He Opened Its Doors Not the Reverse
Temples function differently than standard LDS meetinghouses.
The temple is significant in Christian theology and cannot be discarded as obsolete and unimportant. If one reads the New Testament, the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles of the Apostles, one should discover that a belief in Jesus as Messiah does NOT contradict a continuing commitment to the temple. In fact, the temple plays a critical role in the theological themes of the New Testament.
A single wall of the ancient Jerusalem temple still stands (the Wailing Wall). Its fixture is an enduring testament of the loss of ancient practices and ideas. Despite the Wall's prominence, the Christian culture at-large has had a strong tendency to ignore the relevance of temple theology.
Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law. He did NOT make Houses of Prayer unnecessary. Prayer always has been a central function of the temple. …And there is more. In a metaphorical sense, Jesus has been on the footsteps of the temple in order to open it doors for people like you and me.
The story of Christianity usually begins with the birth of Jesus, and the temple was involved in the earliest days of that birth. As was the custom for a firstborn male, the baby Jesus was presented to the Lord at the Jerusalem Temple.
New American Standard Bible: Luke 2: 21-24
21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."
At the temple, an old holy man, Simeon (v. 25) had been promised he would not die until seeing the Christ. Upon seeing the child in the temple, he pronounced a prayer now called the "Nunc Dimittis," meaning in Latin: "Now to depart."
King James Version: Luke 2:29-32
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
The temple did NOT make Jesus special, and yet the temple was a special place of pronouncement and presentation for the special Jesus. This incident alone makes the temple significant to Christianity.
Another major temple incident occurred when Jesus was twelve years of age. The age of twelve is significant in the LDS Church because this is the time when boys usually are mature enough to be given the Aaronic priesthood. The following verse makes clear that Jesus was unusually advanced for his age:
New King James Version: Luke 2: 41-50
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Verse 49 has an ambiguous ending. I prefer the ending used by the RSV:
Revised Standard Version: Luke 2:49
And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
In any case, it is clear from the larger context that the temple was significant to the child Jesus. He knew it was a holy place.
It is hard to imagine Mary getting separated from Jesus for a number of days. The comment of Jesus to his mother suggests she did not immediately look for him by going directly to the temple. He was saying in effect: "Did you not know I would be here in the temple?!" What an impression this must have made on Mary. The temple was the house of God the Father, and was now the sacred sanctuary of her son.
An often forgotten or neglected story that strongly connects Jesus to the temple and reveals his relationship toward it, is the following:
New Century Version : Matthew 17: 24-27
24 When Jesus and his followers came to Capernaum, the men who collected the Temple tax came to Peter. They asked, "Does your teacher pay the Temple tax?"
25 Peter answered, "Yes, Jesus pays the tax."
Peter went into the house, but before he could speak, Jesus said to him, "What do you think? The kings of the earth collect different kinds of taxes. But who pays the taxes—the king's children or others?"
26 Peter answered, "Other people pay the taxes."
Jesus said to Peter, "Then the children of the king don't have to pay taxes. 27 But we don't want to upset these tax collectors. So go to the lake and fish. After you catch the first fish, open its mouth and you will find a coin. Take that coin and give it to the tax collectors for you and me."
Before going further, here is some needed background. The enduring and ancient temple tax was "half a shekel." (Exodus 30:13,14; 2 Kings 12:4; 2 Chronicles 24:6). However, the amount could be reduced temporarily during times of poverty (e.g., Nehemiah 10: 32). Because the coin was considered sacred (being commanded by Mosaic law), there was a need for both tax collectors and temple money-changers to convert Roman or foreign monies to the shekel. The coin in Peter's fish would have been a full shekel, covering the half-shekel tax for both Jesus and Peter.
The temple-tax story found in Matthew (above) teaches an important lesson about the temple that goes far beyond tax payments. Jesus was trying to teach Peter that He (Jesus) was Lord of the temple. To pay a tax on the temple was to tax himself. In effect, Jesus was a Son of the King, using the story's terminology. Jesus identified with and laid claim to the temple. The temple was the Lord's house. Nothing in the story suggests that Jesus would have made the same claims about an ordinary building.
The strong emotional attachment of Jesus to the temple was more than evident when he overthrew the tables of the temple's shekel-moneychangers.
King James Version : Matthew 21:11-13
12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
The Gospel of John has Jesus respond to the merchants a little differently than that found in verse 13 above:
John 2: 16
16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
Jesus clearly thought of the temple as "My house" or as His "Father's house. In any case, Matthew 21: 13 also tells us that Jesus taught that the temple when used properly was a "house of prayer." When Jesus said "It is written," he was referring to the words of Isaiah:
King James Version : Isaiah 56:7
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
In our public communications we often relate LDS Temples to baptisms for the dead, marriage ceremonies, etc. Fine, but we also need to emphasize to others that our temples are great houses of prayer.
This essay cannot give a comprehensive listing of all the passages involving the work of Jesus at the temple. There are many such passages because a disproportionate amount of time was spent at the temple.
It will suffice to say, the temple was a favorite spot for Jesus to teach, and his reputation grew, in both good and bad ways:
Amplified Bible: John 7:14-15
14 When the Feast was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple [court] and began to teach.
15 The Jews were astonished. They said, How is it that this Man has learning [is so versed in the sacred Scriptures and in theology] when He has never studied?
New Century Version : Matthew 21:23
23 Jesus went to the Temple, and while he was teaching there, the leading priests and the elders of the people came to him. They said, "What authority do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
Amplified Bible: Matthew 26:55
At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs as [you would] against a robber to capture Me? Day after day I was accustomed to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me.
His followers sought him in the temple to be healed of their maladies, which incidentally was to the displeasure of the temple authorities:
King James Version: Matthew 21:13-15
14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
These verses are but a small sample, but they give a proper sense that an important part of the ministry of Jesus was spent at the temple – maybe the most important part prior to the atonement.
During the Feast of Dedication or Lights, later known as Hanukkah, Jesus took a long walk on the eastern side of the temple known as Solomon's Portico (porch). (See LDS map #12, location #6). During that walk this famous exchange took place:
King James Version: John 10: 22-30
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Thus, it was on Solomon's portico during a Hanukkah-like holiday that Jesus taught: " I and my Father are one." He said in effect, "Do not call me blasphemous, as your own scriptures say, 'Ye are gods.' "
Because Jesus established the pattern, Solomon's portico became a customary meeting place for the earliest Christians (see Acts 3:11 and 5:12).
On the great day of Pentecost, shortly after the death of Christ, the Church was swept up in the Spirit. The following verses describe the amazing events.
New Century Version: Acts 2: 1-13
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them.
5 There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem who were from every country in the world. 6 When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were completely amazed at this. They said, "Look! Aren't all these people that we hear speaking from Galilee? 8 Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own languages? We are from different places: 9 Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, Rome 11 (both Jews and those who had become Jews), Crete, and Arabia. But we hear them telling in our own languages about the great things God has done!" 12 They were all amazed and confused, asking each other, "What does this mean?"
13 But others were making fun of them, saying, "They have had too much wine."
Where was this house mentioned in verse 2? Verses 5 and 6 indicate that the house was in Jerusalem. Verse 14 gives further support:
New Century Version: Acts 2: 14
14 But Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, and in a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: "My fellow Jews, and all of you who are in Jerusalem, listen to me. …"
Please note that this gathering of Christians was enough in the open that they could attract much attention from others. The setting seems to be open, much as Solomon's portico would have been. It was the Jewish holiday of Pentecost after all. Jews were supposed to be in Jerusalem at the temple on that day.
Peter continued:
New Century Version: Acts 2: 14-16
14 … Pay attention to what I have to say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you think; it is only nine o'clock in the morning! 16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:
He then cited Joel 2: 28-32, indicating that God would pour out His Spirit, and that people would prophesy, see visions, have dreams, and the earth would be filled with miracles. (The implication is that these gifts would continue within the Church).
His sermon continued:
New American Standard Bible: Acts 2: 38-40
38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"
In other words, Peter preached that in order to be saved from this perverse generation, one needed to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. There is nothing in his words that suggested these steps are optional.
Luke, the author of Acts, then added this commentary about the lifestyle of early Christians:
New American Standard Bible: Acts 2: 41-46
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
What did early Christians do? They were baptized, they followed the Apostles' teachings, they broke bread and had prayer, they witnessed signs and wonders, they shared all things, they built harmony through temple worship (v. 46), they ate together, they praised God, and they did missionary work.
In other words, the temple was NOT cast aside as obsolete. It was still a sacred place after the death of Jesus.
The following incident probably happened on the same day as the Pentecost experience, but in any case, it happened shortly afterward:
New American Standard Bible: Acts 3: 1-11
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!"
5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!"
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.
If the Pentecost experience occurred at the third hour (9 AM in the morning; Acts 2:15), then the incident above may have happened at the following ninth hour of prayer (sometimes called "None," a derivative of the Latin for "ninth"), which would have been the mid-afternoon prayer, about 3 PM.
What is important to notice is the geography of events: the temple location was critical. Incidentally, the Beautiful Gate, mentioned in verses 2 and 10, separated the Inner Court of Women from the Outer Court of the Gentiles (see LDS map #12, location #7). Amazing events were occurring within the confines of the temple.
In the following amazing story notice again that the early Christians in Jerusalem appeared to regularly worship on the grounds of the temple (v. 12). For this loitering behavior, the legal authorities threw the Apostles in jail (v. 18). An angel broke the Apostles out, and ordered them to teach again in the temple, against the wishes of the prevailing legal authorities (v. 19-20). The authorities captured them again (v. 26). Gamaliel, a lawyer, convinced authorities to leave the Apostles alone (v. 34), and the Apostles kept teaching in the temple (v. 42).
New American Standard Bible: Acts 5: 12-42 [condensed]
12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. …
14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,
15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.
16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were … bringing people who were sick or afflicted … , and they were all being healed.
17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates … , and they were filled with jealousy.
18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,
20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."
21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach … .
22 … the officers … did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,
23 saying, "We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside."
24 … the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests … were greatly perplexed … .
25 But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"
26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence … .
27… The high priest questioned them,
28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching … , and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching … ."
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus … .
31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior … .
32 "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, … stood up in the Council and gave orders … .
35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. …
38 "… I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."
40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame)for His name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Evidently, the angel wanted temple lessons taught even if it took a miracle and some legal maneuvering. Such a story of this amount of direct divine intervention is rare even for the Bible.
If Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension made the temple irrelevant, as some claim, then one must wonder about the meaning of this following story. Many know that Paul had a vision of Jesus on his way to Damascus (Acts 9). Many do not know about this second vision. Paul, had another vision of Jesus inside the temple. He said the following:
New American Standard Bible: Acts 22: 17-21
17 "It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
18 and I saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.'
19 "And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.
20 'And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.'
21 "And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
Thus, Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision in the temple. This incident is a testament to continuing revelation and the role of the temple. This story indicates a beginning to his Apostolic calling to the Gentiles. Once again, the temple had a special significance to Paul. It was a house of revelation.
The importance of the temple to Paul is hard for some non-LDS scholars to explain. For example, why did Paul (just previous to his temple revelation) purify himself in the temple (see Acts 21: 26)? The theories have been strained and extensive. For example, some have suggested that Paul sinned by participating in this ritual or that he was acting the part of a faithful Jew in order to prevent riot (see here for a nice review of the various theories). The LDS view is simply that the temple never became obsolete, even if certain rituals, prefiguring the atonement, did. This latter point is elaborated below:
In the days of Moses, a High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, occurring only once per year. Inside this holy place, the High Priest sprinkled the blood of an animal sacrifice on and around the mercy seat, which was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17-22; 26:34). The procedure is described in detail in Leviticus 16; see for example, verses 15 and 16.
These rituals in the Old Testament foreshadowed and symbolized the acts of Christ and the temple rituals of our own time. The Apostle Paul described how the early sacrifice rituals of the Old Testament (Old Covenant) were only preparatory, imperfect procedures, symbolized only that present time, and had no lasting or enduring effect:
Amplified Bible: Hebrews 9: 1-14
1 NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world.
2 For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the showbread set forth. [This portion] is called the Holy Place.
3 But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the Holy of Holies.
4 It had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments].
5 Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.
6 These arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter [habitually] into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship.
7 But into the second [division of the tabernacle] none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed.
8 By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,
9 Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper.
10 For [the ceremonies] deal only with clean and unclean meats and drinks and different washings, [mere] external rules and regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of setting things straight [of reformation, of the complete new order when Christ, the Messiah, shall establish the reality of what these things foreshadow--a better covenant].
11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,
12 He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).
13 For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body,
14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?
The Apostle Paul then described a better new and living way through the blood of Christ:
Amplified Bible : Hebrews 10: 19-25
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,
20 By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh,
21 And since we have [such] a great and wonderful and noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God,
22 Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.
23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.
24 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,
25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
Pay special attention to the verses cited immediately above. Paul was saying that after Christ’s atonement that now we are enabled to have the faith and confidence to enter the temple, because Jesus provided a way through the veil. Jesus is the great priest over the temple. We can enter the temple because Christ’s blood has been sprinkled in the Holy of Holies, making our hearts clean by baptism. Paul said our faith should be without wavering, and our faith should stimulate love and good deeds. Paul noticed that some had stopped regular attendance of their Church meetings (assemblies). Instead, he wanted us to encourage the less active. He said work harder because the day of the second coming is very near.
Sometimes it is argued by non-LDS theologians that temples are obsolete because when Jesus died the veil of the temple was rent while the earth shook. The verses at issue are:
New American Standard Version: Matthew 27: 50-51
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
Another perspective (mine) is that the split veil symbolized that the temple was now open to all believers: male and female; Jew and Gentile. The sanctum of the temple was open and no longer restricted to the High Priest once per year.
Regardless, the scriptures cited above covey a continuing role for the temple. No, temples are NOT to become idols of worship. In fact, they do NOT mean much if worshippers do not live responsibly. Merciful living and obedience are more important than temple sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8).
Proper use of the temple puts Christ at the foundation. As Peter said,
New Century Version: 1 Peter 2:4-6
4 Come to the Lord Jesus, the "stone" that lives. The people of the world did not want this stone, but he was the stone God chose, and he was precious. 5 You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ.
Christ is the foundation stone, but our own lives build a spiritual temple, and we can function as holy priests to offer sacrifices (of a different kind) that will be accepted.
To those who doubt that ritual is needed in a modern age, I will end with this quote from a non-LDS scholar well known in comparative religious theory:
Jonathan Z. Smith (University of Chicago Press, 1992): To Take Place: Toward Theory in Ritual, p. 109.
"[R]itual represents the creation of a controlled environment where the variables (the accidents) of ordinary life may be displaced precisely because they are felt to be so overwhelmingly present and powerful. Ritual is a means of performing the way things ought to be in conscious tension with the way things are. Ritual relies for its power on the fact that it is concerned with the quite ordinary activities placed within an extraordinary setting."
Modern LDS temples are controlled settings wherein ordinary strains of life can be set aside. Modern ritual, associated with past practices, represent the ideals of heaven, the way things ought to be. The temple setting is indeed extraordinary, even if the humans within it are rather ordinary. Temples through the power of Christ allow the ordinary to be made better.
The spiritual needs of modern people are no different than the earliest Christians. Temples have a rightful place in the here and now, but where can they be found?
For MORE reading on temples: see: Heavenly Ascents for a discussion of Margaret Barker's book Temple Themes in Christian Worship.
Also see: Temple Study for some of the deeper theological themes.
For discussion from an official LDS site, see: The House of the Lord.
Scripture taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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3 comments:
Excellent post! Those that don't believe in the importance of the temple don't have a correct understanding of basic Christianity. I particularly like this quote from Bill Hamblin:
"… it is quite clear that the New Testament apostles continued to worship in the Jerusalem temple after Christ’s ascension (Acts 2:46, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 5:20-42). Even Paul worshipped there (Acts 21:26-30, Acts 22:17, Acts 24:6-18, Acts 25:8, Acts 26:21). Paul is explicitly said to have performed purification rituals (Acts 21:26, Acts 24:18), and prayed in the temple (Acts 22:17, cf. Acts 3:1); he claims that he has not offended “against the temple,” implying he accepts its sanctity (Acts 25:8). Indeed, Paul also offered sacrifice (prosfora) in the temple (Acts 21:26, cf. Num 6:14-18), a very odd thing for him to do if the temple had been completely superceded after Christ’s ascension. Finally, and most importantly, Paul had a vision of Christ (”The Just One” ton dikaion) in the temple (Acts 22:14-21), paralleling Old Testament temple theophanies, and strongly implying a special sanctity in the temple, where God still appears to men even after Christ’s ascension." (Bill Hamblin, “Temple Obsolete After Christ,” FAIR, http://en.fairmormon.org/Temple_obsolete_after_Christ)
Thanks Bryce for adding this quote from Bill Hamblin. I remember reading it before, possibly on your blog or from one of your comments elsewhere. It must have been in the back of my mind as I was writing this essay. I am sure it was.
I love and respect our non-LDS Christian brothers and sisters. I understand that their views of the temple were affected by the loss of the Jerusalem temple and ultimately the loss of the earliest Apostles. Yet, I am amazed by those who simply dismiss the temple as irrelevant and no longer useful.
To me, a restored Christianity must have temples, but it must also take into account the infinite atonement of Christ. Rituals that prefigured that atonement are clearly NOT needed. It is too great of a leap to assume, however, that the temple itself is no longer needed.
S Faux,
Amazing! Can I go to your Sunday School class? I feel like you are a master teacher!
Are you aware of any post-New Testament references to Christian temple worship, perhaps from Irenaeus, or Athanasius, or some other church fathers? I am just curious if these type of comments exist, or if there is any other references to temple worship.
I attended a fireside by Wilfred Griggs, Egyptologist about a year ago. He made some references to Christian temple worship in Egypt, but didn't expound on it. Are you aware of anything along those lines?
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