Meaning of Temples and their Purpose

[Carborendum]

I've just started reading a book on temples.  It brought up something that I'd kind of already divined from my love of etymology.  There are several words that are used to mean "temple" in the Bible.  And each of them has a slightly different meaning. A lot of these terms were used interchangeably.  But there were precise technical definitions which invoke specific nuances to our understanding of what temples were and are.

• The first indication in the Old Testament of anything like a temple is a "Sanctuary" (Ex 15:17) מִקְדָּשׁ (miqdāš) which means "sacred place" or "holy place."
• The Tabernacle (Ex 25:9) is introduced as another similar structure.  The word מִשְׁכָּן (miškān) "Tabernacle" means "Dwelling Place" implying "God's dwelling place".
• The first word in the Old Testament which is translated as "temple" is (1 Sam 1:9). The word הֵיכָל (hêḵāl) means "Palace" (capacious building).  At this point in history, the temple was always "the Temple of the Lord" (Hekal Yahweh - The Lord's Palace), and multiple terms for temple are used throughout.
• 2 Kings 11:10 introduces a new Hebrew term which is translated as "Temple" בַּיִת (bayiṯ) which means "house".  Thus "House of the Lord" instead of "Palace of the Lord."
• Psalms is written out of order in the Old Testament.  But we see a new usage "Holy Temple" (multiple psalms).  The word is קֹדֶשׁ (qōḏeš) - holy, which is added to the previously used word for "temple".  

This was all before the first actual "temple" was built - Solomon's Temple.  So, there were other places and structures which were to perform a similar function as an actual temple.  During the days of the upper room of the Red Brick Store we're called to reminisce about the days before Solomon.

• There is also an interesting usage of this term in Ezekiel 41:23.  Hekal Qodes would usually mean "Holy Temple", but the translator renders it as "Temple and Sanctuary".  It is translated thusly throughout the chapter.
• The next big change comes when there is a change in language - Greek.  The New Testament uses the following words:
  • ἱερόν (hieron) - Sacred Place
  • ναός (naos) - Sanctuary/Shrine/Temple.  Often used by Christians to describe the holy-of-holies.  This was the word used to describe Christ's "this temple shall be destroyed" and restored in three days... referring to his bodily resurrection.
• And we also need to include Latin translations:
  • Templum - Direct etymology into English.  But this word means the cordoned off space where the Roman Augers would do their augery without being disturbed.  It was set aside for a sacred purpose.  It was the holy-of-holies.  
    • Sidenote: When an auger dedicated/consecrated a temple, it was considered "inaugurated."
  • Fanum - This was not the cordoned off space.  It was the overall building.  Still considered a sacred space.  But it was different than the Templum.  This is also the word from which we get the word "profane".  Pro= "out in front of".  Fanum = temple.  Thus the "profane" is "the stuff outside the temple".

To make a point, I need to also include the definition of "saint".  One who is:

• Sanctified
• Holy
• Consecrated

All three of these roughly mean the same thing:  Set apart for sacred use.  We understand that a prominent method of being set apart for sacred use is to make covenants.

Thus "Latter-day Saints" means "Latter-day Covenant People."

The temple is the Palace & Dwelling Place of God wherein, His people come to make covenants with Him.  And making covenants will make us a peculiar people.

We tend to have a Hollywood cinematic concept of what "holy" means.  But to us, it seems to mean that when we make and keep covenants, we are His Holy People.   The "set aside" qualifier emphasizes why we make covenants to do things that the rest of the world does not do.  If we simply make covenants to do what the rest of the world thinks is a "good thing" then how are we any different?

So, we have some things like the Word of Wisdom which certainly separates us from the rest of the world.  And even the Law of Chastity nowadays separates us from most of Christianity. 

We are different.  We are set apart as the Lord's Covenant People.  Baptism is the process by which we are inaugurated into the fold of God.  And the covenant path is the process by which we are prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven.  And the temple is the primary place where we can come closer to God by making covenants with Him.