Temples differ from the tens of thousands of local meetinghouses throughout the world where members typically meet for Sunday worship services and midweek social activities — and where visitors are always welcome. Temples are used solely for the performance of sacred ordinances and religious instruction aimed at strengthening members’ relationships with God, their family and others around them.
To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are houses of the Lord, the most sacred places on earth. Temple services bind families together forever, teach the purpose of life and explain God’s plan of salvation. Temple attendance strengthens Latter-day Saints’ commitment to living Christian principles, emphasizes personal spiritual growth and increases devotion to family" (http://gilbertmormontemple.org/gilbert-temple-details.html).
What a blessing it is to have temples spanning across the Globe!!! They are sacred edifices where divine instruction and actions take place! Within the walls of the temple individuals perform ordinances (outward expressions of inner commitments to follow Christ) for their own salvation along with the salvation for those that have passed on. Ordinances are performed by priesthood authority (the power God gives man to act in his name). When someone takes part in an ordinance they make covenants or promises to follow God; and in return, God promises them blessings. One such ordinance is baptism for the dead. When we either become or are faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we are blessed with the opportunity to stand in proxy of those that have passed on and be baptized in their behalf. This heavenly transaction does not force the person on the other side to accept the gospel; instead it gives those individuals a choice to accept the gospel and live the associated covenants therein. Families are also made eternal within the temples.
Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, God and Jesus Christ restored the power to seal or bind things together on earth and in heaven. The Savior stated to the ancient Apostle Peter "And I will agive unto thee the bkeys of the ckingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt dbind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16?lang=eng). By virtue of modern day revelation we know that this scripture refers to the sealing power. Husbands & wifes along with their children can be sealed together for time and all eternity by this God given power that is spoken of in the Holy Bible. Think of the magnitude of this concept!!! An eternal family and marriage; never to be broken as long as the participants are faithful!
I testify that temples are literally Houses of the Lord!!! As I have wrote this I have gained a stronger testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and declare without reserve to you that it is true today!!!!
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