The Salt Lake Temple is the most well-known Mormon Temple.

In Mormonism, a temple is a building designed as a house of God and often reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services. Temples have been a significant part of Mormonism since its inception. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now the Community of Christ, also has temples, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has over 120 operating all through the world. This is a Root page. ... Michelangelos depiction of God in the painting Creation of the Sun and Moon in the Sistine Chapel This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and derived henotheistic forms. ... This is a Root page. ... Mormon is a colloquial term used to refer to members of most of the forms of Christianity within the Latter Day Saint movement, which began during the 1830s in the United States. ...

History

The Latter Day Saint movement was conceived as a restoration of practices believed to have been lost in a Great Apostasy from the true religion of Jesus Christ. Temple worship played a prominent part of the Bible's Old Testament and temples are mentioned in the New Testament and also in the Book of Mormon. The Latter Day Saint movement (a superset of Mormonism, the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches, the majority of which call... The Great Apostasy is a term of opprobrium used by some religious groups to allege a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, or especially of Catholicism, reformist Protestantism and (often merely by implication) Eastern Orthodoxy: that it is not representative of the faith founded by Jesus and promulgated through his... Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints edition) The Book of Mormon is one of four sacred texts of Mormonism, which also include the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. ...

On December 27, 1832 — two years after the organization of the Latter Day Saint church — the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., reported receiving a revelation that called upon church members to restore the practice of temple worship. The Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio were commanded to: Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Kirtland is a city located in Lake County, Ohio, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,670. ...

"Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 1835 VII:36, LDS 88:119, RLDS 85:36b)

The Community of Christ's Kirtland Temple was the first temple of the Latter Day Saint movement and the only temple completed in the lifetime of Joseph Smith, Jr.

As plans were drawn up to construct a temple in Kirtland, the decision was made to simultaneously begin work on a second temple at the church's colony in Jackson County, Missouri. Surviving plans indicate that both temples would have the same dimensions and approximately the same appearance and both were to be at the "centerplaces" of cities designed according to Smith's plan for the City of Zion. Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes referred to as the D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Temple (Mormonism) Categories: User-created public domain images ... File links The following pages link to this file: Temple (Mormonism) Categories: User-created public domain images ... Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994 Community of Christ, previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS church is a branch of Mormon Restorationism, and is the second largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Kirtland Temple is a registered National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a superset of Mormonism, the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches, the majority of which call... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Jackson County is a county located in the state of Missouri. ... The original plat of the City of Zion (Independence, Missouri). ...

Conflict in Missouri led to the expulsion of the Mormons from Jackson County, obviating any possibility of building a temple there, but work on the temple in Kirtland continued. At great cost and after great sacrifice, the Latter Day Saints finished the Kirtland Temple in early 1836. On March 17, they held a lengthy dedication ceremony and reported numerous "spiritual experiences and visitations." The Kirtland Temple is a registered National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. ...

Conflict relating to the failure of the church's Kirtland Safety Society bank, caused the church presidency to leave Kirtland and move the church's headquarters to the Mormon settlement of Far West, Missouri. Far West was also platted along the lines of the City of Zion plan and in 1838 the Latter Day Saints began construction of a new, larger temple in the center of the town. They may also have dedicated a temple site in the neighboring Mormon settlement of Adam-ondi-Ahman. The events of the 1838 Mormon War and the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri left these attempts at temple-building no further than excavating foundations. The Kirtland Safety Society (KSS) was a quasi-bank organized in 1836 (and reorganized on January 2, 1837) by leaders and followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. ... Adam-ondi-Ahman is a historic site along the east bank of the Grand River in Daviess County, Missouri. ... The Mormon War is a name sometimes given to the 1838 conflict which occurred between Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and their neighbors in northwestern Missouri. ...

In 1839, however, the Mormons regrouped at a new headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois. They were again commanded to build a "House of the Lord" — this one even larger and greater than those that went before. Plans for the temple in Nauvoo followed the earlier models in Kirtland and Independence with lower and upper courts, but the scale was much increased. The new temple plan also benefited from the conversion to the movement of new members with more architectural training. The references in this article would be clearer with a different style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ...

New conflicts arose, however, and on June 27,1844 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and President of the Church was assassinated with his brother, Hyrum the Patriarch at Carthage Jail. The Nauvoo Temple stood only half finished. Joseph Smith's martyrdom resulted in a succession crisis which divided the movement into denominations. The concept of temple worship has evolved separately in many of these denominations. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Latter Day Saint movement, a patriarch is the Melchizedek Priesthood office that is called evangelist in the New Testament. ... See also: Nauvoo Illinois Temple for an overview of a similar or rebuilt structure currently standing on the same site. ... The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Purposes

Temples have held numerous purposes in the Latter Day Saint movement, both historically and their differing expressions today. These purposes include:

• A House of the Lord — Joseph Smith, Jr. reported a revelation in 1836 explaining that the recently-dedicated Kirtland Temple was built "that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people." (Doctrine and Covenants LDS 109:5). All Latter Day Saint denominations with temples still consider temples to be special houses of the Lord.
• A House of Learning — The Kirtland Temple housed the "School of the Prophets."
• Center of the City of Zion — Latter Day Saints often view temples as central to the establishment of Zionic communities. Examples include: the Kirtland Temple, the original (unfinished) Independence Temple, the (unfinished) Far West Temple, the (unfinished) Adam-ondi-Ahman Temple, the original Nauvoo Temple, the (unfinished) Voree, Wisconsin Temple, the Salt Lake Temple, the St. George, Utah Temple, the Mesa, Arizona Temple, the Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple, and others.
• Headquarters of the church — the Kirtland Temple served as the headquarters of the early church from its completion through the end of 1837.
• Sacred spaces for special ordinances — Beginning in Nauvoo, temples have also been conceived of by many Latter Day Saints as spaces in which to perform special ordinances such as the endowment and baptism for the dead — see Ordinance (Mormonism).

The Kirtland Temple is a registered National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. ... Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes referred to as the D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism. ... The Dormition Church, situated on Mount Zion Zion, or Sion (צִיּוֹן Height, Standard Hebrew Tziyyon, Tiberian Hebrew Tsiyyôn; Arabic صهيون á¹¢uhyÅ«n), is an archaic term that originally referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by... Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. ... Adam-ondi-Ahman is a historic site along the east bank of the Grand River in Daviess County, Missouri. ... Voree, Wisconsin is a former settlement and a historic site on the outskirts of present-day Burlington, Wisconsin. ... Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the 10 acre (40,000 m²) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple is the fifth oldest Mormon temple in the world. ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a special gift of heavenly priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ... Baptism for the dead by proxy (or vicarious baptism) is an ordinance practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and schism churches), the Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran, some of the Neo-Apostolic congregations of Europe, and some Native American religions. ... In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving a covenant with God. ...

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah is the fourth remaining Latter-day Saint temple and is the centerpiece of the 10 acre (40,000 m²) Temple Square.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also called the LDS Church) is by far the most prolific builder of temples. In this church, temples are special houses of worship reserved to perform certain church ordinances and to conduct certain ceremonies and meetings. Temples and their associated ordinances are a vital part of the theology of the LDS church. Their importance is emphasized in weekly meetings, and regular participation in temple work is strongly encouraged of all worthy Latter-day Saints (LDS). Handsome picture of the Salt Lake Temple from the Dutch wikipedia taken by Bjørn Graabek April 7, 2003. ... Handsome picture of the Salt Lake Temple from the Dutch wikipedia taken by Bjørn Graabek April 7, 2003. ... Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the 10 acre (40,000 m²) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... The temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving a covenant with God. ...

History

The first Latter-day Saint temple ceremonies were performed in Kirtland, Ohio, but differed significantly from the endowment performed on the second floor of Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois. Kirtland ordinances included washings and anointings (differing in many ways from the modern portion) and the washing of the feet ordinance. For nearly four years beginning in 1842, the prophet’s modest mercantile functioned as the de facto temple—the site of the first washings, anointings, endowments, and sealings. In contrast, the grand edifice known as the Nauvoo Temple was in operation for only two months before the Saints left Illinois for the West.

Preparations to initiate the first members of Joseph Smith’s Quorum of the Anointed, or Holy Order, as it was also known, were made on May 3, 1842. The walls of the second level of the Red Brick Store were painted with garden-themed murals, the rooms fitted with carpets, potted plants, and a veil hung from the ceiling. All the while, the ground level continued to operate as Joseph Smith’s general mercantile.

After the early events of the succession crisis, Brigham Young assumed control of the church's headquarters at Nauvoo, Illinois. While he and the rest of the Quorum of the Twelve made contingency plans for abandoning the city, he may have hoped that it would not prove necessary. For example, in early 1845 he held a conference at the Norwegian colony at Norway, Illinois and announced a plan to build a Latter Day Saint town there with a temple for the use of the Norwegian Saints. Shortly afterwards, however, James J. Strang — a rival for the church presidency — visited the colony and converted nearly all the Norwegians to Strangite Mormonism. The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism). ... In Mormonism, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Council of the Twelve, or the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy in many Latter Day Saint denominations, members of which are considered to be Apostles, and special... 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ... In Mormonism, the President of the Church is the head of a Latter Day Saint denomination or church. ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Strangite church, is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement and a part of the Mormon faith. ...

Meanwhile Young urged the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo to redouble their efforts to finish the temple. By the end of 1845, the building was far enough finished to allow a limited number of temple ordinances to be performed there and more were performed in early 1846, as the Mormons were abandoning the city. A small crew remained in the city and continued to work on the temple until April 30, 1846, when it was abandoned. In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving a covenant with God. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining, as the last day in April. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The Frankfurt Germany Temple

Upon reaching the Great Basin, Brigham Young began to build settlements based on the City of Zion plan and designated four of these to contain temples: Salt Lake City (1847), St. George (1871), Manti (1875), Logan (1877). All four were larger than the one left behind in Nauvoo, and all four included castellation motifs, symbollically representing "the Kingdom" and also the resolve of the Latter-day Saints to defend them. The St. George Temple was the first to be completed in 1877, followed by Logan (1884) and Manti (1888). Because of the Utah War and troubles between the church and the federal government over plural marriage, the Salt Lake Temple was not dedicated until 1893. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1984x1488, 703 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Temple (Mormonism) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1984x1488, 703 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Temple (Mormonism) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Map showing the Great Basin in orange The Great Basin is a large, arid region of the western United States, commonly defined as the contiguous watershed region, roughly between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, that has no natural outlet to the sea. ... Nickname: Crossroads of the West Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Palm Trees dot the landscape of St. ... Manti is a city located in Sanpete County, Utah, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,040. ... Logan is a city located in Cache County, Utah. ... The St. ... Logan Temple The Logan Utah Temple is the 4th constructed and 2nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Manti Utah Temple The Manti Utah Temple is the fifth constructed temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... The Utah War was a 19th century armed conflict between Mormon settlers in Utah Territory and the United States federal government. ... Plural marriage (also formerly known as spiritual wifery) is a type of polygamy that was practiced by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the 10 acre (40,000 m²) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...

Latter-day Saint temple building halted until the presidency of Joseph F. Smith who announced two additional temples: Cardston, Alberta (1913) and Lā‘ie, Hawai‘i (1915). Cardston became the first Latter Day Saint temple dedicated outside of the United States. Smith broke with the previous tradition (established since Kirtland) of building temples with upper and lower courts. Temples previously had been ever larger, but the Laie, Hawaii temple was smaller even than the Nauvoo Temple had been. Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. ... Cardston Alberta Canada Temple The Cardston Alberta Temple is the eigth constructed and sixth operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple is the fifth oldest Mormon temple in the world. ...

Both Cardston and Laie were dedicated under church president Heber J. Grant as was a temple in Mesa, Arizona. George Albert Smith dedicated the next temple in Idaho Falls, Idaho. David O. McKay dedicated five additional temples including one in Bern, Switzerland — which was the first temple dedicated in Europe and the first temple to use film recording of the endowment rather than live actors. Joseph Fielding Smith dedicated a temple in Ogden, Utah and Harold B. Lee dedicated its twin in Provo, Utah. Heber J. Grant (November 22, 1856 – May 14, 1945) was the seventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism). ... LDS temple in Mesa at night, showing the distinctive spireless design. ... George Albert Smith (April 4, 1870 – April 4, 1951) was an influential member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and eventually became president of the Church. ... The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is the tenth constructed and eighth operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... David Oman McKay (September 8, 1873 – January 18, 1970) was the ninth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormon), serving from 1951 until his death in 1970. ... Bern Temple in 1981 The Bern Switzerland Temple is a Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Joseph Fielding Smith (July 19, 1876 – July 2, 1972) was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 to 1972. ... The Ogden Utah Temple is the 16th constructed and 14th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Harold Bingham Lee (March 28, 1899 – December 26, 1973) was born in Clifton, Idaho but spent the great bulk of his life in Utah where he rose to head The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Provo Utah Temple is the 17th constructed and 15th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ...

The Logan Utah Temple

Spencer W. Kimball began a plan to build many more smaller temples according to standardized plans. Twenty-one temples were dedicated during his presidency, including the tiny Papeete Tahiti Temple — which was less than 10,000 square feet (900 m²). This trend has continued. Nine additional temples were dedicated in the presidency of Ezra Taft Benson and two in the brief presidency of Howard W. Hunter. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x1109, 691 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Temple (Mormonism) ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x1109, 691 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Temple (Mormonism) ... Logan Temple The Logan Utah Temple is the 4th constructed and 2nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) headed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons, from 1973 until his death in 1985. ... The Papeete Tahiti Temple is the 27th constructed and 25th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both of the administrations of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and he later served as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death. ... Howard William Hunter (November 14, 1907 – March 3, 1995) was the fourteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1994-1995), and served the shortest amount of time of any Church president to date (nine months). ...

The current church president, Gordon B. Hinckley, has built seventy temples since coming into office. Most of these are according to small, standard plans, but one particularly noteworthy achievement was the rebuilding of a temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, known as the Nauvoo Illinois Temple. Today there are 131 Latter-day Saint temples. Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormon) since March 1995. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... Nauvoo Illinois Temple was dedicated in 2002. ...

Purposes

Temples have a different purpose from LDS meetinghouses. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, temples serve two main purposes. (1) Temples are locations in which worthy Latter-day Saints can perform sacred ordinanceson behalf of themselves, their deceased ancestors, or unrelated deceased persons whose names are compiled from historical records through the church's Family Record Extraction Program. (2) Temples are considered to be a holy abode for Jesus where members can go to commune with God. The temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Jesus is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help take it from Good to Featured article status. ...

In addition to being a place to conduct sacred ceremonies (see below), the temple is also considered to be a holy abode for God, where the temple attendee or "patron" may seek God’s aid in understanding His will for that person at that time through personal revelation. Ezra Taft Benson, a former president of the Church, taught: Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both of the administrations of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and he later served as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death. ...

"When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways." (Ensign, August 1985, page 8).

Such personal revelation can be received as needed, but many feel that it is easier to receive such revelation when one is in a place as peaceful and apart from the world as temples are. This article is about the year. ...

Nearly everything in the temple is symbolic, from the clothing worn (those who attend the temple dress in white, a symbol of purity), to the building and rooms, to the ceremonies themselves.

Temple ordinances

Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple is the fifth oldest Latter-day Saint temple. It is also one of only three temples designed to look like Solomon's Temple in scripture and one of the few temples without spires.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make covenants and perform special instructions, rituals and ordinances within temples. Some of these include: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (956x693, 81 KB) Summary Photo taken by User:Jiang on December 24, 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (956x693, 81 KB) Summary Photo taken by User:Jiang on December 24, 2005. ... Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple is the fifth oldest Mormon temple in the world. ... In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving a covenant with God. ...

• Baptism for the dead
• Confirmation
• Ordination to some higher offices of the priesthood (and ordination to the office of Elder on behalf of the dead)
• Washing and anointing (or "Initiatory" ordinances)
• The Endowment
• Eternal marriage Sealings and time-only marriages
• Adoptions, a practice in Nauvoo but later abandoned

These ordinances may be performed either on behalf of the participant, or by "proxy" on behalf of the dead. Some of these ordinances are normally performed outside of temples, but when performed on behalf of the dead, they are performed exclusively in temples. This includes baptism, confirmation, and ordination to the priesthood. Baptism for the dead by proxy (or vicarious baptism) is an ordinance practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and schism churches), the Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran, some of the Neo-Apostolic congregations of Europe, and some Native American religions. ... Confirmation can refer to: Confirmation (sacrament) Confirmation (epistemology) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... In Mormonism, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority to act in the name of God, including the performance of sacred rites and ordinances, and the performance of miracles. ... In Mormonism, an Elder is a priesthood and leadership position in many denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... In Mormonism, washing and anointing (also called the Initiatory) is an ordinance (ritual) that symbolizes ritual cleansing and anointing to be a king or queen in heaven. ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a special gift of heavenly priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ... In Mormonism, a sealing is an ordinance (ritual), generally performed in temples, that seals familial relationships, purportedly making possible the existence of family relationships throughout eternity. ... Baptism for the dead by proxy (or vicarious baptism) is an ordinance practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and schism churches), the Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran, some of the Neo-Apostolic congregations of Europe, and some Native American religions. ... Confirmation is a rite used in many Christian Churches. ... Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... In Mormonism, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority to act in the name of God, including the performance of sacred rites and ordinances, and the performance of miracles. ...

Latter-day Saints perform these proxy ordinances because they believe deceased non-Mormons are in a condition commonly referred to as "Spirit Prison." They believe that Christ went to the righteous spirits and organized a great missionary force to teach the gospel to others of the dead who, in turn, may be baptized by proxy in a temple. It is believed that the dead may accept or reject the other ordinances done by proxy on their behalf prior to the Final judgement. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Because of the sacred nature of the ordinances performed in the temples, Latter-day Saints do not discuss details of the ordinances outside of the temple, even with members of their own faith. Even inside of the temple, the sacred nature of the ordinances should always be remembered. The consequent secrecy surrounding ordinances has generated speculation and controversy of temple ceremonies in part due to use of language unfamiliar to non-Mormons. Because it is not discussed, some Latter-day Saints allege that those who publicize details of temple ceremonies are either disaffected, former or excommunicated Church members or non-Mormons who have trespassed on private property and made unauthorized recordings or transcripts which may violate copyright law. A sign warning against trespassing In law, trespass can be: the criminal act of going into somebody elses land or property without permission; it is also a civil law tort that may be a valid cause of action to seek judicial relief and possibly damages through a lawsuit. ... The copyright symbol is used to give notice that a work is covered by copyright. ...

See also Ordinance (Mormonism) In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving a covenant with God. ...

Requirements for entering LDS temples

Porto Alegre Brazil Temple in southern Brazil is the 102nd Mormon temple. The temple follows the recent LDS pattern of building numerous temples that are much smaller than previous temples.

An LDS church manual called Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple explains that Latter-day Saints "do not discuss the temple ordinances outside the temples." Further, the manual states: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1152x768, 685 KB) Summary Jason George took this photograph in January 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1152x768, 685 KB) Summary Jason George took this photograph in January 2005. ... The Porto Alegre Brazil Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Porto Alegre Brazil Temple is the 102nd operating Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

"It was never intended that knowledge of these temple ceremonies would be limited to a select few who would be obliged to ensure that others never learn of them. It is quite the opposite, in fact. With great effort the church urges every soul to qualify and prepare for the temple experience."

However, to experience the temple first hand, one needs to convert to the faith, and then (after a year's membership) obtain a temple recommend to enter. The recommend is obtained from and signed by the member's bishop after passing a one-on-one worthiness interview, in which one's commitment to the gospel is reviewed. The recommend is also signed by the member's stake president after a second one-on-one worthiness interview, and finally by the member themselves. By signing his or her own recommend, the member acknowledges their responsibility to ensure that they remain worthy to hold the recommend. Once issued a recommend remains valid for a period of two years. Bishop is an office of the priesthood in the Latter Day Saint or Mormon tradition. ... A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregrations in sects of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

To qualify for a temple recommend, one must correctly answer a series of questions examining what the church believes are the most important factors indicating one's spiritual worthiness. These questions seek to ensure that the interviewee has a basic belief in key church doctrines, and obeys the most significant church rules, such as the following:

• a belief in God the Father, Jesus as the Savior and redeemer of mankind, and the Holy Spirit;
• belief in the role of Jesus as the Savior;
• belief in the Restoration;
• support for the President of the Church and other general authorities and local church leaders;
• obedience to the "Law of Chastity" (strict celibacy outside of a marriage that is legally recognized by the local government, and that is both monogamous and heterosexual);
• refraining from the abuse of family members;
• no affiliation or agreement with polygamists or other people whom the church considers apostates;
• making a good faith effort to attend church meetings and obey other church rules;
• honesty;
• payment of tithing;
• following the church's interpretation of the Word of Wisdom;
• payment of child support (if applicable);
• keeping the solemn oaths one has previously made in the temple;
• wearing the temple garment "night and day"; and
• confession of all serious sins to the clergy.

In many religions, the supreme God is given the title and attributions of Father. ... Jesus is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help take it from Good to Featured article status. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Jesus is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help take it from Good to Featured article status. ... In Mormonism, the Restoration was a period in its early history during which a number of events occurred that were understood to be necessary to restore the early Christian church as demonstrated in the New Testament, and to prepare the earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. ... In Mormonism, the President of the Church is the head of a Latter Day Saint denomination or church. ... A General Authority is a priesthood leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose responsibility is at a church-wide level, rather than localized to a particular area or unit of the Church. ... The Law of Chastity is a part of the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) belief structure. ... The term polygamy (literally many marriages in late Greek) is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology. ... Apostasy (Greek απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is the formal renunciation of ones religion. ... A tithe (from Old English teogotha tenth) is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a religious organization. ... The Word of Wisdom is the common name of Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants of the Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism). ... In many countries, child support is the ongoing obligation for a periodic payment made by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent, caregiver or guardian, for the care and support of children of a relationship or marriage that has broken down. ... In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a few other sects of Mormonism, the temple garment (formally the Garment of the Holy Priesthood or informally, the garment or garments) is a set of sacred underclothing worn by male and female Latter-day Saints who... Confession of sins is an integral part of the Christian faith and practice. ... Sin has been a term most usually used in a religious context, and today describes any lack of conformity to the will of God; especially, any willful disregard for the norms revealed by God is a sin. ...

Temples in Other Latter Day Saint denominations

Although the most prolific builder of temples within the Latter Day Saint movement is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, several other Latter Day Saint denominations have built or attempted to build temples.

The Community of Christ, the second largest Latter Day Saint denomination, maintains two temples. Unlike those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, these temples are open to the public, and do not involve sacred rituals, except at certain times for Communion and a daily prayer for peace. The oldest temple maintained by the church is in Kirtland, Ohio. This temple was the first temple built by Latter Day Saints. In its 1994 World Conference, the Community of Christ dedicated a temple in Independence, Missouri. Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994 Community of Christ, previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS church is a branch of Mormon Restorationism, and is the second largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... In Mormonism, the Sacrament is the Lords Supper, in which participants eat bread and drink wine (or water, in the case of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since the late 1800s). ... The Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994 Community of Christ, previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS church is a branch of Mormon Restorationism, and is the second largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Independence is a city located in Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. ...

During the life of Joseph Smith, Jr., he dedicated a location in Independence, Missouri for the building of a special temple, which was to be the center of a New Jerusalem. The lot for this temple is owned and maintained by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot). Although the church planned to build a temple on the site in the early 20th century, and even excavated a foundation, efforts were abandoned during the economic woes of the Great Depression and due to a schism which resulted in the establishment of the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message. Today, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) has no plans to construct a temple of its own. Instead, the church believes it is the steward of the location until the various sects of the Latter Day Saint movement re-unite into a single organization before the Second Coming of Jesus. The Temple Lot is a two acre (8,000 m²) grassy field next to the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) in the center of Independence, Missouri. ... The headquarters building of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) as seen from the original temple site designated by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Dorothea Langes Migrant Mother depicts destitute pea pickers in California, centering on Florence Owens Thompson, a mother of seven children, age twenty-nine, in Nipomo, California, March 1936. ... The Church of Christ with the Elijah Message in Independence, Missouri. ... The prophecies of a Second Coming are various and span across many religions and cultures. ...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) began to construct a temple at their headquarters in Voree, Wisconsin in the mid-1840s. Another temple may have been planned for Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, prior to their expulsion. The church has made no attempt to build temples since the death of their prophet, James J. Strang. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Strangite church, is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement and a part of the Mormon faith. ... Voree, Wisconsin is a former settlement and a historic site on the outskirts of present-day Burlington, Wisconsin. ... Beaver Island is the largest island in Lake Michigan and part of the Beaver Island archipelago. ... 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ...

The Apostolic United Brethren has had a temple in Ozumba, Mexico at least by the 1990s, as well as an Endowment house in Utah since sometime in the 1980s. The Apostolic United Brethrens Ozumba, Mexico temple. ...

The Community of Christ Church of Modena, Utah built a temple-like Pyramid-shaped structure in the mid-1980s, for use in its ordinances.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) made news in 2004 by embarking on the construction of a temple at their new settlement near Eldorado, Texas. The foundation of the FLDS temple roughly matches that of the original Nauvoo Temple. This is the second time any of the polygamous Mormon fundamentalists sects have attempted to build a temple of their own. The FLDS Temple in Eldorado, Texas The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is a denomination of Mormon fundamentalists within the Latter Day Saint movement, and may be Americas largest polygynous group. ... Eldorado is a city located in Schleicher County, Texas. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mormon fundamentalism. ...

The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days reportedly believe that when the end time arrives, they will enter the Manti Utah Temple (owned by the LDS church) and assume control of it. At that time all of the wicked outside of the temple will be destroyed and only the righteous, inside the temple will survive. The Red Brick Store in Manti, Utah. ... Manti Utah Temple The Manti Utah Temple is the fifth constructed temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ...

Temple Comparison Chart

The following reference chart shows the relative sizes of various temples in the Latter Day Saint movement. (Note that the LDS church has many more temples than are shown and a comparison of those Temples is found on the List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints page.) The Latter Day Saint movement (a superset of Mormonism, the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches, the majority of which call... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... This is a list of temples in chronological order: Footnotes ^ 1. ... Download high resolution version (700x753, 134 KB)This is an original diagram that I created for publication elsewhere, but I am granting permission to use it on Wikipedia. ...

References

• Elwin C. Robinson, The First Mormon Temple: Design, Construction, and Historic Context of the Kirtland Temple, BYU Press: 1997.
• Richard O. Cowan, Temples to Dot the Earth, January 1997, ISBN 155517339X
• Laurie Smith Monesees, The Temple: Dedicated to Peace, Herald House: 1993.
• Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, June 1980, ISBN 0884944115
• Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, Intellectual Reserve
• David Burger, "The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship"; Signature Books; ISBN 1-56085-176-7; (paperback)
• James E. Talmage, "The House of the Lord" Signature Books (reprint of the first edition) ISBN 1-56085-114-7; (hardback)

Acting President Boyd K. Packer Boyd Kenneth Packer (born September 10, 1924) has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1970. ... Intellectual Reserve, Inc. ...

See also

• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Endowment (Mormonism)
• Washing and anointing
• Temple garment
• Temples:
  • "The Hague" - actually Zoetermeer, Netherlands.

This is a list of temples in chronological order: Footnotes ^ 1. ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a special gift of heavenly priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ... In Mormonism, washing and anointing (also called the Initiatory) is an ordinance (ritual) that symbolizes ritual cleansing and anointing to be a king or queen in heaven. ... In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a few other sects of Mormonism, the temple garment (formally the Garment of the Holy Priesthood or informally, the garment or garments) is a set of sacred underclothing worn by male and female Latter-day Saints who... Zoetermeer (population: 115,913 in February 2005) is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. ...

External links

• An short introduction to the LDS Temple
• LDS website
• Modern Temple Ordinances by James E. Talmage
• Mormon temples
• Mormons and Masons: The Ancient Origins of Mormon Temples
• A large list of books and articles on LDS temples, history, ritual, and symbolism, organized topically
• An LDS Temple Preparation FAQ
• Joseph Smith's Introduced the Ritual
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Mormon Family History and Genealogy Search - LDS Family History Centers and Temples
• Mormon temple origins
• The Nauvoo Endowment Companies
• List of LDS Temples
• Endowed from on High: Temple Preparation Seminar: Teacher’s Manual
• Official LDS website's brief explanation of temples
• A typical LDS temple baptistry from MeridianMagazine.com
• Jim Radfords LDS Art Gallery: Temple Pictures with photos of numerous LDS temples
• Jeff Lindsay's FAQ about the LDS Temple and Masonry

• A large list of books and articles on LDS temples, history, ritual, and symbolism, organized topically.
• Sunstone & Journal of Latter-day Saint History articles on the Mexican Apostolic United Brethren temple[[Category:Latter Day Saint temples]