Salt Lake City, UT, Utah, Temple Square, Mormon Temple, Salt Lake Temple, evening. Andre Jenny Stock Connection Worldwide/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: scphotos114304
July 24th is a state holiday in Utah called Pioneer Day. It’s celebrated each year on July 24 to mark the day Mormon pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Because one of the first thing the pioneers did when they got to Utah was build a temple, we thought we’d highlight some of the temples around the world built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
According to Mormon.org, the LDS church has more than 100 operating temples around the world. Temples are considered the holiest buildings on earth to Mormons and are places of prayer and worship. While anyone may visit a temple during its open house period right after it has been built, once a temple has been dedicated (had a special prayer said over it to dedicate it to the Lord and designate it as a sacred structure) only fully active member of the LDS church may enter it.
Inside the temple church members participate in ordinances. One ordinance performed in the temple is marriage. Another, that made headlines several months ago, is baptism for deceased persons. Mormon.org said in the temple members “learn eternal truths; receive sacred ordinances, including those that bind husband and wife together for eternity, as well as join children and parents; and provide ordinances such as baptism for those who have died without the opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
In a recent television special, Barbara Walters interviewed several leaders of different faiths about heaven. During her interview she talked to William R. Walker, a leader in the LDS church who oversees the temple department. Walters and Williams talk about the temple’s celestial room and how temples help members of the LDS church think about heaven (starting at 17:55 – the pictures from inside the temple are gorgeous). He said the temple acts as a reminder “that we’re on our way back to God. We’re on our way back to heaven. That’s our objective.”
Check out the pictures in this post of some of the Mormon temples around the world, then head back to Newscom to see more.
Utah. USA. Logan LDS (Mormon) Temple at dusk on foggy winter evening. Cache Valley. Scott T. Smith Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos346330
Nauvoo, IL, Illinois, Nauvoo Temple, Mormon Church. Andre Jenny Stock Connection Worldwide/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: scphotos164866
Mormon Mesa temple at Christmas. Mesa, Arizona. Steven Bodnovits/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumaglobe823650
A Mexican flag waves next to the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the Aragon neighbourhood in Mexico City February 23, 2012. The strongest growth for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in recent years has come overseas, and one of its richest source of recruits in the United States is the Hispanic community. Picture taken February 23, 2012. TOMAS BRAVO/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive096282
Billings Montana temple. North America, USA, Montana, Billings. City spread and the Rim rock. Bill Bachmann / DanitaDelimont.com “Danita Delimont Photography”/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos277986
The Mormon Temple, Chorley, United Kingdom. Chris Brink / VIEW View Pictures/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: viewphotos016410
The Mormon Temple in Rexburg, Idaho. David R. Frazier / DanitaDelimont.com “Danita Delimont Photography”/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos267439
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Tags: celestial room, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, lds, mormon, temple