What are Latter-day Saint Temples?
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — You might have seen a lot of construction on downtown Salt Lake's Temple Square. It might leave you wondering: 'What is going on?' and 'Why are people wanting to preserve the building?'
The Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is undergoing an expansive renovation to protect the quartz structure built from earthquakes. It is one of 31 temples that have been announced, are operational or are presently under construction in Utah. Three cities in Utah have or will soon have two temples within the same city (St. George, Provo, and South Jordan).
'Fighting criticism with curiosity': Evangelical pastor seeks understanding of Latter-day Saints through conversation
Perhaps you're new to Utah and haven't seen a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What are these buildings and what happens inside of these buildings?
What are Temples?
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are referred to by members as " Houses of the Lord ," according to the Church website. Members hold the entire property of Temples sacred, from the grounds outside to what is inside and what happens inside.
"From the very beginning, there have been sacred places upon the earth where God has communed with His children. They were designated by God and hallowed by His presence as places where He would teach and bless His children," the Church says on its site.
The Church teaches that throughout biblical history, the Tabernacle carried around was a " portable temple. " The Church also points to several additional scriptures from the Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants , which mention temples on several occasions.
What happens here?
Inside the Temple, members of the Church seek to draw closer to God by making covenants and performing "saving" ordinances from themselves or members of their family who have passed on. These temples are typically only open to members who have a temple recommend card .
Members believe through the temple endowment ceremony, they can "be endowed power from on high," which appears in Luke 24:49
"Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of God's priesthood power by virtue of their covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to know how to draw upon that power," President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson , has said.
The Endowment is one of many things that can happen inside of a Latter-day Saint temple. In the LDS church, members can also baptize family who have passed away and confirm them as members of the Church if they wish to accept them in the spirit world.
Sealings for marriage and family sealings can also be performed in the temple.
"Unlike marriages that last only 'until death do you part,' temple sealings ensure that death cannot separate loved ones. For marriages to continue after death, they must be sealed in the right place and with the right authority. The right place is the temple and the right authority is the priesthood of God," the Church teaches .
What occurs in the sealing is outlined in Matthew 16:19 , the Church states.
The Church says that children born into a sealed temple marriage are "children born in the covenant, thus, they are part of an eternal family, based upon their faithfulness." Sealings are only performed in temples.
Some may ask about those children not born in the covenant, the Church teaches that they too can become part of an eternal family.
"Children who are not born in the covenant can also become part of an eternal family once their natural or adoptive parents are sealed to one another," the Church says.
Can the public go inside?
The answer is both yes and no.
When a temple is complete, the Church opens the building to the public for an "open house." During these open houses, the public can walk through the temple and see all the rooms from the baptistry to the celestial room.
After the open house and dedication of the temple to the Lord, the temple is open to members in "good standing" meaning, the person possesses a temple recommend card.
Temples dotting the world
There are currently over 350 temples across the world that have been announced, are operational, or are presently under construction over 180 of those have been announced by President Russell M. Nelson.
The first temple of the latter days was constructed in Kirtland, Ohio beginning in 1833. The temple took three years to complete and was dedicated in 1836. According to the Church, in what is now canonized in section 110 of Doctrine and Covenants , the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the LDS Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and accepted the Kirtland Temple as His house.
It is said by the LDS Church that Moses, Elias, and Elijah also appeared before them and gave them the keys to gather the scattered, keys of the Abrahamic covenant and the sealing keys from Elijah.
The church built temples in Kirtland, Nauvoo, Ill., and announced temples in Independence, Mo., Adam-ondi-Ahman, Mo. (or Spring Hill, Mo.), and Far West, Mo. The following Missouri temples were never built, some have cornerstones laid while the Spring Hill site is just a field. The Nauvoo one was burned down in 1848 and rebuilt on its original property in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Once in Utah, Latter-day Saints were able to establish temples in Salt Lake, St. George, Logan, and Manti. The Church still constantly is building and announcing temples all over the world.
