Why Mormons Build Temples

by Horatius on March 15, 2009

An upcoming episode of HBO’s Big Love has focused attention on the Mormon practice of building temples and performing sacred religious ceremonies in them. Temple worship has a long history, predating Christ by hundreds of years. Jesus Christ himself began his mortal ministry by preaching in the temple. The 3-minute video below offers serious perspectives — Mormon and non — on why modern-day with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints spend so much time, treasure and energy on temples.

{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }

R March 22, 2009 at 1:26 pm

Nothing should prevent a family member’ from attending a loved one ’s wedding.

Not true, not true at all. On one occasion I missed the wedding of one of my cousins – I was recovering from surgery, which was a convenient cover for the fact that I simply didn’t want to go. I wasn’t too comfortable with the man she was marrying.

Hazzbinns March 22, 2009 at 2:24 pm

RU Late to this discussion? the hypothetical discussed above was that if a non-LDS parent expressed a desire to attend bridal vows within the Mormon Temple that they could not? We’re not discussing an exception to this hypothetical which Random Accountant first stated was a matter of religious principle, then was defended as a personal relationship with God was more important and finally obeying God’s commandments was more important than a family/relatives desire to attend a wedding. Therefore, the scriptural quotes of Little Benny and myself are of the Ten commandment then Jesus’ Greatest and New Commandment(s)? Your Matthew 10:34-36 references the division between polytheists/nonchristians whom will hear the Gospel and not believe? Mark 10:7 yes the ‘Two Become One’, so excluding a parent/grandparent is therefore valid? Luke 9:59-62 is referring to being a disciple/apostle of Jesus and following Him requires 100% commitment in order to minister His flock? Again, my reference were to the specific commandment(s) dismissed in order to justify the exclusionary rule of the Temple and is unfounded to put over/above any Commandment. No one can believe/justify breaking a Commandment in order to uphold a Temple requirement? Random Accountant refers to following God’s Commandments is the rationale to impose the Temple exclusion, I see no such command but rather Commandments that would oppose it?

Kurt Schulzke March 22, 2009 at 6:51 pm

Hazz –

Shariah law imposes the death penalty on a muslim who converts to any religion other than Islam. Nearly all muslim parents would command their children not to convert to Christianity or to marry a Christian. What do you think? Does a muslim daughter dishonor her parents (under the Ten Commandments) by converting to Christianity or by marrying a Christian man?

K

R March 23, 2009 at 7:51 am

Late to comment, not late to read. I’ve been reading all along.

You still haven’t learned how to use question marks, it seems.

Hazzbinns March 23, 2009 at 8:02 am

Kurt do you really wish to use the radical extreme of fundamentalist or radical Taliban style Sharia Law as a comparison to this topic? Firstly, there are five Sharia Law schools all with varied interpretations of Sharia Law throughout the World, as Hanafi School( Syria, Lebannon), Maliki Doctrine(North Africa), Shaf`i Doctine (Indonesia, Malaysia), Hanbali Doctrine (Saudi Arabia) and Shite Jaafri School(Iran). Kurt reaching for such an extreme example, only further points up the doctrinal and outside main stream practices found in only a few major practiced religions, by siting the incendiary ‘Honor Killing’ within Islam. Modern Islam is progressing away from such extreme practices toward far looser interpretations in Sharia Law. Islamic mullahs in Great Britain have just recently announced equal status and recognizing women’s equal rights in marriage to more conform with English civil laws.

The examples I given are quotes from the Ten Commandments and Newer Commandments given in the New Testament concerning interactions amongst Christians and family members and not how to reactionaries treat ‘apostates’? Likening the exclusionary rule in the LDS Temple to ‘Honor Killing’ within radical Islam is a ruse comparison. As you question enjoins the female gender, I am sure that you are aware that an Islamic male may marry outside his chosen Faith and suffer no such Sharia Law death penalty?

Hazzbinns March 23, 2009 at 8:12 am

R go ahead and “grade” my comments but let’s not say missing a wedding, by your choice, by feigning an illness equates to the exclusionary LDS Temple bridal vow ceremony rules being foisted upon non-LDS family members.

R March 23, 2009 at 8:26 am

let’s not say

No, let’s go ahead and say it.

1) Mormons have a choice of where to get married – they don’t have to marry in the temple. They can marry in their normal congregation, as I understand it. It’s just that being married in the temple is considered a special privilege. (Kurt can correct me if I’m wrong.)
2) No private building has to allow everyone inside. There is no legal or moral obligation to do so.
3) No couple has any legal or moral obligation to invite anyone to their wedding. In fact, you’ll find plenty of couples who prefer few or no guests at all. I know people who married quietly before a justice of the peace.

R March 23, 2009 at 8:29 am

And recently, I went to a wedding where the couple specified that they didn’t want any children at the ceremony. Some of their relatives, whose children are in the first grade, decided against attending.

By saying “but let’s not say missing a wedding, by your choice, by feigning an illness equates to the exclusionary LDS Temple bridal vow ceremony rules being foisted upon non-LDS family members.” you seem to be backing away from and dodging the fact that earlier you said, Nothing should prevent a family member’ from attending a loved one ’s wedding. which is an entirely ridiculous sentiment.

Kurt Schulzke March 23, 2009 at 8:36 am

Hazz –

Nice try. I asked my question first. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to answer it. It goes right to the heart of your ultimately silly assertion that children who marry in the temple (thereby leaving their non-Mormon parents out of the ceremony) are somehow dishonoring their parents.

Hazzbinns March 23, 2009 at 8:48 am

Kurt and R have it your way and a nice day, as well.

Kurt I wouldn’t consider the woman to have dishonored her parents at all and the man is allowed to marry outside of Islam with no dishonor. So your poorly chosen Islamic example states what illustrative point. The hypothetical states that a parent excluded from the Temple voices an objection which triggers the discussion. Imposing a no choice situation and suggesting a latter reenactment ‘ring ceremony’ doesn’t reach to the “Honor” threshold in my book, I guess it may in yours, besides my posting was with two other posters that appear to have disappeared from the dialogue?

R March 23, 2009 at 8:52 am

What is this “no choice” situation that you’re talking about?

Mormons have a choice between marrying in their local congregation and marrying in the temple.

Mormons also have a choice, when it comes down to it, between remaining members of the LDS and leaving.

There is no “no choice situation.” You’re lying, or at least trying to lie, probably to yourself as well as us. You’ve heard what has been said, but you’re apparently disregarding it.

Hazzbinns March 23, 2009 at 9:09 am

R you need to either not enjoin an ongoing set of posts or go back and re-read the topic being discussed. The “no choice” is the exclusionary rule at the LDS Temple that only LDS members in good standing may attend the bridal ceremony, this includes non-LDS bridal party(s) parents or grandparents whom are given “no choice” in the matter short of converting to Mormonism. R calling me a liar just points up how far out and back that you are into ‘Left Field”. I don’t appreciate your false judgment of my truthfulness, either. I am not disregarding what you say, rather I am forced to just not hold what you say with much of my regards.

So, the non-LDS are given ‘no choice’ in this Temple wedding ceremony matter and your view that I am stating a lie is just wrong.

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