The functional banality of LDS temples

[huckelberry]

I do not think LDS temples are the same thing as the Jerusalem temple. They are structured differently and different activities take place there. But people can apply the name temple to structure they view as special and a place where people connect with God because they find or believe that God is there. I would not object to LDS referring to their special buildings as temples. I looked in google for temple and found Congregation Beth Israel, this is just down the street from where I live. It is small as I live in a relatively small town. There are larger such temples in larger towns.

[Paloma]

If the Latter Day Saints don't have access to the 'true' temple referred to above, then who does?

Regards,
MG

All Christians who believe in Jesus.

Jesus referred to His own body as a fulfilment of the Temple. (He also is the sacrifice, the sacrificial Lamb, the altar, the scapegoat, and anything and everything else that could be seen as part of the sacrificial system of the old covenant.)

The passage in Matthew 26: 59-65 centers on Jesus' claim that He was able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days (clearly a reference to His imminent death and resurrection and to Jesus' own words in John 2: 18-22).

I realize that Latter-day Saints don't accept this way of seeing Jesus' complete and symbolic fulfilment of the physical Temple, but for those of us who see Jesus as implementing a new covenant with His own life and body, death and resurrection as complete in itself ... that's the answer. I tend to see the entire movement of God's revelation to humanity as going from physical to spiritual and have found the Book of Hebrews a good resource for helping us see this truth of "Jesus as the complete fulfilment".

Having said that, I find that beautiful cathedrals - whether churches or sights of natural beauty - lend themselves powerfully to spiritual experiences.

I have an ex-Mormon friend who still holds onto the wonderful experiences she had in the LDS temples. I can understand and respect that - just as I also resonate with the experiences of those who found negative or unsettling experiences in LDS temples.

Lem, I love the picture of that beautiful university chapel you shared. It reminds me very much of a chapel I would visit on my own university campus when I wanted to experience peace.

[Res Ipsa]

Jews?

Jesus isn’t a part of the worship in Jewish temples nowadays. When looking at John 2:16 what do you make of that? Jesus says the temple is his Father’s house. He and the Father are somehow interconnected to the temple, it seems. Would a temple today somehow be different? God in the temple without Jesus?

Why would Jesus disassociate Himself from the temple?

Regards,
MG

For the same reason that he abandoned animal sacrifice and other attributes of Judaism.

[MG 2.0]

No more Temples. Buildings are of no import. Man made structures have no relevance. Nobody needs to go to any specific facility or building or hall any where.

On what basis/authority do you make this statement? If the temple was “My Father’s House” in the eyes of Jesus, are you saying that a House of the Lord would be unnecessary or unimportant in our day? Again, by what scriptural authority do you say this?

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

Jesus isn’t a part of the worship in Jewish temples nowadays. When looking at John 2:16 what do you make of that? Jesus says the temple is his Father’s house. He and the Father are somehow interconnected to the temple, it seems. Would a temple today somehow be different? God in the temple without Jesus?

Why would Jesus disassociate Himself from the temple?

Regards,
MG

For the same reason that he abandoned animal sacrifice and other attributes of Judaism.

But His Father’s House? It is difficult to imagine that a House of the Lord would simply disappear along with animal sacrifice.

In fact, one could make the argument that an actual dedicated House of the Lord would be as important in our day as at the time of Christ. Physical temples that stand as a witness to God seem, at least to me, logically practical. Why would a temple dedicated to the Almighty disappear from the earth? A place where eternal and binding ordinances take place.

Granted, temples have been a long time coming.

Regards,
MG

[drumdude]

Why would a temple dedicated to the Almighty disappear from the earth? A place where eternal and binding ordinances take place.

Because the LDS ordinances weren't invented until the mid-late 19th century. History shows that they weren't "restored" but rather they were invented from the mind of Joseph Smith and his successors. You have to do a lot of mental gymnastics to shoehorn in Mormon beliefs into Judaism and early Christianity.

[Res Ipsa]

For the same reason that he abandoned animal sacrifice and other attributes of Judaism.

But His Father’s House? It is difficult to imagine that a House of the Lord would simply disappear along with animal sacrifice.

In fact, one could make the argument that an actual dedicated House of the Lord would be as important in our day as at the time of Christ. Physical temples that stand as a witness to God seem, at least to me, logically practical. Why would a temple dedicated to the Almighty disappear from the earth? A place where eternal and binding ordinances take place.

Granted, temples have been a long time coming.

Regards,
MG

Jesus didn’t say it was his house. He said it was his father’s. Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets, superseding lots of the religion found in the Old Testament. The temples were related to symbolic animal sacrifice. Jesus’s crucifixion superseded the need for animal sacrifice. Why not the temple as well. Did Jesus place any importance on the temple itself? Did he command his apostles or disciples to build them? Is there any discussion of building temples or temple worship in the New Testament?

That’s a ton of weight you’re placing on a couple of words.

[Moksha]

Once you are done doing the endowment ceremony you get about 5 minutes to bask in the glory of the sitting room until you're quickly shoved back out on the street.

On my first time through, I sat and asked Denver Snuffer questions for well over an hour. He could have gone on much longer but I took pity on him. I had been told that was the only time Mormons were allowed to answer questions about the Temple, so I wanted to make the best of it. I had been advised by other members to read the online Temple ceremony so as not to be overwhelmed by the proceedings and to enable me to make my questions cogent.

[drumdude]

Once you are done doing the endowment ceremony you get about 5 minutes to bask in the glory of the sitting room until you're quickly shoved back out on the street.

On my first time through, I sat and asked Denver Snuffer questions for well over an hour. He could have gone on much longer but I took pity on him. I had been told that was the only time Mormons were allowed to answer questions about the Temple, so I wanted to make the best of it. I had been advised by other members to read the online Temple ceremony so as not to be overwhelmed by the proceedings and to enable me to make my questions cogent.

I was surprised to hear Elder Holland admit to the BBC reporter that it is based on Masonic rituals. I definitely didn't hear that in my temple preparation class.

[huckelberry]

This location was the place I always went to during grad school for a peaceful time.

MG, you have not presented any reason that a person should not think this photo is a photo of God's house.