Temples are not regular places of Sunday worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are quite different from the thousands of regular chapels or meetinghouses all over the world that are used for Sunday services.
Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church, who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples. A member must be observing the basic principles of the faith and attest to that fact to his or her local leaders once every two years in order to enter a temple.
The sacredness of the temple anciently can be seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Moses had the children of Israel carry with them the Tabernacle (a large, portable temple) as they wandered in the wilderness. King Solomon built and dedicated the great temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. It was rebuilt and later substantially expanded, but again destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. The great Western Wall can still be seen in Jerusalem today, and even after millennia, remains a sacred site for Jews. The New Testament gives an account of Jesus Christ clearing the temples when its sacredness was violated by people using its courts as a common market.
Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God. They are also the place where the highest sacraments of the faith occur — the marriage of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity.
Temples serve as the only place where ceremonies such as baptism and eternal marriage can be performed in behalf of those who have died — a practice that Latter-day Saints believe was followed in New Testament times but that later was lost.
Temples point Latter-day Saints to Jesus Christ and their eventual life with Him, their Heavenly Father and their family members on the condition of faithfulness to Christ’s teachings.
In a modern-day revelation, Joseph Smith received direction to build a temple in Kirtland, Ohio (dedicated in 1836). Later he was instructed to build a temple in Nauvoo, Illinois (1846). So important were temples to early Church members that within days after arriving in Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young selected the site of the Salt Lake Temple.
On most temples there is a golden statue of a man in flowing robes, with a long horn pressed to his lips. The statue depicts the angel Moroni, an ancient prophet and a central figure in the Book of Mormon. The statue is symbolic of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
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FAQs
Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church, who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples.
Do Mormons worship in temples? ›
LDS Church adherents also worship in temples, which are open only to members in good standing.
What do LDS members do in the temple? ›
Temples are houses of the Lord, where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regularly go to worship. Inside these holy buildings, faithful Church members make promises with God, feel His Spirit, and come closer to Him through sacred ceremonies called ordinances.
Why are LDS temples sacred? ›
The temple is the house of the Lord. Some gospel ordinances and covenants are so sacred that God permits us to receive them only in special places called temples. A temple is literally a house of the Lord—a holy place set apart from the rest of the world.
Can you go into a Mormon temple if you're not Mormon? ›
Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church, who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples.
What's the difference between a Mormon church and a Mormon temple? ›
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a temple is a building dedicated to being a house of God and is reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services.
What is the point of the Mormon temple? ›
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord. Temples are considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time (an "open house").
What do all LDS temples have in common? ›
A Sacred Place
Modern temples have purposes similar to those of biblical temples—they are places of peace, learning, and inspiration. They are also where sacred ceremonies, called ordinances, take place. Through temple ordinances, members feel closer to God as they covenant to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why can't you go to a Mormon temple? ›
A Temple is not a public house of worship. It is erected for special purposes. Indeed after a Temple is dedicated only members of the Church in good standing may enter” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay [2003], 126).
What are the 5 laws in the temple LDS? ›
In this sacred ceremony, Church members make covenants “to keep the law of obedience, the law of sacrifice, the law of the gospel, the law of chastity, and the law of consecration.” 4 Faithfully honoring these promises helps Church members become Saints through the Atonement of Christ.
“If a person violates a covenant, whether it be of baptism, ordination, marriage or anything else, the Spirit withdraws the stamp of approval, and the blessings will not be received. “Every ordinance is sealed with a promise of a reward based upon faithfulness.
What is the law of chastity LDS? ›
You are expected to strictly obey the law of chastity, which forbids sexual conduct of any kind outside of marriage between husband and wife. God has commanded that sexual intimacy be reserved for marriage. His standard regarding sexual purity is clear and unchanging.
Do Mormons pray in a temple? ›
Within Mormon fundamentalism
Amongst some Mormon fundamentalists, such as the Apostolic United Brethren, prayer circles within temples, endowment houses, and homes are still common.
Can a Mormon marry a non Mormon in the temple? ›
In order for the married couple to receive such a blessing, it is essential that husband and wife keep their covenant of love and remain faithful to each other and to God throughout their lives. Not anyone can actually marry in the temple, but only men and women who are faithful members of the Church.
What are the methods of worship for Mormons? ›
The service begins with hymns followed by prayers. There will be a number of short talks or sermons given by members of the congregation chosen by the bishop. These talks range from quite formal doctrinal lectures, to more informal chats about the application of faith to family life.
