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Show Messenger-Enterpris- Saints Latter-da- y Why from tge 6) (Continued They were wrong. Before his death, Joseph told intimate friends that he had a premonition he might not live to see the Nauvoo Temple completed. He therefore took care to set in place a system of succession in church leadership which called for the Quorum of Twelve Apostles to become the presiding body in the church in the event that he, as president, should be killed. Furthermore, Joseph gave extensive instructions to the president of the Quorum of the Twelve, Brigham Young, concerning the completion of the temple and the ordinances which were to be administered in it Because of Josephs careful foresight and preparation, Brigham Young and the other members of the Quorum of the Twelve were able to proceed decisively and effectively as the presiding officers of the church following the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. Under their direction, the Nauvoo Temple was completed, although the decision had already been made that the Saints would soon move to the West During the weeks preceding the departure of the Mormons from Nauvoo, the temple was a veritable beehive of activity, as members sought to receive the ordinances which Joseph Smith had told them could only be performed in a dedicated which were necessary for their full salvation, as well as the salvation of their families. Their sense of urgency about receiving these ordinances was heightened by the grim realization that the journey to the West that lay before them would be long and dangerous, and some of them would undoubtedly die in the attempt to complete it. After the Mormons left Nauvoo, their abandoned temple fell into the hands of their enemies, who systematically and gleefully desecrated it. The Saints took it as a sign ofGods mercy when the building was eventually destroyed by fire and a tornado. At least their enemies could no longer defile something which meant so much to them. temple-ordinan- ces More Temples in the West But the Mormons had little inclination, and still less time, to brood about the loss of the Nauvoo Temple; they were compelled to deal with the new challenges awaiting them in the West. Despite the harsh conditions in their new home in the Great Basin of the intermountain West conditions which required great exertions just to ensure physical survival-t- he Saints once again began plans to build still more temples. And from this time on, the Saints succeeded in keeping their temples. Every temple built by the church since the Nauvoo Temple is still in the hands of the church today, and all are in full operation. The early Utah templesat St. George (dedicated in 1877), Logan (1884), Manti (1888), and Salt Lake City (1893)-sta- nd today as enduring monuments to the sacrifice, dedication, and skilled craftsmanship of those persistent pioneers. To Latter-da- y Saints, these temples of the intermountain West represent at least a partial fulfillment of Isaiahs prophecy about the House of the Lord being established in the last days in the tops of the mountains. Certainly, the guest registers signed by thousands of visitors to these temples leave no doubt about the fact that all nationshave indeed made their way to these sacred buildings. 19th-centu- ry Temple Building Continues Today - As church membership continues to expand at an rate, particularly in areas outside the United States, the church has built additional temples to serve the needs of the Saints in these areas. At the present time, 41 temples have been completed and are now in operation, and seven more are in various stages of planning or construction. A selective listing of the locations of the more recent temples-Api- a, Samoa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Freiberg, East Germany; Lima, Peru; Manila, Philippines; Papeete, Tahiti; Seoul, Korea; Stockholm, Sweden; and the increasingly international character of Tokyo, Japan-refle- cts ever-increasi- the church. Mormons confidently expect that the church will continue to grow in membership and resources, and that eventually hundreds, if not thousands of temples, will be in operation throughout the world. But building a temple is only the beginning. After a temple has been constructed, a considerable number of ordinance workers, recorders, clerks, etc. are required to operate it. These workers are supervised by a president, two counselors, and a matron. Without the diligent labors of these people, it would be pointless to build temples in the first place. A Century of Temple Work in Manti The present workers and presidency of the Manti Temple, where the Mormon Miracle Pageant is presented each year, have tradithe satisfaction of knowing they are part of a century-londedicated in tion of distinguished service. Since the temple was 1888, twelve men have served as its president: Daniel H. Wells, 1888-9John D. T. McAllister, 1893-190Anthon H. Lund, 1891-91906-33- ; Lewis Robert D. Young, 1933-4lewis Anderson, Reuel E. R. Anderson, 1943-59- ; Adolphus B. Peterson, 1959-68- ; Wilbur W. Cox, June W. Black, 1973-78- ; Christensen, 1968-71978-8and Earl R. Olsen, the current Alma P. Burton, 1985-8president. Literally thousands of ordinance workers have served in the Manti Temple over the last century. Multiply these figures to take into consideration all of the churchs temples, and you begin to realize the magnitude of the efforts that have been devoted by Latter-da- y Saints to building and operating temples. But for Mormons, all of the hard work and sacrifice involved has been a labor of love. They consider it a wonderful privilege to participate in the fulfilling of ancient prophecies concerning our own day. And they feel a deep kinship with the holy men and women of earlier dispensations who looked forward to the present g 6; 3; 1; 3; 3; 5; Page 7 Special Mormon Miracle Pageant Supplement Inc. e, 8; really a modem religion at all. Rather, it claims to be a latter-da- y restoration of an ancient order of things extending back, not just to Jesus Christ and His original apostles, but clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and then continuing on through the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi. A central aspect of that ancient order was building and operating temples. Building materials and architectural styles have changed throughout the centuries, of course. But the purposes for which Gods covenant people have built temples have remained constant over the ages: to provide a House of the Lord where God can come to visit with his appointed prophets, and where His covenant people can be instructed and receive ordinances that will ensure their happiness and joy in the eternities to come. Latter-da- Temples and Meetinghouses Saint temples and meetinghouses have distinct y and different functions. Like most other Christian denominations, Mormons conduct worship services and gospel study classes on Sundays, and recreational and social activities are held during the week. All such activities are held in local meetinghouses, of which of the there are thousands throughout the world. such welcome church are always at meetings, and members of the to church are encouraged invite their friends and neighbors to such church functions. Temples, on the other hand, are closed on Sundays, for they are not used for general worship. Rather, they are for the performances of sacred ordinances, which Mormons believe to be necessary for them to achieve the full eternal blessings their Heavenly Father desires them to have. Non-membe- rs non-memb- er Who Can Enter Mormon Temples? When a temple has just been constructed, but not yet dedicated, an open house is held for several days; during this time, civic leaders of the community where the temple is located, religious leaders from other faiths, and the general public are invited to take free guided tours of the entire temple. Such open houses typically attract large crowds, and most of those who tour a new temple are deeply impressed by the cleanliness and beauty of the building and grounds, as well as by the calm and reverent spirit that pervades the temple area. After a temple has been dedicated and ordinance work has begun, only LDS members in good standing are admitted. Members of the church are interviewed each year by their local church leaders to assure that they are living in accordance with the high moral and ethical standards required of church members, and that they are in full harmony with the doctrines and policies of the church. Those who are found worthy receive a recommend which they must present to temple officials in order to gain admittance. Temple Ordinances Several key theological concepts underlie Mormon temple ordinances. One of these is the literal fatherhood of God. Mormons believe that all human beings on this earth have a spirit dwelling within their physical body ; they believe that spirit is an eternal entity, and that it was literally begotten by a divine being, our Heavenly Father, and his exalted companion, our Heavenly Mother. Our spirits are thus the offspring of divine parentage. In a revelation to Moses, subsequently lost from the Bible but restored by inspiration to Joseph Smith in 1830, God told Moses: Behold, this is my work and my glory-- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Gods principal work, therefore, is to beget spirit children and assist them in growing to the full spiritual maturity of their heavenly parents. To this end, a divine plan was formulated which called for Gods spirit children to pass through several stages of growth and progression, under varying circumstances. Our present life on the earth is but one stage in this divine plan. Before we were born into this life, we lived with ourheavenly spirit existence which Mormon scriptures parents in a to as estate. our refer first After successfully completing the requirements of our first estate, we have now been allowed to come to this earth, our second estate," in order to obtain a physical body and to undergo additional experiences and tests which are possible only with a physical body. Those who comply with Gods commandments during mortality are promised that after death, the temporary separation of the body and the spirit, they will receive a resurrection in which their spirit will again be joined together with a perfected and glorified physical body. Having been true and faithful to all that they were commanded to do, they will receive eternal life and a fullness of joy throughout the eternities to come. This eternal perspective permeates LDS theology. Our life here on this earth is only part of the overall picture; therefore, all of our actions and thoughts should be evaluated in terms of the eternal verities proclaimed by authorized servants of the Lord rather than the fickle and passing fads of the day sponsored by wicked and uninspired men. Death is not the end ofour existence, but simply a change of status leading into the next stage of progression and growth. Although the body is lifeless for a time, the spirit continues as an intelligent entity in the spirit world beyond the veil of mortality. The ordinances administered in LDS temples are concerned pre-mort- al A Journey into Yesteryear! The 120-Ye- ar Old Brigham House Inn Bed & Breakfast both with things which must be done during this life, as toll as with things that reach beyond the veil to affect the lives of those who have passed through physical death. The Temple Endowment For those living here in mortality, temple ordinances are of vital importance. One of these ordinances, the endowment, consists of a course of instruction relating to our identity and status as children in Gods household. Those receiving the endowment are taught concerning Gods plans for our growth and happiness, and the blessings he offers to those who are willing to obey His commandments. Church members who receive the endowment ordinances enter into solemn covenants to live righteous lives of Christian service and purity, to conform with high standards of chastity and morality, and to sustain the Lords appointed prophets, and follow their counsel. The Eternal Family Unit In the temple, worthy LDS members receive sealing ordinances which bind husbands and wives together, not just until death do you part," but for time and all eternity. Because of certain keys of the sealing power bestowed upon Joseph Smith by the prophet Elijah, Mormons believe, it is possible for the relationship between a man and wife to endure beyond the grave. By this same authority, children can be sealed to their parents for all eternity. Saints believe that in order for men and women to attain the highest realms of glory in the eternities, they must be Latter-da- y sealed together in the bonds of eternal marriage. Only in dedicated temples can these sacred ordinances be performed. Hence, the vital importance of temple marriage for Latter-da- y Saints. Other Ordinances Also Required for Salvation Joseph Smith taught that in order for any son or daughter of God to attain his or her full potential, certain principles and commandments of God must be accepted and followed, and certain ordinances must be received. For example, Jesus Christ taught Nicodemus that baptism is a necessary ordinance to enter the kingdom of heaven, and further emphasized the necessity of this ordinance by being baptized himself by John the Baptist But the Savior also taught that baptism by water was incomplete without the receipt of the gift of the Holy Ghost Anciently, this essential ordinance was given by the laying on of hands of those who held divine authority. This same authority held by the apostles of Jesus Christ in the early Christian church was restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829, and the ordinance is performed in the modern church just as it was in earlier dispensations. Baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost constitute the first essential ordinances of the gospel. Those who righteously receive these two ordinances may then go on to receive the higher endowment and sealing ordinances administered in the temple. Vicarious Work for the Dead If baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, the endowment, and eternal marriage are essential for men and women to attain the highest level of salvation in the eternities to come, what of those persons who, through no fault of their own, did not have an opportunity to accept these ordinances during their lives on earth? Since perfect justice is one of Gods characteristics, it seems obvious that everyone who did not have an opportunity to receive all gospel ordinances will have to be given this opportunity prior to the final judgment But one aspect ofthese essential ordinances is that they can only be performed upon a physical body. A spirit cannot be baptized, endowed, or married. How, then, can such spirits receive the blessings of these ordinances? The Lord has provided a way for this to be accomplished. Living persons here on the earth, who have physical bodies, may act as proxies for those who have passed into the spirit world without the opportunity to receive these ordinances. Such vicarious work for the dead was definitely practiced by the early Christian church. The Apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, referred to this practice as part ofhis argument about the reality of the resurrection: Again, there are those who receive baptism on behalf of the dead. Why should they do this? If the dead are not raised to life at all, what do they mean by being baptized on their behalf?" (New English Bible, I Corinthians 15:29). Joseph Smith received instructions in 1841 to restore the practice of baptism for the dead, and millions of such baptisms have been performed in LDS temples since that time. Just as vicarious baptisms can be performed for the dead, so can vicarious confirmations, endowments, and sealings. Of course, those in the spirit world have the opportunity to accept or reject the work done on their behalf here on the earth. But those who accept it will receive the same blessings as if they had received these essential ordinances while in mortality. Thus, the Lords plan allows equal opportunity for all to receive the highest blessings of heaven. . Such vicarious ordinances for the dead, the Lord explained to Joseph Smith, can only be performed in temples. Latter-da- y Saints therefore consider it their duty to seek to identify their ancestors who lived on the earth prior to the restoration of the gospel in 1830, and then perform the necessary ordinance work for them in the temple. This great work of the latter days was referred to by Malachi, who prophesied that the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers" before Christs second coming, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Saints look upon their temples, not only as Thus, Latter-da- y where themselves places they may receive the highest blessings which the Lord can bestow, but also places where they may seek to assist others, particularly their own kindred dead, to receive the same blessings. day. Saint temples, like the mountains to which Isaiah compared them, are meeting places between earth and heaven, Latter-da- y where the powers of heaven can come down and bless the lives of men and women, and where men may be instructed in the steps they must take to take full advantage of Gods grace. Majestic and beautiful, yet also friendly and inviting, the churchs temples invite all to come unto Christ and receive of His Saints have such goodness and mercy. No wonder Latter-da- y reverence and love for these holy buildings. For them, the site of the Mormon Miracle Pageant is indeed holy ground. Weddings, Receptions Drive Home Safely 123 E. Union, Manti, Utah 84642 Lee & Helen Thurston, proprietors and Stop for a Rest If you are Tired! 835-838- 1 platform during rehearsals. I l |