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Temple Definition

Temple: More than 160 special buildings located throughout the world where members who are deemed worthy get married and participate in ordinances, including work on behalf of the dead.

According to Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, “With temples men can be exalted; without them there is no exaltation” (The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary 1:99). Apostle Russell M. Nelson explained, “Temple ordinances, covenants, endowments and sealings enable individuals to be reconciled with the Lord and families to be sealed beyond the veil of death. Obedience to temple covenants qualifies us for eternal life – the greatest gift of God to man” (“Eternal life comes from obedience to temple ordinances,” Church News, April 7, 2001, p. 10). He also said, “His hope for us is eternal life. We qualify for it by obedience to covenants and ordinances of the temple – for ourselves, our families, and our ancestors. We cannot be made perfect without them. We cannot wish our way into the presence of God. We are to obey the laws upon which those blessings are predicated” (“Now is the time to prepare,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 2005, p. 18. Italics in original).

“The temple blessings are as essential for each of us as our baptism. For this reason, we are to prepare ourselves that we may be clean to enter into the temple of God” (Robert D. Hales, “Temples are essential to eternal plan of happiness,” Church News, November 19, 2005, p. 5).

For more information on the temple, see here. For information on the temple ceremony, see here.

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