Temple Latter Day SaintsEdit

The temple program of the Latter-day Saints exists as the most sacred pillar of their faith, shaping both belief and practice. Temples are viewed as houses of the Lord where eternal covenants are made and families are bound together beyond this life. They differ from ordinary chapels or meetinghouses in that they are dedicated, limited-access environments; only members in good standing with a temple recommend can enter, and the rites performed there are considered essential to salvation in traditional Latter-day Saint teaching. As the church has grown from a small American revival into a global faith, temple construction has become a visible symbol of its permanence and its obligations to future generations. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Temples: history, purpose, and practice

Historical development

From the earliest days of the movement, temples have been central to Latter-day Saint worship, with the first dedicated house of worship being the Kirtland Temple. That era soon gave way to rapid expansion, including the construction of the Nauvoo Temple in the 1840s. After the church established its western headquarters, the building program shifted to the Salt Lake Valley, culminating in the iconic Salt Lake Temple begun in the 19th century and completed in the 1890s. Since then, the church has continued to build temples around the world, reflecting a shift from a frontier church to a worldwide organization with a sustained program of temple work. See the spread of sanctuaries in the modern era at Temple (Latter-day Saints) and related pages such as List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Core purposes and ordinances

Temples are reserved for ordinances that adherents believe bind families together for eternity and provide access to the full plan of salvation. Key rites include the temple endowment, sealing ceremonies (often described as eternal marriages and family sealings), and baptisms for the dead. These practices are designed to extend the reach of salvation beyond mortal life and to strengthen the household as the basic unit of divine design. The endowment ceremony covers instruction about humanity’s relationship with God and the purposes of mortal existence, while sealings connect generations and households in eternity. For further context, see Endowment (LDS temple) and Sealing (LDS temple ordinance).

Access, preparedness, and daily life

Access to temples is restricted by requirement and readiness: members must hold a current recommend and live by the church’s standards of worthiness, including moral conduct and adherence to church teachings. The temple garment, worn by adherents after the endowment, serves as a personal reminder of covenants made within the temple. The temple program also interacts with broader church life, including tithing, missionary service, and the educational system that supports families and communities—topics explored in articles on Tithing (LDS) and Brigham Young University.

Architecture and global presence

Temple architecture blends symbolism and regional adaptation, often featuring the angel Moroni as a distinctive exterior element and spaces such as the instruction rooms, baptismal fonts, and celestial rooms inside. The expansion of temples across continents mirrors the church’s emphasis on family and eternal relationships as universal concerns. See examples in Kirtland Temple, Nauvoo Temple, and Salt Lake Temple for historical and architectural context.

Controversies and debates

Race, priesthood, and policy change

A longstanding and controversial chapter concerns past restrictions on priesthood for black members. For most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the church maintained policies that limited certain priesthood and temple participation for black members, which has drawn significant criticism from outsiders and some members alike. In 1978, the church announced a formal change to extend the priesthood to all worthy male members, a move officially framed as a revelation and a redirection in alignment with broader biblical principles of equality before God. Critics have sought to anchor the church’s current stance in ongoing social debates about race and inclusion, while supporters emphasize the authority of revelation and the church’s ongoing efforts to serve diverse populations. Readers may explore the historical arc and the church’s responses in Official Declaration 2 and related historical summaries such as Race and the priesthood.

Polygamy and doctrinal shifts

The early church practiced polygamy in the 19th century, a policy that became a focal point of external criticism and internal strain. The church officially abandoned the practice in 1890 with the Manifesto, and today it disavows the practice among mainstream adherents. While some offshoot groups continued polygamous arrangements, the mainstream temple program and standard rituals do not accommodate such unions. The transition is often discussed in debates about religious liberty, state policy, and the limits of revelation over time, and is linked to broader studies of Polygamy in the Latter Day Saint movement.

Gender and priesthood

A key ongoing debate concerns the church’s practice of extending priesthood authority exclusively to men. Proponents argue that this reflects longstanding doctrinal interpretation and temple governance that emphasize patriarchal order within sacred ordinances. Critics argue from contemporary equality perspectives, calling for broader inclusion of women in church leadership and temple-related priesthood responsibilities. From a conservative framing, advocates emphasize tradition and doctrinal continuity, while acknowledging ongoing discussions within the faith about governance and service roles.

Secrecy, transparency, and public perception

Temples are traditionally described as sacred and separate from public life, which fuels accusations of secrecy or a lack of transparency. Defenders point to religious liberty and the protection of sacred rites from sensationalism, arguing that freely choosing to practice faith with sacred rites should be respected as long as it does not infringe on others’ rights. The church has also engaged in broader conversations about religious education, charitable works, and community engagement as a counterbalance to perceptions of exclusivity.

LGBTQ issues and cultural conflict

The church consistently holds to its doctrinal positions on marriage and family structures, which has led to tensions with broader social movements advocating LGBTQ rights. Conservatives view these tensions as a clash between deeply held religious beliefs and rapidly changing social norms, arguing that religious institutions should retain their doctrinal distinctives while leaders encourage compassion and service to all people. Critics contend that religious institutions should reinterpret or revise beliefs in light of modern understandings of equality. The church has sought to maintain a posture of pastoral outreach while preserving its codes of conduct.

The modern temple program and civic life

The temple enterprise is tied to the church’s broader mission and to its interaction with civic life in places where adherents live as both religious and civic members. The church’s emphasis on family stability, charitable service, and personal responsibility resonates with many communities that prize self-reliance, education, and public virtue. The church also operates a network of educational, humanitarian, and cultural initiatives—such as institutions of higher learning and large-scale welfare programs—that have contributed to charitable outcomes in various regions. See Brigham Young University and Welfare Square for related programs and facilities.