What do you, personally, believe is your greatest purpose?   What do you believe is the most important thing you could achieve in this life?  Once you have defined that one, specific goal, wouldn’t you do all you could to prepare for it throughout your life?

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church), it’s no mistake that we begin teaching about the family early on.  The Family and marriage between man and wife are the basic foundational principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are the abiding goal of almost every church member.

Forever Families Are Important to Latter-day Saints

Elder Eric B. Shumway said in October 2008,

Ponder this statement. This single truth—that the cosmic purpose of this earth and the universe has as its central feature marriage and the family, with husband and wife at the core—should inspire our souls and our imaginations. Marriage and family are not human inventions or social constructs evolving from human necessity. They are part of a heavenly order that leads to eternal life and eternal happiness.

Consider the following comments from Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship. … [It] is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal exaltation. … [It] is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. … Marriage is both a commandment and an exalting principle of the gospel.”

I would like to add that marriage and family offer the greatest opportunities for the growth of the character and soul of the individual. It is a vortex of learning how to become like Heavenly Father in all of His sacred roles.

Therefore, in The Church of Jesus Christ (Latter-day Saint, LDS or Mormon) we place great importance on preparing for temple marriage.

Preparing For Temple Marriage

Preparing for temple marriage is a lifelong pursuit.  Children are taught at the earliest stage about the truths of the heavenly appointed structure of the family and the happiness that canbe found there.

We know as we grow as children, and as adults raise children, that we learn the best lessons within families, and we can also learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ there.

We prepare for temple marriage by reading our scriptures, praying, and humbling ourselves to know our Savior and Heavenly Father, no matter at what point in our lives we came to find the Gospel and be baptized.

Church members also know that a temple marriage is based on Gospel doctrine that is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The basics of this family gospel is reflected in The Family: A Proclamation To The World, a document released to the world from the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ in 1995.

Those that seek temple marriages strive to reflect their family patterns after language found in that document:

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

Productivity

Observers of The Church of Jesus Christ have sometimes noted that our young people are a productive people and this is true.  The Gospel encourages our youth to be an energetic people who are loving, serving others, and seeking an education.   We are encouraged to expand our talents and learn all we can.  Young people are taught to socialize, date, marry and seek gainful employment.

So we can definitely be a productive generation.  Part of the reason for this, is that our young people are preparing for marriage.   They are preparing themselves to be good spouses, parents, educate themselves, and their children and to provide for families.

Elder Shumway said,

In looking forward to marriage, do not assume a wait-and-see posture. This is not just a period for marking time or treading water. Seek to become a happy, productive person in your own right. If you have been unsuccessful in love or hurt or betrayed or ignored, break away from complaining and self-pity. Fill your life with all the things that will improve the head, the heart, and the hand.

Read out of the best books, beginning with the scriptures. Get to know the great and noble human spirits in history and literature. Reading will open the world to you and make your mind a repository of things you can draw from later. Enjoy the beauties of the earth, of nature, and of the arts. Engage proactively in Church and community service and in social activities. Exercise to improve physical and mental health. Fill your life with journal writing, acquiring new job skills, creating through hobbies, composing music or poetry, missionary work, and family history. I promise you that every gift you develop now will be a valuable asset when you have a family.

Preparing for families is one way is one way the young people of the Church prepare for marriage.

The Steps To The Temple

The next steps to the temple are faith, baptism, and receiving what is called a “temple recommend”.

Some see the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as exclusive or secretive.  This is not the case!  The purpose of the temple is actually to give Heavenly Father’s blessings to all who are worthy to receive them.  They remain confidential in order to keep them sacred for those who are prepared to receive them.

Russel M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained it as preparing to attend a university as a boy:

Because a temple is sacred, the Lord asks that it be protected from desecration. Anyone may enter who is willing to prepare well for that privilege. The concept of preparation prevails in other fields of endeavor. I remember when I was but a young boy, I told my parents I wanted to attend the university. They said I could, but only if I worked hard in preliminary schooling and met all the requirements for admission to the university. Similarly, we must qualify for admission to the temple. We prepare physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Eligibility is determined individually for each person applying for a recommend.

Only faithful Mormons who have qualified for a temple recommend are able to participate in marriage ceremonies that happen in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This recommend reflects among other things that the recommend holder lives 100% morally clean, does not use drugs, alcohol or tobacco, pays a 10% tithe, is honest in all their dealings and has an upright relationship with their family.

But this is just the most basic preparation. Just as important, those getting married in the temple need to be spiritually prepared to make heightened promises to God to strive even harder to obey His laws and to be prepared to receive greater blessings.

Go here to see some answers from “real” Mormons about why only certain members enter the temple.

In Aug. of 2010 the Church Magazine, the Ensign, helped explain about qualifying for entrance to the temple,

Temples are literally houses of the Lord. In the temple we make sacred covenants, or promises, with God that are necessary for us to be with Him in the highest degree of heavenly glory (see D&C 131:1–4). These temple covenants lead to the great blessings available through Jesus Christ.

We are not expected to be perfect to enter the temple. Rather, the purpose of the things we learn and the covenants we make in the temple is to help perfect us. We must, however, be worthy to enter.

A temple recommend signifies that we have been found worthy through an interview with a member of our bishopric or our branch president and also an interview with a member of our stake presidency or mission presidency.

Temple recommend interviews are opportunities for us to examine our worthiness. In each of the interviews, our priesthood leaders will ask us about our personal conduct and faith. Our priesthood leaders keep these interviews private and confidential.

Blessings of an Eternal Marriage

Elder Richard G. Scott said in April 1999,

One of the most beautiful, comforting doctrines of the Lord—one that brings immense peace, happiness, and unbounded joy—is that principle called eternal marriage. This doctrine means that a man and woman who love each other deeply, who have grown together through the trials, joys, sorrows, and happiness of a shared lifetime, can live beyond the veil together forever with their family who earn that blessing. That is not just an immensely satisfying dream; it is a reality. Any husband and wife who have shared the joys of marriage here on earth would want that blessing. But only those who meet the requirements established by the Lord will receive that supernal gift. I bear witness that all those things that have and will bring me the greatest happiness in life have roots in the temple ordinances. Decide now to receive the ordinances of the temple at the appropriate time. Don’t let anything overcome that resolve.

Additional Resources:

We Must be Worthy to Enter the Mormon Temple

Learn About the Mormon Endowment

Personal Preparation For Temple Blessings – Elder Russell M. Nelson

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (often inadvertently called The Mormon Church), have normal families in countries all around the world.  Our members celebrate marriages in many ways that are similar to most people in various cultures.  Marriages usually involve family, food, sometimes dancing, music and other traditions depending on the area. But, observers of The Church of Jesus Christ (Latter-day Saint, LDS or Mormon) sometimes do have questions about other aspects of “Mormon’ marriages.

“Mormon” Marriage FAQs Q: Are Mormons Polygamists?

No member of The Church of Jesus Christ (often called Latter-day Saints, LDS or Mormons) can enter into the practice of polygamy without being excommunicated. Mormonnewsroom.org details the official church statement:

There are more than 14 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and not one of them is a polygamist. The practice of polygamy is strictly prohibited in the Church. The general standard of marriage in the Church has always been monogamy, as indicated in the Book of Mormon (see Jacob 2:27). For periods in the Bible polygamy was practiced by the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, as well as kings David and Solomon. It was again practiced by a minority of Latter-day Saints in the early years of the Church. Polygamy was officially discontinued in 1890 — 122 years ago. Those who practice polygamy today have nothing whatsoever to do with the Church.

Q: Who Can Marry in a Mormon Temple?

Only faithful Mormons who have qualified for a temple “recommend” are able to participate in marriage ceremonies that happen in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This recommend reflects among other things that the recommend holder lives 100% morally clean, does not use drugs, alcohol or tobacco, pays a 10% tithe, is honest in all their dealings and has an upright relationship with their family. But this is just the most basic preparation. Just as important, those getting married in the temple need to be spiritually prepared to make heightened promises to God to strive even harder to obey His laws and also be prepared to receive greater blessings. Go here to see some answers from “real” Mormons about why only certain members enter the temple. In August of 2010, the Church Magazine, the Ensign, helped explain about qualifying for entrance to the temple,

Temples are literally houses of the Lord. In the temple we make sacred covenants, or promises, with God that are necessary for us to be with Him in the highest degree of heavenly glory (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4.) These temple covenants lead to the great blessings available through Jesus Christ. We are not expected to be perfect to enter the temple. Rather, the purpose of the things we learn and the covenants we make in the temple is to help perfect us. We must, however, be worthy to enter. A temple recommend signifies that we have been found worthy through an interview with a member of our bishopric or our branch president and also an interview with a member of our stake presidency or mission presidency. Temple recommend interviews are opportunities for us to examine our worthiness. In each of the interviews, our priesthood leaders will ask us about our personal conduct and faith. Our priesthood leaders keep these interviews private and confidential.

Q: Why Is Mormon Temple Marriage Described as ‘Forever’ or ‘Eternal’?

The Church of Jesus Christ operates and exists around the belief in the importance of the family structure.  Part of that belief is that it is an eternal unit and that we can be with our loved ones that came before us and with those that pass on while we are living. That is why temples are so important to us.  We believe it is the only place where God has designated that these special ceremonies that bind or “seal” in heaven as well as on earth (as it says in Matthew) take place. Mormonnewsroom.org described it this way,

Members of the Church believe that marriages performed in temples are “sealed,” or blessed to last for eternity. The concept that the family unit can continue beyond the grave as a conscious, loving entity, with the marriage partnership and parent-child relationships intact, is a core belief of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Once a couple is married and sealed in a temple, any children who are then born to them are automatically sealed to them at birth. If children are born before the couple is sealed, those children can later participate in a temple sealing with their parents. Children that are adopted also have an opportunity to be sealed to the adoptive parents. The concept of eternal families comes from scripture and modern-day revelation. For example, the New Testament reference in Matthew 16:19 records Jesus Christ telling the Apostle Peter: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The Church equates the word “bind” with “seal.” According to research cited in a 2000 article in the Los Angeles Times, “in an era of divorce, Mormon temple weddings are built to last,” with only a 6 percent divorce rate. Another study, published in 1993 in Demography Magazine, concluded that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who marry in one of the Church’s temples are the least likely of all Americans to divorce.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of the potential of an eternal, celestial marriage:

The full realization of the blessings of a temple marriage is almost beyond our mortal comprehension. Such a marriage will continue to grow in the celestial realm. There we can become perfected.As Jesus ultimately received the fulness of the glory of the Father,so we may ‘come unto the Father … and in due time receive of his fulness.’

Go here  and here for answers from “real” Mormons on forever families and what Mormons believe about eternal life.

Q: Is a Mormon Marriage Considered An Equal Partnership Between Man and Wife?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not believe that one gender is better than the other, or has more authority than the other. The church teaches that as children of God, and as men and women, we all have divine God-given genders and identities and are equal partners. The Family: A Proclamation To The World published by The Church of Jesus Christ in 1995 emphasizes this:

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In an April 2013 Ensign article on equal marriage, the two authors explained that the Adam and Eve account helps us understand the teachings from The Church of Jesus Christ onequality and gender identity.  The account shows us how God created Adam and Eve as two different beings who were unique, with different characteristics, but equal in partnership:

Latter-day Saint theology teaches that gender difference does not superimpose a hierarchy between men and women: one gender does not have greater eternal possibilities than the other. As Elder Earl C. Tingey, formerly of the Presidency of the Seventy, has said: “You must not misunderstand what the Lord meant when Adam was told he was to have a helpmeet. A helpmeet is a companion suited to or equal to [the other]. [They] walk side by side … not one before or behind the other. A helpmeet results in an absolute equal partnership between a husband and a wife. Eve was to be equal to Adam as a husband and wife are to be equal to each other.

Another part of the article I really liked was when the authors pointed out that the Hebrew meaning of the words “over” and “help meet” is “with” and “equal”. A simple translation shows that most of the world has a huge misconception of the Adam and Eve account and how God directed the two:

Over in ‘rule over’ uses the Hebrew bet, which means ruling ‘with,’ not ruling ‘over.’ … The concept of interdependent, equal partners is well grounded in the doctrine of the restored gospel. Eve was Adam’s ‘help meet’ (Genesis 2:18). The original Hebrew for meet means that Eve was adequate for, or equal to, Adam. She wasn’t his servant or his subordinate.

Over the years some may have criticized The Church of Jesus Christ as being a sexist organization, which excludes women and discourages decision making of wives at home. Nothing could be further from the truth. Such behavior is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which the Church teaches, and church leaders have emphatically spoken against.

Moreover, contrary to scripture and the teachings of latter-day prophets, some men and women have interpreted presiding to mean that after equal counsel, equal consent is not necessary because the presider (or husband) has the right of final say. But President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained: ‘“In the Church there is a distinct line of authority. We serve where called by those who preside over us. In the home it is a partnership with husband and wife equally yoked together, sharing in decisions, always working together.” Equality does not mean sameness, however. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: “Men and women, though spiritually equal, are entrusted with different but equally significant roles.” A marriage of equal partners is also one in which the partners help one another in their stewardships, indeed, are “obligated to help one another as equal partners.” This partnership extends to housework and childcare. President Packer has said, “There is no task, however menial, connected with the care of babies, the nurturing of children, or with the maintenance of the home that is not [the husband’s] equal obligation.”

From the same Ensign article on marriage equality, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:

Brethren and sisters, material possessions and honors of the world do not endure. But your union as wife, husband, and family can. The only duration of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the human soul is forever. No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To qualify, one needs only to deny oneself of ungodliness and honor the ordinances of the temple. … Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life.

Q: Can Mormons Get Divorced?

The Church of Jesus Christ is on the forefront in teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal significance of families.  The church has never stopped teaching about the seriousness of marriage and family, and the plague of divorce. To “Mormons” marriage isn’t simply the person we “fall in love with” and decide to “spend the rest of our lives with”.  Our spouse isn’t even just our “soul mate”.  Though we don’t mean to belittle or make fun of those sentiments in any way, to us, marriage is an even more enduring commitment.  It is a partnership that means more than just an initial romance or a life-long adventure. Temple marriage is an eternal covenant; a partnership that lasts forever – one that allows us to progress, return to our Heavenly Father and reach our full potential. I have always loved that our spouse is the only other person besides God that we have been commanded to love with all our hearts. In Doctrine and Covenants 42:22 we are taught, “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.” On lds.org it says that marriage is more important than all the other trivial things in life:

Because marriage is such an important relationship in life, it needs and deserves time over less-important commitments. Couples can strengthen their marriage as they take time to talk together and to listen to one another, to be thoughtful and respectful, and to express tender feelings and affection often.

Therefore, marriage covenants are taken very seriously and it is strongly encouraged within the church to do all that is possible to save a marriage where possible before divorce – especially if children are involved. On lds.org it says:

The sanctity of marriage and families is taught repeatedly in the scriptures. It has been reaffirmed by modern prophets and apostles. Despite the truths taught about the sanctity of marriage, divorce has become commonplace in the world. Because the family is central to Heavenly Father’s plan for His children, Satan seeks to destroy marriages and families. Because of the poor choices and selfishness of one or both marriage partners, marriages sometimes end in contention, separation, and divorce.

However, marriage choices are between the couple.  To obtain dissolution of temple covenants, the husband and wife would need to meet with the appropriate ecclesiastical authority. Lds.org continues:

When men and women marry, they make solemn covenants with each other and with God. Every effort should be made to keep these covenants and preserve marriage. When divorce occurs, individuals have the obligation to forgive rather than to condemn, to lift and to help.

Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a very moving address on divorce in April of 2007.  He said:

There are many good Church members who have been divorced. I speak first to them. We know that many of you are innocent victims—members whose former spouses persistently betrayed sacred covenants or abandoned or refused to perform marriage responsibilities for an extended period. Members who have experienced such abuse have firsthand knowledge of circumstances worse than divorce. When a marriage is dead and beyond hope of resuscitation, it is needful to have a means to end it… We know that some look back on their divorces with regret at their own partial or predominant fault in the breakup. All who have been through divorce know the pain and need the healing power and hope that come from the Atonement. That healing power and that hope are there for them and also for their children.

Members of the Church come from all parts of the world, from many races, religions, family situations and from all walks of life.  Therefore, “Mormons” are a lot more like most people than some might think. Mormons also love to ask questions and learn more about cultures, religions and those around them.  Hopefully you’ll ask a question or two the next time you’re around a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I’m sure they’d love to answer!

Additional Resources:

The Articles of Faith and Basic Mormon Beliefs

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Our Savior Jesus Christ

In April 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced at its Semiannual General Conference that a temple would be built in Meridian, Idaho.  It will be the 5^th temple in Idaho after Idaho Falls, Boise, Twin Falls and Rexburg and the 2^nd in the Treasure Valley.

What the Meridian Idaho Mormon Temple Looks Like

This month, a rendering was released of what the Meridian, Idaho temple that is to built at 7345 North Linder Road, a few blocks north of the intersection of North Linder Road and Chinden Blvd will look like. The artist’s rendering and the site plan have been submitted to Ada County for approval.

Latter-day Saint temples are aesthetically beautiful buildings with meticulous landscaping. Everything about the architecture is designed to honor God and complement the local community.

Ldschurchtemples.com says,

“The design is a departure from the traditional towers and steeples of other Latter-day Saint temples, reminiscent of the Cardston Alberta Temple—the faith’s first temple to be designed without a tower, though the Laie Hawaii Temple (based on the Cardston design) was dedicated earlier. The multi-level temple will be topped with a beautiful gold dome supporting a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni.”

Mormonnewsroom.org writes,

“We feel this new temple will be a great asset not only to members of the Church but also to the people of Meridian and the surrounding communities, who will benefit from the peace and beauty a temple brings,” said Craig Rasmussen, Idaho spokesman for the Church.

“Temples are where members participate in the most meaningful and significant rites of our religion — where we make and renew promises to God and to our families.”

Once construction of the new temple begins, it is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

GO HERE TO SEE INSIDE THE TEMPLE

Currently the Church in Idaho

Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho continues to grow from small beginnings in 1855. Presently, with more than 417,000 members in Idaho, Latter-day Saints, most commonly known as Mormons, represent one in every four citizens of the state.

Throughout the state there are more than 1000 local congregations, called wards or branches, and more than 120 stakes, the equivalent of a diocese. Members of the Church in Idaho have a rich heritage of community and public service.

They are active in the PTA, community councils, the Boy Scouts and state and local government. They are teachers, dentists, construction workers, mothers, fathers and your neighbors.

Neighborhood Questions

Some frequently asked questions might arise from those living close to a newly constructed temple.  Some of the answers may surprise you.

Things such as the fact that the temple doesn’t have bells and does not make noise and that lighting is minimal may be unexpected.  With the exception of the open house, the temple generally attracts small groups of people at different times, so traffic should not be a major problem.

See some common FAQs below or go HERE for more.

Q. What about noise? Does the temple have bells or chimes?

A. Mormon temples do not have bells or chimes. The temple grounds will be quiet and peaceful and are open to the public.

Q. What about lighting at night?

A. The lighting of the temple will comply with all local legal requirements and restrictions.

Q. Will the temple cause traffic and parking problems?

A. No.  The temple’s purpose is to accommodate small groups throughout the day rather than large congregations at one time, and so traffic flow is well within the capacity of local roads to handle.  Ample parking is available on site.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, public open house and temple dedication (all of which are one-time events), we will work closely with our neighbors to minimize the impact of the traffic and parking and to ensure continued access to their homes and businesses.

Attendance at these services will be by invitation only, and a traffic management plan will be in place along with off-site parking to minimize impact during these limited activities.

Q. Will the Church use this temple as a center to proselytize our community?

A. No. Temples are used only for performing sacred ceremonies and not as centers for local congregations or for proselytzing.

Q. What will happen to the value of the property around the temple?

A. Experience worldwide demonstrates that temples positively impact property values. Latter-day Saint temples are built using the finest craftsmanship and materials available. They are beautifully landscaped and maintained and designed to complement the community.

Brief History of the Church in Idaho

In 1855, Church President Brigham Young asked 26 early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to settle among the Native Americans on the Salmon River. Church members taught agriculture, preached the gospel, and shared supplies with the Native Americans. A prominent chief, Shoshone Chief Washakie, was baptized during the early colonization efforts.

When Idaho was given statehood in 1890, Latter-day Saints comprised about one-fifth of the state’s population. A few Church Presidents have been natives of Idaho: Presidents Harold B. Lee, Ezra Taft Benson, and Howard W. Hunter.

Ricks Academy, founded in 1888, later became a junior college that was renamed Ricks College. In 2001 the school became a four-year university and was renamed Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Read more about members of the Church at Mormon.org.

Additional Information About Temples

Mormontemples.org/more-information-about-temples tells us more about what a temple is and what it is for,

Temples are not regular places of Sunday worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are quite different from the thousands of regular chapels or meetinghouses all over the world that are used for Sunday services.

Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples. A member must be observing the basic principles of the faith and attest to that fact to his or her local leaders once every two years in order to enter a temple.

The sacredness of the temple anciently can be seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Moses had the children of Israel carry with them the Tabernacle (a large, portable temple) as they wandered in the wilderness.

King Solomon built and dedicated the great temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.

It was rebuilt and later substantially expanded, but again destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. The great Western Wall can still be seen in Jerusalem today, and even after millennia, remains a sacred site for Jews. The New Testament gives an account of Jesus Christ clearing the temple when its sacredness was violated by people using its courts as a common market.

Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, places of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God. They are also the place where the highest sacraments of the faith occur — the marriage of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity.

Temples serve as the only place where ceremonies such as baptism and eternal marriage can be performed in behalf of those who have died — a practice that Latter-day Saints believe was followed in New Testament times but that later was lost (1 Corinthians 15:29).

Temples point Latter-day Saints to Jesus Christ and their eventual life with Him, their Heavenly Father and their family members on the condition of faithfulness to Christ’s teachings.

In a latter-day revelation, Joseph Smith received direction to build a temple in Kirtland, Ohio (dedicated in 1836). Later he was instructed to build a temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, completed and dedicated in 1846. So important were temples to early Church members that within days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young selected the site of the Salt Lake Temple.

There are more than 150 temples throughout the world either in operation, under construction or announced. (See temple list.)

On most temples there is sculpture gilded with gold leaf of a man in flowing robes, with a trumpet pressed to his lips.

The statue depicts the Angel Moroni, an ancient prophet and a central figure in the Book of Mormon. The statue is symbolic of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

Additional Resources:

What Mormons Believe

LDS Church Temples

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes  inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church, is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Mormons (Latter-day Saints) believe that everything we do in the  Church was done in the gospel before, in both Old and New Testament times. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ included everything He taught: faith, repentance, priesthood authority, and the temple are some of the restored principles. Latter-day Saints believe that the temple and the ordinances performed therein are part of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Temples in the Old Testament

The Old Testament records three temples: the Tabernacle in the wilderness, the Temple of Solomon, and the Temple of Zerubbabel.  The main purpose of these temples was for the people to offer sacrifices, and for the Lord to communicate with His people. (See Exodus 29:42-43; 33:9-11). Even before Moses built the tabernacle, though, the Lord’s people were offering sacrifices, beginning with Adam.

In Genesis 4, Adam’s sons Cain and Abel both offer sacrifices to the Lord. Abel “brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering” (Genesis 4:4). Noah and Abraham both offered sacrifices to the Lord. (See Genesis 8:20; 22:13).

Both the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple of Solomon were constructed to perform the ordinances connected with the Law of Moses, and the people went there to offer blood sacrifices in similitude of Jesus Christ’s great and last sacrifice. The offering of sacrifices continued through the time that Jesus was on the earth.

In Exodus 40:9, Moses describes how he was directed to consecrate, or dedicate, the tabernacle: “And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.” The tabernacle was a place set apart, a holy place, where people could worship and the Lord could communicate with them. The temples that followed were dedicated in a similar manner.

Temples in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the Temple of Herod was standing in Jerusalem, having been built around 18 BC by Herod for the Jews. Jews were continuing to offer sacrifices, in accordance with the Law of Moses, which was not fulfilled until the Savior’s Atonement, death, and resurrection.

The Temple in Jerusalem was a holy place, just as the tabernacle in the wilderness had been. In Mark chapter 11, Jesus came to Jerusalem and went to the temple. There, He found money changers, and people selling animals to be used in sacrifices. Jesus cast them out of the temple, “and he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17). Jesus teaches here that the temple is a holy place, and needs to be respected.

In Luke chapter 20, Jesus “taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel” (Luke 20:1). The temple, a holy and sacred place, was the ideal location for Jesus to preach the gospel to those who would listen.

In 70 AD, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the temple was also destroyed. The Jews were scattered, and a temple to a pagan god was built on the site. From that time, there were no temples on the earth until the gospel was restored in modern times.

First Temples in Modern Times

Dedicated in 1863, the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio, was the first temple built in modern times. The Lord instructed His people to build this temple; they were commanded to “organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119). The Lord used the Kirtland Temple to restore important priesthood keys and ordinances that had been lost from the earth.

The Latter-day Saints later built temples in Nauvoo, Illinois, and various locations in Utah. They wanted to build these temples because it is only in the sacred house of the Lord that they could receive ordinances (religious ceremonies) and make covenants, or promises, with Heavenly Father.

Modern Revelation about the Temple

Today there are over 140 LDS temples in operation, with many other temples under construction around the world. Church leaders continue to build temples all across the world in an effort to bring the blessings members receive in the temple closer to the people.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, an Apostle of Jesus Christ and one of the Church’s leaders, illustrates the central nature of the temple to Latter-day Saints: “Every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house. Our efforts to proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead all lead to the temple. Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families” (Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings, April 2001).

The temple is a beautiful place, a sacred house of God. Building temples on the earth is part of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ; people anciently constructed temples, and we do so today. Although a person must have a recommend to enter the holy temple, anyone can take the necessary steps to obtain a recommend and enter the house of the Lord.

Additional Resource:

LDS Temples – The House of the Lord

^6th Mormon Temple to Be Added in Arizona

Arizona hosts 5 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ at various stages.  Operating temples include Mesa, Gila Valley, and Snowflake while two are under construction in Phoenix and Gilbert.  In October of 2012, Church President, Thomas S. Monson, announced a 6^th Arizona temple was to be built in Tucson.

Possible Temple Location in Tucson

The church has not yet announced the official location of the temple. Speculation has occurred at the possible site of the Tucson temple in the Catalina foothills.

The Arizona Daily Star reports:

Other large properties owned by the church that could accommodate a temple include 11 acres near Alvernon Way and the Rillito River and several large parcels in Marana. There are no plans on file for those properties.

Church planners submitted preliminary documents to Pima County showing a two-story, 34,000-square-foot temple on 7.46 acres the church purchased in 2010 for $1.6 million. The church also recently bought a home on one acre on the north edge of the possible temple location for $390,000.

At 34,000 square feet, the Tucson temple would be about one-fourth the size of Arizona’s best-known LDS temple in Mesa.

Pima County Temple Submission

A submission has been made to Pima County labeled “LDS Temple” that includes floor plans, images of the buildings, surveys and environmental studies.  The plans also detail that the temple would have capacity for 450 people, with 260 parking spaces and a significant buffer of undeveloped desert land between the temple and the surrounding neighborhood.

The property is currently zoned for religious use so no re-zoning would have to take place were the temple to be built there.

The Arizona star said that:

Chris Poirier, the county’s assistant planning director, confirmed a church project manager has submitted preliminary plans to Pima County for review and is in talks with the county.

What Is a Mormon Temple Exactly?

Temples are quiet, sacred and an integral part of the LDS faith, providing members the opportunity to participate in religious ceremonies, such as marriages and baptisms.

They typically open early in the morning and quietly operate throughout the day.  Closing times vary with locale, however, temples do not operate into the late evening hours.  Temples are closed on Sunday.

Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples. A member must be observing the basic principles of the faith and attest to that fact to his or her local leaders once every two years in order to enter a temple.

How Do Temples Affect The Neighborhood?

Mormontemples.org has a great FAQ list on temples that includes neighborhood questions.

Here are a few listed below:

Q. What will happen to the value of the property around the temple?

A.  Experience worldwide demonstrates that temples positively impact property values. Latter-day Saint temples are built using the finest craftsmanship and materials available. They are beautifully landscaped and maintained and designed to complement the community.

Q. How are temples used?

A. Temples are quiet, sacred and an integral part of the LDS faith, providing members the opportunity to participate in religious ceremonies, such as marriages and baptisms.  They typically open early in the morning and quietly operate throughout the day.  Closing times vary with locale, however, temples do not operate into the late evening hours.  Temples are closed on Sunday.

Q. What about noise? Does the temple have bells or chimes?

A. Mormon temples do not have bells or chimes. The temple grounds will be quiet and peaceful and are open to the public.

Q. What about lighting at night?

A. The lighting of the temple will comply with all local legal requirements and restrictions.

Additional Resource:

Additional Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Angel Moroni Atop Mormon Temples

Perhaps one of the most recognizable symbols for temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often mistakenly called the Mormon Church), is of the Angel Moroni.   The prophet from The Book of Mormon (a companion scripture to the Bible that testifies of Christ), is memorialized in statue form with applied gold leaf atop most Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) temples.

Who Does the Statue Represent?

The statue of Moroni is not a figure of worship, but rather one of respect for his role in the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Moroni was a real person, an ancient prophet in the Book of Mormon who revealed the location of golden plates to the young Joseph Smith in 1823 from which the sacred book of scripture was translated.

With the horn pressed to his lips and his right hand holding the outstretched horn, the statue of Moroni symbolizes the restoration and the preaching of it to the world.

Latter-day Saints believe Joseph Smith restored the original church established anciently by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The symbol is powerful for members of the Church.  In modern history in Christ’s Church, the saints (a saint is defined as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ) initially built temples in near-impossible circumstances and against heavy opposition.   More than once, temple building brought violence on the early saints of the Church and they were forced to abandon their precious temples.

Therefore, a temple built is a humbling blessing and triumph for truth in The Church of Jesus Christ.   The symbol of the statue of Moroni being lifted atop a temple spire is an incredibly potent and moving moment in the life of a temple.

Ogden Utah Temple Receives Moroni Statue On Top of Spire 

The temple still undergoing renovation construction in Ogden, crews placed an angel Moroni statue atop the new temple spire in the beginning of May 2013. The 14-foot, 2-inch figure is the same statue that topped the temple before it was closed. The statue was removed at the beginning of the project and completely reconditioned.

The addition will bring the height of the renovated temple to just under 190 feet. The statue is made of fiberglass coated with gold leaf, supported by a steel structure and weighs nearly 800 pounds.

Mormonnewsroom.org reports:

“The estimated completion date for the temple is late 2014. Dates for the open house period have not yet been announced.

The temple’s entire exterior will be reshaped with new stone and art glass. The entrance to the temple will also be moved from the west side to the east side, where it will face Washington Boulevard.

Inside the temple, some rooms will be reconfigured, but the core building design will remain the same. As has been the case in renovations of other temples, old electrical, heating and plumbing systems will be replaced with modern, energy-saving equipment. Other notable improvements include underground parking and a complete relandscaping of the temple block with a major water feature.”

Seeing the Statue Raised 

I’ve only seen an Angel Moroni Statue placed on top of a temple once.   I was in college in Rexburg, Idaho, and the temple construction finished shortly after I graduated.  I’ve never been in the temple, but I was there for the groundbreaking and other construction milestones.

My roommates and I wanted to participate in the groundbreaking, but being young and silly, we didn’t want to wait in line to overturn dirt.  So being cheeky, I guess, we went the next day with what “tools” we had laying around and overturned dirt with our kitchen ladles and spoons.

My experience with the Angel Moroni statue was much more serious.  Hundreds waited outside the temple as the statue was lifted by a crane and placed at the top of the tall, sacred building.

I was even more moved than I thought I would be.  It was astounding to me that the early pioneers sacrificed all they had for just one temple, one moment like this.  And now, temples are being built constantly all over the world.

As I watched that symbolic and beautiful statue lifted higher and higher, I felt it was a fulfillment or prophecy, and that Moroni’s wish was coming true.  He had compiled and abridged the ancient scriptures for us in our day, and his entire wish was that we would have them and accept them.

Why Do Mormons Build Temples? 

Temples are so significant to “Mormons” (Latter-day Saint or LDS), because it is where God’s ordinances can be preformed.  It is where the highest level of the gospel that was restored from Christ’s original church is exercised.

Inside temples, we learn how to return to God.  Inside temples we are joined with our families and it is there that we receive the keys to be together forever.

This is why temples are so sacred, cherished and important to a Mormon.

So seeing a symbolic statue raised to the top of one, can, in fact, be a big deal.

The Ogden Utah Temple which is located at 350 22^nd Street in Ogden, Utah, was the fifth temple built in Utah and the second built along the Wasatch Front. The first Utah temple was completed in St. George in 1877, followed by Logan in 1884, Manti in 1888, Salt Lake City in 1893 and Ogden in 1972. The Ogden Utah Temple  serves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called the Mormon Church by the media and others) in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming.

The announcement was made on 24 August 1967 that the Temple would be constructed. The site for the new House of the Lord was dedicated on 8 September 1969 by Joseph Fielding Smith, then serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, and a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, Alvin R. Dryer. The hallowed ground was then broken by Hugh B. Brown, who was at that time serving as the First Counselor in the First Presidency. The date of the site dedication and groundbreaking marked the 96th birthday of the 9^th President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, David O. McKay. President McKay passed away four months later.

The public was invited to have a look inside the Temple from 16 to 30 December 1971, and on 18 January 1972, the second anniversary of the passing of President David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, President McKay’s successor, dedicated the new edifice.

On 4 January 2011, the First Presidency announced by letter the official closing date of the Temple as Saturday, 2 April 2011 due to scheduled renovations. The new construction on the Temple is expected to last approximately 2 to 3 years.

Once complete, the temple’s entire exterior will be reshaped with new stone and art glass and the temple entrance will be moved from the west side to the east side, where it will face Washington Boulevard. Inside the temple, some rooms will be reconfigured, but the core building design will remain the same. As has been the case in renovations of other temples, old electrical, heating and plumbing systems will be replaced with modern, energy-saving equipment. Other notable improvements include underground parking and a complete re-landscaping of the temple block with a major water feature. [1]

According to the LDS Church Temples.com site:

As of March 2013, much of the granite and window installation has been completed on the main level of the temple. Plastic sheeting is wrapped around the upper levels to control the temperature where black waterproofing is being applied to green insulating blocks prior to the attachment of exterior granite slabs. Framing is proceeding in both the temple and the adjacent tabernacle. A new parapet wall has been framed on top of the tabernacle. Much of the underground parking facility is completed, and re-bar is being laid for the ceiling of the structure. [2]

Below are some pictures of the ongoing construction.

Addition Resources:

More About the Ogden Utah Mormon Temple

LDS Church Temples

Vatican City is a commanding site no matter what your religion.

Just standing in St. Peter’s Square I was so taken in by Bernini’s architecture of the plaza itself, before I even laid eyes inside.   The play on proportions, the statues on top of the dome by Bernini, (and geez, if you need someone to do a statue, you basically can’t get better than that), and the ancient Egyptian obelisk in the center of it all are extremely awe worthy.

My several visits to Vatican City and St. Peters have always garnered this reaction from me.   I can’t wait to get inside and feast my eyes on all of the important works from different eras – any art history student’s dream.

Some of my favorite travel memories are of being in St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s blessing.  I have been lucky enough to experience that with both Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict.

A former scholarly student of Catholicism, I have deep respect for the Catholic Church and it’s history.  As a devout Christian, I am happy to stand next to my Catholic friends in the defense of Christian ideals.

I’m a Mormon and for members of my church; Vatican City just became a little closer to home.

Next To the Pope: The Mormons

A short 8 miles from Vatican City, a Mormon Temple is underway in Rome.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church), builds temples all around the world, and on October 4^th, 2008, President Thomas S. Monson surprised the Church by announcing plans to build a new temple in Rome.

Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, broke ground on the temple in October 2010. This is the first Mormon temple in Italy.

The Religious and Cultural Center of the Church, the first of its kind in Italy, will include a temple, multi-functional meeting house (including a cultural hall and facilities for conferencing), visitors’ center, family history center and patron housing, all surrounded by lovely gardens.

LDSchurchtemples.com/rome perfectly describes the feelings at the announcement of the temple:

“Italian members met the announcement of the Rome Italy Temple with the animated cheering and enthusiasm you might expect to see in a sports arena during a last-second win, explained President Massimo De Feo, president of the Rome Italy Stake, in an interview. He added that since the temple announcement, the Stake is seeing the baptism of full families for the first time. In just the past five years, the number of stakes in Italy has grown from three to six. And temple attendance at the distant Bern Switzerland Temple has been much higher from the Saints in Italy than from any other country in the temple district.

In the Conference Center, President Thomas S. Monson’s announcement of a temple to be constructed in Rome produced wide smiles and an audible gasp of surprise from the congregation during the Saturday morning session of the October 2008 General Conference.”

History of Mormons in Italy

The first Mormon missionaries arrived in Genova, Italy, on June 25, 1850, including Elder Lorenzo Snow, who would become the fifth president of the Church. Over the next three years, 221 people were baptized and organized into three branches. But most proselytizing in Italy stopped in the early 1860s in the face of local opposition and because of a request from Church leaders for Italian members to immigrate to Utah. An attempt to reopen missionary work in Italy in 1900 was refused by the government.

The Church was finally reestablished in Italy in 1951, following the conversion of Vincenzo di Francesca, who happened to find a burned copy of the Book of Mormon with a missing cover and title page. Italians who had joined the Church in other countries began to return to Italy during this period.

Since then, membership has steadily grown in Italy, currently at 25,000. Prior to the Rome Temple opening, Italian Saints are assigned to the Bern, Switzerland Temple, which accommodates many European members.

Mormon Interfaith Relations

My whole life, I have been taught by my family and the doctrines and leadership of my Church to respect those of other faiths.  In my various life experiences I have been many places and met people of all different religions and beliefs and have enjoyed a mutual friendship and respect.  I love learning about other’s beliefs and sharing mine.

This is the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ, (LDS or Mormon).  On mormonnewsroom.org, the Church details this:

“A respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world’s faiths is one of the hallmarks of Mormonism. From the earliest days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith elevated the principle of religious liberty and tolerance: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may” (Articles of Faith 1:11).

In that same spirit, Church President Thomas S. Monson made a plea during general conference, a semiannual worldwide meeting, for more religious understanding: “I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours” (April 2008 General Conference address).

Latter-day Saints accept all sincere believers as equals in the pursuit of faith and in the great work of serving humanity.”

A representative of The Church, Elder Teixeira, offered Rome, the support of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that it was prepared to cooperate in service projects for the good of the community and offer assistance in emergency situations caused by natural disasters or other needs.

Find out the differences between a Pope and a Mormon Prophet

Rome Temple Details

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ are not regular places of Sunday worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are quite different from the thousands of regular chapels or meeting houses all over the world that are used for Sunday services.

Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples. A member must be observing the basic principles of the faith and attest to that fact to his or her local leaders once every two years in order to enter a temple.

The Rome Italy Temple will be the centerpiece of a complex of religious and cultural buildings significant to the Church.  The Complex will include the following:

• Temple.  A worship facility for the performance of sacred ordinances and religious instruction to strengthen Church members’ relationships to God, family, and those around them.
• Stake Center (Meetinghouse).  A chapel where members and visitors meet for Sunday worship services and midweek social activities.
• Visitors’ Center.  A building for visitors to learn about the Church through a collection of exhibitions including reproductions of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue and the twelve apostles. The originals were sculpted in Rome and transported to Copenhagen in 1838 to stand in Vor Frue Kirke, the National Cathedral of Denmark.
• Family History Center.  A family history library providing the public the use of facilities and equipment to conduct genealogical research free of charge.
• Accommodation Center.  A lodging facility for temple workers and patrons who must travel long distances to Rome.
• Gardens.  Meticulous landscaping surrounding the entire complex, creating a peaceful, contemplative environment where visitors may feel the joy and beauty of God’s creations.

Mayor Gianni Alemanno of Rome, Italy, was given an exclusive tour of the temple grounds and the current construction. Mayor Alemanno was able to have a tour of the grounds, see a model of the temple and hear detailed plans about the entire complex.  The Mayor is an environmental engineer and was impressed with the church’s construction including quality of materials, high construction standards and the systems employed to manage water consumption, electrical production and the low environmental impact of the temple complex.

Find out more about why Mormons build temples

Additional Resources:

The Lord Jesus Christ in Mormonism

The Christus Statue will be Re-created for the Rome Mormon Temple

President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, announced on 25 January 2010 that a new Temple was to be constructed in Payson, Utah. The 96,630 square foot edifice which will rest on 10.63 acres, will be located at the corner of 930 West and 1550 South in Payson, Utah.  The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 October 2011, and Church leader, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, presided over the ceremonial occasion and dedicated the site. In the course of his remarks, he noted, “Standing adjacent to I-15, the major north-south artery in Utah, the Payson Utah Temple will be a dominant and visible influence on the millions who pass by here by day and by night.” (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Groundbreaking Held for Payson Utah Temple,” 8 Oct. 2011.)

The Payson Utah Temple will be the fifteenth temple built in Utah and the third temple built in Utah County. According to the LDS Church Temples.com site, “As of late February 2013, precast concrete panels are arriving at the site of the Payson Utah Temple for attachment to the exterior of the building.  Work is well underway on the interior of the building including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, framing, and drywall.” Below are a few pictures of the ongoing construction work. The pictures were obtained from Payson Temple Construction – April by Mark Johnston.

Additional Resource:

LDS Church Temples

Payson Utah Temple

by Brenton Jackson

BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their message.)
Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

The Brother of Jared is Tight Like Unto a Dish

The brother of Jared was a pretty awesome guy. Basically I never thought about him until this week, or at least never understood why I should read about him, but the Book of Ether is the “stuff”, and my eyes have been opened a bit.

In Ether 2, the brother of Jared follows the Lord’s instructions and makes the barges tight like unto a dish:

Ether 2:16 :

“And they built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish.”

It was tight like unto a dish. What in my life should be this tight? What is my vessel for crossing the ocean? What kind of ship can guide me across the great and troubled ocean? Fill in the blank (marriage, testimony, faith, family) and let it be tight like unto a dish.

But my favorite part is when the brother of Jared faces his biggest issues from verse 19 on: “And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.”

Three problems: no light, no steering, no breath. The Lord gives explicit instructions for the air—make holes that you can unplug when you need fresh air. And He takes care of the steering. But the light? He asks the brother of Jared to come up with a solution. So he goes up to the mountain, mines the finest ore, and crafts 16 small, polished stones that are clear as glass. The Lord touches them and they are lit.

But how does this help me? If I am the ship, how many of my prayers are about these?

Steering— where do I go, Lord? What is my point Z, or even just the next step?
Breath— help me to get through this because I really don’t see any possible solution. I can’t do
it. But I know I must. Is there a way?
Light— What is the truth? Is this whole thing just shenanigans and I’m wasting my time trying to progress? How do I see where I am and where I’m going?

The Lord won’t lay the path out, A,B,C all the way to Z, the first time we ask for guidance–or really anytime. Because the process of crossing this ocean in the barge is the thing we handle right now, the catalyst of our improvement today. And we need that change today to be ready for the change tomorrow. The Lord will transform me, but my mortal frame can’t comprehend the elements that go into it all. And so I keep asking….

Will I survive?

Where do I go?

How do I get there?

How do I know?