Complications of Temple Worthiness: Part 4

Inverted Buttresses

I try not to use the term "buttress" in polite company, but you'll forgive me this once.  After all, we're talking about the Salt Lake Temple's buttresses.

On the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of my master's program in history, I got married to my Sweetheart in the Salt Lake Temple.

I've always loved the architecture and history of the SL Temple.  So you can imagine the way my ears tickled when I heard Elder Boyd K. Packer say the strangest thing I've ever heard in General Conference:

"Sixteen large, inverted granite arches were built into the new foundation [of the Salt Lake Temple].

"There is no record as to why they did that. That manner of construction was unknown in this country then.

"If someday perchance there be a massive force wanting to lift the temple from beneath, then we shall know why they are there."

(Boyd K. Packer, "The Temple, the Priesthood," April 1993 General Conference)

I guess for the coming calamity, we all need to get our buttresses in line.

Did Jesus Have a Temple Recommend?

Isn't it strange that Jesus never went inside the temple at all?  Since He wasn't a Levite, Jesus wasn't allowed to go into the holy place.

But Jesus liked hanging around the temple grounds and making observations:

   1.  "Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise" (John 2:16). 

(This is why Deseret Book stores are not built on temple grounds but are located temple-adjacent, I presume.)

   Lesson Learned:  Jesus called the temple His "Father's house," which had been (and always can be) polluted. 

   2.  The Lord also said, "Ye shall not suffer that mine house shall be polluted" (D&C 88:134).

How Do We Pollute the Temple?

The Old Testament gives us a good grip on how the temple becomes polluted.  

Isaiah's book begins with the temple (that's right ― first out of the gate and we find ourselves at the heart of the temple). 

   I have had my fill of offerings of rams
and fat of fatted beasts;
   the blood of bulls and sheep and he-goats
I do not want.
   When you come to see me,
who requires you to trample my courts so?
   Bring no more worthless offerings. . . 
I cannot approve.
   When you spread forth your hands,
I will conceal my eyes from you.

(Isaiah 1:11-15, Gileadi Translation)

I think the point Isaiah was making is that people were going to the temple and just "going through the motions" ― comparing them to the dumb animals they brought for sacrifice.

   They didn't have real intent.

And as we learned from Mormon, if we   

   offereth a gift,
   or prayeth unto God,
   except he shall do it
   with real intent
   it profiteth him nothing.

(Moroni 7:6)

What good is it going to the temple to redeem our dead if we are spiritually dead, ourselves?

First Estate Carbon Emissions

Pollution is a hot topic today (what with all the flatulent cows filling our atmosphere with CO2). 

But pollution is eternal.  Back in our First Estate, before we came to earth, we had a big problem with pollution. 

What was it?  Those seeking "honor" and preeminence (like Satan and his angels). 

A war was fought over this pollution ― the pollution of pride and status (which they thought entitled them to special privileges).

Then came the Christ, who chose Condescension.

    And then the Lord said:
    Let us go down.
    And they went down.

(Abraham 4:1)

Isn't that strange?  Aren't we all trying to "go up?"  Don't we want to be exalted?

   Hmmm.

Christ came to be abased.  To be despised.  To be the servant of all.  Whereas Lucifer wanted to be lifted up above others, Christ chose to be lifted up on a cross.  

Moroni the Environmentalist

When Moroni was writing his farewell address to those of us living in the Last Days, he said the work of the Father shall commence

    in a day when
    there shall be
    great pollutions
    upon the face
    of the earth.

(Mormon 8:31)

The "pollutions" he cites are all spiritual. 

    O ye wicked and perverse
    and stiffnecked people,
    why have ye built up churches
    unto yourselves to get gain?

    Why have ye transfigured
    the holy word of God,
    that ye might bring damnation
    upon your souls? 

(Moroni 8:33)

Questions: 

How do we use temples to "get gain?" 

How do we use "worthiness" as a means of "transfiguring" the holy word of God?

Let's see, where did we leave off?  We were talking about Jesus and what He said about temples.

"Destroy This Temple"

   3.  Jesus prophesied to the Jews: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19).

Was Jesus talking about the physical temple?  No.  He "spake of the temple of his body" (John 2:21).

Apostle Paul took this idea all the way to the bank.  

   Ye are the temple
   of the living God;
   as God hath said,
   I will dwell in them,
   and walk in them;
   and I will be their God,
   and they shall be my people.

(2 Corinthians 6:16)

   Lesson Learned:  Jesus's resurrected Body is a temple; but His followers (in whom indwells his Spirit) are also His "body," or temple.

WE (His children) ARE THE TEMPLE of the LIVING GOD!

   ​Really. 

So now this makes sense, what the Martyr Stephen swore in the presence of God:

   The most High
   dwelleth not in temples
   made with hands;
   as saith the prophet.

(Acts 7:48)

The Jews got so mad that Stephen would denigrate their temple that they ended up stoning him to death.  

​(Isn't it ironic that by killing Stephen, the Jews destroyed one of God's temples?)

And in case we thought Stephen was delirious under the hot sun, we have a second witness: Paul.

   [The] Lord of heaven and earth
   dwelleth not in temples
   made with hands.

(Acts 17:24)

Question:  So if God doesn't dwell in a house, where is He?

A Different Spin On An Old Favorite

Before we look at a favorite passage of scripture, we need to discuss the meaning of the word "ye."  

In the King James Bible, "ye" is translated from the nominative plural of the second person.  In other words, "thou" is singular and "ye" is plural.  It is like the ancient equivalent of "y'all."

   Know ye not that ye are the temple
   of God, and that the Spirit of God
   dwelleth in you?

   If any man defile the temple of God,
   him shall God destroy; for the temple
   of God is holy, which temple ye are.

(1 Cor. 3:16-17)

It's great telling our children that their bodies are temples and that they should treat themselves with respect.

But I think Paul is also making a point about the Body of Christ (the Church) being the temple of God.

The temple of God is the Church.

Now re-read this passage in that light:

   Ye are the temple
   of the living God;
   as God hath said,
   I will dwell in them,
   and walk in them;
   and I will be their God,
   and they shall be my people.

​(2 Corinthians 6:16)

But the point I want to make is what it means for God to "destroy the temple."  

   If any man defile the temple of God,
   him shall God destroy; for the temple
   of God is holy, which temple ye are.

(1 Cor. 3:17)

Question:  What does it mean for God to destroy a temple (not a building, but the church)?

Answer: Ask the Nephites.

   They are driven about
   as chaff before the wind.

   They were once
   a delightsome people,
   and they had Christ
   for their shepherd;
   yea, they were led
   even by God the Father.

   But now, behold, they are
   led about by Satan, even as chaff
   is driven before the wind,
   or as a vessel is tossed about
   upon the waves, without sail
   or anchor, or without anything
   wherewith to steer her.

   O ye fair sons and daughters,
   ye fathers and mothers,
   ye husbands and wives,
   ye fair ones, how is it
   that ye could have fallen!

(Mormon 5:16-18; 6:19)

Have You Heard of Pella, Fella?

In the year 70 A.D. the Roman general Titus destroyed the Jewish temple as Christ had prophesied (and remember, this was already the 2nd Temple since the previous one (Solomon's) had been destroyed by Babylon ― so we're seeing a pattern of temples getting destroyed by the wicked when the Lord's people turn away).  

The history books make the siege of Jerusalem sound horrific.  I'll leave out the gory details.  But guess how many Christians died during the sacking of Jerusalem?

   None.  

How can that be?  Why did the Christians escape?

According to early Church Father Epiphanius, "For when the city was about to be taken and destroyed by the Romans, it was revealed in advance to all the disciples by an angel of God that they should remove from the city, as it was going to be completely destroyed. They sojourned as emigrants in Pella."

(Epiphanius, On Weights and Measures 15)

​Question:  If the true disciples of Christ were warned to flee, what do you think the false prophets were preaching in Jerusalem as the Romans arrived?  

False Prophets:  "Gather!  Gather to God's temple in Jerusalem!  He will protect His people and His house from the Romans! God is with us!"

Too bad they didn't listen to Jesus, who said:

   And when ye shall see
   Jerusalem compassed
   with armies, then know
   that the desolation thereof
   is nigh.

   Then let them
   which are in Judæa
   flee to the mountains;
   and let them which are
   in the midst of it depart.

(Luke 21:20-21)

When God says "flee," flee.

What's To Come?

Remember when Lehi prophesied to the Jews, calling them to repent?  They thought he was crazy!  They were the Lord's people; they had Solomon's temple.

   Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem,
   for I have seen thine
   abominations!

(1 Nephi 1:13)

Well, that was 600 B.C.  Who cares what Babylon did back then, right?

Umm.  What about in our day?

   Behold, I, the Lord,
   have looked upon you,
   and have seen abominations
   in the church that profess my name.

(D&C 50:4)

   Okay, now I am starting to get worried.

. . . to be continued.