What happens in a Mormon temple?

Answer 1

Those ordinances or ceremonies that Mormons perform in their temples are:

Baptisms for the Dead, Confirmations, Washings, Annointings, Endowment Ceremonies and Marriages or Family Sealings.

Based on The Bible's John 3:5 which states: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. " 1 Corinthians 15:29 of the Bible speaks of baptisms for the dead in a manner implying they were also practised at the time of the Apostles. Baptisms for the Dead are performed for those who have died and not had the opportunity to be baptized (as a Mormon) in this lifetime. Any 'worthy' member 12 years or older can obtain a 'temple recommend' from his Bishop and perform these baptisms for the dead in a temple. Mormons are very dedicated to geneology and hope to baptize all people who have lived on this earth some day. Mormons believe that those who have passed on have a choice whether to accept this baptism into the church or not.

When a man or woman are older (usually 19 for a male and 21 for a female) they are eligible to receive their 'Endowment' and 'Washing and Annointing'. These are highly sacred rituals where covenants (promises) are made to live a righteous life.

Sealings are simply sealing of one person to another for 'time and all eternity'. Parents are sealed to each other when they first get married. Children are then classified as automatically sealed to their parents if they are born after the temple marriage occurs. Otherwise, any children must be sealed to parents as a separate ordinance - each and every child individually.

All of these ordinances of exaltation ("eternal life") are performed in these holy temples for both, the living and the dead. Their essential portions have been the same in all dispensations when the fulness of the sealing power has been exercised by the Lord's prophets. Families are literally sealed for time and all eternity, this is how the Lord has so deemed it. In temples, the righteous are taught all they need to do to enter the gates of heaven.

A ceremony may be a procedure (like a baptism) or it may be an experience in which you make promises (Covenants) to live God's commandments in exchange for different kinds of blessings... an example might be 'sealing' yourself to your spouse--you promise to live God's commandments and, in exchange, your marriage will not end 'until death do you part', but still exist in Heaven Forever.

** Just as a minor note: Mormons do not refer to the ordinances in the Temple as "secretive" but "sacred." They are not keeping these things secret. But rather, they do not give details about them in order to keep them sacred and holy. They only discuss the ordinances in detail while in the walls of the Temple.

Answer 2

The most unique thing about the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called "Mormons") is that they are the only places in the world where people are baptized in behalf of those who have died. Church members believe that everyone, both living and dead, must have an opportunity to accept Christ and be baptized. Therefore, in their temples, they are baptized for the dead. They believe that the dead will have the opportunity to choose to accept or reject this baptism. Other ordinances, such as marriages (called "sealings"), are also performed.

There are a lot of great websites to help you learn more unique and interesting facts about Mormon Temples. Here are some to get you started: [i would have put these as links but the option to do that seems to have disappeared...]

http://www.mormonsmadesimple.com/watch/temples.php : a short intro video to Mormon temples

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/Mormon/ : great articles on temple-related topics. Or, click the links on the far left to see photos and information about each of the temples worldwide.

http://www.Mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/membership-in-christ-s-church/temples-and-family-history: official church website. Also includes a link to chat with church representatives if you have any questions.

http://www.Mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/videos/the-blessings-of-the-temple?: official church video about the blessings of the temple

http://www.Mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/videos/why-Mormons-build-temples?: official church video about why Mormons build temples

Answer 3

Walking into a Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) is not like walking into a large cathedral or other worship space. There is no large room with pews for worship, but rather a collection of smaller rooms, each with a specific function. First, it must be noted that a Mormon Temple is NOT the same thing as Mormon Meetinghouse. Mormon Meetinghouses are used for Sunday Worship and congregation activities. They are open to the public and there are over 20,000 of them worldwide. Mormon Temples are used for special weekday worship and are only open to baptized adult Church members who have received a reccomendation from their Bishop. There are only about 130 of them worldwide.

What the inside of a Mormon Temple looks like is not a secret. Each temple is open for several weeks for free public tours immediately after it is built or remodeled. After the tours, the building is formally dedicated and the public is no longer admitted. Here is a sort of "virtual tour" of a typical Mormon Temple (see the "Related Links" below for photos):

* When walking into the front doors, there is often a small waiting area. This room is technically open to the public, and is available to anyone waiting for family or friends who are in the temple.

* Near the waiting area is the recommend desk. Here, Church members will show their reccomendation card. If it is valid and up-to-date, they are admitted behind the desk into the temple.

* Beyond the recommend desk, a temple visitor will go into a dressing room to change into modest white temple clothing. Seperate dressing rooms are available for men and women. Lockers are provided to keep personal belongings in.

* After dressing in white temple clothing, the visitor may choose to participate in one of several ordinances available. Youth ages 12 and up have only one option, baptisms for the dead. They will go to the Baptistry. Here is an immersion font built on the back of 12 oxen (modeled after 1 Kings 7:25) where the visitor will be baptized for those who have died without the opportunity. It is believed the deceased person will have the opportunity to accept or reject this baptism. Following the baptism, the visitor will also be confirmed for those who have died.

* Adults (usually 19+) have other options in addition to baptisms. Most participate in an Endowment session. They will wait in a small chapel until the session starts.

* Temples are organized differently, some present the endowment all in one room, in others it progresses through up to 5 rooms. The newest temples progress through two Endowment rooms, the World Room and the Terrestrial Room. The endowment is simply a series of lessons about the creation of the world and the purpose of life, followed by making covenants with God that you will obey the commandments.

* Sealing rooms are often considered the most important rooms in the temple. Here a couple will kneel at an altar and be married (or "sealed" together) for all eternity - not 'until death do us part'. Families with children also come, so that the children may be sealed to the parents. When a Mormon couple says they are getting married it the temple, this is where the marriage ceremony takes place.

* The Celestial Room is the crowning jewel of the temple. It is usually the most ornately decorated, and is meant to be a comfortable room for quiet contemplation, prayer, scripture study, and mediation. It symbolizes being in the presence of God.

* Temples also contain offices for temple workers, a Bride's dressing room for those getting married, and waiting rooms for those watching a marriage ceremony. The Salt Lake Temple contains special rooms set aside for the weekly meetings of the Prophet with the Twelve Apostles, as well as a large "Solemn Assembly Room", which is very rarely used.

Again, check out the "Related Links" below for photos. There is also a virtual tour of a typical Mormon Meetinghouse if you are interested.

Answer 4

Each Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) is made to be unique, however there are some key features found in each temple. Please keep in mind that a Mormon Temple is different than a Mormon Church or Meetinghouse. Churches/Meetinghouses are open to the public and hold regular Sunday worship services.

*Outside, most, but not all, temples have at least one spire with a golden statue of the Angel Moroni on top. These became standard in the early 1980's and have since been added onto all but eight of the temples.

*Also outside, each temple has a cornerstone with a date on it. Placing the cornerstone to complete the temple is a part of the dedication ceremony.

*Just inside the front doors is the Recommend Desk. Here, anyone entering must show their Temple Recommend. A Temple Recommend is a card that has been signed by the individual's local and congregational leaders indicating that they may gain admittance to the Temple. If a visitor does not have a recommend or theirs is found invalid, they may wait in a waiting room for their friends/family to finish worshiping.

*Each temple also has dressing rooms for men and women. Upon entering the temple, worshipers change into modest all-white clothing. This clothing includes long dresses for the women and slacks and ties for the men. Those performing baptisms may dress into a baptismal jumpsuit instead.

*Most temples have a small chapel or waiting room where worshippers may wait for the next worship service to begin.

*All temples have a Baptismal Font which rests on the back of twelve oxen, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. It is an immersion font based on the one described in 1 Kings 7:23-26. Here, Mormons may be baptized as proxy for their ancestors.

*The main Temple service attended by adults is called the Endowment. Each temple has at least one Endowment room for the presenting of that ceremony, while others have up to six. Two is standard. These rooms include an altar at one end and seating facing the altar. A copy of the Bible and the other Mormon Scriptures are placed on the altar. Chairs behind the altar are for those officiating in the service.

*Each temple also has at least one Sealing room. It is here that couples are married or 'sealed' for time and all eternity. Families also come to be sealed together. It is believed that if this ceremony is performed they will remain together in heaven. These rooms have an altar in the center, where those being sealed will kneel, and chairs for close family and friends to attend the ceremony.

*The most sacred room in the temple is the Celestial Room. This room is usually quite ornate and is meant to represent and covey the feeling of being in the presense of God. This room contains several couches or chairs where people simply come to pray, study, and meditate. No teaching or ceremonies are done in the Celestial Room.

*Each temple also has a veil, just like the Old Testament tabernacle and temples. The veil hung within the walls of the temple and is not visible.

You can see photos of these key features at the "Related Links" below.