We live in a lost world deprived of a basic knowledge of the symbols that surround us. Like Attic Greek or Ancient Hebrew symbolism is a dead language even among Mormons. The word symbol in English comes from the Greek symbolon which is when 2 parties separate animal bones and bring them back together in a contract. It represents 2 separated parties becoming one. Symbols are replicas, patterns, shadows, mirrors, copies and models of more grand realities. The temple is the first symbol created on this earth because it was the first creation on this earth=the garden of Eden. The temple is the source of almost every aspect of culture we have today. Art, plays, music, government, architecture, universities, banks, etc. all had their origins in ancient temples. The word temple comes from the Sumerian word temen which means a sacred enclosure. Hence temenos walls surrounded all ancient temples. The word temp means to cut. The garden of Eden was the first temple on the earth and all other temples on the earth are miniature models of it. The word garden also means enclosure in Hebrew. Hence the temple encloses and gathers what is sacred and separates it from what is profane. The word profane comes from the Latin profanum; pro=outside of, fanum=temple.
As a society we have lost our understanding and ability to discern between what is sacred and what is profane. Sacred means holy, set apart, pure, undefiled, eternal, reality, etc. The temple's purpose is to take us profane beings and step by step make us holy in stages in order to prepare us to be brought back to where we came from, the real temple in heaven. Yes, there is a temple in heaven (Revelation 14:17; 15:5; 16:17). The temple on earth is a replica of the real temple in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5). Heaven is comprised of three degrees of glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-42). The temple in heaven is the Celestial glory or where God lives. The Celestial Kingdom or glory is comprised of 3 degrees (D&C 131:1). This is why the temple on earth has 3 sections or rooms-the courtyard, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies; because it is a miniature model or replica of the real temple in heaven. The temple on earth is what joins earth with heaven and is called by some to be the gate of God.
The temple and everything in it represent or symbolize Christ. Since LDS temples have the priesthood or Christ's authority, both restored through Joseph Smith, the temple is one of the media by which we again meet God. The temple represents Christ-our mediator.
So how do we come to understand the difference between sanctity and profanity? We must follow Christ, become like Him to come to know Him. It all starts with what we think about. We must rise above the mediocrity of the world and their lesser ways and thoughts compared with God's higher thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). We must prepare ourselves to take upon ourselves the name or authority of Christ in the temple by first believing in Him, having faith in His power to change us, repent of our sins, and prayer for the desire, the ability to change through Christ's atonement. After applying these principles, or teachings of truth, we must then receive ordinances, or sacred rituals performed by the above mentioned priesthood. We must show our willingness to receive Christ's name through the ordinances of baptism by immersion, by the priesthood, and after one is at least 8 years of age. Then we must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the cleansing agent God gives us to cleanse us of our sins and which motivates us to do good, and become more like Christ.
After we have been faithful to these preliminary ordinances we must continue on to the temple to receive the fullness of the priesthood or the fullness of the name of Christ, for only under His name are we saved (2 Nephi 25:20). This is why temples are so important to the Mormons and this is why temples have always been important to all of God's prophets and their followers since Adam's time. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the first temple, and ever since them it is our duty to become worthy enough to reenter the temple, to go back where our first parents came from. Christ is our exemplar. He is our Savior, our Redeemer. It is only through His grace and merits and mercy that we are saved (2 Nephi 2:8). We must develop His attributes of charity, patience, hope, faith, temperance, brotherly kindness, long-suffering, diligence, virtue and godliness (2 Peter 1:5-7). In essence we must take off the fashions of the world (1 Corinthians 7:31) of pride, lust, greed, gluttony and sloth and put on Christ's attributes (Galatians 3:27) mentioned above in 2 Peter.
Which temple should we strive to go to? There are many temples and temple means different things to different people. The word temple for many Christians is a church or even the very group of Christians. Temples dot the earth all over the world for almost every religion known to man. This is because the temple is such an ancient idea. The temple started with Adam and then His children ever since have been taught about it and many fell away and created apostate or false temples. These temples have been created ever since the first apostate temple-the Tower of Babel. The restoration of true temples of God have been brought back to every prophet, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses. Christ restored temple rituals in his day and they again were lost after his death and the death of his apostles. What is unique about the true temple of God is that it is restored by God and his angels, and that authority is given to God's prophets to allow these temples to function on earth as true media back to God.
Joseph Smith was one of these true prophets that again was given the authority of God to restore the temple and its blessings through God after it was taken from the earth after the death of Christ and his apostles. The temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the only true temples of God on the earth because they are directed by the authority of Christ or the Holy Priesthood. It is in these sacred edifices and only there where we can receive all the necessary blessings and power we as God's children need to return to His presence as eternal families. I invite all that read this to learn about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through him and about the temples of the LDS church. Pray to God and ask Him directly to know if the LDS church is the only true church on the earth. I have done it and God has told me, just like he will tell you, through the power of the Holy Ghost that it is indeed true. Ask God directly and simply if it is true, and end the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ amen. Then wait for an answer. You won't see an angel or God like prophets do, but God will tell you through the Holy Ghost if it's true. Just pray with real intent, meaning that you will follow the answer that God gives you and be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after you know for yourself that it is the only true church. Go to mormon.org or lds.org to find out more.
