What Are Temples?

Temples are holy places of worship where we come closer to God. 

Outline of Salt Lake Temple

Overview of holy temples 

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The House of the Lord

Temples are literally houses of God built on earth. They are places where individuals can go and make sacred promises with God, feel the peace of the Spirit, and escape from the hectic demands of day-to-day life. 

History of temples

Temples have been around for a long time. The Bible describes the beautiful temple of Solomon in great detail. Moses had a tabernacle. Jesus taught at the temple in Jerusalem. Today, there are over 150 temples worldwide, where faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go to worship, reflect, and learn more about God’s plan of happiness. 

Young women walking to temple
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The blessings of the temple

Because the temple is the House of the Lord, we can feel a special closeness to God when we visit one. This feeling can provide hope when we have challenges, and direction when we need guidance in our lives. 

The temple is also where we can receive the greatest blessings God has to offer us. When couples get married in the temple, they are united for “time and all eternity” instead of “until death do us part.” Temples are also places to serve our ancestors and loved ones who have died. We do this by performing ceremonies (such as baptism) on their behalf if they never had that opportunity in life. 

Temples are different from meetinghouses

Regular Sunday services are held weekly in meetinghouses around the world, and visitors are always welcome to participate. These buildings might include a neighborhood chapel or even a rented space in a city building. In any case, these meetinghouses are where members of the Church gather together for Sunday School, to take the sacrament (or Communion), and hear sermons. Activities are also held during the week, such as youth groups and sporting events. 

Family walks in front of temple
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Common Questions

People have a lot of questions about “Mormons,” or more respectfully, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Click here to see the full list.