Virtual Temple Tour Part II: Entering Sacred Space

Many temples, although not all of them, have a wingless golden angel statue at the top steeples blowing a soundless trumpet. Some have mistaken it for the Angel Gabriel who visited the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament to interpret dreams. In the New Testament the Angel Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ as a heavenly messenger. The original designer did have that angel in mind, but it was quickly identified with another. Another heavenly messenger, the Angel Moroni, gave directions where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ founding prophet Joseph Smith could recover golden plates to translate by the power of God. From this translation came The Book of Mormon scripture where “Mormons” get their nickname.

The Angel Moroni also represents the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days, along with the gathering of Israel. He is often interpreted as the angel from Revelations 14:1-6 who was seen flying, “in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The angel is calling out to the House of Israel and as an ensign to the nations to come together. Temples are gathering places where the work of the Lord can bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. Former LDS President Thomas S. Monson said (GC, April 2011), “temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies.” Boyd K. Packer of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said (Ensign, Oct. 2007), “It is a privilege to enter the holy temple. If you are eligible by the standards that are set, by all means you should come to receive your own blessings; and thereafter you should return again and again and again to make those same blessings available to others who have died without the opportunity to receive them in mortality.” Those who enter the temple must do so with spiritual purity and a reverence for the holy sacred.

Angel Moroni statue

Dressed in Sunday best clothing, the first steps inside an LDS temple will lead to a desk to check for attendees having a recommend to allow them to enter. There might be a painting, or some other art work, hanging behind the desk on a wall. Sometimes off to the side is a waiting room for those who for whatever reason do not go beyond this point. Past the desk is a larger foyer where those who have gone through or are about to can sit and quietly wait for or talk with others. Paintings and photographs hang along hallway walls, both copies and originals. Themes include stories from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and LDS Church history; along with local scenery. Although some artwork depicts Jesus Christ, some visitors are surprised to not find any crosses. That is simply an iconography that the LDS Church has chosen not to use, although there are other symbols that point to the crucifixion that are less noticeable. In addition, each temple tries to use construction and furniture details that relate to the nearby culture and land.

Pocatello, ID Temple recommend desk

The final preparation for temple worship is taking off worldly clothing and dress in all white. Similarly Moses was commanded before approaching the presence of the Lord, “put off thy shoes from off they feet, for the place whereon thou standest in holy ground” (Ex. 3:5). The significance of dressing in white is explained by LDS President Russell M. Nelson (GC, Oct. 2010) when he said:

In the temple, all are dressed in spotless white. “The symbolic purity of white likewise reminds us that God is to have a pure people.” Age, nationality, language—even position in the Church—are of secondary significance. I have attended many endowment sessions when the President of the Church participated. Every man in the room was accorded the same high regard that was extended to the President. All sit side by side and are considered equal in the eyes of the Lord. Through a democracy of dress, temple attendance reminds us that “God is no respecter of persons.”

temple white clothing

 After establishing the LDS Church, Joseph Smith was instructed by revelation to prepare to build a temple. He was told, "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High." (D&C 88: 119-120.) All activity is centered on the Atonement and saving Grace of Jesus Christ who alone makes any work in the temple of any use.

For those beginning the temple experience for themselves, the first ceremonies are the washing with water and anointing with oil of the body. Washing and anointing are initiatory ordinances that symbolically wash clean and purify the soul before the main Endowment ritual. They are ancient practices to consecrate Priests and Kings as chosen to do their duties and responsibilities. Initiation ordinances include putting on special garments before approaching the Lord or taking the throne. An example of this can be found in Exodus 29: 4-7 before the priests enter the Tabernacle:

4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. 5 And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: 6And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. 7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

The name Jesus Christ means he who saves as the anointed or chosen one. It is not surprising in this context that he would also be considered the King of Kings, as both High Priest and Divine Royalty. Believers in Jesus Christ as savior became known as Christians, and therefore those who have the anointing. Early Christian Father Cyril of Jerusalem in lecture 21 of his Catechetical Lectures wrote, “As He was anointed with an ideal oil of gladness, that is, with the Holy Ghost, called oil of gladness, because He is the author of spiritual gladness, so ye were anointed with ointment, having been made partakers and fellows of Christ.” He explains about the tradition of his day, “Which ointment is symbolically applied to thy forehead and thy other senses; and while thy body is anointed with the visible ointment, they soul is sanctified by the Holy and life-giving Spirit.”

David anointed King depiction

After the washing and anointing, similar to Priests of the Jewish temple, a garment is given to remind the LDS members of holy covenants. They are always to wear the garments under regular clothing both in and outside the temple, except when activities make it improper. Elder Carlos E. Asay of the LDS Quorum of the Seventy (Ensign, Aug. 1997), wrote:

Prior to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were clad in sacred clothing. We read: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21).

They received this clothing in a context of instruction on the Atonement, sacrifice, repentance, and forgiveness (see Moses 5:5–8). The temple garment given to Latter-day Saints is provided in a similar context. It is given to remind wearers of the continuing need for repentance, the need to honor binding covenants made in the house of the Lord, and the need to cherish and share virtue in our daily living so that promised blessings may be claimed.

The wearing of the garment at all times within reason is a reminder of the sacred covenants made inside the temple to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Some Latter-day Saints claim a physical protection, and there is no need for believers to doubt the existence of miracles, but the primary purpose is spiritual. Having gone through the initiatory services, the temple worship continues to the next part of the Endowment ceremony.