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In Mormonism, a temple is a building designed as a house of God and often reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services. Temples have been a significant part of Mormonism since its inception, and many Latter Day Saint sects have built temples, the most prolific being The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Latter Day Saint temples as houses of God
Temples are considered to be a holy abode for Jesus where members can go to commune with God. A 1836 revelation by Joseph Smith, Jr. explained that the recently-dedicated Kirtland Temple was built "that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people." (LDS D&C 109:5).
Latter Day Saint temples as the center of Zion
In early Latter Day Saint history, wherever the Saints established themselves, they attempted to build a temple there, as the center of a new Zion. On July 20, 1831, a revelation by Joseph Smith, Jr. designated Missouri as the "land which I have appointed and consecreted for the gathering of the saints." (LDS D&C 57:1). The revelation further stated, "Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the center place; and the spot for the temple is lying westward...." (LDS D&C 57:3). Smith later envisioned the Missouri temple as being the starting point for the creation of a New Jerusalem: "Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation." (LDS D&C 57:3). The Mormons were forced to leave the state of Missouri, however, before this temple could be constructed.
In 1836, the Kirtland Temple was built in Kirtland, Ohio, which at the time was the headquarters for the church.
In 1842, after the church headquarters had relocated to Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith, Jr. once again initiated the construction of a temple as the center of the church in Nauvoo. The Nauvoo Temple was eventually completed after Smith's assassination.
Latter Day Saint temples as places for special forms of worship
Temples have a different purpose from ordinary meetinghouses. In early Latter Day Saint history, temples were used for sacred ceremonies not performed in meetinghouses. In the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, the Saints performed feet washing, and the Mormon sealing ordinance. Later, in the temple at Nauvoo, Illinois, the Saints performed the Endowment ceremony and the Second Anointing.
Temples of various Latter Day Saint denominations
The most prolific builder of temples within the Latter Day Saint movement is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has built over a hundred temples across the world. These temples are not open to the public, but are used for special rituals and ceremonies by worthy Latter-day Saints. For information about Latter-day Saint temples, see Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Community of Christ, the second largest Latter Day Saint denomination, maintains two temples. Unlike those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, these temples are open to the public, and do not involve sacred rituals, except at certain times for Communion and a daily prayer for peace. The oldest temple maintained by the church is in Kirtland, Ohio. This temple was the first temple built by Latter Day Saints. In its 1994 World Conference, the Community of Christ dedicated a temple in Independence, Missouri.
During the life of Joseph Smith, Jr., he dedicated a location in Independence, Missouri for the building of a special temple, which was to be the center of a New Jerusalem. The lot for this temple is owned and maintained by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot). Although the church planned to build a temple on the site in the early 20th century, and even excavated a foundation, efforts were abandoned during the economic woes of the Great Depression and due to a schism which resulted in the establishment of the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message. Today, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) has no plans to construct a temple of its own. Instead, the church believes it is the steward of the location until the various sects of the Latter Day Saint movement re-unite into a single organization before the Second Coming of Jesus.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) began to construct a temple at their headquarters in Voree, Wisconsin in the mid-1840s. Another temple may have been planned for Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, prior to their expulsion. The church has made no attempt to build temples since the death of their prophet, James J. Strang.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) made news in 2004 by embarking on the construction of a temple at their new settlement near Eldorado, Texas. The foundation of the FLDS temple roughly matches that of the original Nauvoo Temple. This is the first time any of the fundamentalists sects have attempted to build a temple of their own.
The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days reportedly believe that when the end time arrives, they will enter the Manti Temple (owned by the LDS church) and assume control of it. At that time all of the wicked outside of the temple will be destroyed and only the righteous, inside the temple will survive.
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