In the Fall of 1996 my congregation graciously granted me a 3 month sabbatical to teach Greek and do some graduate work at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Mormons and their temples seemed to be a hot topic while I was there. Once people learned that I was a Pastor in St. George, Utah, the most common response was: "Did you see their new temple on I - 40?" As a result of the new Mormon temple, I had some wonderful opportunities to talk about the beliefs of the LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Salt Lake City) and in particular the theology associated with their temples. It seemed that those who live East of the Rockies are not all that familiar with the LDS church and their temples. However, those of us who live West of the Rockies tend to be a bit more familiar with the LDS and their temples simply because we live in Utah or near Utah.

At the outset, I wish to make it very clear that the LDS people whom I know and with whom I work (I am also the chaplain for the Home Health\Hospice in St. George.) are wonderful people! They are nice. They are zealously mission-minded. They are family oriented. At times, I have even found that many of our own Lutheran members secretly and not so secretly envy the LDS missionary and family practices. "Why can't we be more like the Mormons?" (See sidebar topic #1)  I have heard, especially when I travel to the Midwest. Well, hopefully this article will help us understand what the LDS truly believe, then we will no longer be so envious. I'll try to accomplish this through the temple theology of the LDS. But first we must start with the big picture - The Mormon Plan of Salvation.

The LDS have taken an oath not to discuss the ceremonies which take place in their temples. These issues are to remain secret. In order to discuss such sensitive issues as the LDS temple and its ceremonies, I must clarify from the start the importance of integrity. I purposely live and minister in Utah emphasizing to my LDS friends that I am here to maintain the integrity of the LDS faith. I'm not a Pastor who is in Utah for the purpose of converting Mormons, nor am I here to make fun of them and their beliefs. The Bible does not say to love your Lutheran neighbor as yourself. We are to love all of our neighbors. Rather, I am called by Trinity to serve the Lutherans who are called to Christ's altar at Trinity and preach and teach the Gospel in the community. By setting a context of integrity for what the LDS believe, I automatically provide a context wherein I get to maintain my integrity as a Lutheran. It tends to take the edge off of competition and paranoia. It also lets my LDS friends know that I expect them to be LDS and support what the LDS church really teaches. It stops the blurring of the lines between our two religions. This is an important point particularly since the 1980's when the LDS church began to make a concerted effort to market itself as "Christian." A final warning is in order. Before you start to think how ridiculous and bizarre the LDS religion is as you read this, you better wait until you have read the whole article… I am not trying to give you an opportunity to make fun or bash the Mormons. I just want you to know from where they are coming and why their temples are so important.

The Mormon Plan of Salvation

Before we can get to the significance of the Mormon temples and their ceremonies, we must grasp the objective of the LDS believer - to become a god. To be a god is to be able to continue into eternity with one's eternal family. The LDS god or "heavenly father" was "as we are now and is an exalted man." In other words the LDS "Heavenly Father" was a man like any other man on earth. He had to go through all the tests of the different worlds and achieve godhood through his wise decision making process and follow the "gospel principles." The LDS believe that they are the product of pre-mortal procreation between their "heavenly father and mother." All of the angels, the spirits, the demons, even Jesus and Lucifer are all pre-mortal spirits borne of "our heavenly father and mother." Thus, Jesus and Lucifer are also our brothers - from the pre-mortal world. The goal of the Mormon is to do as well as "heavenly father" did and become gods and continue procreating the eternal family which began in the pre-mortal world. But, to become a god the LDS person must progress to "exaltation" in the celestial kingdom by means of their wise use of their agency.

The road to godhood for the spirits from the pre-mortal world onward is the wise use of their "agency" (free will to choose right and wrong) in order to achieve a perfect and holy life as exemplified by "Heavenly Father" and "Jesus Christ" as they moved through their many existences.   The keyword to eternity is worthiness! Their worthiness is based upon their wise use of this agency. To move from the premortal (spirit world) to the mortal world (earth) the spirits must have used their agency wisely in the spirit world. Once they achieve an appropriate level of worthiness in the premortal existence Heavenly Father sends the spirits to earth to receive their physical bodies. Here, on earth, they must continue with the wise use of their agency and work towards holiness as they now experience existence and testing with a physical body. The role of people on earth, especially Mormon women is to provide physical bodies for the spirits who are sent here. This is also the driving motivation for large families in Mormonism. The wise use of their agency is determined by how they live the "Gospel Principles" as well as follow through with the "Ordinances of the Priesthood."  As these principles and ordinances are followed on earth the Mormon believes that he is on the road to godhood. This helps us to understand why the LDS go even as far as to understand their children to be "gods in embryo form." It is on this earth (Mortal Existence) where the power and significance of the Temple and its ceremonies become the focal point of the LDS faith as we shall see.

From this earth the spirits will proceed either to paradise or prison. The LDS spirits go to paradise and the non-LDS spirits go to prison. The physical bodies do not progress, their purpose is fulfilled on earth. While in paradise, the LDS spirits will continue their mission activity to the spirits in prison. When a spirit in prison is converted to Mormonism he will enter paradise - if he is baptized. But, the problem for Mormonism is that there are no bodies to baptize in prison. Thus, entry into paradise must wait. In a moment, we will see how this problem is solved.

Once this spirit enters paradise, he is then able to begin to do his work in his progression to the exaltation within the celestial kingdom - that is, only if this spirit never had the opportunity in the physical world to become a Mormon. Those who did have the opportunity in the Mortal existence to become Mormon and are converted while in prison can enter paradise and eventually the celestial kingdom, but will not achieve exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Their road to godhood is cut off. They will only become "ministering spirits" since they already had an opportunity to become Mormon on earth. This belief influences the Mormon life on earth. It means that the person who hears about Mormonism on earth must become Mormon here on earth or they will forfeit their opportunity to achieve the exaltation - godhood. This produces an enormous amount of pressure on Mormon families.  They want to be sure that their children and extended families remain in the LDS church. If not, they will not be able to continue in the exalted state together forever. Finally, at the "resurrection" or judgment, that is after the prison\paradise world, all will be raised and will go to one of the three kingdoms: Celestial, Terrestrial or Telestial. The resurrection is an "ordinance" which will be given to the men who are resurrected and they will resurrect others. In this scheme it is also up to the husbands to resurrect their wives. In the Mormon perspective, these three kingdoms are all part of heaven. So, everyone goes to heaven.

This is also why Mormons love to celebrate Easter. The only significance that Jesus has with Easter is that he made it possible for all to rise. It has nothing to do with victory over sin, death, and the devil. Into which kingdom a person enters is determined by one's worthiness as Christ determines. Remember, worthiness is determined by the living of the gospel principles and ordinances of the Priesthood. The only ones who will not be assigned to one of the three kingdoms are the "sons of perdition" or Mormons who left the LDS church. Thus, further pressure is brought to the Mormon family structure. Resurrection is of utmost importance because each spirit will be given new bodies, however, the kind of bodies they receive depends upon which they earned. Those who will enter the exaltation in the celestial world will receive bodies which will permit them to procreate into eternity.

Faithful Mormons and children who die before the age of eight go to the Celestial Kingdom to live with Heavenly Father. However, there are three levels in the Celestial Kingdom. The lowest is reserved for those who inherit "eternal death" that is, those who were faithful, but never married in the Temple and thus they will remain single forever. They experience one of the many forms of damnation, meaning their eternal progression to godhood has been damned up or stopped. Think of it. To work your way to the celestial kingdom and still have to experience a kind of damnation… (At this point, there have been no revelations about the middle level of which this author is aware.)

The highest level of the Celestial Kingdom - exaltation - is reserved only for those who have proven their worthiness to be there. This includes following through with both the gospel principles and the ordinances of the priesthood. This means ordination for the men into the Melchizedek Priesthood, certain washing, anointing, and clothing ordinances done in the temple; the temple endowment; marriage for time and eternity (celestial marriage); the sealing of children to their parents if the children were not born within a celestial marriage; and other sacred sealings i.e., the same ceremonies for the dead. These are they who will attain godhood. They are the ones who will procreate into eternity and have eternal families and create their own worlds. Their families on earth will live with them forever if they were sealed to the parents and did not leave the LDS church. The terrestrial kingdom is for those who are moral non-Mormons and less than "valiant" Mormons. It is not as glorious as the celestial kingdom and it will experience the presence of Jesus, not Heavenly Father. In this kingdom there is no marriage. The Telestial kingdom is the lowest kingdom with the least amount of glory, but it still is glorious. The vast majority of people will go here. It is where the immoral, even the "meanest sinner" will go and will experience the presence of the Holy Ghost. Here, too, there is no marriage. There is no more progression after these two kingdoms.

It probably seems to the reader like this was a long way to go to get to the significance of Mormon Temples and their ceremonies. But, now, you will see how the whole of eternal progression depends upon the Temple and its ceremonies.

The Mormon Temple is accessible to the general public only prior to its dedication. Once it is dedicated only those Mormons who are worthy are permitted to enter. The Temple exists to perform the various temple ordinances and sealings which are required by the Mormon church. The temple and its work is the very road that leads to exaltation. The temple, as a symbol of the Mormon religion is as important as a cross is to historic Christianity. Mormons are encouraged to display prominently in their homes pictures of temples. A Mormon who does not perform the temple work will not achieve exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Again, remember it is only through the exaltation that godhood and eternal procreation (family) will take place. Furthermore, it is in the temple where all of the work for the dead takes place. This is why it was so important to go through the Mormon "plan of salvation" above. These ceremonies for the dead will take effect on the "dead "person who is now in the spirit world of "prison."

Who are the worthy Mormons? Those who have been granted their Temple Recommend, also known as their temple card. The faithful Mormon must have been one for a minimum of one year before he can be interviewed by his Bishop and Stake president to determine his worthiness. If he is worthy, he is given his recommend. According to Mormonism, these men have been granted the gift of discernment so that they know when someone is lying. This card is shown each time upon entering the Temple. The recommend is good for one year and must be renewed through the same interviews. Approximately 20-25% of Mormons have a valid Temple Recommend and approximately 10% of adult Mormons regularly attend the Temple. This is often due to lack of having a temple nearby.

There are four Ordinances for the living which take place in the Temple: Washing, Anointing, Clothing in the Garment of the Holy Priesthood, and the Endowment. Often these four ordinances together are called the endowment. Endowment takes place most often in their late teens or just before the Celestial Marriage. The Sealings for the living that take place are: the sealing of married people who were not originally married in the Temple's "celestial marriage" and the sealing of the children to their parents forever if those parents were not originally married in the Temple's "celestial marriage." Finally, the celestial marriages themselves are performed "for time and eternity." The celestial marriage in the Temple is what seals the husband and wife together forever! This is required or the Mormon will not be permitted into the exaltation, i.e., godhood. It is also in these ceremonies where the spouses are given their secret "new names" by which they will be called at the resurrection into the celestial kingdom.

Only in very special circumstances do the marriages in time take place in the temple. One of the common reasons for marriages in time is when a non-Mormon or a non temple worthy Mormon is to be one of the spouses. However, these marriages almost always takes place in the local stake house or elsewhere. (The local building consists of local wards. The local ward is a geographical area. If there are enough Mormons in one area, they will create more wards. In Utah, a local stake house often has at least 5 wards.) The marriage for time is looked down upon by the Mormon community because the family of a marriage in time will not be blessed forever. Every Mormon must be baptized but they take place in one of the local stake houses and not the Temple.

The "Temple Mormon" who follows through with the Endowment ceremonies are given and expected to wear their temple garments for the rest of their lives under their outer clothes. They are allowed not to wear them for bathing and sports activities. They appear to be long underwear which covers the shoulders and stops just above the knee. There are four marks on them which parallel marks from the Masonic Lodge. It is these marks which seem to give them their special power of protection for their entire lives. The Mormon is to cut out these marks if they ever discard their temple garments. There is also special clothing which Mormons must wear when they are in the temple and going through the various ceremonies and these are also called temple garments but are only for inside the Temple. The ordinances for dead ancestors or for the names that are provided by temple workers as taken from their genealogical records are; Baptism, Confirmation of membership into the Mormon Church; and Ordination to the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood for males. The sealing into the Celestial Marriage of one's deceased ancestors is also performed in the Temple.

Once the Mormon has participated in the temple ceremonies for his own benefit, he is then required to do them for those who have died outside the Mormon faith in order to benefit those in the next spirit world (prison). The temple ceremonies for the deceased are another form of missionary activity towards those who currently exist in the next spirit world. Joseph Fielding Smith, a modern prophet of the Mormon church said: "But the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead."

Hopefully, it has now become clear how important the Temple and its ceremonies are to the Mormon. Baptism for the dead takes place in the temple and it is done because there are no bodies for the spirits in prison to be baptized. So, the spirit in prison might be converted, but he cannot enter into paradise if someone in the mortal world does not baptize him by proxy. Conversion, confirmation, and the other ceremonies also take place for the dead because they are all necessary for progression to godhood. Celestial marriage takes place in the temple for themselves as well as for the dead. This way the couple and their children will be sealed together forever in the exaltation. Celestial marriage for the deceased will assist the converted spirits who move into paradise and after the resurrection will be able to advance to exaltation in the celestial kingdom. This is a way to get your extended family into exaltation with you. If one of the spirits in prison doesn't have a relative who is on earth - or their name doesn't exist in the genealogical record of the Mormon Church, then that spirit has no hope of conversion and entrance into the celestial kingdom. The family's existence together forever is halted! In practice, this means that the Mormons on earth are responsible for the "salvation" of those in the spirit prison.

For the Mormon, there is so much to be done before they can ever hope of being worthy enough for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. The core of this work for entrance into the celestial kingdom is the temple ceremonies for themselves and for the dead which must be performed in order to achieve exaltation. No temple ceremonies, no exaltation. However, if the Mormon does finally achieve all of this, the cycle then goes on forever and spirits become gods. When the Mormon becomes a god then he will set in motion the process all over again for another world.

Well, what do you think? It seems somewhat wild doesn't it. Most often, people who live within a Judeo-Christian culture react emotionally and somewhat rudely to the LDS teachings. This is very understandable. However, I find that one of the most important aspects to the ministry in Southern Utah is to help people understand that they have entered an entirely different culture than to what they might have been accustomed.  Some might be quick to call the LDS faith a cult and ridicule their religious practices, especially those for the dead. I simply remind people that the LDS people accept these things by faith. They have faith in their scriptures, their prophets (including the president of the LDS church), and their church. Ridicule will accomplish nothing. Finally, I remind my parishioners about what a Lutheran believes according to our scripture. We, too, believe in some pretty bizarre things. We believe that God died on the cross. We believe that God has a mother (Mary). We believe that we die with Jesus when we are baptized and in the same ceremony rise from the dead – which takes place while we stand at the baptismal font. We believe that we must be worthy in order to move into the presence of God in the Lord's Supper. What's even more bizarre is that we believe we eat and drink the flesh and blood of Jesus. Now that's weird stuff.

Why do I address these matters in such a fashion? So that it assists my parishioners in understanding the true gospel of Christ and how the world could easily (and does) make fun of us. Rather than ridicule the Mormons for what they believe most of my parishioners, after getting over the emotional culture shock of living in a Mormon culture, begin to experience compassion and sorrow for their Mormon neighbors. The compassion and sorrow flows from the realization of the enormous pressure and pounding hammer of such a severe law under which the Mormon

believer lives. They are not free. They are imprisoned by the constant and burdensome gospel principles and temple ordinances for themselves and the dead so as to climb the ladder to exaltation in the celestial kingdom - and it does not end in this world!

The real difference is the Law and the Gospel. (See sidebar topic #2)   The purpose of the Christian church is the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins and the giving of the wonderful gifts of God as he gives them to us in His Word, namely the Sacraments. In our faith, God is the one who does the work.

In baptism, our God drowns the Old Adam and He raises us in Christ. Our God makes us worthy in Baptism as he forgives us and gives us the Holy Ghost. All the spiritual gifts that matter were given to us in Baptism.

The one and only kingdom of God comes to us in Baptism. Our God became flesh and lived the holy and perfect life that we are not able to live. It is this God, Jesus, who then continues to call us into his presence on earth in the Lord's Supper. Jesus continues to commune with us in this sacrament and strengthens us with a foretaste of our eternal "celestial" kingdom. It is not something we earn. It is something he gives. The true Gospel of Jesus and our Heavenly Father and the gifts of the Holy Ghost is not about men like you and me who achieved godhood and then decided to give us some "gospel principles" to live. Rather, God, the Holy Trinity, in His love and mercy gives us the forgiveness which Christ earned. Now that's the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!