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Mormon Temples

The Mormon church uses temples for various ceremonies. As of this writing, the church is on target to have 300 temples around the world:

Judaism — Solomon’s Temple

The Tabernacle

The origin of Solomon’s temple began in 1440 BC with the Tabernacle—a mobile tent and courtyard.

• The design was given to Moses from God. Exodus 25:8-9
• The courtyard had an altar for temporary sacrifices to atone for sins. The tent was partitioned into two rooms separated by a thick curtain or ‘veil’.
• The back room was called the Holy of Holies, which housed the Ark of the Covenant. Exodus 26:33-34
• King Solomon built a permanent temple to replace the mobile tabernacle.
• The Temple was a fixture under Judaism. Jesus’ death on the cross was the last and final sacrifice, ending the use of the temple and its regular sacrifices.

[Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins for ever.
	— Hebrews 10:12

• The torn veil (Mark 15:38, Matt. 27:51, Luke 23:45) exposing the Holy of Holies, symbolized that God would no longer dwell in man made temples, but in His believers. Jesus’ Apostles teach that believers are now God’s temple.

Christianity — Believers are the Temple

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
	— Apostle Paul 1 Corinthians 3:17

For we are labourers together with God: you are God's field, you are God's building.
	— Apostle Paul 1 Corinthians 3:9

In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
	— Apostle Paul Ephesians 2:22

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
	— Apostle Paul Romans 8:9

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
	— Apostle Paul 1 Corinthians 6:19

• The Book of Mormon echoes this teaching, but Joseph Smith contradicts it.

Book of Mormon, 1830	Joseph Smith, 1843
And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell. — Alma 34:36	The idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false. — Doctrine and Covenants 130:3

• The destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans in 70 AD fulfilled Jesus Christ’s prophecy ending the era of the temple. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21

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Mormon Temples

Endowments

Endowments are ceremonies for Mormons to make solemn promises of personal obedience and secrecy. Endowments are a prerequisite for missionary service and temple marriages.

• Jesus, His Apostles and Prophets gave no instruction for temple endowments. Likewise, the Book of Mormon is silent on this matter.

Baptism for the Dead

During subsequent endowments, Mormons perform baptisms on behalf of the deceased.

• In order to facilitate these proxy baptisms, the LDS church spends millions of dollars to maintain genealogy records at the massive Granite Mountain Vault. This facility warehouses over two billion records. The church also maintains over 4,500 facilities worldwide to assist those in searching the records.
• Contrary to LDS doctrine, Jesus’ Apostles and Prophets teach us to avoid genealogies and that we cannot assist in the redemption of others.

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
	— Apostle Paul 1 Timothy 1:4

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
	— Apostle Paul Titus 3:9

No one can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him.
	— Psalm 49:7

• Furthermore, the Book of Mormon teaches that there is no opportunity to change one’s mind in the afterlife.

And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

— Alma 34:33-35

Weddings

LDS temples are reserved for Mormon-only weddings and are not open to non-Mormon participation.

• The doctrine that temple weddings are an essential work is an evolution in Mormon doctrine. Marriages were conducted outside of temples for at least the church’s first 40 years. The church removed its revelation on this matter. See Doctrine and Covenants

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