Temples are not a recent invention. The Lord has often commanded His people to build temples. The Holy Bible records various times when God commanded the children of Israel to build temples for sacred ordinances and worship. These temples include Moses' tabernacle in the wilderness (a type of portable temple), Solomon's temple (later rebuilt by Zerubbabel), and Herod's temple.Once again, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples. As of July 2008, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 128 temples in operation around the world. While chapels are used for members of the Church for Sunday worship services and church activities, and are open to visitors at any time, temples are unique in their purpose and symbolic nature.
Only members of the Church in good-standing can enter into the temples (in ancient Biblical times, laws of purification were required for those seeking admittance to the temple). Temples are used for sacred ordinances and for instruction on the purpose of life. Among the ordinances performed in temples is the sealing of families for all eternity. In the temple, members make special covenants with God and receive the temple garment, which is a symbol and reminder of those covenants entered into and which is to be worn at all times. These ordinances and covenants are considered sacred and are not the topic of casual conversation.Far from being secret, all are encouraged to prepare themselves to enter the temple. Once an individual has been to the temple and made special covenants for himself, he is invited to return often and perform these same covenants on behalf of his ancestors.
For further reading on the purpose and ordinances performed in temples, click here. The top photo used in this post is of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem, finished in 64 A.D. The bottom photo is of the Boston, Massachusetts temple, finished in October 2000. Photo is courtesy of lds.org.
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