Are Temples Too Extravagant?

I served my mission in San Diego, California.  The temple there is one of the most beautiful and striking temples in the world.  Due to its beauty, and its location near a major freeway, the temple has become a well-known landmark in San Diego. In one part of one area in which I served people could see the temple from their front doorstep. It made for an interesting backdrop for tracting.

Accordingly, I must have had some variation of the following conversation at least a thousand times on my mission:  We would knock on a person’s door, and as soon as they found out that we were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they would tell us that they had visited the temple during the 1993 open house, and they would compliment us on the beauty of the building.  However, they would inevitably proceed to complain that they felt that such a beautiful building was unnecessary, and that we ought to be using that money to help the poor instead.  Some people would also complain that we ought to let everyone go inside the temple, and not just certain members.

Once I returned from my mission, several of my non-member friends asked me a similar question at one point or another: “Why are temples so nice-looking and big? Shouldn't they be more humble-looking?” Furthermore, there are also some critics who more pointedly accuse the church of spending too much on extravagant temples, and not enough on giving aid to the poor.

I suppose that these concerns are only natural.  I live in Utah, and it must seem to my friends of other faiths as if we build a new temple here at least every other year. Moreover, most of the people whom I have encountered who charge the church with spending too much on extravagant temples come from a (more or less) protestant background, and they have a deep-seated cultural abhorrence for the lavish spending and ornate palaces and cathedrals that have been historically associated with Catholicism (particularly in Western Europe). As such it is only natural that they would make many of the same assumptions about an LDS temple as they would about one of the great Cathedrals of Europe.  In their protestant eyes, such buildings must represent a tradition that has lost sight of the Christian ideals of caring for the poor and administering to its members.

With all of this in mind, I have given this question a fair amount of thought over the years. Despite these many natural critiques, I have nevertheless come to the conclusion that temples are not too extravagant, nor do they take money away from the poor.  Nor do temples unnecessarily exclude people from entry.  These charges tend to proceed from a number of misconceptions about the church, and how its worship is conducted. It is my hope that shedding a little bit of light on the subject might help to dispel some of the confusion which my non-member friends have about temples. Once a person understands the role and purpose of a temple in God’s church, many of these concerns ought to disappear.

While I am not insensitive to the concerns that have been expressed regarding the apparent opulence of the church’s most prominent edifices, I feel compelled to speak out in defense of temple building in practice and in principle.  Our efforts to build (and worship in) temples do not interfere with our efforts to care for the poor in any way. In fact, the covenants which we make in the temple to follow God and to live the gospel also inspire and animate our efforts to care for the less fortunate, which, as you will see, are extensive and ongoing. Furthermore, temple-building is not about impressing you, or anyone else beside the Lord. Once you understand the clear biblical and doctrinal reasons why we build temples, you ought to see that the temple is a powerful sign that the gospel has been restored today, and that the church today represents the Lord’s covenant people. Not only is the church justified in erecting temples of such beauty and majesty, but because of what the temple represents, they could not do otherwise.

Credit: Ben P L

Temples are Not the Same as Churches

First, temples are not the same as churches. Many of the people I encountered as a missionary who expressed problems with our use of our temples seemed unaware that our primary Sunday worship does not take place in these buildings. In fact, it might surprise you to learn that our temples are generally closed on Sundays.  Our temples are not glitzy megachurches, nor are they cathedrals. Latter-day Saint temples actually differ from churches and cathedrals in many ways, including the fact that regular worship services for congregations are not typically held in temples, as they serve a specific function (which I will explain later) which is distinct from congregational worship.

Instead, we meet as a congregation in chapels which are not that different from most church buildings in the United States (except most of our buildings also feature a gym or “cultural hall” for activities that do not always pertain directly to worship).  Every Sunday we attend what we call “Sacrament meeting” in order to partake of the ordinance of the Sacrament (which you might recognize as resembling communion or the eucharist).  Lay members lead each congregation, give talks (sermons), and (after Sacrament meeting is over) teach Sunday School classes and lessons. There are usually activities during the week for the youth and other groups. All are welcome to visit our churches, even (or especially) non-members.

The most important point that I want to emphasize is that everyone is welcome to visit our worship services.  In fact, nearly every LDS Chapel in the world has a sign prominently displayed on the outside that says “Visitors Welcome.”  It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, or how poor or rich you are, or to what religion you happen to belong, all are welcome to join us in our chapels.

Temples are a little bit different.  All worthy members, regardless of race, class, or relative wealth or poverty, are permitted (or rather, encouraged) to worship in the temple.  While congregational worship of the sort which happens in our chapels on Sunday doesn’t typically take place in the temple, it is still a place of worship.  In the temple, we have the opportunity to be married (or sealed) for time and all eternity, and not just ‘til death do we part.  We also have the opportunity to make promises (or covenants) with God that we will obey him, and as part of this we receive instruction and blessings that help us to better navigate this life, and which help us to gain happiness and fulfillment in this life.  We also have the opportunity to perform these ordinances on behalf of our ancestors who died without the opportunity to perform them for themselves.

“A temple differs from other houses of worship. Unlike chapels, the temple is closed on the Sabbath so that people can attend church and be with their families on that hallowed day. Temples are open for sacred work on other days of the week. A temple is literally the house of the Lord, reserved for ordinances of eternal significance. Those ordinances include baptisms, marriages, endowments, and sealings.

“As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Howard W. Hunter, "A Temple-Motivated People," Ensign, Feb. 1995)

Each temple is symbolic of our faith in God and an evidence of our faith in life after death. The temple is the object of every activity, every lesson, every progressive step in the Church. All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead lead to the holy temple. Ordinances of the temple are absolutely crucial. We cannot return to God’s glory without them.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign, Nov. 2010).

“Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are an affirmative expression to all the world of the faith millions of Latter-day Saints have in the immortality of the soul. All of the activity carried on within these sacred edifices is based on the premise that all mortal beings who have been on earth are in reality immortal. Yet this temple activity is based upon more than a premise, for a premise may be only an assumption. To those who frequent these sacred houses of the Lord, the validity is a fact, and a matter of strong and compelling personal conviction.

The millions of dollars spent in constructing and maintaining temples would be of no avail without such conviction, nor would the countless hours of service performed within their walls” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Temples and Temple Work,” Ensign, Feb. 1982, 3).

Aba, Nigeria Temple

Temples Are More Functional Than Ornamental in Nature

This brings me to another important point in my argument. Despite what you might think, LDS temples are not purely decorative. There is little in an LDS temple that is purely ornamental. Practically every room serves a specific function, and the furnishings in that room are designed to facilitate that function. Two examples of this would include the baptistry, where baptisms for the dead are performed; and the sealing rooms, wherein people can be sealed for time and all eternity by someone with the authority to do so. While these rooms are generally beautifully appointed, they serve a specific function, and almost everything in the room supports that function. There are decorations, but even those decorations sometimes have a function, even if that function is a largely symbolic one.

A large sealing room.

In any given sealing room, there is an altar in the middle where a couple can kneel on either side, facing each other, and where they can be sealed for time and all eternity by someone who holds the authority from God to administer such ordinances. This means that they can be married forever, and not just “til death do you part.” There are also chairs that generally line the sides of the room. These are for friends and family of the bride and the groom who have come to witness the ceremony. Often, there are mirrors which face each other on opposite walls. While these are largely decorative, they are also meant to represent eternity because their reflections seem to go on forever. While specific decorative details differ from temple to temple, there generally isn’t much more than what I have described in each sealing room. While these rooms are indeed well-cared for, there is little in them which does not directly pertain to the ordinances performed within them.

Manaus, Brazil Temple baptistry

The same is true for the baptistry. A large baptismal font filled with water generally takes up most of the room. This font usually has representations of oxen at its base. These decorations are meant to mirror the twelve oxen statues which supported the molten sea in Solomon’s temple, which was constructed according to the Lord’s instructions.

1 Kings 7:23, 25 And [Solomon] made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

“What was the purpose of this “molten sea”? (See 1 Kgs. 7:23; 2 Chr. 4:3.) The scriptures indicate that it “was for the priests to wash in” (2 Chr. 4:6)—evidently either for washing themselves or cleansing others. (See Ex. 30:18–21; Ex. 40:30–32.) Cleansing and covenant-making are fundamental principles for the house of Israel in every age; ancient Israel practiced baptism even under the law of Moses. (See 1 Cor. 10:2; 2 Ne. 9:23; D&C 84:26–27.) Whether or not this font was used for baptism in Solomon’s day is lost from the scriptural record.

…the twelve oxen represent the tribes of Israel and also signify the strength and power on which God has established his work for the children of mankind. Those who are obedient and faithful to their covenants are the covenant family chosen to accomplish God’s purposes. They are the ones upon whom his work “rests,” just as the temple fonts rest upon the backs of the oxen” (Edward J. Brandt, “Why are oxen used in the design of our temples’ baptismal fonts?” Ensign, March 1993).

There are generally chairs lining the wall behind the entrance to the font for those who are waiting to be baptized on behalf of those who never had the opportunity to be baptized in life. There is also a chair or a desk where a witness or witnesses will sit. Their job is to make sure that everything is done correctly so that the baptism is valid. There is also a screen which the one performing the baptisms can see which shows the name of the person for whom the baptism is being performed. There are usually two doors in the room, each of which leads to a different changing room, as those who participate in baptisms for the dead wear special white clothing to denote purity and cleanliness. In some temples, there is a waiting room because there are so many people who have come to perform baptisms for the dead. Often, you can see the font through a large window in the front of the waiting room, but not every temple has this.

My point is that temples, while certainly beautiful and crafted with care, are not lavish, nor do they feature much decoration for decoration’s sake. The decorations which are featured inside an LDS temple are nearly always designed to point one’s mind toward the purpose of the room you are in (e.g. the mirrors in the sealing room, or the representations of the oxen at the base of the baptismal font). A temple, far from being a palace or a gallery, is a place where “holy work” is performed day in and day out. The members put great care and effort into maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of the interior, and the church maintains the grounds with equal care, but only because we understand the importance of the temple, and the work which we do there.

For a more detailed glimpse inside a typical LDS temple, follow this LINK.

We Don’t Build Temples to Impress You

That brings me to my next point. Despite what many people might think, we don’t build temples to impress the rest of the world. We hold open houses when a temple is first constructed, and before that temple has been dedicated to the Lord, but these open houses are designed mostly to satisfy a curious public, and the Church is smart enough to know that such an event is a golden opportunity to introduce ourselves and our beliefs to a whole community. There are many who have attended open houses who were inspired by the spirit which they felt there to ask more questions, and many of those who have done so have become converts to the church. The church is certainly aware of all this, but this is not our primary purpose in building a temple of the Lord.

Once the temple is dedicated, the public is no longer allowed inside the building. That’s because the temple is now the Lord’s house, and is now reserved entirely for doing the Lord’s work. Moreover, the temple was always built for the Lord, and was always going to be dedicated entirely to Him and His work.

“A temple is a house of God, and he is Everlasting. It was he who required that special houses be built in which to administer these eternal ordinances. There is no adequate substitute on all the face of the earth” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Temples and Temple Work,” Ensign, Feb. 1982, 3).

We build temples the way that we do because of our love and our devotion to God. Just as on Sundays we wear our Sunday best (even if our best is humble by the standards of others), we feel similarly obligated to consecrate our best effort and materials to the construction of a temple as a similar sign of our service and devotion to our Father in Heaven. The beauty of a temple is our tribute to Him. It’s nice that you noticed, but it wasn’t done that way for your sake.

Temples are a Symbol of Our Covenant Relationship with God

As I said before, temples are not just big, fancy buildings designed to impress outsiders with our wealth. If you look to the scriptures, you will find that it is fairly clear that temples are meant to be an important sign and symbol that God has chosen and redeemed a people, and that he has made a covenant with them. Accordingly, we strive to build temples according to the pattern set forth by the Lord, in order that our efforts may be acceptable to Him.

D & C 115:14-15 But let a house be built unto my name according to the pattern which I will show unto them. And if my people build it not according to the pattern which I shall show unto their presidency, I will not accept it at their hands.

Temples are a sign between us and God that we are His people, and that we belong to Him. Moreover, we build them as a sign and a symbol of our fidelity to that covenant. Just as we do our best to remain faithful to the Lord in all things, and we (ideally) strive with all our might to keep the covenants we have made with Him, we put our all into building and caring for the temples. Once you understand this you will see that we cannot do otherwise.

This has been true of temples going all the way back to Old Testament times. The temple is meant to be the bond of a covenant between God and the people which He has chosen and set apart. Furthermore, the temple itself, and the way it is treated by the people, is a sign of their faith in (and regard for) God. God’s chosen, covenant people will always build a temple as a sign of that covenant, and as a reflection of their faith in and devotion to God and the covenants which He has made with them. That, along with the simple fact that the Lord commanded it, is why ancient temples were so beautiful and costly.

Not only is this pattern well documented in the cases of the Old Testament temple, but a case can be made from the New Testament that a similar covenant relationship exists under the new law of the gospel, as introduced by Jesus Christ. Moreover, under the new and everlasting covenant of the gospel, temples remain an important symbol that God has chosen a covenant people, and therefore temples are an important evidence that God has restored His church on the Earth today.

An artist's depiction of Solomon's Temple

The Temple and The Old Covenant

In ancient times, God instructed King Solomon to erect a temple to Him. The Old Testament records that the Lord gave Solomon careful and detailed instructions concerning the dimensions and the features of the temple. Solomon’s temple is still famous even today for its splendid appointments, and for its reputation for beauty and the intricacy of its decorations. While modern temples continue this pattern set forth by the Lord for the appointment and decoration of His temples, there is a more important pattern which is set forth by the circumstances surrounding the construction of Solomon’s temple.

1 Kings 6:11-14 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

Whenever God sets forth His promises regarding the construction of the temple and His acceptance thereof, He focuses more on whether or not the people will keep His commandments and follow Him faithfully, than He does on the specifics of construction or decoration. The temple is only acceptable to the Lord if the people and their behavior is also acceptable to the Lord.

"It is not the building itself but the visitations of the Spirit that sanctify.  When the people stray from the Spirit their sanctuary ceases to be the house of the Lord."  (Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, 94)

Why is it that the obedience and faithfulness of the people seems to matter more to the Lord than the lavishness of His temple? The temple is just the outward symbol of the covenant relationship which God established with His people when He brought them out of Egypt.

“God has always required His children to make covenants.  A covenant is a binding and solemn agreement between God and man.  God promises to bless us and we promise to obey Him.  God sets the terms of gospel covenants, which we either accept or reject.  Keeping covenants brings blessings in this life and exaltation in the life to come.”  (Preach My Gospel, 63)

When the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He made a covenant with them in the wilderness, through His prophet Moses. In this covenant, He promised that, if they would keep and obey the law which He would give them, He would make the Israelites into His own particular people by covenant. In other words, the Israelites would become his chosen people, and His covenant people.

Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Significantly, the people themselves came together and agreed to follow the Lord, obey His voice, and Keep His covenant.

Exodus 19:7-8 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Later, when the Lord first gave instruction to the Israelites to construct a permanent temple (through the prophet Nathan), He reiterated His promises, which He made when He gave the Law through Moses, and emphasized Israel’s special status as the people whom the Lord had chosen and redeemed from slavery.

2 Samuel 7:23-24 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

The temple therefore, was always intended to stand as a sign that God has chosen and redeemed for Himself a people, and that those people have made a covenant with Him to obey his voice and keep His laws. Moreover, when Solomon finally finished the temple, the Lord made it clear that the temple would only stand so long as the people who built it chose to honor their covenant with the Lord. If instead they refused to obey His commandments, and elected to worship other Gods, the Lord would reject the temple, and it would stand as a testament against them, and they would no longer be accepted as God’s people.

1 Kings 9:1-7 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

1 Kings 9:8-9 And at this house [the temple], which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil.

In other words, temples which have been accepted of God are a clear sign that God’s people are in the world. More importantly, temples are a sign that His people are indeed His people because of their continued commitment to obeying His laws and commandments, and keeping the covenant which they have made with Him.

A depiction of the temple in Jerusalem in Christ's day.

The Temple and The New Covenant

Of course, that’s the case from the Old Testament, and the temples in the old testament are naturally based on the old law, and the covenant which the Lord made with Moses. Our modern temples function somewhat differently from the temples in the Old Testament. Moreover, what evidence is there that temples are still part of the Lord’s plan for His people today? For the answer, we have to start in the Old Testament, and then look to the New Testament.

The Lord revealed to his prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel that He would establish a new covenant with His people. One which would be written in the tablets of our hearts instead of on tablets of stone like the covenant which he made in the days of Moses.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and He (and His atoning sacrifice) is the seal and fulfillment of both the Old and the New Covenants, as Paul explained to the Hebrews.

Hebrews 8:6-13 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

You might recognize the New Covenant as what we call the Gospel. Christ is the mediator between God and man, and because of His atoning sacrifice and intervention on our behalf, we become reconciled once more to God. If we will follow the first principles of the gospel, which include exercising faith, and repenting of our sins, the Lord is prepared to make a new covenant with us. A covenant of peace, by which we can be reconciled to God through Christ’s atonement.

Colossians 1:19-23 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

You might wonder what this has to do with temples, but once we are returned to a state of righteousness through the grace and redemption of Jesus Christ, we will once again become God’s people, just as the Israelites became the Lord’s chosen and covenant people when they agreed to obey His law and keep His covenants before Mt. Sinai, after being redeemed from slavery in Egypt. In fact, there is language in the New Testament which mirrors that which was used in the Old Testament to describe the Lord’s actions in redeeming his people, in order that they might be His people, even if they were not one before (compare to 2 Samuel 7:23-24 above).

Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Christ gave himself for us, and redeemed us from sin, in order that He might purify us, and make of us a peculiar people. Note that phrase: “a peculiar people.” Remember that something similar appears in God’s declaration of covenant in Exodus 19.

Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

What does this have to do with temples? This covenant language appears again, almost verbatim, in a passage from one of Peter’s epistles to the whole church, in which he describes the role which the members of the church are meant to play in the New Covenant, using symbolism that ties directly to the temple.

1 Peter 2:5, 9-10 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Notice that Peter, in reiterating a statement of covenant which mirrors that which the Lord used with Israel before Mt. Sinai, describes all those who have become disciples of Christ and Christians through baptism and conversion as being “built up a spiritual house.” Once again God’s people are described as “an holy priesthood,” and “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, [and] a peculiar people.” However, Peter resorts to an important symbolism to help each of us understand what our part is in this new and higher covenant. He describes us as lively, or living stones, which are built into a spiritual house. As a Holy Priesthood, we are to offer up “spiritual sacrifices,” which are made acceptable to God by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In so doing we become the people of God, and by which we can obtain divine mercy.

This passage from Peter contains an incredibly important symbol, which is crucial to understand. Symbolically speaking, WE (as baptized disciples of Christ) are the building blocks of the temple.  Paul develops this symbolism further when describing the organizational structure of the church of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I love the way Paul uses language here, because, much as Peter called us “lively stones,” Paul describes us as components of a building which (unlike literal stones) can somehow grow together into a holy temple in the Lord. Note that Paul also describes the body of the church as becoming a “habitation of God through the spirit.”

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

All those who have exercised faith and repented of their sins, and made a covenant to obey God in all things through the ordinance of baptism, have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. In addition to washing our sins away through the baptism of fire, the gift of the Holy Ghost comes to us as part of a promise made by the Lord that His spirit will always be with us.  So long as we remain faithful to the new and everlasting covenant of the Gospel, we are promised that we will always be in the presence of a member of the Godhead! We ourselves have become temples, literally and figuratively, in that the Lord can dwell within us through His spirit.

D&C 93:35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.

Together, as the body of Christ, we form the building blocks of the temple of the Lord. As we become of one heart and of one mind, and we increase in faithfulness to the New Covenant, we will indeed become the Lord’s chosen people. As a sign that He has chosen a people, the Lord has promised that His covenant people would have literal temples once more among them, as did the Israelites.

The Salt Lake Temple, situated on "the top of the mountains."

A Literal Temple For This Day and Age

Ezekiel 37:26-28 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Unfortunately, there are many who read these same verses, about spiritual houses, and spiritual sacrifices made in temples made up of living stones, who assume that means that because WE are the temple of God, that also means that there is no need for actual, literal and physical temples. This interpretation, while an easy mistake to make, is not actually supported by scripture.

First, the sacrifices which the Lord demands have ALWAYS been spiritual offerings.  Even the literal animal sacrifices which were offered in Old Testament temples meant very little unless they were done in the right spirit. In that light, what exactly does the Lord mean by the phrase “spiritual offerings” and how do these differ from literal offerings, such as lambs or bullocks? This was one of the first things which the Lord explained to the Nephites, when He proclaimed an end to the performances of the old law and introduced the principles of the new covenant.

3 Nephi 9:18-20 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Lest you think this doctrine is some kind of Mormon innovation, let me reiterate that a broken heart and a contrite spirit have ALWAYS been more important to the Lord than literal sacrifices, and literal sacrifices which were not made in this spirit were not acceptable to the Lord.

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Psalms 51:16-17  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalms 51:6-10 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

As under the old law, under the new covenant only sacrifices of a broken heart and a contrite spirit are accepted of the Lord.

2 Nephi 2: 6-7 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Therefore, spiritual sacrifices do not equal non-existent, or imaginary sacrifices. God did not make the new and everlasting covenant with us through His son, just so we could sit back and do nothing and call it “spiritual.” We make spiritual offerings as a part of our obedience to the terms of the New Covenant. When we partake of the sacrament every week, we come before the altar of the sacrament table, and we symbolically lay our broken heart and contrite spirit before the Lord as an offering to Him as we renew our covenant with Him.

This is one of the most important ways in which we signify to the Lord that we will heed his laws and obey His covenant in spirit and also in deed. We then demonstrate our faithfulness to (and love for) God and our covenant with Him by our heartfelt obedience to His commandments, and our genuine love and care for our fellow man. Without this, we would not be worthy to even HAVE a temple, let alone enter into one.

D&C 124:47 And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.

This brings me to my second point in answer to those who suppose that temples are no longer required because WE are the temples of the Lord. There are actually two types of symbolism employed by Peter and Paul when discussing temples. The first has to do with the fact that those who have been redeemed and washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ through baptism by water and by the Holy Ghost are indeed (symbolically) temples of God. The second, however, refers to each of us as coming together to form the building blocks of the temple of the Lord. This is also a symbol: the church as a whole is the temple of God because its members have become His people through covenant. However, if we fail to honor our new covenant with God, whether through disbelief or through wickedness, we will become defiled, and we will be destroyed.

Remember however, that the Lord told Ezekiel that, as part of establishing His new and everlasting covenant, He would “set [His] sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore,” and that it would be a sign to “the heathen” by which they would “know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” Heathens, or gentiles, by definition have a hard time grasping the spiritual, so it seems unlikely that the Lord was talking about a spiritual temple which is made up solely of a church consisting of faithful members who honor their covenants. Rather, it seems clear that, in addition to the spiritual temple mentioned in the New Testament, the Lord also intends for His people to have a literal temple.

Moreover, the temple is specifically and implicitly intended to be a sign to the rest of the world (including “the heathen”) that the Lord has chosen and sanctified his covenant people. In other words, even literal temples are indeed meant to be a symbol. The Lord intends (and has always intended) temples to stand as an outward symbol of our covenant relationship with Him. Just as they did in Old Testament times, temples stand as a sign that God has chosen and sanctified His people, and they stand as a beacon of hope and redemption to the rest of the world, as prophesied by Isaiah.

Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

“Each [temple] stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World,” Ensign, May 2011).

“The inspired erection and proper use of temples is one of the great evidences of the divinity of the Lord’s work. … Where there are temples, with the spirit of revelation resting upon those who administer therein, there the Lord’s people will be found; where these are not, the Church and kingdom and the truth of heaven are not” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 781).

“The temple is a type of the church, and…temples built in this dispensation…signal and celebrate the restoration of the gospel and the organization of God’s church” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 781).

What you need to understand is that all those who faithfully follow the gospel and become converted, and who make sacred covenants with the Lord (such as those made at baptism, and later those made in the temple) are God’s covenant people in this day and age! The temple is a symbol that God’s covenant people are once again on the earth. That means that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can choose (much as the ancient Israelites did at Mt. Sinai) to make a covenant to follow the Lord in all things, and He will bless them by naming them as part of His chosen people. More importantly, the blessings which are offered in (and through) modern temples can make an important difference for good in our own lives, and in lifting “the lives of all humankind, by arming those who receive them “with righteousness and with the power of God.”

“Meanwhile, in this world smitten with spiritual decay, can individuals prepared for temple blessings make a difference? Yes! Those Saints are “the covenant people of the Lord, … armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” Their example can lift the lives of all humankind.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, lds.org).

“Modern prophets have taught that, for God’s chosen, covenant people “the temple of the Lord [is] the great symbol of their membership and the supernal setting for their most sacred covenants” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Great Symbol of Our Membership,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, lds.org).

“It is the Lord Himself who, in His revelations to us, has made the temple the great symbol for members of the Church” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Great Symbol of Our Membership,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, lds.org).

The temple is a symbol of our membership, our testimony, and our status as a people bound by covenant who have been chosen, redeemed, and set apart by the Lord. It is also a symbol of our devotion to the Lord. As such, it would be impossible to use anything less than the best that we have in building and maintaining a house of the Lord. The way we treat the temple is symbolically tied to our fidelity to our covenant with the Lord, and to our love and care for the Lord Himself. It would be impossible for us to allow the temples to become commonplace or rundown, because to do so would send the message that we no longer love the Lord, and that our covenant with Him has become a thing of naught. This we would never do.

The Memphis, Tennessee Temple

Why Don’t We Allow the Public to Enter the Temple?

When you understand that the temple represents our devotion to God and our faithfulness to the covenant which we have made with Him, and that as such it cannot be allowed to be defiled, it ought to become clear to you why worthiness matters so much when it comes to the subject of the temple.

Being “worthy” is not about getting your name on a list so you can get past the bouncer at the door. (Temples don’t actually have bouncers). Being “worthy” is not about jumping through a series of hoops, or checking off boxes on a list.  Being worthy begins with exercising faith and repenting of our sins, so that we can participate in the new covenant of the gospel through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then continue to grow in faith and endure in fidelity to the gospel. As we grow and endure in the gospel, we also have the opportunity to learn and make covenants in the temple which will allow us to grow closer to the Lord and which will bless our lives.

“The temple is a place of instruction where profound truths pertaining to the Kingdom of God are unfolded. It is a place of peace where minds can be centered upon things of the spirit and the worries of the world can be laid aside. In the temple we [make] covenants to obey the laws of God, and promises are made to us, conditioned always on our faithfulness, which extend into eternity” (The Priesthood and You, Melchizedek Priesthood Lessons—1966, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1966, p. 293).

The temple is the symbol of our individual and collective fidelity to the covenants that we as individuals and as a people have made with the Lord. It is important to be prepared to make and keep covenants made with the Lord. Such things are not meant to be rushed into, or to be entered into casually. The standard of worthiness, rather than being about keeping people out of the temple, has more to do with making sure that all who enter the temple and make covenants therein are fully prepared to do so.

“To enter the temple is a tremendous blessing. But first we must be worthy. We should not be rushed. We cannot cut corners of preparation and risk the breaking of covenants we were not prepared to make. That would be worse than not making them at all” (Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, lds.org).

Furthermore, the Temple is the House of the Lord. It is a place of purity, peace and holiness. No unclean, or unholy thing ought to be allowed to enter. The Lord has established this level of spiritual cleanliness as an absolute standard for entry into His temple and His presence since ancient times. After all, if we are indeed "a kingdom of priests" by covenant as Peter describes, then it makes sense that we would be subject to requirements of purity and cleanliness in order to enter the temple. The Levitical priests in the Ancient temple were required to undergo a stringent regimen of purifications and washings before they were allowed to enter the temple and officiate in its rituals. The High Priest was required to undergo similar ritual cleansings and washings, and to purify himself in order to enter the inner sanctum of the temple and perform the Atonement offering.

"The high priest had to go through meticulous preparation to be worthy to act as the officiator for the rest of the house of Israel. This included sacrifices for himself and his house, as well as washing and purification through the sprinkling of sacrificial blood on various objects in the tabernacle." (Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis-2 Samuel, 177).

My point is that if we truly have become the "kingdom of priests" which the Lord desires us to become, according to covenant, then we should not be surprised that we are subject to requirements related to spiritual worthiness and cleanliness in order to prepare us to enter into the temple. Note that, under the terms of the new covenant, the focus is less on physical washings, and it is more on becoming spiritually clean through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Worthiness means using the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel which He taught, to become clean, both inside and out. Only then will be adequately prepared to commune with the Lord and receive the holy ordinances which are performed in His house.

“The temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Great Symbol of Our Membership,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, lds.org).

“Temples are sacred for the closest communion between the Lord and those receiving the highest and most sacred ordinances of the holy priesthood. It is in the temple that things of the earth are joined with the things of heaven” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Great Symbol of Our Membership,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, lds.org).

"Inscribed on each temple are the words “Holiness to the Lord.”  That statement designates both the temple and its purposes as holy. Those who enter the temple are also to bear the attribute of holiness.  It may be easier to ascribe holiness to a building than it is to a people. We can acquire holiness only by enduring and persistent personal effort" (Russell M. Nelson, "Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings," Ensign, May 2001).

Psalms 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

“The temple is the house of the Lord. He directs the conditions under which it may be used, the ordinances that should be administered, and the standards that qualify us to enter and participate in temple worship.

The Lord told Moses, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” In Psalms we read: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” His house is holy, and no unclean thing may enter it.

The Lord has designated the bishop and stake president to be responsible for determining the worthiness of individuals to receive a recommend to enter His holy house. We have to be completely honest with our bishop and stake president when they interview us before issuing a temple recommend. The gift we bring to the altar is a pure heart and a contrite spirit. Personal worthiness is an essential requirement to enjoy the blessings of the temple.

We prepare by obeying the commandments and seeking to do God’s will. If you have not gone to the temple, start preparing now, for when the opportunity presents itself you will be ready and worthy.” (Sylvia H. Allred, “Holy Temples, Sacred Covenants,” Ensign, Nov. 2008, lds.org).

As a missionary in San Diego, when people would complain to us that it isn’t fair that we don’t let the public enter the temples, we would usually respond by saying that everyone is welcome in our temples, but there are a few things that you will need to do first.  I was always surprised at how much this statement would arouse people’s curiosity, as they would invariably ask us with surprising eagerness what they would have to do to enter the temple. We would then list the basic principles and ordinances of the gospel, which usually caused them to roll their eyes at us. We could do this because, when you boil it down to the essentials, all that it takes to be considered worthy to enter the temple is to do one’s best to live the gospel. Specifically, all who exercise faith, repent of their sins, accept baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then endure to the end in righteousness, are accepted into the temple, no matter what their background may be.  All worthy members are welcome to enter the temple and to make covenants with the Lord.

Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

“Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life” (Russell M. Nelson, “Let Us All Press On,” Ensign, May 2018).

Some non-members might not like the sound of the phrase “all worthy members,” in particular the “worthy” part, because it implies that there must be some who are judged unworthy and barred from entry. However, it is important for people to understand that the Lord does indeed have a standard by which His disciples are expected to live. Moreover, anyone can repent and strive to more fully live the gospel standard if they seek to become “worthy.” Worthiness is about inclusion, rather than exclusion. The Lord wishes that all people would live the gospel as His disciples, and He seeks to extend His blessings (including the blessings of temple worship) to as many of His children as will love Him and obey his commandments. If God had His way, everyone would be able to enter the temple and participate in worship there, because they would be willing to live up to the standards which He has set in His gospel. In many ways, our job as missionaries was to help everyone we met to become prepared to make covenants with the Lord through the new covenant of the gospel, and to remain faithful to those covenants. Our work as missionaries, and the conversion process which we tried to help each of our investigators to undergo, reached its culmination in the temple.

“Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience” (Howard W. Hunter, "A Temple-Motivated People," Ensign, Feb. 1995).

“Truly, the Lord desires that His people be a temple-motivated people. It would be the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church be temple worthy. I would hope that every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it. Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Great Symbol of Our Membership,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, lds.org).

“To enter the temple is a tremendous blessing. But first we must be worthy. We should not be rushed. We cannot cut corners of preparation and risk the breaking of covenants we were not prepared to make. That would be worse than not making them at all” (Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, lds.org).

“Eventual exaltation requires our complete fidelity now to covenants we make and ordinances we receive in the house of the Lord” (Russell M. Nelson, “Let Us All Press On,” Ensign, May 2018).

It Is Possible To Do Both: Help The Poor and Build Temples

Finally, in answer to those who criticize the LDS church for spending money to build temples instead of devoting that money to help the poor, it is not impossible for us to do both.  It is possible to build temples while still doing a great deal to help the poor.  In fact, the LDS church is known for its elaborate (and expensive) system of farms and factories which are all devoted to providing food and necessities to the poor, as well as for those who have been affected by natural disasters.  This humanitarian aid is offered to all, regardless of their race, creed, color, or religious background.

The church also maintains a system of welfare, which is designed to provide for the poor and needy among its own members.

“Members’ donations make possible the programs and resources for self-reliance, relief and emergency services. In addition to meeting the need for food, clothing and shelter, these include providing vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities for citizens, immigrants and refugees and funding counseling and adoption services as well as addiction recovery support groups and resources for social, emotional and spiritual challenges.” (Humanitarian Aid and Welfare Services Basics: How Donations and Resources Are Used, Retrieved from http://www.mormonnewsroom.org).

In addition to disaster response and welfare aid, the church maintains the following programs:

• Maternal and newborn care: providing resuscitation training and equipment to health practitioners and organizations each year in countries with high infant mortality rates.
• Clean water: working with local community leaders to provide access to clean water with wells and other water systems in countries where such access is unavailable.
• Benson food: providing training to families and communities to increase productivity and self-sufficiency with home food production and nutrition training.
• Wheelchairs: working in partnership with local organizations to provide wheelchairs to the disabled.
• Vision care: providing equipment and training to local, qualified medical personnel to perform eye surgeries and prevent blindness.
• Immunizations: partnering with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to provide immunizations and vaccinations for measles, whooping cough and other conditions.

(Source: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/humanitarian-aid-welfare-services-breakdown-donations-costs-resources).

All of the programs I have mentioned are staffed by tens of thousands of volunteers (most of them (unpaid) missionaries), and they most assuredly cost many millions of dollars each year. The LDS church spends so much money and man hours on humanitarian aid and welfare services that it seems almost absurd to criticize the church for not doing enough to help the poor.  While one can always do more, it is certain that LDS church does its share.  I encourage those who criticize the LDS church for not doing enough to help the poor to examine their own efforts in this regard, and to perhaps consider that such criticisms may be a tad hypocritical. What have YOU done to help the poor lately? Is your house too extravagant? Shouldn’t you have purchased a smaller house and donated that money to the poor?

In this light, it seems silly to accuse the church of spending more on temples than they do on people.  I confess that this particular charge irritates me more than perhaps it should. Whenever it would come up, my companion and I would (of course) point out that the church does much to help the poor. However, people would almost invariably respond with “Then why haven’t I heard about it?”

Setting aside the obvious absurdity of asserting that nothing happens in this world without these people knowing about it, there actually is an important scriptural reason why many people do not know more about Latter-day Saint efforts to help the poor and perform humanitarian action.

Matthew 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

The Lord himself instructed His disciples not to advertise their efforts to help the poor. He did this because motives matter, especially under the new law of the gospel. If you truly seek to help the poor as Christ would, then you should do so with no thought of reward. It would not do for a disciple of Christ to use their efforts to help the poor as a means to try to build their own reputation. If your goal in helping the poor (or in living any other principle of the gospel) is to make other people see how “good” you are because of your actions, then you have missed the point of Christian discipleship. People who help the poor for such selfish reasons certainly do some good, but don’t call it discipleship. True disciples seek to direct all praise and glory to Christ. That means that true Christian discipleship points away from itself and towards the Lord in all things. True discipleship is quiet discipleship.

Perhaps the church does not see fit to proclaim their deeds and donations from the mountaintop, because they are more concerned with serving the Lord than they are with impressing other people, including you. True discipleship points to the Lord in all things.

If that isn’t enough to convince you that temples do not interfere with our ability and our direct efforts to help the poor, here is some more information that shows that temples are a blessing and not a burden.

Temples are built using member tithes.  That means that temples are only built in places where there are enough members who want and need a temple.  These tithes are voluntary, and accordingly there are no poor people in one country being robbed so a temple can be built in another country.

All worthy members can use the temple, and there is no cost to get in.  There are many services which are performed by unpaid volunteers in order to maintain the temple and keep the lights on.  Even a penniless member would be welcomed into the temple, so long as they had been recommended as worthy to do so by their local leaders, according to the simple gospel standards which the Lord has set.

It is true that the Lord has commanded us to help the poor, but He has also commanded us to build temples.  That means that there is no discrepancy in our efforts to help the poor, and our efforts to erect temples.  In doing both, we are simply obeying two different commandments, which do not in fact interfere with each other, nor do they contradict each other.  We believe that it is as important to care for a person’s immortal soul as it is to care for that person’s temporal needs, such as food, shelter, etc.

As demonstrated above, Latter-day Saints do their best to walk the walk (and not just talk the talk).  This is because we believe that there is more to existence than just this life. We also believe the Savior’s oft-repeated injunction to care for the poor and the sick, and the fatherless. However, we also understand what the Savior meant when He said that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The Four-fold Mission of the Church

For many years, the mission and purpose of the LDS church was explained as “The Threefold Mission of the Church.” This structure focused on three points which represented the primary purposes and aims of the church itself (and by extension its members): namely, to Proclaim the gospel, Redeem the dead, and (ultimately) Perfect the Saints.

Recently (roughly ten years ago), a point was added to this structure, making it instead “The Fourfold Purposes of the Church.” Church leaders added an injunction to care “for the poor and needy” to the list of central purposes and goals of the church.

I mention this because the temple helps to directly fulfill ALL four of the purposes of the church.

“The temple is the house of the Lord. The basis for every temple ordinance and covenant—the heart of the plan of salvation—is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house. Our efforts to proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead all lead to the temple. Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families” (Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, lds.org).

Given that much of the work done in temples is focused on performing saving ordinances for those who have passed on, and who never had the opportunity to receive such ordinances in life, it seems obvious that temples are central in our efforts to redeem the dead. The ordinances performed in temples, and the knowledge and covenants which we can gain and make in the performance of these ordinances, are also crucial in our efforts to perfect the saints. The same can be said of our efforts to prepare ourselves and others to enter into these covenants worthily. As I mentioned before, temples are an important missionary tool. They are meant to be a beacon to the world, to draw all men to come and learn the gospel, and to walk in the Lord’s paths (see again Isaiah 2:2-3). The message that you and your family can be bound together in eternity, and that death cannot separate you from those whom you love is a message of hope to the world. As such, temples are an important part of our efforts to proclaim the gospel.

However, how do temples actively help us in our efforts to care for the poor and needy? While I have argued above that the temple does not interfere with our efforts to give aid to the poor and needy, one might ask how the temple positively contributes to our mission to “care for the poor and needy?”

While the other three points lead us to the temple, caring for the poor might be seen as a prerequisite for true temple worship. If we failed as a people, and as a church, and also as individuals, to care for the poor and the needy, we would also fail in our covenant with God to follow His commandments in all things. The scriptures are filled with teachings about caring for and helping the poor. Our inspired leaders have also called on each of us to care for and minister to our neighbors, no matter their faith or creed. If we failed to answer this charge we would cease to be His chosen, covenant people, and we would no longer be worthy of all that the temple represents.

Therefore, the temple contributes to our efforts to help the poor, because it represents everything which inspires us to serve the Lord and love and care for all men. It represents our covenant to follow God in all things, and our desire to become like Him. The temple represents the pinnacle of our discipleship, which would be for naught if we failed to love and serve both God and our neighbor. The point is that our whole purpose and mission as a church, including all four aspects, revolves around building and worshipping in temples, and finds its fulfillment in our obedience to the principles which qualify us to worship in the Lord’s temple in the first place.

Conclusion

We build temples the way that we do because we cannot do otherwise. Temples are a sign between us and the Lord that we are indeed His people, and that we wholeheartedly belong to Him. The care and effort (and expense) which we put into building temples to Him is meant to be a sign of our love and devotion to God, but it is also an outward sign of our inward devotion to the covenant which we have made to obey the Lord in all things. The temple is the House of the Lord, and as such it is one of the most sacred places on Earth. Accordingly, only those who are worthy are allowed into the temple, however worthiness is less about exclusion and more about being adequately prepared to enter into the presence of the Lord. Temples represent the nexus of all of our most important purposes and aims as God’s Church on the Earth, and as such they do not prevent us from caring for the poor and needy. In fact, caring for the poor and needy is an essential part of becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, and in preparing us to enter the temple and make covenants with God.