The functional banality of LDS temples

[drumdude]

Anyone can walk into that beautiful Cathedral that Lem posted, and they can pray.

They don’t need to rent special clothes. They don’t need to have a tithing settlement with their bishop. When there is a wedding there everyone can attend.

The difference is night and day, and it’s clear which side Christ would be on. The Christ of the New Testament anyway.

[Res Ipsa]

100%. Even if we assume the ridiculous premise that God is bound by these asinine rituals (elderly people watching the same movie 1000 times, falling asleep from boredom), there will be all of eternity to do the bureaucratic busywork.

It's so legalistic, bureaucratic, and trivial and completely counter to everything Christ taught during his ministry in Jerusalem. He literally fought against the Pharisees over exactly this trivial BS. And guess what - LDS temples have money changers in them where you can rent temple clothes and buy food. It's absolutely ridiculous how blind the Mormons are.

In John 2:16 what do you think Jesus meant when he referred to the temple as His Father's house?

And said to them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

The reason I ask is that of all the Christians in the world it is the Latter Day Saints that build and have temple worship as part and parcel of their religious practice. Sure, there will be those that either ridicule or make light of what goes on in the temple, but the fact is...the temple is referred to as The House of the Lord. What are we to do with that?

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

Regards,
MG

Jews?

[huckelberry]

The reason I ask is that of all the Christians in the world it is the Latter Day Saints that build and have temple worship as part and parcel of their religious practice. Sure, there will be those that either ridicule or make light of what goes on in the temple, but the fact is...the temple is referred to as The House of the Lord. What are we to do with that?

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

Regards,
MG

All over the world there are buildings where Christians worship and participate in the foundational covenant God made with us, the Lords Supper. To not call all of those precious building true temples is merely a semantic choice. The heart of what a temple means is in the activity carried on in the places of worship.

I notice Lem has supplied a photo of one of the larger examples.

[MG 2.0]

In John 2:16 what do you think Jesus meant when he referred to the temple as His Father's house?



The reason I ask is that of all the Christians in the world it is the Latter Day Saints that build and have temple worship as part and parcel of their religious practice. Sure, there will be those that either ridicule or make light of what goes on in the temple, but the fact is...the temple is referred to as The House of the Lord. What are we to do with that?

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

Regards,
MG

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

[MG 2.0]

The reason I ask is that of all the Christians in the world it is the Latter Day Saints that build and have temple worship as part and parcel of their religious practice. Sure, there will be those that either ridicule or make light of what goes on in the temple, but the fact is...the temple is referred to as The House of the Lord. What are we to do with that?

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

Regards,
MG

All over the world there are buildings where Christians worship and participate in the foundational covenant God made with us, the Lords Supper. To not call all of those precious building true temples is merely a semantic choice. The heart of what a temple means is in the activity carried on in the places of worship.

I notice Lem has supplied a photo of one of the larger examples.

Are these buildings specifically called temples? In the time of Jesus did he make any differentiation between the synagogue and “His Father’s House?

Or were they one and the same?

Regards,
MG

[Lem]

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

I knew you were a genius Lem... but a spiritual intuned genius simultaneously? No wonder I like you so much!

aww, you're a sweetheart, thank you! Not so much in tune, I think, because it was a crazy time for me, but i just had to find a place in the crazy city where the world would stop-- just for a moment. The instant i stepped foot inside here, i knew i had found my spot. It spoke to me then, and still does, every single time I step inside.

[Lem]

Anyone can walk into that beautiful Cathedral that Lem posted, and they can pray.

They don’t need to rent special clothes. They don’t need to have a tithing settlement with their bishop. When there is a wedding there everyone can attend.

The difference is night and day, and it’s clear which side Christ would be on. The Christ of the New Testament anyway.

Exactly. Every human being is welcome, always. It was a welcome feeling that meant everything to me when I first arrived here, and made such a difference in my life. To this day, I feel welcomed and at home every single time I walk up those steps. That is what a temple should be, and regardless of one's beliefs, how entering a true temple should feel.

[Lem]

All over the world there are buildings where Christians worship and participate in the foundational covenant God made with us, the Lords Supper. To not call all of those precious building true temples is merely a semantic choice. The heart of what a temple means is in the activity carried on in the places of worship.

I notice Lem has supplied a photo of one of the larger examples.

Yes, and even though I don't believe conventionally, I have always felt welcomed and cherished in these places. To me, the activity of accepting all humans, as well as whatever rituals are carried out, is what makes a temple a temple. I will always appreciate that acceptance and that feeling of peace I found in the space I showed here.

[ceeboo]

Hey MG

For many reasons (personal reasons included) I will offer my brief opinions

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

Regards,
MG

From my view, the answer to your question is most certainly the religious Jews at that time Jesus spoke. He spoke those words while the Temple still stood and while the Temple was the dwelling place of God and while the Temple still had a function (Animal sacrifices and all the rest)

The Temple of God has always been the dwelling place of God. In the Garden (God with us) In the Tabernacle (God with us) In Solomon's Temple (God with us) In Herod's Temple (God with us) And now through the Holy Spirit that was promised to be sent and now dwells inside of all believers (a.k.a., the church) - (God with us) - 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.

Again, very brief response for many reasons.

[drumdude]

And now through the Holy Spirit that was promised to be sent and now dwells inside of all believers (a.k.a., the church) - (God with us) - 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.

Excellent point. It would be as if Joseph Smith said we all need to go back to animal sacrifice. Um, no. Jesus did away with that...