Why Temples?

About once a year, each member receives their invitation to present a talk to the congregration of our branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My turn rolled around this week. Sometimes topics are assigned. More often, the topic is left to the speaker to determine.

With much pondering, fasting, prayer, and searching through topics of personal interest, I felt impressed to present some information on why, as a covenant-keeping people, our temples are so critical for us.

There are currently 135 LDS temples, sited all around the world. In addition, there are 18 under construction, and 15 more temple sites have been announced by the presidency of the Church.

Gathering information, studying materials, sorting what would be most appropriate for a 20 minute presentation, takes time. One of the things I appreciate most about this process, is that I learn a ton more than I can ever share in the amount of time alloted during the sacrament service. Things brought to my attention by the Spirit are always for my personal growth and edification. It's like receiving my own tailored course in whatever the subject happens to be.

This time, I was particularly reminded that I can receive the most from attending a temple session by combining the blessings of meditation with the blessings of the instructions taught during a session.

Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as "a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued refection on the subject." Meditation is a form of prayer; spiritual communion. We sometimes tend to pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion.

Our nearest temple is in Portland, near Lake Oswego. By attending temple sessions as often as I can, I not only serve those beyond the veil, I have continuous opportunity to grasp what the teachings mean for me personally. I am strengthened in the covenants I make.

"Keeping covenants is true joy and happiness. This is comfort and peace. This is protection from the evils of the world. Keeping the covenants we make within the temple will help us in times of trial. As we have faith in Christ and cleave to our covenants, we will receive the joy spoken of in the holy scriptures and promised by our latter-day prophets." Barbara Thompson, 2nd Counselor Relief Society General Presidency

Opening paragraphs of my presentation, "Why Temples?":

In some churches of the world the particular building containing the cathedra, or chair of the bishop, is called a cathedral. Since these houses of worship have normally been the largest, the most ornate, and by far the most costly of all places of religious assembly, it has become common in the world to refer to all large and important church buildings as cathedrals.

The Latter-day Saints, however, do not build cathedrals. We build temples. The temple is, literally, as it has been throughout history, the “House of the Lord.“ It could be argued, that our temples are indeed large and more ornate, at least inside, as compared to our smaller meeting houses. There is a distinct, and important, difference in the two types of construction we see in our LDS buildings of worship.

The chapels (or ward, or in our case - branch, buildings) are the workhorses of Mormon worship. They are used for Sunday worship and meetings, where visitors are welcomed and encouraged to attend. We learn the principals of the gospel. We study doctrine and share our opinions with others, in a loving atmosphere. We teach each other; we meet new people and socialize. During the week, these buildings may be used for various Church activities and youth groups. They are also sometimes used for community events such as polling stations, or as shelters for natural disasters.

Temples serve solely as places for the performance of religious ceremonies. Temples are not used for Sunday worship, and are closed on the Sabbath. A temple is also different in that certain standards of worthiness must be met to enter into such a holy and sacred place. Not just anyone, actually not just any Latter-day saint, may pass through the doors of a dedicated LDS temple. Before that final dedication, interested public, church members and their families, and civic dignitaries are invited and welcomed to attend guided tours of the temple building for a short period of time.

So - just why do we build temples?

First and foremost: whenever the Lord has had a people on earth, from the days of Adam to now, he has always commanded them to build temples so they could be taught how to gain eternal life. .......