What's the attraction of going to Temple?

[Guest Believer_1829]

I was four years in Miami, worked extensively with an Orthodox rabbi, and, in order to accommodate his limitations, had my going-away party at a Kosher Dairy restaurant (no meat). Maybe I should start a Messianic-Jewish-LDS movement? Bwahahahaha!

Too late...

Zion Heritage International

[prisonchaplain]

Too late...

Zion Heritage International

DOH!!!

[Maya]

Going to Temple for me? It is a place of recovery. In the quietness of the Temple I can heal the sores world has given me. I can meditate and pray. I can find more strength and knowledge of the most important things for me is that I can do something for a person who is not able to do it to herself.

We were in the Temple Wensday(-thuesday) as my son went through first time. It was a very good experience. It was so good to have them both there... but I am used to go alone. We have 6-8 hour drive to the Temple so it is not doen in 1,2,3.. and sometimes you do not have money for that either. We stay over in the guest house for a few days. We are thinking of renting a flat in the guesthouse and live thare for a year or so.

There was a time I could do 6 rounds now 4 is the most I manage... I think they do not have more either. When I had really hard time in life my bishop told me to go to Temple often... I always have tried to get over ther 4 times a year. I really believe it helped me over some really bad times.

For those not LDS I strongly recomend to go to the opendoors of a new or repaired Temple ... it is awesome! So many told me they could feel a special peacefull good feeling when visiting the Finnish Temple.

[Elgama]

I don't go to temple very much because we are 7 hours drive away and have 3 little ones, we try to go for a week every 2 years right now.

For me the attraction is its the place where the connection with the Lord is unbroken by everyday. Physically the temple is very difficult for me I find it draining I can only go through once in a day.

-Charley

[skalenfehl]

I went just a couple weeks ago. The temple truly is a place "not of the world". Whatever problems, concerns, struggles, tribulations and anything related to my life that I'm enduring remains at the door when I enter and I can truly forget about them. Visiting the temple, any temple, is not the same as any normal church service (sacrament meeting, etc), and as a holy place dedicated to eternal matters, I feel as if I am really leaving my mortal life, if only for a couple hours. I can feel the Spirit as strongly in the temple as I can at church, but in the Temple, where it has been dedicated and is "apart from the world", it truly is a place to escape the world and truly experience a celestial sphere.

When I enter those doors, I enter a portal into the Lord's presence and no other place on earth compares, not even our own chapels, as much as they, too, are His houses. The best way I can describe what's in my heart is this: When I go to church, I am doing my best to live a good life, be worthy of the sacrament, and of the Lord's favor. When I go "through" the temple, having a temple recommend, I feel validated by all of my hard work and at one point can feel in my heart that I have arrived. I am literally in His presence. I can expect to see Him if He sees fit to visit.

[prisonchaplain]

My hope is to make a "field trip" out of the opening of the new temple in Vancouver BC. If the situation works out right, I can even treat the trip as training. :-)

[bytebear]

My hope is to make a "field trip" out of the opening of the new temple in Vancouver BC. If the situation works out right, I can even treat the trip as training. :-)

I am hoping to do the same. Maybe we will run into each other. :)

Here is a link to the zoning documentation. It is very detailed, and you can get an idea of what a temple looks like on the inside, at least in blueprint form.

http://langley.ihostez.com/content/pdfstorage/B671F9E88C334463A5590DD11E0597DC-07-79%20Rezoning%20Application%20100276%20The%20Ch.pdf

(oh, don't worry about secrecy, this link is on the official LDS Temple page)

Edited August 24, 2009 by bytebear

[Misshalfway]

Yesterday, I got the chance to go to the dedication of another temple. I was touched by the simplicity of the structure itself as we were able to virtually tour all the different rooms and the feeling that would soon be filling the space as it was crafted as the Lord's house.

I was touched also by one of the speakers who talked about how we are taught in the temple by symbolism and repetition....and then by the Holy Spirit. Talk about one and one time with God!! I felt my mind open to the possibilities of learning that way. I also felt the humility of entering into the Lord's house to be taught by him.

[Connie]

As an outsider, it's clear to me that one of the advantages (joys) of being LDS is gaining access to Temple. I know that rituals important to the faith take place there...baptisms for the dead, marriage and family sealings, etc. Realizing the details are sacred, my impression is that there's more to it than sucessfully completing rituals. There must be a sense of God's presence there. So, what is it that draws you to Temple? Do you go for intensive prayer, for a time of spiritual rest, to get answers from God? What's the attraction of going to Temple? Also, are there active LDS who don't go to Temple, or not much? Why not?

There were three very good talks on temples at the last General Conference you might like to read. Here they are:

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Honorably Hold a Name and Standing

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples

[LDSVALLEY]

As an outsider, it's clear to me that one of the advantages (joys) of being LDS is gaining access to Temple. I know that rituals important to the faith take place there...baptisms for the dead, marriage and family sealings, etc. Realizing the details are sacred, my impression is that there's more to it than sucessfully completing rituals. There must be a sense of God's presence there. So, what is it that draws you to Temple? Do you go for intensive prayer, for a time of spiritual rest, to get answers from God? What's the attraction of going to Temple? Also, are there active LDS who don't go to Temple, or not much? Why not?

Short answer to your questions is YES. It is a place to go to feel God's presence stronger then in the chapels. It is a time for spiritual refilling, a place to seek answers and talk to God. When you are done with the rituals and enter what is called the celestial room ( you can find pictures of it in church publications about temples) I like to look into the chandelier let my mind drift and eyes loss focus I find the avenue between this world and the next becomes clearer for me and I get direction or simply refilled.

And also yes there are active LDS who don't go at all or often.

The often is several things, one being there is only 130 or so temples worldwide and not every LDS lives close to one. Ours is only 90minutes away but with three young children it is hard for both my wife and I to attend so we only get too it a few times per year.

The at all is also true, everyone can attend our chapel services but you must be a member in good standing for a year before you can attend the temple. Not everyone is able to maintain the level needed even if they have been to the temple. I was a member for 3 years before I even had a interest in the temple and got to the level needed to attend. Again distance might also prevent many from ever attending as not every country has a temple. Prior to the Halifax temple being built 10 years ago members had a 20 hour drive to Toronto or Washington. The standards are not difficult but the desire needs to be there and until you realize the blessings of going to the temple motivation can be low.