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Mormon Beliefs
"Mormon Temple Ordinances"
Mormon temples are houses of
they Lord. They stand as symbols of "membership in the Church, as a
sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward
eternal glory.
To members of the
Mormon Church, Mormon temples are houses of they Lord. They
stand as symbols of "membership in the Church, as a sign of our
faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory
for our families and us."1
The sacred ordinances that are
performed within
Mormon temples " represent the ultimate in our worship. These
ordinances become the most profound expressions of our theology."
2 These sacred ordinances include the endowment, baptisms for
the dead, and marriage sealings.
It is important to realize that
all of the ordinances done in LDS (Mormon) temples are performed
using the priesthood of God. It is this priesthood authority that
Jesus referred to when he taught, " Whatsoever thou shalt bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven." 3 Since priesthood power
is eternal ordinances sealed with the priesthood are also eternal.
The Endowment
President Brigham Young said,
“Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of
the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this
life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, and
gain your eternal exaltation.” 4
The Mormon
temple endowment consists of instruction relating to past
dispensations, including the creation of the world. It also includes
the importance of the plan of redemption. During the course of the
ceremony individuals make covenants or promises with God.
"In every detail the endowment
ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration
of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation,
and allegiance to God." 5
With every covenant that members make God promises
certain blessings based upon the fulfillment of the covenant. Every
worthy member is able to receive the endowment regardless of race or
financial status.
Baptism is required to enter the gates of Heaven for
all those who have lived upon the earth, except for little children
who die before age eight. This requirement would condemn those who
were not baptized while living. But being a just God He has made
allowance for that.
Paul discusses the idea of baptism for the dead in
his first epistle to the Saints in Corinth saying, "Else what shall
they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at
all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?"
6
Mormon temples contain baptismal fonts where members
are baptized in proxy for those who are deceased. Thereby providing
the ordinance necessary to receive eternal life.
Sealings
Within
Mormon temples are special rooms set aside for marriages. Within
the sealing room man and woman kneel across an altar and are sealed
together for not only this life but for all eternity.
The Mormon Church teaches that "under the perfect law operative in
the celestial worlds, the earthly relation of husband and wife,
parent and child, will endure in full force and effect, provided
such relationship has been sealed on earth by the power and
authority of the Holy Priesthood."
7
These sealing ordinances are also provided for the deceased. Members
search out their ancestors and seal their ancestors together in
Mormon temples creating an eternal family chain.
For
more information about Mormon temples visit the sites below:
LDS (Mormon) Temple resources
LDS Temples - Mormon Temples - Salt Lake Temple
USATODAY.com - Mormons open temple doors to share
beliefs
BBC - Religion & Ethics - Mormon Temples
Manhattan Mormon Temple New York City.com : Arts &
Attractions ...
Mormon Temple: Information From Answers.com
Mormanity: Mormon Temples and "Secrecy"
History of Mormon Temples
(1) Russell M.
Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,”
Ensign,
May 2001, 32
(5) Talmage,
James E. The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries
Ancient and Modern. Chapter IV.
(6) 1
Corinthians 15:29
(7) Talmage,
James E. The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries
Ancient and Modern. Chapter IV.
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