PREFACE:
The following is an essay based on my own first person experiences as well as accounts found in my third great grandfather’s journals. I hope you find this piece informative. It gives you a glimpse into my personal life.
In my extensive reading, I have come across many sources from those outside my experience who refute and argue the foundation my beliefs and practices. First, I recognize that religion has never been scientifically proven. Second, religious beliefs are highly personal. We each have our reasons for believing what we believe. By publishing this essay, I expose myself to the criticism of 98.6% of the American population who do not agree with me (actually more because this website is accessible worldwide). Given my awareness of these percentages and the fact that the internet is full of websites dedicated to defaming my beliefs, it is not necessary to inform me that you disagree with my practices and beliefs. My assumption is that you disagree with my beliefs and practices and that is fine with me. People of all belief systems have flaws. It is ridiculous to mention them unless you are willing to admit your own personal shortcomings in the same breath. No matter what your beliefs—whether they be atheist, agnostic, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, etc., defamation and hate speech are never appropriate.
THE TEMPLE ESSAY
After attending the dedication of the newly constructed Draper Utah Temple, I felt inclined to write an essay about Mormon temples and my experiences there. I’ve been participating in temple ordinances since I was 12 years old—for 22 years. The first temple I ever entered was the Atlanta Temple. Later, I was washed, anointed, and endowed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1993. I was also sealed to my spouse shortly thereafter. Since children born to sealed parents are “born in the covenant” originally made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their progeny, we took only our adopted daughter to the Bountiful Temple to be sealed to us for time and all eternity about one decade ago.
Being sealed to her and her to us involved kneeling at an alter with our hands and those of our children upon the alter while the blessings of the sealing were pronounced up on her.
Attending the Draper Temple dedication yesterday marked my first time inside a temple during a dedication. I was privileged to participate in the dedication of two other temples via satellite broadcast. The first was that of the Palmyra Temple which was constructed in upstate New York. This was the birthplace of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The dedication took place exactly 170 years after the church was legally organized in the state of New York on 6 April 2000. Here is a link you can visit if you are interested in reading the words of the dedicatory prayer:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/palmyra/prayer/
In 2002, I attended the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. This temple was originally built in the 1840’s, but was destroyed after the Mormons fled to Utah. A replica was constructed. I visited the replica before its dedication. The interior was magnificent. After my tour, I stood on the Nauvoo Temple lawn and turned my eyes west toward the banks of the Mississippi where more than a century and a half earlier my family had owned a peach orchard and mill before the 1847 trek to Utah. I felt grateful for them. My ancestors built the original with their own hands. I returned to see the rebuilt temple as a way of honoring their sacrifice. For me, I felt my heart being tunred to my fathers and every time I participate in ordinance work in the temple I feel this way, too. (Malachi 4:6)
These ancestors fled to a place where no one would want to follow and torment them. They walked to the cold, harsh, desert high in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. To some, the building of temples in Utah is a sign of the times since Micah prophesied “that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.” The desert valleys in Utah are now green. Some see this as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesying when he said, “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” Here is a link to the Nauvoo Temple dedicatory prayer:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/nauvoo/prayer/
After the dedicatory prayer is given, we stand and participate in the Hosanna Shout, and like the dedications of these and almost 130 other temples in operation, we listen to a choir sing a Hosanna anthem. Then we all sing the hymn “The Spirit of God”—a powerful and majestic piece composed by W.W. Phelps. Here are two renditions of the song followed by the words to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgRRsGfjxc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUHvxcNVSDU
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!
The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
And angels are coming to visit the earth.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!
The Lord is extending the Saints' understanding,
Restoring their judges and all as at first.
The knowledge and power of God are expanding;
The veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!
We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit,
To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit
The visions and blessings and glories of God.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!
How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion
Shall lie down together without any ire,
And Ephraim be crowned with his blessing in Zion,
As Jesus descends with his chariot of fire!
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!
Text: William W. Phelps
Some of the “angels” who came to visit the earth to the Kirtland Temple in 1836 were Moses who restored the keys of the gathering of Israel, Elias who restored keys of the gospel of Abraham, and Elijah restored the keys of sealing. The temple covenants and the general Mormon Church mission revolve around the return of these keys. To bring about the “gathering” and the “sealing” of all people who ever lived, we spread the concepts through tools such as The Book of Mormon. It is one of our several cannons. Since Mormons believe the heavens are open and that all truth in the universe is part of our belief system, we have a lot to learn and study. The purpose of everything that we do is to ensure that all have access to the blessings pronounced on Abraham by making covenants with Deity.
Since we believe that Deity, God the Father, is a literal walking, breathing father and that we have a mother, too, we see ourselves as children who may be like their parents in the hereafter. We also believe Jesus is one of God's literal children. We believe we are God the Father's spiritual children. This idea is blasphemous to most Christians. We are placing ourselves on Christ's spiritual level. In the end, we hope to inherit realms in the universe just as Jesus did. We actually believe we can all become gods since our father is one. Reflecting on this possibility takes me to a level of deep contemplation.
In conclusion, it is always a moving experience to attend a dedication—or to attend the temple in general. For me, it is a refuge and a place to commune and learn.
Here are pictures of the inside of the Draper Temple. The Celestial Room is my favorite place to go within any temple. It is symbolic of being in heaven again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WJ27w1OWu0
Lastly, here is a song that expresses how I feel in the temple:
Heaven's light flows through the windows
Warming even walls of stone
In the refuge of the temple
I find strength beyond my own
Chorus
I can feel the power of heaven
As I stand on holy ground
And the spirit whispers what I long to learn
Eyes are touched with understanding
I can see beyond this world
It's the place I reach for heaven
And it reaches in return
Filled with purpose, filled with power
Granted gifts to lift the world
In God's house and in His presence
I am filled with strength to serve
Repeat Chorus Twice
It's the place I reach for heaven
And it reaches in return
By Janice Kapp Perry
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Comments: 20
Most people see our structures and don't have a clue about what goes on inside (or even what the inside of our temples look like). There is a lot of smut out there about what people think goes on.
Since all of our ceremonies are copyrighted, any publication of what is actually said is illegal unless it comes from the Church or is cited appropriately.
It is interesting to hear of the rituals that take place in those structures, which I must say, are generally cloaked in mystery (although I HAVE read Secret Ceremonies years ago). Thanks for the essay. You are kind to enlghten at what must have felt like some personal risk.
If I can find my photos of the Manti temple, I will post one here.
It's odd that these three (plus Nauvoo and Kirtland, of course) were finished before the Salt Lake Temple, which took 40 years to construct!
The Mormons do tend to place their structures in very visible places, too. They tend to be a distraction when driving.
They had to dim the lights on the Washington DC Temple because it was causing wrecks on the beltway at night. It is so beautiful and at one point it looks like you are driving directly toward it. It is beautiful.
We used the DC Temple until they built the Columbus Ohio Temple now we are assigned to it but it is no closer than the DC.
I'd heard that they dimmed the lights for that reason. The San Diego Temple is a lot like that, too. It's right there in your face as you are driving down the freeway. It's beautiful, though. They are all breathtaking both from a distance, up close, and especially inside.
Each human being has a different language of the spirit. Mine is hopefully ever growing. I raise a glass to you!
In a way I am so happy to share this part of my life, but yes, as Bart mentioned, it is a risk.
Like you, I hope I can keep growing. Thank you!
I would hope that your faith would return the favor for my children.
Thanks to everyone for reading this article.
Marilee, it is good to hear from you again (came here from LYR) ... you are a most excellent ambassador for your faith.
It's good to see you, Jerry. I left Gather for a little while and then rejoined. I think we used to be connected when I had my old account.
Thanks so much for bringing new life to this old post.
nice work