*A note: The following is not meant to convince anyone that their beliefs, or worship preferences are wrong. It is meant to simply provide accurate information concerning the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I fully believe that every individual should worship according to their own desires, and am happy to accept that they may have a different interpretation or understanding of scripture - and even of God. Additionally, there is a lot of information linked or embedded below. If you so desire, watching the videos and following the links will give you vastly more information than I have typed here. Click for disclaimers.*

The Church of Jesus Christ is a temple building church. Temple ceremonies are part of our worship of God. Just as the ancient Israelite people worshiped in the Tabernacle and the Temples, and just as the early Christians continued to worship in the temple, we too worship in temples. 

Though the temple ceremonies are not like those of the ancient temples or the tabernacle, the purpose of them is the same - to point us to God. Just like the study of scripture, Sunday worship services, weekly devotionals and fellowship activities, prayer, or even just being in nature can point us toward God - so can temples. 

The first temple constructed by the church was completed in March of 1836 in Kirtland Ohio - this temple is now owned by The Community of Christ.
The second temple completed by the church was the Nauvoo Illinois temple in May of 1846. Nauvoo became a sanctuary for members fleeing the Missouri sanctioned extermination order on them. But tensions with those nearby communities eventually lead to the sacking of the city and the residents being forced to flee their homes. The temple was burned down in 1848, just two years after being completed. The church members had already been pushed out of multiple communities, Nauvoo would be the final straw as they prepared to leave the, then, United States and head west to settle away from the violence. In 2002 the church built a new temple in Nauvoo at the same site as the original. 

In Utah the pioneers would spend the next 56 years (1849 -1893)  building five temples by primarily volunteer work. From there temples would be built every few years around the world, depending on the local congregation size and needs. 

Today, temples are found all around the world. Donations from members of the church are used to build these temples, giving the opportunity for temples to be built regardless of local resources.  For the most part, newly built temples are smaller in size. This allows more temples to be built in more locations, making it more convenient for members to attend a temple. There are 315 temples built, under construction, or announced for construction as of June 2023. 

Temples serve a different purpose than a chapel, as will be discussed below, and with the new smaller versions it is becoming more and more common to have chapels and a temple in the same community. 

Temple construction has changed with technological advances. The early temples were often constructed of stone, quarried locally, and moved with teams of animals. Highly skilled craftsman worked the stone, wood, and metals needed to construct the temples. Careful painters, furniture builders, and textile workers would complete the interior design. 

Temple size was determined by the local needs, and the desire to build structures that would honor God - much like the temple of Solomon and the temple of Herod. Many of these temples were large to accommodate big groups of patrons from a large geographical area and so that they could have multiple uses. The Salt Lake Temple, for example, was built with rooms for ceremonies and rooms for congregational or leadership meetings. Newer temples are generally designed with just the ceremonial rooms, and with anticipation for smaller numbers of local patrons, so their size c an be greatly decreased. 

Construction methods have also changed over the decades. Most recently the church has started to use cutting edge technologies in construction to build smaller temples. This process allows a temple to be built in months, rather than years, while still maintaining superior quality construction and varied design options. 

Temples around the world come in a great variety of exterior designs. In many instances architects try and incorporate subtle hints of local culture into the temples, in other cases temples are much more obviously designed with local architectural character. 

Also included in the architecture and interior designs are many symbolic features. The Salt Lake temple, for example, incorporates many symbols. Some of those symbols are: the sun, the moon, the stars, an angel with a trumpet, spires, the Big Dipper and the North Star, and even a Beehive. All of which can have one, or, multiple symbolic meanings. Just as symbolism is common in scripture, it is common to temples also.  

The Interior designs of temples also vary, though most have the same general rooms and features. This article gives a quick tour of some of the main rooms in a temple, with some explanation. 

Temples almost always have grounds that include parking, lawns, trees, and gardens. The design and size of the grounds varies extensively. The Washington DC temple has the largest grounds at 52 acres of forest, however the Manhattan temple has only a few trees and planters. Most temples have a few acres of property that are landscaped to fit the location and surrounding area. These grounds are open for the public to enjoy their beauty and tranquility. 

Like the churches of many other denominations the chapels of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are open to the public. All or welcome to come and worship during the Sunday services.

Temples however are only open to the public during the first few weeks after construction is complete. These events are called "Temple Open Houses" and everyone is invited to visit and tour newly built temples. 

After the open house is over, the temple is dedicated to the Lord and regular operation commences.  The temples are no longer open to the public and this can be confusing and even feel exclusionary to those who can't attend. Having better information can help to understand the reasons for this. 

The reason that the temples are closed to the public is that the ceremonies performed in there primary apply to only members of the church. There would be very little benefit for someone of another faith, or no faith, to participate in the ceremonies. 

For example in one of the ceremonies a member of the church commits to building up and serving in the church. There would be little benefit for someone who is not a member of the church to attend a ceremony where they are asked to make such a commitment. 

Any member of the church over 12 years old can attend the temple for some ceremonies, any adult member of the church can attend any of the ceremonies. For a new convert of the church attendance in the temple can happen almost immediately after joining and being baptized. 

However there is a process to make sure that a member of the church is prepared to participate in the temple. Research shows that about 65% of U.S. church members hold what is called a "Temple Recommend". 

It may seem strange that a member of the church must hold a recommend to enter the temple, but again it is about being prepared. For example, another part of temple ceremony calls upon members of the church to be faithful to their spouse. Another asks them to commit to living the commandments. There is little benefit in making such commitments in a temple ceremony if the individual has not already made an internal commitment to God and is already living in such a manner. 

The process to get a temple recommend is quiet simple. The individual member of the church meets with local leaders and answers a few simple questions. Those questions can be found by clicking here. You'll notice that the very first question is about having faith in God. Again, it would not benefit an individual to attend the temple if they do not believe in God. However, any member of the church that desires to attend the temple can do so if they feel they meet the intention of the temple recommend questions. 

So though the temple not being open to the public does differ from the practice of chapels always being open to the public, the reason is because the function of the temple is also different than that of the chapels. 

First, it is important to remember that chapels and temples have different purposes.
Chapels are used for Sunday worship services and for weekly fellowship activities. Temples are used primarily during the week and on Saturdays. Members attend the temple to receive specific gospel instruction and to enjoy religious rites associated with the gospel of Christ. 

Though temples existed in the Old and New Testament times, they are not common among Christian religions today.

Again, to reiterate, the author absolutely supports others having differing beliefs about he current day need for temples - but this section hopes to explain why the Church if Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to have have temples in modern times. 

A pattern of temples is found in the Bible. Moses was commanded to build the Tabernacle. This structure was built to very fine quality, especially considering the resources available to the people at that time and the fact that the Tabernacle would need to be mobile. There, specific ceremonies and sacrifices were performed by certain people and at certain times. The Ark of the Covenant was stored in the Holy of Holies. 

Later Solomon built a temple and so did Herod. These temples were permanent structures but still offered the same religious rites the tabernacle did. During his life Christ attended the temple. He also taught in the temple as a child and famously later cleansed the temple. Following the Savior's death the Apostles continued to attend the temple, as did Paul and others. 

In 70 CE the legions of Titus destroyed much of Jerusalem, including the temple. With the martyrdom of the Apostles and the destruction of the temple, temple worship eventually stopped. 

In December 1832 Joseph Smith received a revelation from the Lord to again build a temple. 

Like in the bible, members of the church would begin worshiping in the temple. Though the exact rites and ceremonies in the modern temple would be much different than those performed anciently, the intent would be the same - to point people to God. 

It is important here to try and clarify that temple ceremonies and ordinances are not performed so that one may  "earn their way to salvation". We perform such because we believe it's what our Savior wants us to do. Like the temples of old, modern temples are meant to focus our lives on Christ. It is because of Christ's sacrifice, because of him being the only way to salvation, that temples even exist. Their only purpose, in the end, is to help us look to Him, to commit to Him, and to rely on Him as the Savior of all mankind. It is because of Him that we have temples, and with out Him the temples would mean nothing. 

Very shortly after joining the church a member can begin attending the temple. Even youth as young as 12 have something to do in the temple.

Proxy Baptisms for the Dead: Any member of the church over the age of 12 can be involved in proxy baptisms. We believe that baptism was made extremely important, in fact essential, by the Savior. It is something that he has commanded we should do. As such we perform, by proxy, baptisms for ancestors who died with out baptism. Thus giving them the opportunity to accept this baptism as if it had been theirs on earth. Evidence exists to support the same practice in ancient Christianity.

The Endowment: The "Endowment" ceremony is new to our day and age. It has been developed by modern prophets, beginning with Joseph Smith, as a present day ceremony to point us to God - much as ancient temple practices did for the people of their time. In the endowment an individual receives gospel instruction and makes several covenants with God to obey his teachings. Once an individual has done so for themselves, they may return to the temple to perform proxy Endowments for deceased ancestors. 

Temple Sealing (marriages):  One of the most hopeful and encouraging teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that, if so desired by both parties, marriages performed in the temple, or sealed later in the temple, can extend beyond death. A wife and husband can continue their life long marital bond into eternity. This bond can also extend to children, thus securing family relationships, keeping loved ones together for all time.

This doctrine gives a magnitude of hope to those who have lost loved ones to death, especially those in which the passing was early or unexpected. That hope being, that because of Christ, they may be reunited after this life. 

The Church has produced videos about each of these temple ceremonies. They can all be found here: 

What Are Baptisms for the Dead?

What is a Temple Endowment?

What is a Temple Wedding Like?

A Testimony of Temple Marriage

As with many modern religions, and as with ancient temple practices, members of the church wear ceremonial clothing inside the temple. In addition, after attending the temple for the endowment, members wear religious clothing in their daily life. 

Ceremonial clothing, for any religion, is often mocked - but its purpose is important all the same. Ceremonial clothing, as part of the temple ceremony or as part of everyday life, is also meant to point an individual to God. 

The two videos shared here show both ancient and modern ceremonial clothing. 

The symbols of the clothing, the meaning of the clothing, and the ceremonies associated with the clothing all point to God and reminds the wearer of the commitments they have made to Him. 

The daily struggles of life, and those committed to evil, would try and distract us from God on a consistent and daily basis. Just as the Israelite Priests used the symbology of ceremonial clothing to point toward God and to remind them of his gracious and miraculous works - modern ceremonial clothing does the same for wearers today. 

There is a lot to learn about temples, and the history and doctrines supporting their existence for church members. This is but a brief overview of temples. Much more information is found in the linked resources and included media. Even more is found below in the appendices to this post. 

If you'd like to learn more about what the church leaders have said about temples, there is a very nice collection of quotes found here.

Temples are just part of a church full of deep and rich doctrines, but they are a very important part. Members of the church desire to have convenient access to temples for monthly or even weekly worship. The opportunities to connect to God abound every day, and the temple is just one more important part of our connection and commitment to Him. 

The Savior's call is to "Come, follow me" - temples help us do that even more fully.

Link to the official webpage for temples