Inside Mormon Temples

One of the purposes of the Mormon church is to help “perfect the Saints.” In other words, one of the Church’s goals is to help members (Saints) be as good as they can be. The Church does this by helping members in their personal efforts to follow the perfect example set by Jesus Christ.

Mormon temples are key in this goal of the Church. There are two important ways that the temples help: by providing a holy place apart from the world and through sacred ordinances.

A Holy Place

Temples are designed to be “set apart from the world,” thereby creating an atmosphere where God’s Spirit can have greater influence on faithful Church members. Those members of the Mormon church who keep minimum standards of conduct and have a strong faith in Jesus Christ are permitted to enter the temple. This is similar to ancient temples, where only those who went through a process of purification were permitted into the inner courts of the temple. As in ancient times, those who have prepared to enter the temple—those who meet the minimum standards—are able to participate in temple activities and receive the blessings available there. This concept was stated quite clearly by James Faust, a member of the Church’s First Presidency:

“The days our our lives will be greatly blessed as we frequent the temples to learn the transcending spiritual relations we have with Diety. We need to try harder to be found standing in holy places. [James E. Faust, "Standing in Holy Places," Ensign (May 2005), 67.]

To those who are prepared, the temple is a “holy place” where the Spirit of the Lord can freely dwell. In this way Mormon temples serve as a kind of sanctuary to those who attend them, providing a place that is holy and has been set aside as a house of the Lord. They are places for prayer, thought, reflection, and revelation.

A Place for Ordinances

The second way in which temples help to perfect the Saints is through holy ordinances that can only be performed within the temples. These special ordinances are ritualistic ceremonies performed as a way to signify covenants made between the member and God.

One common temple ordinance in Old Testament times was the sacrificing of animals to God. The sacrifice itself did nothing for the people; it served as a symbolic reminder of the sacrifice that would one day come through the Lord Jesus Christ. While the need for animal sacrifice was removed after the death and resurrection of the Jesus Christ (the Eternal Sacrifice), the New Testament indicates that ordinances and the covenants they represented did not cease. The Gospel of Matthew provides the following account:

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)

The apostles ate bread and drank water that as a symbol of the sacrifice which Christ was about to make. This same ritual, or ordinance, is practiced by many Christians to this day. The ordinance goes by many different names, such as the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, or (in the Mormon church) the Sacrament, but it is essentially the same ordinance instituted in New Testament times.

Not only do ordinances remind us of an event, but they are a sign of covenants made with the Lord. A covenant is a two-way promise. Those who are baptized make a covenant with the Lord to strive to follow the example of Christ and repent of their sins. In return, the Lord promises that if the person keeps his or her part of the covenant, He will forgive that person of their sins when he or she comes to Him with their mistakes and a sincere heart, with a real desire to change.

Inside Mormon temples there two primary ordinances performed. The first is known as the temple endowment and the second as the sealing ordinance. The first ordinance is designed for individuals, and the second is designed to create eternal families. These ordinances are very sacred and holy, so faithful Mormons don’t discuss their details outside of the temple, even with each other.

Ordinances for Others

Not only are temples provided so that ordinances can be done for the living, but ordinances in Mormon temples can also be done for those who are dead. Mormons believe that earthly ordinances must be performed, even for those who are no longer capable of performing those ordinances for themselves. Billions of people have lived on this earth without ever hearing the name of Christ, or coming to understand the sacrifice He made for them. Would a loving or just God consign His children to hell for not believing in someone of whom they had never heard?

Ordinances offered in the temple for living members of the Mormon church are also performed for those who have passed on. Temple marriage, sealings, and endowments are performed with someone symbolically standing in for the person who is deceased. Baptisms are also performed by proxy (with someone standing in) for these people who have passed on.

We have no way of knowing who will or will not accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, so temple ordinances are performed for everyone who has passed on. To have someone who has passed on baptized by proxy does not commit that deceased person to accept a “Mormon baptism.” Instead, it merely gives that person the opportunity to accept or reject the ordinance as they choose.

Interior Spaces for Holy Work

At an open house for a Mormon temple, held before the temple is dedicated to holy ordinances, the general public can tour the rooms and receive instruction as to what goes on there.  For those unable to attend a temple open house, here are some images of the interior rooms of various temples and what they are used for.  In the temples, patrons arrive in Sunday best dress, and then change into very modest white clothing.  The men wear white suits and ties, and the women wear long (but comfortable) white dresses.  Purity is central to the temple, and people who enter are those who certify that they are living the commandments of God, including those that are specific to Mormons — refraining from the use of liquor, tea, coffee, and tobacco; are paying a full tithe (1/10 of one’s income) to the Lord; are living the Law of Chastity (no sexual relations outside of marriage); and are honest with all people and have good family relationships.

The Baptistery

This is where baptisms for the dead are performed.  The baptismal font is designed after the ancient laver in Solomon’s temple, symbolically placed on the backs of 12 oxen, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  Young people age 12 and over, who are worthy, may participate in performing baptisms for the dead.  (It is important to note that we all live forever, and in the afterlife, we have the ability to make choices.  No one in the afterlife is forced to accept ordinances performed in their behalf.)  Baptism is symbolic of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and also of the death of the “old creature” and rebirth into the kingdom of Christ.  Thus, the baptistery is always found in the basement of the temple, below ground.  Baptisms are performed by holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and are performed “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”

Endowment Rooms

There is  a symbolic purification rite, which hearkens back to the washings and anointings in the ancient israelite temple.  Mormons call this “initiatory work,” and rather than complete washing with water and anointing with oil, this is a short recitation for purity and forgiveness, and employs a drop of water and a drop of oil.  Then one is ready to participate in an instructional session called the “endowment.”   The endowment room is like an auditorium.  A film is shown that portrays the creation and the fall of Adam, which necessitated the atonement of Jesus Christ.  There is instruction (always the same, word for word) on the Plan of Salvation and what the Lord expects of us.   Remember that nothing in the temple is secretive, just sacred.  Anyone who is willing to be worthy, and to make covenants with the Lord, may join us in the temples of God.  During the endowment we covenant to live the Ten Commandments and to build up the kingdom of God.

The Celestial Room

During the endowment instruction, a progression is made from covenant to covenant in order to make Christ central in our minds and hearts.  Ideally, someone living a Christ-centered life would inherit the highest kingdom of heaven, called the Celestial Kingdom.  Thus, after the endowment is concluded, patrons enter a gorgeous room called the “Celestial Room.”  There, they may meditate and pray.

Sealing Rooms

Mormon weddings are called “sealings,” because the bride and groom make a covenant that binds them in marriage for all eternity, as long as they remain worthy.  Sealing rooms are meant  for this purpose.  They vary in size, and the largest can accommodate about 50 guests, all of whom must be worthy to enter the temple.  Seats for guests are arranged around the periphery of the room, and there is an altar in the center.  Bride and groom kneel on either side and hold hands across the altar, while the “temple sealer,” a man holding priesthood authority, recites the covenants.  There are mirrors on opposite sides of the room, so bride and groom can see their reflection repeated an infinite number of times into eternity.  Also reflected are the multiple lights of an exquisite chandelier.

Other Rooms

Other rooms in temples include the beautiful brides’ dressing room, dressing rooms for patrons, offices, entry and waiting room, and usually, a cafeteria.