Nephi, the second prophet of the Book of Mormon, was forced to take his family and friends further into the wilderness to avoid the wickedness and violence of his older brothers, which increased after their father’s death. One of the first things they did after getting settled and putting in crops was to build a temple.
16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.” (2 Nephi 5:16)
Nephi’s group was somewhat small, and creating and sustaining a society must have been a very time-consuming effort. Could they build such a temple?
Solomon’s temple was only a small building measuring about 90 feet in length and 30 feet in width and height. Hence, it was not larger than many of our meetinghouses. But the children of Israel were proud of their temple because of the very costly ornaments with which it was embellished. . . .
Many of you brethren who are comfortably fixed financially, could, single handed, build a temple like Solomon’s temple with your own means. You might be obliged to follow the example of Nephi in not furnishing the building with so much silver and gold or so many precious things as did Solomon, but I venture to say that it was quite possible for a small number of Nephites to erect a temple as large as that erected by Solomon, omitting the costly ornamentations” (Andrew Jenson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1923, pp. 126, 128).” (commentary on 2 Nephi 5:16)
To read more about ancient temples, visit LDS.org’s article: History of Temples
Temple building was essential to the Nephite population, just as it is to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. Our temples have become recognizable symbols of our religion. What are temples for?
Temples are different from regular meetinghouses. The meetinghouses, where Latter-day Saints worship each Sunday, are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Here, the basics of the gospel are taught.
The temples are open only to adults who have been members of the church for at least a year and meet the high requirements of personal worthiness, essentially living a moral life and obeying the commandments of God. Here they make sacred covenants (promises made between God and humans) to live the gospel at a high level, caring for their families and those around them. They learn more about God and the Savior.
Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the church, said:
The work that goes on in these buildings sets forth God’s eternal purposes with reference to man—God’s child and creation. For the most part, temple work is concerned with the family, with each of us as members of God’s eternal family and with each of us as members of earthly families. It is concerned with the sanctity and eternal nature of the marriage covenant and family relationships.
It affirms that each man and woman born into the world is a child of God, endowed with something of His divine nature. The repetition of these basic and fundamental teachings has a salutary effect upon those who receive them, for as the doctrine is enunciated in language both beautiful and impressive, the participant comes to realize that since every man and woman is a child of Heavenly Father, then each is a member of a divine family; hence, every person is his brother or sister.” (Why These Temples)
Because all who enter are living a life of high obedience, and have covenanted to put God first in their lives, the spirit is very strong in the buildings. This is an environment that allows temple goers to feel the Holy Ghost and to feel a special closeness to the Savior. The peaceful atmosphere, closed out from the world, assists those who come seeking personal inspiration from God about the challenges they face in their daily lives. They leave with a renewed commitment to live the gospel and a strengthened love for the Savior.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
