Temples belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which church of often misnamed the Mormon Church) seem mysterious to a good part of the world. Because admittance is limited to faithful Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”), many people of other faiths feel a suspicion of what must go on inside Mormon temples. However, the truth is that entrance is limited because these buildings are set apart and dedicated to the Lord. In Mormon doctrine, there is no more sacred place on the earth than a temple. It is literally the house of the Lord. Mormon scripture states that “no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into thy house [the temple] to pollute it” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:20). Thus, only those who are living the laws that God has set as the standard for entering His house are permitted to do so.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am very grateful for Mormon temples. From the time I first went through to make personal and eternal covenants with God, I have returned frequently to feel again of the Spirit of the Lord. Whenever I go to the temple, I learn something more about my true relationship to God and to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Many times I have felt the Spirit touching my heart, soul, or mind, enlightening a principle here or testifying of another principle there. I learn line upon line, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10) the deeper doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gone through a Mormon temple for the first time, he or she has made covenants with God to live a higher law or standards. These covenants are made only one time. However, Mormon doctrine teaches that the ordinances available in Mormon temples are essential for every individual’s exaltation. Because Latter-day Saints also believe that these ordinances are available only in this life, it is also part of Mormon doctrine that these ordinances must be performed vicariously for those who did not have the chance to receive these ordinances in life.

Any names submitted to a Mormon temple must be submitted by direct descendants of the people whose names are submitted. Other people can then help in completing the proxy ordinance work, but only family names should be submitted. This has caused a lot of controversy in the media, because it is easy for people who do not fully understand the principles behind this work to see this as taking away a deceased person’s free will, performing these ordinances whether that person wants to accept them or not. The doctrine in this area is clear: free will is an eternal principle. No one can be baptized against his or her will. When these ordinances are performed by proxy, it is with the understanding that those people still have the freedom to accept or reject those ordinances. However, before those ordinances were performed by proxy, there was no choice at all available to the deceased.

Serving in a Mormon temple is one of the most selfless acts of service a person can perform in this life. Strictly speaking, this service does not benefit the giver of service in anyway. They are simply giving of their time to perform these ordinances so that others may have the choice of accepting or rejecting this work. Now, anyone who has had the privilege to perform these ordinances, as I have been blessed to do, realizes that there certainly are blessings for this service. That time I mentioned earlier, spent close to the Spirit offers cleansing, teaching, and comfort. This does not, in my opinion, make the service any less selfless, but I want to make it clear that any time spent in a Mormon temple will inevitably result in a person feeling closer to the Savior, whether that person is there for him- or herself or to do proxy work for someone else.

As a Latter-day Saint (“Mormon”), I feel so blessed to be able to attend Mormon temples. My time there continues to testify to me that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the literal Son of God, who atoned for the sins of the world. He gave His life to overcome the power of the grave, that each of us could be resurrected. I know that He rose from the grave and that He lives, on the right hand of God, today. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to bring this knowledge to those who have not yet been blessed to receive it.

Additional Resources:

Mormon temples

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Mormon beliefs 

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as the “Mormon Church” by the media, are well-known for their interest in genealogy. Mormons actively research information about their ancestors, and keep records themselves to pass on to their children. In Mormon temples, members of the Church perform ordinances, such as baptism for the dead, for their ancestors, making it possible for those who have passed on to accept and follow the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mormon Genealogical Research

Ever since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in 1830, members have actively sought information about their ancestors. One of the main missions of the Church is to work toward the fulfillment of the following scripture, which was repeated several times by an angel to the young Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, in 1823:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:5-6).

Mormons turn their hearts to their fathers by learning as much as they can about them. They collect information such as important dates, locations, names of family members, and stories from their ancestors’ lives, compiling histories and family trees to pass on to their children. Because of the Church’s long-term commitment to genealogical research, its resources are truly impressive. There are Church-sponsored databases available online at sites such as familysearch.org, where one can enter the name of an ancestor and see a compilation of results about that person from censuses, parish records, government records, and numerous other sources. An impressive library in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States, contains millions of books and microfilm records. Genealogical specialists are available at Church libraries, online, and at local Mormon family history centers throughout the world. Everyone, whether a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, is welcome to use the Church’s resources to seek out information about their ancestors.

Mormon Temple Work for the Dead

One reason that Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are so interested in genealogy is that they believe, like other Christians, that every human being must receive certain ordinances in order to be saved. An ordinance must be performed in the proper way, through proper priesthood authority, in order to be valid. Baptism is an example of an essential priesthood ordinance. Jesus made it abundantly clear that His followers were to be baptized for a remission of their sins. The early Apostles called upon all converts to Christianity to be baptized:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).

In Mormon temples, Latter-day Saints are baptized for their ancestors who have passed away. Their ancestors then have the opportunity to accept or reject the baptism performed by proxy for them. Baptism for the dead was a common practice in the early Christian church, and is referred to in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 15:29. Other sacred ordinances are also performed for the dead in Mormon temples, such as sealing families together for eternity. Thus, Mormons believe that the ancestors they have come to know through genealogical research will be part of their lives forever.

Recent Controversies

Some news articles have focussed on the Mormon practices of genealogical and temple work for those who have died. It was brought to light that some members of the Church had violated church policy by submitting names and performing temple work for deceased individuals they were not related to, such as celebrities and Holocaust victims. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently reiterated its long-standing policy that Mormons must only perform temple work for relatives. The text of a letter from the First Presidency to Church members was published in an article published in the LDS Church News on March 1, 2012:

We would like to reiterate the policies first stated in 1995 concerning the submission of names for proxy temple ordinances:

Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors. Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter.

Without exception, Church members must not submit for proxy temple ordinances any names from unauthorized groups, such as celebrities and Jewish Holocaust victims. If members do so, they may forfeit their New FamilySearch privileges. Other corrective action may also be taken.

It should be noted that Mormons believe that each individual, whether living or dead, has the final say in any ordinances performed by them or in their behalf. Temple ordinances performed for a deceased relative are only valid if that relative desires them and chooses to accept them.

The Value of Family History to Future Generations

It is important to know where we come from. We can be strengthened by the faith and courage of our ancestors, be inspired by their examples, and learn from their mistakes. Through genealogical research we come to realize that no matter who we are, we are never alone. Our actions affect not just ourselves, but generations before us and generations to come. Mormons feel a close bond with their ancestors, a bond forged through years of learning their ancestors’ names and stories. Everyone can use the genealogical resources provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by logging on to a website or visiting a local Mormon meetinghouse. You are invited to begin your search. It will provide many blessings to you and to your family.

Additional Resources:

Discover Your Family History: LDS Genealogical Resources

Mormon Temple Rituals

One More River To Cross: Mormon Beliefs about Death and Eternal Families

Mormon weddings, when performed civilly, like in churches or other venues, are no different than other denominations’ wedding ceremonies in western cultures. The only difference arises when Mormons are married in Latter-day Saint (LDS) temples.

Mormon doctrine teaches that families are eternal units and have the potential to remain together forever, when they are sealed together by the proper power and authority. Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) are the only place in the world where these sealings can be performed. In order to be married, or sealed, in a Mormon temple, a person must have been a faithful member of the Mormon Church for at least one year. Then, after an interview with one’s bishop and stake president (which interview is necessary for anyone entering the temple), if a person is found to be living a worthy life, he or she is given a temple recommend which lasts two years.

If a person wants to get married in the temple, this often requires sacrifice. Mormon doctrine teaches chastity before marriage and complete fidelity inside of marriage. This means abstinence from sexual relations before marriage. While the world is saying that sexual activity is normal and acceptable, the Mormon Church maintains that all sexual acts should only be exercised within the bonds of marriage. Thus, if a couple chooses to participate in this behavior before they are married, it will make it much more difficult to be married in the temple, though certainly not impossible. The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for each of us to repent of our sins and mistakes. If this process is gone through correctly, then individuals may become worthy to go to the temple.

Another sacrifice for those who choose to get sealed in the temple is that only those family members and friends who are also worthy members of the Church may enter the temple to attend the marriage ceremony. This may be particularly difficult for any people who have family members who are not members of the Church or who are not worthy to go inside the temple. This may also exclude many friends from being able to attend the ceremony.  Most family members who cannot enter the temple wait outside and gather for photographs when the wedding party exits the temple.  Since a ring exchange is an optional part of the temple ceremony, some couples schedule a ring exchange at their reception, thus making family members not able to attend the temple feel more a part of the union.

Temple sealings are very simple ordinances. There is no fanfare, no organ playing, no bride walking down the aisle and being given away by her father. The priesthood holder performing the ordinance does just that; he performs the ordinance. He may choose to say a few words to the couple, but the ordinance itself takes only a few minutes. The couple kneel at an altar and look into reflecting mirrors, which cast infinite reflections. This symbolizes the eternal nature of the covenant they make to God and to one another to commit to their spouse forever. It is a unique and wonderful experience.

Reading this, one may wonder what the big deal is and why anyone would choose to get married in a Mormon temple if it would exclude any loved ones from attending such an important event. The answer is simple. Those who have a true understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ recognize that there is no greater blessing than an eternal family. If that blessing can be obtained in no other way and in no other place, it is worth any sacrifice to be the recipient of that blessing. All civil marriages are performed for the balance of this life only. Mormon temple sealings are the only marriages which have the bond placed upon them, by power and authority of the priesthood, for time and all eternity.

When a couple is sealed in the temple, all children born to them afterwards are automatically part of that covenant and are sealed to them eternally also. If a couple decides to get sealed after having been married civilly, any children they had previous to the ordinance must be sealed to them in an additional ceremony in the temple. The blessings which come to those who choose to get sealed in Mormon temples are numerous and powerful. Any family who is sealed has a bond of protection among them, if they are faithful to the covenants they have made. It is easy to see, when one understands the sealing power, why Mormons choose to be sealed in the temple.  Read more…