What Is the Significance of a Mormon Temple?
Watch this message from President Thomas S. Monson on the significance of temple blessings in the lives of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Read More →
About Mormon Temples Articles
What is a temple open house?
Mormon temples (temples belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are sacred places of worship. Once a Mormon temple has been dedicated (set apart for the practicing of ordinances), only worthy Latter-day Saints (members of the Mormon Church) are permitted to enter. However, before a temple is dedicated, a period of a few weeks is generally set aside for members of the community to walk through the temple on short tours. Open house tours require reservations and free tickets, simply to manage the number of people going through at any given time. Even though temples are not yet dedicated at the time people are going through, they are still special buildings which command respect and reverence. Those going through should be nicely dressed. The Mormon standard of “Sunday dress” is generally understood to mean white shirt, tie, and slacks for men and modest dresses or skirts and blouses for women. If an individual does... Read the rest of this article »
Mormon Underwear: Temple Garments
Many people think it is very weird when they hear that Mormons have “special underwear,” which is far different than “normal people’s” underwear. Members of the Mormon Church who have gone through the Mormon temple ceremony, or endowment, make a promise to God to wear particular undergarments. The Mormon garments (or Mormon underwear) are an outward expression of an inward commitment, a physical reminder of spiritual promises (or covenants) a person made when he or she went through the temple for the first time. In this way, Mormon undergarments, or just “garments,” are very similar to religious clothing priests wear. They are reminders to those who wear them of the covenants made in the temple of God. “It [the garment] is given to remind wearers of the continuing need for repentance, the need to honor binding covenants made in the house of the Lord, and the need to cherish and share virtue in our daily... Read the rest of this article »
Mormon Temples across Time
Some people think Mormons are weird for worshipping in Mormon temples. The truth is, temples existed in ancient times, just like they exist today. Solomon’s temple was built thousands of years ago as a place for God to dwell among His people. It was a sacred, sanctified place set aside for special worship. Only those who were authorized were able to enter, and those who did were instructed to worship in a certain way. This was also true for the Tabernacle while the Jews were wandering in the wilderness, though this was a special, portable temple, since they were working their way towards the Promised Land. In ancient temples, animal sacrifice was still practiced under the Law of Moses. The laws which the people were instructed to keep are outlined clearly in the Old Testament. The animals which were brought to the temple had to be without blemish, the first males of their flocks. They had to be certain types of animals as well. There were several... Read the rest of this article »
Mormon Weddings
From a very young age, Mormons are taught to look towards the temple and to have the desire to be married in a temple. This is because Mormon doctrine teaches that a Mormon wedding, or a marriage performed in a Mormon temple is for time and all eternity, not just “until death do you part.” Many people believe that when they marry, they will be with their spouse again after they die. However, no church doctrine teaches this. It is always a union which dissolves with the death of one spouse. Mormons believe that, through the power of the priesthood, a Mormon wedding performed in the temple can last forever. There are still conditions which must be met in order for this to happen: the couple makes promises to God and to each other, and if either of them fails to keep these promises, then God’s promise to them that their marriage will last forever may not hold true. God promises blessings which are conditional upon our faithfulness (Doctrine... Read the rest of this article »
Family History
Mormon doctrine teaches that families can be together forever if they are sealed together by sacred ordinances in the temple. This means that after individuals die in this life, they can be reunited in heaven and can be together forever. This doctrine is unique to Mormons. Mormon temples are sacred places where eternal ordinances can be performed. However, all ordinances must be performed on earth. When one is deceased, it is impossible for a spirit to receive these ordinances in heaven. This is why Mormons do family history work and then temple work. Each individual performs sacred ordinances in the temple only one time for him- or herself. Each time an individual returns to the temple after receiving his or her own ordinances, these ordinances are then performed by proxy for (or on behalf of) a person who is now dead who did not have the opportunity to receive these ordinances during his or her lifetime. Mormons are encouraged to do their family history... Read the rest of this article »
What Goes on in Mormon Temples?
Many people are curious about what goes on inside Mormon temples. Mormons who are living the commandments are able to go to the temple and receive ordinances there. Once these ordinances are received personally, individuals may return to the temple and do work by proxy for those who are dead. Mormons are encouraged to do their own family history work and to complete temple ordinances for their deceased family members. If they do not have personal names, though, other names have been submitted by individuals for their family members, and proxy work can be done for these people. Mormon doctrine teaches that certain ordinances are essential for salvation, but not everyone had a chance to receive these ordinances during their lifetime. Thus, proxy work can be done for them, and then they will have the opportunity to choose whether or not they accept these ordinances. Free will is always important in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Baptisms and Confirmations for... Read the rest of this article »
Reflections: Saviors on Mount Zion
Every religion has its own vocabulary to express its beliefs and doctrines. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a phrase that is unusual, and it is “Saviors on Mount Zion.” The popular singer, Jewel, wrote a song called “Hands.” The end of the song goes like this… My hands are small I know But they’re not yours, they are my own But they’re not yours, they are my own And I am never broken We are never broken We are God’s eyes God’s hands God’s mind We are God’s eyes God’s hands God’s heart We are God’s eyes God’s hands God’s eyes We are God’s hands We are God’s hands This is a well-understood idea that the Lord works through us, His servants. Our willingness to act in charity towards our fellowmen accomplishes His work. Mormons define the word “charity” as the pure love of Christ. Without it, we are nothing. “Wherefore,... Read the rest of this article »
Reflections: Why Mormons Build Temples
Some ask Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/LDS folks) why they build temples, as if they haven’t existed before or are something new in Christianity. I thought I’d just list here a sampling of scriptural verses that treat the subject of temples, as they were anciently, and as they are today. These verses are for pondering and can serve a launch-pad links to further personal inquiry into temples, Houses of the Lord. They illustrate, in and of themselves, and taken in fuller context, the Lord’s desire for His work and word to go forth from holy temples; the Lord’s frequent attendance in and teaching from the temple during His ministry; the ancient and modern Saints’ joy in building or rebuilding temples as commanded; the power bestowed by the Savior to those who serve therein; the requirements to enter temples with a pure heart and a God-determined level of worthiness; as well as their reality, necessity, and... Read the rest of this article »
Reflections on Baptism for the Dead
I stumbled upon something serendipitously in the scriptures (no spiritual coincidences, are there?) that I had missed before in reading a portion of the Old Testament relating to the desecration of the molten ‘sea’ or font that was part of the sacred temple service of ancient Israel. At the time, I was in the Mormon Mount Timpanogos Mormon temple, dressed in white, waiting to perform temple work for my ancestors, reflecting in the quiet, and reading the scriptures. I’ll share what I learned after first providing a little context by introducing the subject of “baptisms for the dead” for friends of other faiths, as addressed, who may be visiting our website. Once again, we’ve created this site, after all, with you in mind, and we hope you’ll engage us in a conversation and ask us your sincere questions. We much prefer that you glean truth from the source than inquire of those who only speculate about our faith, lifestyles, beliefs, and especially... Read the rest of this article »