Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter[Day Saints
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TEMPLESOF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12 In the house of the Lord, we feel the influence of the Holy Ghost and draw nearer to God, our Eternal Father, and to His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. No temple photos, including exterior and interior Photos and Illustrations: images, may be duplicated or copied. Unless otherwise noted here, photos and illustration are Page 27: © 2000 John Telford Published by owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Page 48: © Pacific Press Publishing Association, Inc. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are used by permission of the artist or photographer. (Seventh-Day Adventist Church) Salt Lake City, Utah Pages 4–5: © Robert A. Baird Page 54: Moses Calls Aaron to the Ministry, © 2010 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Page 5: © Altus Photo Design by Harry Anderson, © IRI. All rights reserved Page 6: © Val Brinkerhoff Page 55: Solomon Prays at the Temple Dedication, Printed in the United States of America © Robert T. Barrett; do not copy English approval: 8/09. 09339 Page 7: © Scott Cannon Pages 8–9: © Fredy Apaza Ramirez Inside back cover: © Martin Van Hemert Page 10: © Val Brinkerhoff Back cover: © Robert A. Baird Contents Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regard the temple as the house of the Lord—the most sacred place on earth. In this booklet you will find helpful information about the purpose and importance of temples and the eternal significance of the ordinances performed there. This booklet can be found online at temples.lds.org. 4 Houses of the Lord 60 Things Pertaining to Photo Essay This House Photo Essay 12 Blessings of the Temple President Thomas S. Monson 68 Temple Service, Temple Blessings 20 Why These Temples? Our Temple Marriage Was Worth President Gordon B. Hinckley Any Price Geovanny Medina 28 The Holy Temple How the Temple Helps President Boyd K. Packer Frances W. Hodgson 36 A Temple-Motivated People 72 For Children: President Howard W. Hunter Your Path to the Temple 40 Prepare for the Blessings 76 For Youth: Making the Temple of the Temple a Part of Your Life Elder Russell M. Nelson 79 Commonly Asked Questions 52 A History of Temples Elder James E. Talmage ◀ Copenhagen Denmark Temple. Dedicated May 23, 2004. ▲ Adelaide Australia Temple. Dedicated June 15, 2000. Front cover: Salt Lake Temple. Dedicated Apr. 6, 1893. Back cover: Portland Oregon Temple. Dedicated Aug. 19, 1989. 3 Houses of the Lord The temple is literally the house of the Lord. It is a place where God in- structs His children and prepares them to return to His presence. It is a place where we are united as families and taught the ways of the Lord. he temple Twas a place of learning for the Savior when He was on the earth; it was very much a part of His life. Temple blessings are available once again in our day” (James E. Faust, “The Restoration of All Things,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2006, 67). ◀ Washington D.C. Temple. Dedicated Nov. 19, 1974. ▲ Fountain, Nashville Tennessee Temple. 5 6 “By identifying our ances- tors and performing for them the saving ordi- nances they could not themselves perform, we are testifying of the infi- nite reach of the Atone- ment of Jesus Christ” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus,” Liahona, Jan. 2001, 11; Ensign, Nov. 2000, 10). ◀ Stained glass, Palmyra New York Temple (far left). ◀ Hong Kong China Temple. Dedicated May 26, 1996. ▲ Arches, Bountiful Utah Temple. 7 “The process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. In the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar, “Honorably Hold a Name and Standing,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2009, 98). ◀ Cochabamba Bolivia Temple. Dedicated Apr. 30, 2000. ▲ Masonry detail, Cardston Alberta Temple. 9 “In its gleaming glory, the temple seems to beckon to each who views its splendor, ‘Come! Come to the house of the Lord. Here is found rest for the weary and peace for the soul.’ . The [temple] prepares all who enter to return homeward— homeward to heaven, homeward to family, homeward to God” (Thomas S. Monson, “Days Never to Be Forgot- ten,” Ensign, Nov. 1990, 67, 70). ▲ Fencing, Sacramento California Temple. ▶ Accra Ghana Temple. Dedicated Jan. 11, 2004. 10 Blessings of the Temple By President Thomas S. Monson he temple Sixteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints T provides purpose In the temple we can feel close to “For where your treasure is, there for our lives. It brings the Lord will your heart be also.” 1 peace to our souls— I think there is no place in the world To members of The Church of Jesus not the peace provided where I feel closer to the Lord than in Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple by men but the peace one of His holy temples. To paraphrase is the most sacred place on earth. It a poem: is the house of the Lord, and just as promised by the Son of How far is heaven? the inscription on the exterior of the God when He said, It’s not very far. temple states, the temple is “holiness to “Peace I leave with the Lord.” In temples of God, you, my peace I give It’s right where we are. The temple lifts and exalts us unto you.” The Lord said: In the temple, the precious plan of God “Lay not up for yourselves trea- is taught. It is in the temple that eternal sures upon earth, where moth and rust covenants are made. The temple lifts doth corrupt, and where thieves break us, exalts us, stands as a beacon for all through and steal: to see, and points us toward celestial “But lay up for yourselves treasures glory. It is the house of God. All that in heaven, where neither moth nor rust occurs within the walls of the temple is doth corrupt, and where thieves do not uplifting and ennobling. break through nor steal: ◀ Lima Peru Temple. Dedicated Jan. 10, 1986. 13 As we touch the temple and love the temple, our lives will reflect our faith. As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation. The temple is for families, one of the house of the Lord. She had touched greatest treasures we have in mortal- the temple, and the temple had ity. The Lord has been very explicit in touched her. talking to us fathers, indicating that we have a responsibility to love our wives The temple brings peace to our souls with all of our hearts and to provide As we touch the temple and love the for them and for our children. He has temple, our lives will reflect our faith. indicated that the greatest work we As we go to the holy house, as we parents can do is performed in our remember the covenants we make homes, and our homes can be heaven, therein, we will be able to bear every particularly when our marriages are trial and overcome each temptation. sealed in the house of God. The temple provides purpose for our The late Elder Matthew Cowley, lives. It brings peace to our souls—not who was a member of the Quorum of the peace provided by men but the The Lord has indicated the Twelve Apostles, once recounted peace promised by the Son of God that the greatest work the Saturday afternoon experience of when He said, “Peace I leave with you, we parents can do is a grandfather as hand in hand he took my peace I give unto you: not as the performed in our homes, his small granddaughter on a birthday world giveth, give I unto you. Let not visit—not to the zoo or to the mov- your heart be troubled, neither let it be and our homes can be ies but to the temple grounds. With afraid.” 2 heaven, particularly when permission of the groundskeeper, the There is great faith among the our marriages are sealed two walked to the large doors of the Latter-day Saints. The Lord gives us in the house of God. temple. He suggested that she place opportunities to see if we will follow her hand on the sturdy wall and then His commandments, if we will follow on the massive door. Tenderly he then the pathway that Jesus of Nazareth said to her, “Remember that this day followed, if we will love the Lord you touched the temple. One day you with all our heart, might, mind, and will go inside.” His gift to the little strength, and love our neighbors as one was not candy or ice cream but ourselves. 3 an experience far more significant and everlasting—an appreciation of the ◀ St. George Utah Temple. Dedicated Apr. 6, 1877. Rededicated Nov. 11, 1975. 15 I believe in the proverb “Trust in proxy for those who have died without Worthy young men and the Lord with all thine heart; and lean the blessings of baptism. This would be young women as young not unto thine own understanding.