Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve a distinct purpose separate from standard Sunday meetinghouses. While local chapels open their doors to the public weekly for general worship and community gatherings, temples function as sacred spaces dedicated exclusively to high-level religious ceremonies, known as ordinances, including marriages and proxy baptisms. Understanding how these structures operate requires looking past the exterior architecture into the foundational theology and history that shape them.
The distinction between a meetinghouse and a temple forms the core of Latter-day Saint practice. Members gather in standard chapels on Sundays for sacrament services, Sunday School, and youth activities. Temples remain closed on Sundays and open only to faithful members who hold a specialized pass called a temple recommend, which certifies their adherence to church standards. This structure reflects ancient biblical precedents where specific holy sites required ritual preparation before entry.
Purpose and Sacred Ordinances
Inside these structures, members perform rituals intended to bind families together beyond mortality and provide sacred instruction. These ordinances include proxy baptisms for ancestors who died without hearing the gospel, the endowment ceremony—which involves receiving instruction and making sacred commitments to God—and marriage sealings, which unite husbands, wives, and children for eternity.
This emphasis on eternal families drives the architectural grandeur and internal layout of each building. Rather than housing large auditoriums for sermons, a typical temple features instruction rooms, a baptistery, sealing rooms, and a celestial room. The celestial room symbolizes peace and the presence of God, serving as a quiet space for prayer and reflection.
Architectural Evolution and Design
Latter-day Saint temple design has transformed dramatically since the 19th century. Early structures, such as the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples, relied on early American and gothic revival styles, built with local stone and volunteer labor. The iconic Salt Lake Temple, completed in 1893 after forty years of construction, set a standard with its six spires and symbolic granite masonry, representing both earthly and heavenly authority.
In the mid-20th century, the church shifted toward modern architectural expressions. The Bern Switzerland Temple, dedicated in 1955, broke tradition by omitting the traditional angel Moroni statue and adopting a steep Swiss chalet roof to blend with European aesthetics. Decades later, under church president Gordon B. Hinckley, the focus shifted toward smaller, regional temples. This modular approach brought sacred worship closer to global congregations, reducing travel time for members in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Modern structures balance regional aesthetic influences with standardized functional layouts. According to official historical tracking by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hundreds of operating, under construction, or announced temples span the globe, reflecting rapid international growth.
Public Access and Open Houses
Although active temples are restricted to recommended members, the church maintains an open-door policy before a building is dedicated. During a newly completed or extensively renovated temple's public open house, anyone can walk through the interior rooms. Millions of visitors tour these spaces, guided by hosts who explain the symbolic meaning of the rooms, the clothing worn during ceremonies, and the nature of the covenants made inside.
These open houses serve as a bridge to local communities, demystifying spaces that otherwise remain private. Visitors often note the high-end craftsmanship, custom art glass, local flora integration, and quiet atmosphere designed to encourage contemplation. Once the dedication ceremony occurs, access reverts to card-holding members, and the building functions strictly for sacred ordinances.
Common Misconceptions
Outsiders often confuse Latter-day Saint temples with local administrative centers or standard Sunday chapels. Recognizing these differences clarifies how the faith operates on a day-to-day basis:
- Regular Worship: Sunday services never happen inside temples; those occur in local meetinghouses open to the general public.
- Secret vs. Sacred: Members don't view temple rites as secret conspiracies, but rather as deeply sacred moments too personal to broadcast casually.
- Exclusivity: While regular entry requires a recommend, anyone can prepare to enter through personal study, baptism, and adherence to church commandments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone visit the inside of a Mormon temple?
Anyone can tour a temple during its initial public open house period after construction or major renovation finishes. After dedication, entry is limited to members who hold a current temple recommend.
Why do some temples feature a statue on top?
Most temples feature a statue of the angel Moroni, an ancient prophet in the Book of Mormon, blowing a trumpet. This symbolizes the spread of the restored gospel across the earth, though not all modern structures include this feature.
What happens inside a temple?
Members participate in sacred proxy work for deceased ancestors, receive personal religious instruction through the endowment, and perform eternal marriage sealings that link families past death.
How are temples funded?
Construction and maintenance costs are funded entirely through voluntary tithes and donations given by faithful members of the global church, rather than government subsidies or public taxes.
