Difference between revisions of "Latter-day Saint Temples"

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|link=Mormonism and temples/Obsolete after Christ
 
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|subject=Was the temple obsolete after Christ?
 
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|summary=Some Christians charge that Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection meant that the temple was to be removed from Christian worship—the Atonement made the temple superfluous. Therefore, they criticize the LDS for persisting with temple worship. It is also claimed that the veil in the temple becoming rent in twain after the crucifixion of Christ indicates that the temple was no longer to be used.
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/The role of the Independence temple
 
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|subject=The role of the Independence temple
 
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|summary=What role will the temple to be built in Independence, Missouri fill in the Church?
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/Reports of Drunken Behavior at the Kirtland Temple Dedication
 
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|subject=Reports of Drunken Behavior at the Kirtland Temple Dedication
 
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|summary=Were there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy.
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/Why does the Church build expensive temples
 
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|subject=Why does the Church build expensive temples?
 
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|summary=Why does the church spend so much money on temples when children are dying of starvation in other parts of the world? Wouldn’t the money spent on these buildings be better used in feeding the hungry?
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/Worthiness to enter
 
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|subject=Worthiness to enter
 
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|summary=This article addresses criticisms directed at worthiness requirements to enter the temple.
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/Made with hands
 
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|subject=Temples made with hands
 
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|summary=It is claimed that Acts 17:24-25 teaches that the idea of temple worship is foreign to Christianity, when Paul says: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things."
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/Do temples always face east
 
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|subject=Do temples always face east?
 
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|summary=Do LDS temples always face east? The front of the temple is the elevation where the phrase "House of the Lord" is found. Temples face whatever direction is most practical and artistically pleasing for the site they are on.
 
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|link=Mormonism and temples/Elias and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple
 
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|subject=Elias and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple
 
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|summary=Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported a vision in the Kirtland Temple on 3 April 1836 (see {{s||DC|110|1-16}}). They reported that they received priesthood keys from three angelic messengers: Moses (verse 11), Elijah (verse 12), and Elias (verses 13-16) Critics points out that "Elias" is merely the Greek name of the Hebrew prophet "Elijah." Thus, they charge, Joseph Smith made a fatal error by having Elias and Elijah be two different people, when they are in fact one and the same.
 
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Revision as of 08:57, 17 April 2014

  1. REDIRECTTemplate:Test3

Mormonism and temples

Answers portal
Temples
NauvooTemple modern mini.JPG
Resources.icon.tiny.1.png    RESOURCES

General:

Endowment:

Masonry:

Perspectives.icon.tiny.1.png    PERSPECTIVES
Media.icon.tiny.1.png    MEDIA
Resources.icon.tiny.1.png    OTHER PORTALS

Topics


  1. REDIRECTOverview of baptism for the dead
  2. REDIRECTSimilarities between ancient and modern temple rituals
  3. REDIRECTTemple sealings and exaltation

Ordinances

Ordinances revealed

Summary: It is claimed that the LDS temple ordinances were either made up by Joseph Smith or borrowed, by him, from an earthly source.

Second anointing

Summary: FairMormon occasionally receives questions about a temple ordinance called "the second anointing." The questions usually revolve around the following issues: 1) "What is the second anointing?" and 2) "Is this account of the second anointing that I've seen accurate?"

Symbolism

Symbols on the Nauvoo Temple

Summary: I've heard there are some strange symbols on the Nauvoo and Salt Lake temples. My non-member friend claims these have an "occult" significance. Some people are of the opinion that they are Masonic.

Inverted Stars on LDS Temples

Summary: Some critics of the LDS Church claim that the inverted five-pointed star on some of its temples are a symbol of evil and thereby demonstrate that Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.


Articles about Latter-day Saint temples
Baptism for the dead
The temple endowment
Temple sealings
Other topics

Latter-day Saint Temples

Question: Why does the Church spend so much money on temples?

Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse explained the Church's purpose and its focus on how it uses its financial resources:

We are not a financial institution or a commercial corporation. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, and this Church has no other objective than that which the Lord Himself assigned to it—namely, to invite all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him,” by “helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.”[1]

In addition, President Russell M. Nelson taught,

The good this Church accomplishes around the world to alleviate human suffering and provide uplift for humankind is widely known. But its prime purpose is to help men, women, and children follow the Lord Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and qualify for the greatest of all blessings—that of eternal life with God and their loved ones.[2]

Latter-day Saints believe that these blessings are possible through certain ordinances (rituals) and covenants (promises). These ordinances and covenants are only available in specially designated places, called temples, as explained by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.[3]

Three Possible Reasons

It is important to remember these doctrines when considering why the Church spends so much money on temples. There are three possible reasons.

First: The Lord commanded it. In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord commanded:

Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth; and with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein. . . . And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people.[4]

Second: To honor God. In the revelation cited above, the Lord called for a house to be built "for the Most High to dwell therein." A member of the Seventy explained: "By requiring exacting standards of construction down to the smallest of details, we not only show our love and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ, but we also hold out to all observers that we honor and worship Him whose house it is."[5]

Third: To show how much God honors us. In the revelation cited above, the Lord explained that in His house He would "reveal mine ordinances." These ordinances (and their associated covenants) are gifts from God to His children that provide them with greater knowledge, power, direction, and peace.[6] Consider how you would feel if God wanted to give you these blessings in a dingy, dirty, broken-down building. You would likely feel that God doesn't respect you and that His blessings aren't really worth very much. By building temples with the "precious things of the earth," we show how much God values us and the incredible blessings He is providing to us.

Source(s) of the criticism
Critical sources

Notes

  1. ↑ Gerald Causse, "The Spiritual Foundations of Church Financial Self-Reliance," 'Ensign, July 2018.
  2. ↑ Russell M. Nelson, “Opening the Heavens for Help,” April 2020 general conference.
  3. ↑ "Chapter 36: Receiving the Ordinances and Blessings of the Temple," in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2011).
  4. ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 124:26–27, 41.
  5. ↑ Scott D. Whiting, “Temple Standard,” October 2012 general conference.
  6. ↑ See General Handbook, "27.2 The Endowment."
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