why are temples so huge?

[beefche]

I don't think that's quite true. I don't think the small temples have one. At least the ones I frequent don't have one.

[ldsz]

Here's what the Washington D.C. Temple is like:

The Trumpet Stone: The Washington D.C. LDS Temple

[ldsz]

And here's something on the Holy of Holies:

The Trumpet Stone: Holy of Holies in Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[john doe]

What was so difficult? Who can perform the baptism: I.E.dunk the person- the priesthood holder must be at least 16 years old, AND hold the Aaronic Priesthood.

To be the dunkee- any gender must be at least 12 years of age.

Once when I went with the Youth to do baptisms for the dead, there were not enough Adult priesthood holders to do the dunking AND be witnesses. So they had the 16 &17 year old Priesthood holders do the dunking.

Please, when describing the ordinance of Baptism, do not use the term 'dunking'. For many people the term 'dunking' cheapens this sacred ordinance.

[Vort]

The minimum age of 16, Priests, can perform baptisms- Aaronic Priesthood*

I am quite sure that you are mistaken. Only holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood can perform (officiate in) proxy baptisms.

[skippy740]

And that is because the Melchizedek Priesthood is required to officiate in any/every ordinance performed in temples.

[mordorbund]

I don't think that's quite true. I don't think the small temples have one. At least the ones I frequent don't have one.

The Columbia, SC temple (one of the smaller ones) has a holy of holies. The door to it is in one of the sealing rooms.

[Maureen]

...The Salt Lake Temple is one of the largest. It was built before modern technology so there are more rooms and I think it is the only temple which still does a live endowment session. The endowment is not live in most other temples but on video/film so not as many rooms are necessary....

My niece's fiance told me that the Manti Temple also has live endowment sessions.

M.

[pam]

My niece's fiance told me that the Manti Temple also has live endowment sessions.

M.

They do. Salt Lake City and Manti are the 2 temples that do live sessions.

[Backroads]

[in full understanding that the endowment is the same meaning live or filmed] why do some temples do the live ones while others use the film? Just size?

[Jenamarie]

[in full understanding that the endowment is the same meaning live or filmed] why do some temples do the live ones while others use the film? Just size?

I would think it's also easier to staff the video-only ones, as you don't need to find "actors" (and expect them to dedicate time to memorizing the parts and performing them perfectly each and every time). It's easy to find people capable of standing in front of a room full of people, and walking around the room from time to time.

[skippy740]

[in full understanding that the endowment is the same meaning live or filmed] why do some temples do the live ones while others use the film? Just size?

My guess... historical context as well as using each muraled (sp) room as it was originally intended.

The Logan temple was completely retrofitted back in the 70's for film endowment and other modernizations. I remember reading somewhere that President Kimball regretted that project and that the other pioneer temples wouldn't be changed as this one was.

St. George had a different layout and it was easier to adjust the floor plans to a filmed endowment session, if I remember correctly.

Edited November 28, 2011 by skippy740

[bytebear]

Here is the zoning documents for the Vancouver BC Temple. It has floor plans of the temple, as well as the church building next to it. There is no Holy of Holies, and I am pretty sure only the SLC temple has that room. Anyway, you can see what the typical layout of a modern temple is.

It has three levels.

1. Basement including maint. equipment as well as the basin holding the baptismal font.

2. Main level includes lobby, locker rooms where people change into white clothing, and the baptistry, offices, etc.

3. Two ordinance rooms, the celestial room and two sealing rooms (for marriages).

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

(it's a PDF so takes a bit of time to download)

Edited November 28, 2011 by bytebear

[Just_A_Guy]

I would think it's also easier to staff the video-only ones, as you don't need to find "actors" (and expect them to dedicate time to memorizing the parts and performing them perfectly each and every time). It's easy to find people capable of standing in front of a room full of people, and walking around the room from time to time.

Trivia (or urban legend) tidbit: I was in the SL Temple last month, and a worker told me that there are over 1500 ordained workers for the SL temple.

As for the Holy of Holies: The Wikipedia article cites Elders Packer and Talmage as hinting at two different uses for the room. The Holy of Holies in the SL Temple, I think, is the primary location for the events alluded to by Elder Packer; but each temple will have a room that can function in the capacity explained by Elder Talmage--even though that same room may primarily be used for some other purpose (like a sealing room).