (converts), the Bishop of the ward may conduct an interview for a "Limited-Use" recommend as soon as a week after the person is confirmed a member of the church [3] (See "Confirmation"). This is the same kind of temple recommend that youth receive, which allows them to participate in the aforementioned proxy baptisms and confirmations. For brethren, this interview may be held as part of the interview to receive the Aaronic Priesthood (See "Priesthood"). Male Church members must be ordained to a priesthood office before receiving a limited-use recommend. And so, as you can see, from the time someone is baptized and joins the Church, it doesn't take long before they can enjoy temple attendance too!
OPEN HOUSES
However, should someone who isn't a member of the Church want to see the inside of a temple, open houses for the public are held prior to the temple's dedication where anybody can get a free walk-through tour of the temple. Once the temple has been dedicated and temple worship commences, that is when the temple is no longer open to the public so I recommend you go see one when you can! (See "Temple Dedication")
PURPOSE
It's more than eye candy. One of the purposes of the temple is to teach us about families and how they can be together forever (See "Eternal Family"). In the temple, we truly feel like one family, all children of the same Heavenly Father, brothers, and sisters on the same journey. One powerful teaching of the Church is that relationships in this life carry over with us after we die and our spirit departs this mortal life. That's why family history work is so important to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (See "Redeeming the Dead"). We truly are all connected, down to Adam and Eve. One family. Temples are essential to have not only eternal life for ourselves but also to unite our families eternally. For that, I am extremely grateful for the knowledge that I am part of an eternal family that death itself cannot end.
REGULAR SUNDAY MEETINGS -- VISITORS WELCOME!
Temples are different from meetinghouses (sometimes referred to as "chapels" or simply "Church"). Anybody may join in our weekly worship services in these chapels every Sunday; learn about what you can expect from Sunday services in my blog post "Sabbath Day Observance"). And beyond worship, visitors are welcome to participate in any other activity that may happen during the week, as there are often casual social events going on depending on where you live. Visitors are always welcome. Come and see! Be our friends! No charge. No requirements or commitment of any sort to visit. If anything, I hope you can make some new friends by coming just once. You can find a meetinghouse near you here.
HOW MANY TEMPLES ARE THERE?
New temples are almost always announced during General Conference. The number of temples in the world will obviously change from time to time as you're reading this, but the rate at which they are being announced and built is increasing rapidly. Check here for the latest updates. As the year closed in December 2021, there were 161 operating temples, 9 more under renovation, 45 under construction, and 50 more announced (not yet under construction) for a total of 265 temples worldwide in some level of operation or development. At this rate, it's almost assured that when you're reading this, that number will be dramatically larger.
See a map of the temples at https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/maps/temples/
When I was born in 1995, there were only 47 temples in existence. That means that up to this point in my life (December 2021), 125 temples have been dedicated in my lifetime. That is to say that from 1877, when the "St. George, Utah Temple" was dedicated, to when I was born, a period of about 120 years, 47 temples were built and dedicated. In the last decade alone (from 2010 to 2020) there were 38 more temples dedicated. In comparison to what took 120 years to get the first 47 temples up and running, we accomplished in the last 15 years getting 47 more temples up and running. That's 8 times as fast today as it was when I was born only 25 years ago. That is incredible! I can't wait to see where it goes from here!
TEMPLE RENOVATIONS
In recent years, in addition to the construction of many new temples around the world, plans that have been in the works for years to renovate many of the oldest temples of the Church are finally coming to fruition. By the time you read this, many may have reached completion or others may be in various stages of development. Among the oldest temples in Utah, just to name a few, are the Manti Temple, the St. George Temple, the Provo Temple, and the Salt Lake City Temple (which is the most famous of them all). I am so excited to see the final results and to know that these historic buildings will be preserved for many years to come!
But temple renovations aren't brand new. Throughout the years, from time to time, there have been select temple renovations with various purposes. Some of these include updating outdated equipment such as electrical and thermal equipment to improve efficiency and ensure proper maintenance of temple grounds. Sometimes, a temple may have more drastic changes which may adjust the layout of the temple to accommodate more patrons. In all cases, like any other building, the Church goes to the appropriate lengths to ensure that the temples are well-maintained and in working order. As was before mentioned, at the end of each renovation, an Open House is available to the public, and thereafter, once the building is once again "dedicated" it is closed to the general public and operational for its intended sacred purposes.
The numerous renovation projects undergone in recent years are largely focused on the temples that were constructed many years ago with limited and outdated methods and technologies, even hand tools like chisels. This includes the need to upgrade the foundations of the buildings and to earthquake-proof them. Additionally, you can read all about the other wonderful renovations going on around the temple grounds to make them more accessible and functional such as those going on at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah where they need to accommodate the numerous members of the Church who have traditionally served in that temple, as well as the countless amount of foot traffic that Temple Square gets from tourists around the world. You can follow the news about the renovation here.
In October 2021, the prophet of the Church, Russell M. Nelson, shared a video from beneath the Salt Lake City Temple where remarkable work was being conducted on the stone foundations. In his message, he invited us to consider our spiritual foundation (See "Upon The Rock"). I invite you to watch his message below:
THE HISTORY OF TEMPLES
Temples are "the House of the Lord" (a phrase that King Solomon used often, among others). They are not new. Even in the oldest of times, temples have served as a place of covenant-making with God. Ancient ones included the Tabernacle (from the Latin meaning “tent”; Exo. 25:8) which the Children of Israel, namely the Levites, operated in Moses’ days, and the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6). It was destroyed by the Babylonians around 600 B.C. and replaced by a second temple called the Temple of Herod which we are most familiar with in the New Testament.
Brigham Young University set up a scale replica of the tabernacle and offered tours to the public in late 2017. As a student who walked by it every day, I can say that I was surprised by how small the tabernacle really was. Nevertheless, though they come in all shapes and sizes, their function is of supreme importance, not what it looks like or is made of.
MY TESTIMONY OF THE TEMPLE
While a student at BYU, starting in the fall of 2017, I had the privilege of serving in the Provo Temple for about four and a half hours every Friday night. I volunteered there for about 6 months until I went home to Salt Lake City for the summer between semesters. I revere it as something sacred but I can testify from personal experience that there is no place like the temple. Everything is centered on Christ. The spirit there is strong. The blessings are real. It is God’s house. You just feel a constant outpour of love, gratitude, and unity when you set aside your worldly cares and concerns, forget yourself, and turn outward and focus on serving others in the temple. I find that one of the greatest blessings I experience when I'm in the temple is that I am reminded of the "bigger plan" that God has for us, and everything else in my life that might be worrying me lately seems so temporary. I am comforted to know that there is more beyond mortality and that God has power over all and is abundantly aware of us and with us, and rooting for us. Why wouldn't you want to go to the temple and let your cares melt away, receive peace and inspiration, and feel closer to God?
TWO KINDS OF TEMPLES
Jesus Christ taught in the temple, even in His youth (Luke 2:46), and cleansed the temple in Jerusalem twice from those who turned it into “a den of thieves” (Matt 21:13; John 2:16) overturning the vendors’ merchandise and casting them out (See "Falsehoods and Sign Seeking"). On the first occasion, He called it His “Father’s house” and the second time called it “My house”. The temple truly is the House of the Lord. A sacred place.
One of the first accusations against Jesus sprouted from His remark “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Verse 21 clarifies that “He spake of the temple of his body”, referring to His death and resurrection. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ calls the physical body “a tabernacle of clay” (Mosiah 3:5; Moroni 9:6; see "Patriarchs and Potters"). Paul uses the word "temple” with this anatomical meaning, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:16-17). Christ’s mortal body was "destroyed", even if it was only for a short season before His glorious resurrection.
Nevertheless, the temple edifice was also destroyed as later prophesied near the conclusion of Jesus’ ministry:
“And Jesus went out and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, ‘See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Matt. 24:1-2)
This temple was in reference to the temple of Jerusalem (Herod’s temple) which was destroyed by the Romans about forty years after Christ. But it was never rebuilt or "raised up". Archaeological sites of what is left, namely the steps and a few limestone walls remain today; the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall, which the Jews still revere as the holiest place to pray was part of the second temple.
Some individuals argue that there is no need for temples because we ourselves are temples, so to speak, but they err in their reasoning. They quote Acts 7:48, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands…” This is a classic example of scripture taken out of historical context. Stephen meant that God was not confined to the physical structure of the temple, as some people believed in ancient times (1 Kings 8:27). Elder Bruce R. McConkie, a past Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints taught:
“The great Creator, by whom all things are, dwelleth not in temples made by the hands of his creatures; but he is worshiped by them in his temples, which holy houses he visits occasionally, and in which sacred spots his Spirit may always be found by the faithful”.
In any case, the scriptures supply ample evidence of both meanings for the temple as a building and as the physical body. Temples have always been and always will be built with the purpose of bringing God’s children back into his presence through covenants. I have been to the temple many times and I have never felt the spirit more prominently than when inside its walls.
MY GANGAN & THE TEMPLE DOOR
Some years ago, when I was little, some of my Maori family came to Utah as part of the BYU cultural arts program (which is consequently the school I attended years later). Even though I'd never previously met any of them in person, I felt such love for all my family members! We visited a part of downtown Salt Lake City called “Temple Square” which is the property that belongs to the Church where you can find the Conference Center where General Conference is held, administrative buildings, history museums, and the Salt Lake Temple. If you ask me, the temple was the highlight of our tour. With us was my maternal grandfather, Maaka, or Gangan as we called him. We let him know he couldn’t go inside since he wasn’t a member of the Church but he asked if he could touch the door handle. It was a humble request and I'm glad he thought to ask. Years later, I can recall the reverence in the air as he made gentle contact with the beautiful oak temple door; it was as if time stood. He held the temple door for a minute or two head bowed in what I believe was a silent prayer. It was a beautiful, respectful thing that has lived in my memory forever. Since then, any time family comes to Utah, we take them to the temple and get a photo of them touching the doorknob as tradition. It is meaningful to me in many ways. Although we may have different beliefs, we still connect as a family that loves and respects each other individually and unconditionally. Gangan has since passed away but thanks to the knowledge the gospel gives me of eternal families, I know that Gangan’s spirit is now welcome inside the temple. I often thought of Gangan during my time as a missionary and felt as if he were with me in the streets of Mexico rooting me on and giving me much-needed peace. The same goes for Nanny. I still think of them often, as well as other loved ones who have passed through the years. But they never seem far away, not in memory alone, but in spirit too. I know we'll meet again.
THE ANGEL MORONI
You may have seen a figure perched atop these temples with a trumpet in its mouth. That would be in reference to the angel Moroni who was the last contributing author of the Book of Mormon. It was he who visited Joseph Smith in a vision to reveal the existence and location of the ancient record. He also visited Joseph Smith on a number of occasions to further instruct him as God's prophet of the Restoration. (See "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ" and "Joseph Smith -- A Name Had For Good and Evil")
The typically golden-colored angel Moroni statue has become a popular symbol of the Church since it was first created and placed on the Salt Lake City Temple on April 6, 1892, exactly one year before the temple’s completion (also the 62nd anniversary of the organization of the Church). Cyrus Edwin Dallin, not a member of the church, was commissioned by the prophet of the time, Wilford Woodruff, to build something for the central spire. Cyrus Dallin felt that Moroni would be the perfect symbol for the restoration of the gospel. The statue of the angel Moroni holds a trumpet symbolizing the spreading of the gospel and the Second Coming of the Savior (Rev. 14:6). The statue usually faces east which alludes to the Second Coming mentioned in scripture (Matt. 24:27, 31; Rev. 7:2). There are only eight temples that don’t have this statue in St. George, Utah; Logan, Utah; Manti, Utah; Laie, Hawaii; Cardston, Alberta; Mesa, Arizona; Hamilton, New Zealand; and the Oakland, California Temple. And so, while it is a common symbol of the temple, it's an artistic, not an essential feature. All things, however, do point to Christ, especially the temple which is rich with symbolism.
There are six artistic versions of the angel Moroni statue. The first temple to have an angel depiction above it was the Nauvoo, Illinois temple which was dedicated in 1846 although it was not specified to be any specific angel, and functioned as a weathervane (which you can see in the bottom-right image below). The most common rendition is the kind seen on the Salt Lake City Temple with the trumpet in hand. I’ll leave the others to you to look up if you so desire including those on the temples of Los Angeles, California, and Washington D.C. The statues themselves are quite massive. Some versions (depending on material) weigh up to 4000 pounds (1814 kg) while other versions are between 350 (159 kg) to 645 pounds (293 kg). The shortest version of the statue was 6 ft 8 inches tall compared to the tallest statue on the Jordan River Temple in Utah which is an astounding twenty feet tall!
TEMPLE BLESSINGS
The temple is a blessing. Temples are for our benefit as well as for those who have passed on.
As I've stated many times by now, the purpose of the temple is to make covenants and we are blessed when we are faithful to those covenants. The ultimate blessing we will receive if we are faithful to our covenants is Eternal Life (See "Eternal Life: "As He Is"). I again reiterate that in the temple, we can perform proxy ordinances on behalf of those who died without the opportunity to make the covenants. And so, all the blessings of the temple are available to all who are willing to make covenants and be faithful to them.
In addition to those eternal blessings, in the temple, we find can find immediate peace, strength, hope, and answers. We can find comfort in knowing that Heavenly Father has a Plan of Happiness for us and that He has enabled us to be with our loved ones forever. We also feel joy serving others in the temple, such as performing proxy ordinances for our ancestors. We feel a closeness to God and those who have come before us when we look at things from an eternal perspective and set aside the concerns of the world for a moment.
Although it may be a struggle for some Church members throughout the world to travel to the temple, there are increasingly many temples reaching closer to home. If you or I have the opportunity to attend or serve, I would hope that we take advantage of it. Even if we can’t attend the temple because of distance or what have you, I hope that we keep living our lives worthy of temple blessings.
About a week before I left to enter the MTC, my parents and I went to the temple and ran into our Stake President who happened to be seated directly in front of me. It was a tender mercy in and of itself to see him one last time before leaving for Mexico. He and his family were going to be on vacation within a few days and I would not have gotten to say goodbye. We were, without a doubt, in the right place as well as at the right time. If you ask me, if you're in the temple, you're always in the right place at the right time.
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