Small Mormon temple located in Columbus, Ohio. Wikipedia photograph by Ricardo630

Ask A Mormon: Who Tin can Enter Mormon Temples?

December 11, 2015 Commentary, Features 21,849 Views

Do you accept a question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Submit it online or fill out the form below.

By Samantha Briggs

Who can enter Mormon temples?

A year and a half ago, my married man and I were married in the San Diego LDS Temple. Subsequently announcing our engagement, nosotros were a petty apprehensive about telling our non-LDS family unit members that they would not exist able to nourish our wedding anniversary considering information technology would be held in an LDS temple. In the months leading upwardly to our wedding, we answered many questions nigh the temple and were ultimately very grateful for our family unit'south understanding and support in something they recognized as very special and of import to us.

For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are our most sacred spaces of worship. Much of our religion revolves around the ordinances that have place there and the covenants nosotros brand with God while in the temple.

In this discussion, information technology's important to understand the stardom between LDS temples and LDS meetinghouses. Regular Lord's day worship services do not take place in temples–in fact, temples are simply open Monday through Saturday. Sunday church services, likewise as various activities throughout the week, are held in meetinghouses, and the invitation is always open to any and all who would like to come up.

After a new LDS temple is congenital, several weeks are fix aside for a public open house. All are welcome to come and take a guided bout of the temple. (The next temple open up business firm will be for the Provo Urban center Center Temple, starting in January 2016. If you're in the area, please come!) When the open house menses is over, the temple is closed to the public, and during a special coming together, the building is dedicated to the Lord.

As stated before, temples are a more sacred space of worship for LDS members, and therefore there are guidelines for who tin enter the temple. A common misconception is that all baptized members of the LDS church may enter the temple. While it is true that you must exist a member of the LDS church, entrance to the temple is based on each fellow member's spiritual maturity and personal worthiness.

Although at that place are some ordinances that youth over the age of 12 can participate in, virtually LDS members fully participate in temple worship for the first fourth dimension betwixt the ages of 18 and 25. In guild to enter the temple, each Church member must accept a "Temple Recommend." This small card is given to the Church fellow member after a special interview with his/her bishop to decide the person's personal worthiness to enter the temple. The questions asked in this interview determine if the member has a testimony of the Church, keeps the commandments, supports Church leaders, obeys the Discussion of Wisdom, pays tithing, and is honest.

Many people question the "secretive" nature of LDS temples. Details of temple worship and proceedings are not discussed outside the temple non considering they are secret but because they are sacred. Boyd K. Packer, who was a member of the Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once explained, "A careful reading of the scriptures reveals that the Lord did not tell all things to all people. There were some qualifications set that were prerequisite to receiving sacred information. Temple ceremonies fall within this category."

Entering the temple and participating in temple ordinances is a religious focal signal for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-twenty-four hours Saints. In my own feel, I was taught the importance of the temple from a young historic period and spent many years preparing to enter the temple. For me, maintaining loftier standards of conduct and improving my personal spirituality and righteousness is a daily commitment to ensure that I am always worthy to enter the temple and partake of the peace, comfort, and inspiration that I feel when I am there.

About the Author
Latest Posts

Natural Disasters: We have to do our part - September 30, 2016
Ask A Mormon: The church building, families and homosexuality - September 15, 2016
Inquire A Mormon: Why don't LDS stakes/wards take individual websites? - July 25, 2016
Ask A Mormon: Do Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is in Missouri? - July 19, 2016
Building Self-Reliance in Buhkaweka, Uganda - May 25, 2016
Inquire A Mormon: What'southward your view of gender and sexuality? - May 18, 2016
Ask A Mormon: Why Salt Lake? - January 26, 2016
Ask A Mormon: What practise Mormons believe happens to us subsequently nosotros die? - January 21, 2016
Ask A Mormon: Who Can Enter Mormon Temples? - December 11, 2015
Compassion for Syrians - November 20, 2015

View All Posts

Tags inquire a mormon mormon temples

Cheque Besides

US Governors' Recent Immigration Political Stunts Are 'Outrageous'

It is an outrageous political stunt. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis chartering planes to fly immigrants who had just crossed the U.S. border from Texas to Martha'south Vineyard and other locations described every bit "sanctuary states."