Temple attendance

[martybess]

Why did we change from the functional temple in Kirtland to the ones we have today

I think all the temples other then the Kirtland are functioning since the church I guess you could say rebuilt the Nauvoo. We haven't changed to the ones we have today, all temples are functioning temples.

[justaname]

In Sacrament this morning, something interesting was stated, which I don't entirely agree with. A Stake High Councilman mentioned, that we should attend often so we can receive answers for prayers. Or we can obtain answers while in the temple.

Where I don't agree with is the purpose for going to the temple. We go to the temple to help and aid those who departed this world when we have done our own works first. What I can agree with here, but a positive sideliner, in helping our dead, we can use the Celestial room to meditate; for the less focus minds, they can receive with greater clarity an answer if they have the necessary faith in receiving such. The end results of going to the temple again, is just that...doing our work and then do the work of our dead so they also can receive the same blessings.

We can receive answers anywhere at anytime if needed. There are no provisions where the Lord stated, "I will only talk and give you answers in the temple." This simply not the case. We are required to always have a prayerful spirit, meaning, we are in a constant communication with GOD at all times.

For those are less receipted to the Spirit or the Lord in hearing answers, I would commend you to attend the temple in aiding the dead and then through the conduits of the Celestial room, seek an answer that has been troubling you or the desire to be answered.

Im curious and would like to put your comments about temples and receiving answers prayers in the right perspective here. When asked how often people attend the temple, your answer was "none". I dont know if that answer means you have never been, you choose not to go, or perhaps you are not worthy to go. Maybe that is irrelevant. You are correct in stating that the purpose of temples is to perform ordinances for yourself or for the dead. But the temple is also the house of the Lord, and a place where one can become closer to God. It is not a place that serves ONLY as a location for ordinance work. You do not have to perform an ordinance to enter the celestial room. There are other rooms there that serve as instructional or meeting rooms. No ordinances are performed in these rooms. I believe your high councilman is correct in his statement.

[MarginOfError]

Oh they are most definitely a place of refuse!

Really!?

[john doe]

Lord or those who are assigned. Where today, our focus is quite different. More-or-less, we may return back to functional temples (Kirtland Temple) soon I suspect.

So are you saying the temples today are not functioning?

[ehkape]

I think all the temples other then the Kirtland are functioning since the church I guess you could say rebuilt the Nauvoo. We haven't changed to the ones we have today, all temples are functioning temples.

Ok, lets forget about the word "functioning". My question is: Why build a temple like Kirtland that was used for meetings etc but not for baptism, initiatories or endowments.

My answer would be because those ordinances were revealed later. Fair enough.

But why should we go back to such a kind of temple (without endowment)? Doesn't make sense to me to do it.

[applepansy]

At least every other week and often inbetween.

[martybess]

Ok, lets forget about the word "functioning". My question is: Why build a temple like Kirtland that was used for meetings etc but not for baptism, initiatories or endowments.

My answer would be because those ordinances were revealed later. Fair enough.

But why should we go back to such a kind of temple (without endowment)? Doesn't make sense to me to do it.

Yes I would like to know the reasoning behind this as well. D&C 109 states they are a house used for many things, not just ordinances.

13And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.

14And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said;

What are the best books? I'm not sure but the temples I've been too (will be in the Helsinki Finland Temple next week) all have the scriptures lying around to read at your pleasure, to study over and pray about that one might receive further light and knowledge and to "feel constrained to acknowledge that" the temples are sanctified and give great comfort and strength in these troubled times.

[MarginOfError]

Yes I would like to know the reasoning behind this as well. D&C 109 states they are a house used for many things, not just ordinances.

13And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.

14And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said;

What are the best books? I'm not sure but the temples I've been too (will be in the Helsinki Finland Temple next week) all have the scriptures lying around to read at your pleasure, to study over and pray about that one might receive further light and knowledge and to "feel constrained to acknowledge that" the temples are sanctified and give great comfort and strength in these troubled times.

Interestingly, it was only in 2004 that temples were authorized to keep copies of the scriptures in the celestial room. Before then, you could access the scriptures to ponder them in the chapels, waiting areas, and lounges, but you could not access them in the celestial room. Even after the policy was revised to permit scriptures there, ordinance workers were trained to keep an eye out that the celestial room didn't become a place where people came to study the gospel. What I came to learn through the instruction I received at that time was that there was nothing in the scriptures we can learn at the temple that we can't learn just as well at home.

[martybess]

Interestingly, it was only in 2004 that temples were authorized to keep copies of the scriptures in the celestial room. Before then, you could access the scriptures to ponder them in the chapels, waiting areas, and lounges, but you could not access them in the celestial room. Even after the policy was revised to permit scriptures there, ordinance workers were trained to keep an eye out that the celestial room didn't become a place where people came to study the gospel. What I came to learn through the instruction I received at that time was that there was nothing in the scriptures we can learn at the temple that we can't learn just as well at home.

That is true and I haven't seen members abusing the privilege of reading the scriptures in the celestial room. But surely it is a house of learning and everything were taught there can be found in the scriptures. It is the only place that the powers of godliness are administered and taught. Or in other words we come to know God not as the world knows God. But as Hemi has stated I do agree it is in and through the priesthood keys and ordinances one comes to know the powers of godliness.