Mormon Bloggers

The More Good Foundation has put out a call for Mormon temple photos and reflections. The following is from their blog: More Good Foundation would like to include your reflections upon temples and temple worship on our websites. These should be personal — in the first-person voice, 300 to 1000 words. Be sure to tell us which temple is closest to you, or where you were when these thoughts occurred to you. Include a photo of yourself or of you and significant others if you’d like (preferably on temple grounds) and a simple sentence giving us permission to mount your article and photo(s) online. Click here for a sample article on Mormon temples, written by a lay member, for you to consider. We’re looking for authentic thoughts and feelings to share with the world. We are not necessarily looking for gospel scholars’ doctrinal statements–though those are welcome–but our desire is to capture the kaleidoscope of faith-promoting insights and experiences we have as we regularly worship... Read the rest of this entry »

This is the video of the complete Rome Mormon Temple Groundbreaking Ceremony held in Rome, October 23, 2010. A few parts are only in Italian but most of the talks were given in English, including obviously the final talk by President Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church). President Thomas S. Monson was accompanied by Church officials including Elder William R. Walker, Executive Director of the Temple Department; Erich W. Kopischke, President of the Europe Area and his two counselors, Elder Gérald Caussé and Elder José A. Teixeira; Elder Alfredo L. Gessati, Area Seventy; President Massimo De Feo, Rome Italy Stake President; and President Raimondo Castellani, Bern Switzerland Temple President. Numerous government officials were also in attendance including Mr. Giuseppe Ciardi, vice mayor of Rome, and Senator Lucio Malan. In his remarks, President Monson emphasized the unique and historic nature of the temple’s construction,... Read the rest of this entry »

Two years ago, in October, my family and I went to watch the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) at the closest Stake Center. We had recently cancelled our subscription to cable TV and we were not used yet to use the Internet to watch conference. Therefore the Stake Center was our best option. That morning very few people were with us in the chapel, and when President Monson started talking and announcing the plans for new temples constructions we were surprised – as many in the audience – by his announcing the construction of the Rome Temple. When we heard that announcement, we could not refrain from jumping on our feet and shout, as many Italians would do when their favorite soccer team scores a goal! Now, two years after that historic announcement, on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, President Thomas S. Monson presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the future Rome Italy Temple, now being built on a pastoral site in the northeast... Read the rest of this entry »

Elder John A. Widtsoe made this remarkable statement: ‘ When the history of human thought shall be written from the point of view of temple worship, it may well be found that temples and the work done in them have been the dominating influence in shaping human thought from the beginning of the race. Even today, political controversies are as nothing in determining the temper of a people, as compared with religious sentiments and convictions, especially as practiced in the temples of the people. David B. Haight, Ensign, May 1993, 23  Read More →

This past weekend, the Kyiv Ukraine temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson. Mormons in the area are thrilled; before now they had to travel for hours (in the range of about 30) to attend the nearest temple in Germany. The new temple will serve about 31,000 people living in nine countries in Europe. (Read more about what happens at a temple dedication.) You can enjoy several photos from the temple open house and dedication, or take a virtual walk inside the Kyiv Ukraine temple with the following video that includes both exterior and interior photos of the temple. Read more about why temples are so important to Mormons. View more photos of the inside of several other temples, as well as read more about the ceremonies performed in Mormon temples. Photo © 2010 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.  Read More →

This weekend, the Gila Valley Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson. The building and dedication of this temple fulfills a prophecy historians say was made in 1882. For more information about the history of this temple, this article includes an impressive compilation of links. If you are wondering what a temple dedication is like, this personal account about the Gila Valley Arizona Temple dedication is a moving summary of what temple dedications mean to Mormons, and what it’s like to attend a dedication. You can also read this Mormon Women article for more information: What happens at a Mormon temple dedication? Prior to the dedication, an open house was held, where the public was able to walk through the temple and learn more about what temples mean to Mormons. (For more information on this topic, see our index entry on Mormon temples.) The following video was from a press tour of the temple in April and includes... Read the rest of this entry »

The endowment that we receive in the Lord’s temples today is not the complete endowment that the Savior intends us to have.  The ordinances introduce us but the endowment is not complete until we have come into the heavenly presence and have been instructed in the things of eternity. You may ask, “If there is more to the endowment than what I have been taught in the temple, then why hasn’t someone explained it to me?”  A careful reading of scripture revealed in these last days contains all we need to know to fully understand that there is more, much more to it. The redemptive mission of the Savior In his role as our Redeemer, a primary mission of the Savior is to baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire.  He did not complete that mission with his disciples in Jerusalem while he was among them, explaining that he had to go away first in order for them to receive this sacred gift. He also said that his apostles would do greater works than he did. In other words, they would... Read the rest of this entry »

For those near Vancouver British Columbia, you are invited to an open house of the Mormon temple that has been in Langley. The open house runs through April 24. Admission is free, and there is no reservation required. For more details about location (including a map) and open house hours, see the Vancouver British Columbia Temple temple open house invitation. The invitation also briefly addresses the following questions: What is the purpose of the temple? What is the inside of the temple like? Can the public see the inside of the temple? What is the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse? You can also read more about temples in the following post on our site: Chapels and Temples: Glimpses inside each and how they differ What happens at a Mormon temple dedication? What does the inside of the Oquirrh Mountain temple look like? What the temple means to Mormons? What does the inside of a Mormon temple look like? The connection between LDS temple worship and ancient (Old Testament)... Read the rest of this entry »

I love to go to the temple. I have recently moved and now I live very close to one of the beautiful Mormon temples. Everything that there is or that we do in the temple is a symbol of Jesus Christ and his life and atonement. Recently I was reading from the scriptures while in there and I was struck by this scripture in the New Testament, John 12:27: Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. When troubles come and problems seem to overcome our confidence in the Lord and in what we are trying to do, this is a good verse to remember. The Lord Jesus was troubled. So, it is acceptable to be troubled, it is normal to have really bad moments in our lives, but “what shall we say? Father save us from this hour?” Troubles and problems are part of lives and are important for our progression, therefore we should better ask for strength to endure and overcome them, instead of praying to avoid them. In the... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Michelle B. The temple, to me, is the pinnacle of our experience in the gospel and in this life. We talk about the Atonement. Serving in the temple is the Atonement in action. I once heard someone explain this point: Every time we attend the temple, we need to forgive someone of something. Even if it is forgiving ourselves, we need to partake of the Atonement in this way. When I think about that, I usually equate the Atonement with repentance and being saved from our sinful, mortal lives. What better way to show our gratitude than by serving in the temple and doing for others what the Saviour has done for us. We are providing ordinances of salvation to those who have gone on before us and doing for them what they cannot do for themselves. We talk of service. We know from the scriptures that if we don’t have charity, we have nothing. I believe one of the greatest forms of service we can render is to serve in the temple. We talk of finding peace and being in the world but not of the... Read the rest of this entry »

My name is Michelle. I’m a Mormon Woman, and I love our temples. I first started going to the temple regularly after I was married.  My husband and I lived only five minutes away from the temple, and we went about once a month. It was easy to go, and we enjoyed spending the time together and being in the House of the Lord. I got pregnant about nine months after we got married and I was terribly sick for my whole pregnancy. I rarely, if ever went anywhere other than work and church because I was so sick.  The temple was an “extra” and I fell out of the habit of going. After my daughter, Ellie, was born,  I still couldn’t get back in the habit of attending the temple; I was  too afraid to leave my new baby for 2 hours at a time, I worried about the issues with nursing, and leaving her with a babysitter. For a couple years, I had been having a pretty serious conflict with one member of my family.  I always considered myself optimistic, but found that I just wasn’t... Read the rest of this entry »

A few days ago a friend from Italy sent a message to another one where she was saying that her religion was simple, no need of temples or other complications. I believe that many people feel that way, because they do not understand the purpose of temples, and they think they are just places of rituals without substance. But the truth is that temples are necessary. The ordinances we perform in the temples are essentials for our salvation, and the peace and feelings we have when we are inside those temples make a great difference in our daily lives. Payson Utah Temple.  Read More →