But the LORD is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab 2:20

I think non-Mormons have an innate curiosity about LDS temples. As I drive past the local temple in my area I often wonder what is going on inside. The sheer imposing size and augustness of the architecture leave many to marvel at the significance of these temples. I’ve never been inside one but I’ve seen pictures. They look like places of immaculate design and pristine decor.

The concept of having such a huge private church-operated building outside of the local church is a concept foreign to most Christians today; but the use of temples was not foreign to early Jewish Christians. Acts records,

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. (Acts 2:46)

These believers would have been in the public place of worship in the temple. They did not abandon their times of prayer that were so central to Jewish religious life but remained fervent in their attendance at the temple. It is a common theme of the book of Acts. The apostles and believers were constantly going to the temple to pray and to teach.

The fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE marked a definite end to temple worship for Christian Jews. The most grievous loss to the Jews was the destruction of their temple—an event foretold by Jesus (Mark 13:1-4). The sacred temple mount of Jerusalem is also the location of the Dome of the Rock—one of the most sacred locations in Islam.

The New Testament epistles frequently use the word “temple” in a figurative sense. Paul’s admonishment “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor 3:16) was repeated several times. The concept of the believer’s body being the location of the indewelling Holy Spirit is a fact that should cause holy living! “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?” (1 Cor. 6:19).

Believers together are compared to a building, “for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Cor 6:16).  The church itself is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets and with Christ as the chief cornerstone, “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:21).

While LDS would agree with the figurative sense that the word “temple” is used for in the New Testament, they also believe in the function of a literal temple.  For LDS the temple is necessary for making covenants with God. It is the location members receive endowments and seal marriages. One of the central tenets of faith for LDS is the belief that the church entered into a profound state of apostasy in the early church period and through the prophet Joseph Smith the fullness of the gospel was restored to the earth.

Some Christians feel that Joseph Smith did not restore the teaching and practices of the early church, but instead created doctrine and practice. Such an example is found in temple ceremonies. If the temple was a place for ordinances, there is no such mention of these ceremonies in the New Testament or in early historical accounts. In his book The Inevitable Apostasy Tad Callister offers this explanation for such a lack of data.

There were certain other ordinances in the primitive church of such a sacred nature that they were not mentioned or were only briefly alluded to in the scriptures and by the early Christian writers. These ordinances included baptisms for the dead and, in addition, may have included the ordinances of washings and anointings, endowments, and sealings (which includes marrying spouses for eternity and binding children to parents for eternity). It seems that at least some of these ordinances, all of which are currently performed in Latter-day Saint temples, were available since the days of Adam (pp. 248-249).

Of the list, Callister is only able to find biblical precedent for one practice—baptism for the dead. Scholars differ on the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:29, which states, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” LDS believe it to be scriptural support for the practice of vicarious works for the dead. Others view it as a chastisement for disbelief in the resurrection among people who do baptize for the dead. This view may be problematic however. Albert Barnes notes that there is no evidence that this custom existed during Paul’s day. He holds the view that the proper understanding of the passage is baptized as dead in the likeness of Christ. There are many other viewpoints. And while the practice is mentioned by Paul in this verse, no commandment is ever issued in regards to its practice.

What about the other temple practices?  Callister says that these practices may have been available since Adam but offers no support for his statements. What of the concept of multiple temples–but none of them on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem?  Do LDS believe that they are practicing the same Christianity as the early church in their temple ceremonies? If so, why is there no Scriptural evidence for such a central focus of Mormonism?

The topic of temples reminds me of the vision of the prophet Isaiah.  His telling of the account always gives me shivers.

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isa. 6:1-3).

When Isaiah beheld the awesomeness of God in the temple he became completely undone.  He became aware of his sin and absolute inadequacy.  What tremendous symbolism this Old Testament vision gives of the New Testament reality of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.  My body is a temple filled with the holiness of God.  I’m reminded again of the great cost that this gift required and of the words of the Apostle Paul:

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body,

and in your spirit, which are God’s.  (1 Cor. 6:20)

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