Temple worship…

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body  and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Yesterday I toured (along with my youth group mission team) the new LDS (Mormon) temple at Oquirrh Mountain in the West Jordan area of Salt Lake City.  It is immense, grand, and clean.  There is much to be impressed about when you tour it, and there were hundreds of ushers, security, and other very nice LDS people there to help guide us through what is obviously a source of pride for them.  Before entering, we watched a carefully crafted video which gave testimony of what this temple (and the 130 others around the world) meant to them.  Over and over we heard that this temple made them feel closer to God, and that made me feel sad.

Sad that because the dedication will occur in August, and then no one, unless recommended by the Mormon hierarchy, can enter.  There is a desk at the entrance, and signs that say you are welcome as long as you have been approved.

Sad that the Mormon experience does not include a knowledge of the Holy Spirit.  It is based on good works, on trying to be seen as good enough to enter the temple, in order to be married for eternity, and to be sealed together as a family.  These are huge goals for any LDS person, and yet it is denied to many of the LDS people.

Sad because it is all unnecessary.  When Christ died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn, allowing all people to have access to the Father.  The New Testament says that we can come boldly to the Father because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We do not need an address to feel closer to God.  We are in relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit indwelling us as temples of God.

It cost untold millions of dollars to build the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  And it is unnecessary.

And when before the throne, I stand in Him complete.

Jesus died my soul to save, My lips shall still repeat.

Jesus paid it all.  All to Him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain.  He washed it white as snow.

For pictures of our temple tours, see my facebook page.