{"id":1214,"date":"2011-07-16T10:33:43","date_gmt":"2011-07-16T10:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectconversion.com\/?p=1214"},"modified":"2011-08-05T01:03:33","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T01:03:33","slug":"headin-to-the-temple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/projectconversion\/2011\/07\/headin-to-the-temple.html","title":{"rendered":"Headin’ to the Temple."},"content":{"rendered":"

Temples are\u00a0sacred places. We all have them in various shapes and forms. For some of us, they are the corporate office. To others, a dark, slithering river in southeastern North Carolina. Temples are the places where the veil between the mundane and spiritual worlds is so thin, that when you touch the walls you can feel the very pulse within the fingertips of the divine. In this place, your prayers diffuse into the firmament like a sweet perfume.<\/p>\n

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has temples. Here, the most sacred ordinances occur. And not just anyone can enter this sacred space–not even every LDS member–only an LDS member in good standing with the church and with a “temple recommend.” In order to\u00a0enter the\u00a0temple, one must:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be at least 12 years old (that’s me!)<\/li>\n
  2. Be a member of the church for at least one year (Uh, what about one really intense month?)<\/li>\n
  3. Obtain a temple recommend. This is gained\u00a0via interview with a bishop or\u00a0branch\u00a0and stake president. A member is asked\u00a0questions regarding their standing in the church including: if they have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments, supporting their local church and its leaders, etc (Well, I do for 31 days…)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So it looks like I’m not permitted to enter the temple (more on that issue next week).\u00a0That’s a shame because they are beautiful…<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    Ciudad Juarez, Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    Gilbert, Arizona<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n
    \n
    \"\"<\/a><\/dt>\n
    Columbia, South Carolina<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

    \u00a0These are just a few of the 134 operating temples around the world. Each one is built for two main purposes: to hold the highest sacred ordinances, and to offer a glimpse of the majesty of what awaits those who enter the Celestial Kingdom with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

    LDS members claim a proud lineage of temple building that stretches back to the time of the ancient Hebrews. The emancipated Hebrews set up a holy tabernacle–a tent and mobile sanctuary–which held the sacred Law and the Holy of Holies. Once the Hebrews settled down in Jerusalem, they constructed a series of permanent temples, first under King Solomon and finally under King Herod during the time of Jesus.<\/p>\n

    Once the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed\u00a0along with the apostolic authority held by Christ’s original apostles, according to LDS doctrine, the sacred and intimate presence of the Lord faded from the earth. This is why the restoration of\u00a0the gospel and church through Joseph Smith is central to the LDS church, because through Joseph Smith, the church itself along with the temples was reestablished\u00a0for all mankind. So, kind of a big deal.<\/p>\n

    Ordinanaces:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    What happens in the temple? Well, nothing I can see or take pictures of because I’m only an honorary member this month. The phrase I often hear regarding the inner workings of the temple is that they are “sacred, not secret.” Okay, fair enough.<\/span><\/p>\n