Topical Guide/Temples

The FAIR Wiki Defending Mormonism by providing well-researched answers to challenging questions within a faithful context

Topical Guide

• Ancient (Link)
• Marriage (Link)
• Endowment (Link)
• Clothing (Link)
• Genealogy (Link)
• Masonic influences (Link)
• Occult Influences (Link)
• Sacred or Secret (Link)
• Salvation for the Dead (Link)
• Symbols (Link)

Mormonism and temples

Baptism for the dead

• Baptism for the dead—
  What is baptism for the dead? Is there any evidence baptism for the dead is an authentic ancient Christian practice? (Link)

Endowment

• Endowment—
  A number of criticisms are related to the Latter-day Saint Endowment ceremony. Latter-day Saints consider the ceremony to be sacred in nature. Note that as members of FAIR, we are fully committed to keeping our temple covenants, and we will not discuss certain details related to the ceremony. There are, however, criticisms that we can respond to. This set of articles addresses criticisms related to the Endowment. (Link)
• Garments—
  Hostile critics of the Restoration often mock the LDS practice of wearing temple garments. They refer to these ritual items of clothing as "magic underwear" in order to shock, ridicule and offend. (Link)

Ordinances

• Ordinances revealed—
  Critics claim that the LDS temple ordinances were either made up by Joseph Smith or borrowed, by him, from an earthly source. (Link)
• Second anointing—
  FAIR often receives questions about a temple ordinance called "the second anointing." The questions usually revolve around the following issues: 1) "What is the second anointing?" and 2) "Is this account of the second anointing that I've seen accurate?" (Link)

Symbolism

• Symbols on the Nauvoo Temple—
  I've heard there are some strange symbols on the Nauvoo and Salt Lake temples. My non-member friend claims these have an "occult" significance. Some people are of the opinion that they are Masonic. (Link)
• Inverted Stars on LDS Temples—
  Some critics of the LDS Church claim that the inverted five-pointed star on some of its temples are a symbol of evil and thereby demonstrate that Mormonism is not really a Christian religion. (Link)

Miscellaneous

• The role of the Independence temple—
  What role will the temple to be built in Independence, Missouri fill in the Church? (Link)
• Reports of Drunken Behavior at the Kirtland Temple Dedication—
  Were there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy. (Link)
• Why does the Church build expensive temples?—
  Why does the church spend so much money on temples when children are dying of starvation in other parts of the world? Wouldn’t the money spent on these buildings be better used in feeding the hungry? (Link)
• Work for Holocaust victims—
  In 1995, after it was learned that a substantial number of Holocaust victims were listed in the Church's temple records as having been baptized, an agreement was signed between the Church and leading Jewish authorities which officially ended baptizing Jewish Holocaust victims posthumously. (Link)
• Worthiness to enter—
  This article addresses criticisms directed at worthiness requirements to enter the temple. (Link)
• Temples made with hands—
  Critics claim that Acts 17:24-25 teaches that the idea of temple worship is foreign to Christianity, when Paul says: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." (Link)
• Do temples always face east?—
  Do LDS temples always face east? The front of the temple is the elevation where the phrase "House of the Lord" is found. Temples face whatever direction is most practical and artistically pleasing for the site they are on. (Link)
• Elias and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple—
  Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported a vision in the Kirtland Temple on 3 April 1836 (see DC 110:1-16). They reported that they received priesthood keys from three angelic messengers: Moses (verse 11), Elijah (verse 12), and Elias (verses 13-16) Critics points out that "Elias" is merely the Greek name of the Hebrew prophet "Elijah." Thus, they charge, Joseph Smith made a fatal error by having Elias and Elijah be two different people, when they are in fact one and the same. (Link)

FAIR Articles

• FAIR Topical Guide: Temples and Temple Work FAIR link