301. To build a Temple

Status: Active

"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." ~ Exodus 25:8

The ordinances performed in temples prior to the great and everlasting sacrifice of Jesus Christ were different than those performed in the modern era.  The ancient temples and the ordinances demonstrated through symbolism, that the Lamb of God would over come sin and death, making it possible for all mankind to return to the presence of the Lord.

Recall that only the veil between the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place was wrent twain.  The door of the temple was left intact.  The moment of death of the Lamb, broke the bands of death of all mankind.  Prior to this moment no man could be brought back to the presence of God (unless transfigured).  We can now follow Christ into the presence of the Father through his blood (grace), and our willingness to do the things he has commanded (works).  We must still pass through the door of the temple, which was not affected by the death of the Lamb.

Through baptism we keep the commandment.  Through the desires of our hearts (our true intentions) we are justified by the spirit.  But these works do not save us, for we must be made pure, and no action of ours can make us pure.  To suggest otherwise is sacrilege.  Only the Holy Blood of the Lamb of God can sanctify us after we do these things.  Through the blood of the Lamb we are sanctified.

The death of the Lamb only fulfilled this type of temple, it is an erroneous teaching that there was to be no more temple after the death of Christ.  We are commanded in this dispensation to build a temple from the following scripture:

"And with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein...  I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me"

~ Doctrine and Covenants 124:27,31