Temple (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, a temple is a building designed as a house of God and often reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services. Temples have been a significant part of Mormonism since its inception, and many Latter Day Saint sects have built temples.
Latter Day Saint temples as houses of God
Temples are considered to be a holy abode for Jesus Christ where members can go to commune with God.
Latter Day Saint temples as the center of Zion
In early Latter Day Saint history, wherever the Saints established themselves, the attempted to build a temple there, as the center of a new Zion.
Latter Day Saint temples as places for special forms of worship
Temples have a different purpose from ordinary meetinghouses. In early Latter Day Saint history, temples were used for sacred ceremonies not performed in meetinghouses. In the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, the Saints performed feet washing, and the Mormon sealing ordinance. Later, in the temple at Nauvoo, Illinois, the Saints performed the Endowment ceremony and the Second Anointing.
Temples of various Latter Day Saint denominations
The most prolific builder of temples within the Latter Day Saint movement is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has built over a hundred of temples across the world. These temples are not open to the public, but are used for special rituals and ceremonies by worthy Latter-day Saints. For information about Latter-day Saint temples, see Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Community of Christ, the second largest Latter Day Saint denomination, maintains two temples. Unlike the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, these temples are open to the public, and do not involve sacred rituals, except at certain times for Communion. The oldest temple maintained by the church is in Kirtland, Ohio. This temple was the first temple built by Latter Day Saints. In its 1994 World Conference, the Community of Christ also opened a temple in Independence, Missouri.
During the life of Joseph Smith, Jr, he dedicated a location in Independence, Missouri for the building of a special temple, which was to be the center of a New Jerusalem. The lot for this temple is presently maintained by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), which is not planning to construct a temple there. Instead, the sect believes it is the steward of the location until the various sects of the Latter Day Saint movement re-unite into a single organization before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.