Difference between revisions of "Criticisms related to Latter-day Saint Temples"

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|L1=Question: Why does the Church spend so much money on temples?
 
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|L2=Question: Did Joseph Smith make up the temple ordinances or borrow them from an earthly source?
 
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|L3=Question: Was the temple obsolete after Christ?
 
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|L4=Question: What is the role of the Mormon temple to be built in Independence, Missouri?
 
 
|L5=Question: What are the worthiness requirements to enter a Mormon temple?
 
|L5=Question: What are the worthiness requirements to enter a Mormon temple?
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|L6=Question: Does Acts 17:24-25 teach that the idea of temple worship is foreign to Christianity?
 
 
|L7=Question: Do temples always face east?
 
|L7=Question: Do temples always face east?
 
|L8=Question: Should there be only one temple?
 
|L8=Question: Should there be only one temple?
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==Question: Why does the Church spend so much money on temples?==
 
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Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse explained the Church's purpose and its focus on how it uses its financial resources:
 
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We are not a financial institution or a commercial corporation. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, and this Church has no other objective than that which the Lord Himself assigned to it—namely, to invite all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him,” by “helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.”<ref>Gerald Causse, [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2018/07/the-spiritual-foundations-of-church-financial-self-reliance "The Spiritual Foundations of Church Financial Self-Reliance,"] 'Ensign'', July 2018.</ref>
 
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In addition, President Russell M. Nelson taught,
 
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The good this Church accomplishes around the world to alleviate human suffering and provide uplift for humankind is widely known. But its prime purpose is to help men, women, and children follow the Lord Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and qualify for the greatest of all blessings—that of eternal life with God and their loved ones.<ref>Russell M. Nelson, [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/37nelson?lang=eng “Opening the Heavens for Help,”] April 2020 general conference.</ref>
 
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Latter-day Saints believe that these blessings are possible through certain ordinances (rituals) and covenants (promises). These ordinances and covenants are only available in specially designated places, called temples, as explained by the Prophet Joseph Smith:
 
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The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.<ref>[https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-36?lang=eng "Chapter 36: Receiving the Ordinances and Blessings of the Temple,"] in ''Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith'' (2011).</ref>
 
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===Three Possible Reasons===
 
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It is important to remember these doctrines when considering why the Church spends so much money on temples. There are three possible reasons.
 
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'''First: The Lord commanded it.''' In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord commanded:
 
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Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth; and with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein. . . . And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/124?lang=eng&id=26-27,41#p26 Doctrine and Covenants 124:26–27, 41].</ref>
 
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'''Second: To honor God.''' In the revelation cited above, the Lord called for a house to be built "for the Most High to dwell therein." A member of the Seventy explained: "By requiring exacting standards of construction down to the smallest of details, we not only show our love and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ, but we also hold out to all observers that we honor and worship Him whose house it is."<ref>Scott D. Whiting, [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2012/10/temple-standard?lang=eng “Temple Standard,”] October 2012 general conference.</ref>
 
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'''Third: To show how much God honors us.''' In the revelation cited above, the Lord explained that in His house He would "reveal mine ordinances." These ordinances (and their associated covenants) are gifts from God to His children that provide them with greater knowledge, power, direction, and peace.<ref>See ''General Handbook'', [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/27-temple-ordinances-for-the-living?lang=eng#title_number11 "27.2 The Endowment."]</ref> Consider how you would feel if God wanted to give you these blessings in a dingy, dirty, broken-down building. You would likely feel that God doesn't respect you and that His blessings aren't really worth very much. By building temples with the "precious things of the earth," we show how much God values us and the incredible blessings He is providing to us.
 
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{{:Question: Did Joseph Smith make up the temple ordinances or borrow them from an earthly source?}}
 
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{{:Question: Was the temple obsolete after Christ?}}
 
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{{:Question: What is the role of the Mormon temple to be built in Independence, Missouri?}}
 
 
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{{:Question: Does Acts 17:24-25 teach that the idea of temple worship is foreign to Christianity?}}
 
 
{{:Question: Do Mormon temples always face east?}}
 
{{:Question: Do Mormon temples always face east?}}
 
{{:Question: Should there be only one temple?}}
 
{{:Question: Should there be only one temple?}}

Revision as of 13:28, 2 October 2023

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Articles about Latter-day Saint temples
Baptism for the dead
The temple endowment
Temple sealings
Other topics


Criticisms related to Latter-day Saint Temples



Question: What are the worthiness requirements to enter a Mormon temple?

The possession of a "temple recommend" is an indication that the church member has passed a series of interviews in which worthiness to enter the temple is determined

The possession of a "temple recommend" is an indication that the church member has passed a series of interviews in which worthiness to enter the temple is determined. Having a "temple recommend" does not make a member worthy. It is possible to have a "temple recommend" and yet not be worthy to participate in the ordinances of the temple. The recommend is an identification card which is carried by the member, and which expires after two years, and which is then renewed by the member as the member desires. Cards are used because of the number of members in the Church worldwide, and the number of temples. The process to get a recommend involves two interviews (not one)-one with your local leader (a bishop or branch president) and the second with your regional leader (a Stake President or Mission President or their counselors).

Temple recommend questions

Both of these interviews consist of a series of questions, and depending on how the questions are answered, a recommend indicating temple worthiness is issued. The questions are as follows (the questions themselves, as provided here are in both instances taken from a 'recommend book' which contains blank recommends, and also instructions for giving the interview):[1]

  1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
  2. Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
  3. Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
  4. Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
  5. Do you live the law of chastity?
  6. Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
  7. Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
  8. Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
  9. Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
  10. Are you a full-tithe payer?
  11. Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
  12. Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
  13. If you have previously received your temple endowment: 1) Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple? 2) Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
  14. Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
  15. Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

Temple interview questions are essentially similar to baptismal interview questions

Compare these questions with the following set of questions-used to determine a convert's readiness for baptism.[2] (If the candidate for baptism does not respond affirmatively to these questions, baptism may be postponed until the individual is better prepared to accept and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.):

  1. Have you prayed about the gospel? Have your prayers been answered?
  2. Do you accept Jesus Christ as the literal Son of God?
  3. What are your reasons for knowing (or believing) that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?
  4. Will you sustain the President of the Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator and as the Lord's representative on earth?
  5. Are you now living each of the Ten Commandments?
  6. What is your understanding of the law of tithing? Will you live this law?
  7. What is your understanding of the Word of Wisdom? Will you live this law by abstaining from tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco [or other harmful drugs]?
  8. What is your understanding of the law of chastity? Will you obey this law?
  9. Have you repented of all past transgressions?

The bar for entrance into the temple is simply that one continues to keep the commitments that they made in baptism

Effectively, the questions amount to the same standard. The bar for entrance into the temple is simply that one continues to keep the commitments that they made in baptism, and that were clearly explained to them. As the authors point out, one of the qualifications necessary to enter the temple is "an agreement to obey the Word of Wisdom." When was this agreement made? When that individual was baptized into the LDS Church. What I want to demonstrate by this is that temple worship requires nothing more than that a person is actively living the gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfilling the covenants he made to God at baptism.

It is also relevant to note that for the most part, these requirements are based on the member's understanding of the gospel, and not a pre-determined list of rules regarding compliance to these questions. Taking tithing as an example, a good summary of the Church's position on this teaching is found in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism:

By revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord stated that members should pay "one-tenth of all their interest [increase] annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever." (D&C 119꞉4) Present Church policy specifically states that no one in the Church has any authority to interpret this revelation for another person (See Financial Clerk's Handbook). This prohibition applies to everyone, including Stake Presidents and Bishops. If a local Church leader instructs you how to calculate your tithing, then he is in violation of this policy. It is up to the agency of each individual person to determine what constitutes a fair interpretation of the revelation.[3]

In other words, even in complying with these requirements, the compliance largely hinges on a members understanding of the gospel principle. It is for this reason that some of the questions overlap, so that there is no question as to the requirements in specific instances-staying up to date on child support being one of those areas where it was decided that being more specific was necessary. Further, it is implied in this process that the person who goes unworthily into the temple is doing so both willfully and with a personal recognizance of their lack of worthiness. While God does not 'strike them down', they certainly do so to their own condemnation.


FAIR Answers—back to home page

Articles about Latter-day Saint temples
Baptism for the dead
The temple endowment
Temple sealings
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Question: Do Mormon temples always face east?

Temples face whatever direction is most practical and artistically pleasing for the site they are on

Temples face whatever direction is most practical and artistically pleasing for the site they are on.

The front of the temple is the elevation where the phrase "House of the Lord" is found. So, for example, the "front" of the Provo temple is on the east-northeast elevation as the temple itself is 20 degrees off of a true east/west axis. The front of the Oakland Temple is the north elevation, and the front of the Los Angeles Temple is the southeast elevation. The Stockholm Temple faces due south, which, at such a northern latitude, would be the direction of the most light; its front is, therefore, the south elevation.

Nauvoo is an interesting case as it has the phrase on both the east and west elevations of the building. We know that the original Nauvoo temple had the phrase on the west elevation but no photographic record or architectural drawings exist of the east elevation, so the design of the east elevation of the modern Nauvoo Temple is guesswork. Thus, in the case of Nauvoo, you can take your pick on the west or the east elevation as the "front". Most people, however, would say that the west elevation is the front of the building as there are no doors on the east elevation.

In summary, to find the "front" of an LDS temple you find the phrase "House of the Lord" on the building itself, not on a sign. The elevation that the phrase is on is the front of the building. It is not always the east elevation. The angel Moroni statue has nothing to do with what is the front of the building. Temples are placed on the site in the manner that is most practical and artistically pleasing for that particular site. They can face in any direction.

Question: Should there be only one temple?

Through Joseph Smith, the Lord directed the construction of many buildings besides temples

One critic of the Church claims that "Joseph Smith only built one building. He completed the Kirtland temple. He got the Nauvoo temple started, but Joseph Smith only built one building."[4]:30, and that there should not be more than a single temple: I will briefly mention there will need for a temple to be built at some point. Not yet and not more than one. But there will be a need for one.[4]:4

This claim, which is made by Denver Snuffer, is false. The Doctrine and Covenants commands that consecrated Church funds be used for a variety of purposes:

Therefore, the residue [of the funds] shall be kept in my storehouse, to administer to the poor and the needy, as shall be appointed by the high council of the church, and the bishop and his council;

And for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit of the church, and building houses of worship, and building up of the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed...(D&C 42꞉34-35, italics added)

Through Joseph, the Lord directed the construction of many buildings besides temples:

  • A house in Kirtland for himself[5]
  • A house in Kirtland for Sidney Rigdon[6]
  • "a house...for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things whatsoever I shall command you."[7]
  • The Nauvoo House (D&C 128꞉55–75).

Snuffer's history is simply wrong, and he makes false claims based upon his false history.



Notes

  1. ↑ [citation needed]
  2. ↑ [citation needed]
  3. ↑ Howard D. Swainston, "Tithing," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 4:1481.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014). https://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895/10-Phoenix-Transcript-Preserving-the-Restoration
  5. ↑ "it is meet that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., should have a house built, in which to live and translate.(D&C 41꞉7).
  6. ↑ "it is meet that my servant Sidney Rigdon should live as seemeth him good, inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments" (D&C 41꞉8).
  7. ↑ the second lot on the south shall be dedicated unto me for the building of a house unto me, for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things whatsoever I shall command you. And it shall be fifty–five by sixty–five feet in the width thereof and the length thereof, in the inner court; and there shall be a lower and a higher court. And this house shall be wholly dedicated unto the Lord from the foundation thereof, for the work of the printing, in all things whatsoever I shall command you, to be holy, undefiled, according to the pattern in all things as it shall be given unto you (D&C 94꞉10-12).
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