a couple of questions about the mormon church?

Question

non members are not allowed in the London Temple & i guess mormon temples in general.
a) how do they recognise members? a membership card? or special handshake, or do they show each other their famous special underwear, lol
b) is it just a membership thing? or is there something else that a member has to do, to get invited to the temple.
c) I have heard they do weddings and baptisms there. does this mean that only members can witness a wedding.... i thought that one of the legal requirements of a place used for weddings was that it could be open to any member of the general public?

Answer 1

The London temple is one of 2 in the UK... London is a bit of a misnomer... It is actually in Lingfield, Surrey - about 20 + miles from London (it is just a few miles from Gatwick, and you may well fly over it, and see it, on your final descent, when arriving at Gatwick)
{the other UK temple is near preston, Lancs}

Members of the church are allowed into the temple if they have a small piece of paper called a 'temple recommend'. To get this the have to be members in good standing, and go through a procedure where they are interviewed by local church leadership..

to be 'worthy' to go to the temple, a member will generally have to:
pay ten percent of their income to the church
abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee
attend all the church meetings and do all the extras required of them (this can take about 7 + hours per week)
live a moral life (no sex outside marriage and no kinky stuff even inside marriage)

they do wedding in the US temples, but -as you correctly state - the law in the UK requires that a wedding can only be conducted in a place open to the general public. in the UK, weddings are conducted in the local chapel and then the members go to the temple to be sealed together for 'time and all eternity'

Answer 2

good questions. to our church, the temples are very sacred to us. we don't treat it lightly.
a). each member has what we call a "recommend" which we show to one of the temple workers.
b). in order to get this recommend, you have 1. be a member and b. have an interview w/ a bishop (kind of like a pastor/preacher). he basically asks you if you have been doing certain things like refraining from alcohol, sex (if not married), and been honest. it's not to keep everyone out, it's just like i said, it's very sacred to us.
c). yes, they do weddings in the temple and baptisms for the dead. regular baptisms can be witnessed by anyone in a church building. our weddings are a bit different. we don't do the whole "bride comes down the isle" with lots of benches. it's where the bride and groom are "sealed" together for all eternity. of course, people can come to the receptions and stuff. and no, we don't have a traditional "bachelor's party" thing, either.

you've asked some really good questions. that's basically how i'd put it as a member, but you should definitely ask another mormon, preferably someone married, since i'm not.

Answer 3

It is a little more restrictive than just non-members. Entry into temples is gained with a thing called a temple recommend. Only 8-10% of the church membership have one of these. That means that the majority of members are unable to enter the temple.
There is all manner of things that take place in the temple. These are different marriages and baptisms than you have at the church and for different reasons.


Pinkadot:
Have a look at the book "What goes on in there?" by Chuck and Dolly Sackett. The proof of what I talk about is there. If you disagree with what I say, let me know!
I am not a Mormon and will not defend what they do. Temple rite descriptions tell that it is not exalting God, but Satan.

Answer 4

You may be confusing the church with the temple. The mormon church has two types of buildings: the church for Sunday meetings and other events, and the Temple for sacred services, including some marriages. Anyone from any walk of life is always allowed and invited in the church. However, to enter the temple requires that the person meet certain standards, of which being a member is one, being at least a certain age, and keeping the commandments are other requirements. If you want to know for sure that anyone is accepted at a mormon church, why not visit one yourself this Sunday.

Answer 5

1. Just like the temples in the bible, only “worthy” members may enter past the foyer. To get in the temple you need to be interviewed by a church official of the area. They will ask you questions like. Do you believe in Christ? Do you keep the “word of Wisdom” (another topic about what Mormons can or can’t eat and drink)? Do you believe in the Prophet? Have you done anything unworthy? Basically, question that only faithful Mormons can answer truthfully. If the official is satisfied, they sign a paper card that is a Recommendation to enter the Temple, or a “Temple Recommend”. This card is shown to the “patrons” in the foyer for entry, that’s all. Think of the Temple Recommend as a membership card to the temple that is shown whenever you enter.

2. Like I said a Temple Recommend is for members only. Not only do Temple Recommend holders have to be worthy members, but over age 19 and older, adults. Worthy teenagers are allowed into the baptism font to perform ordinances (more on that next), after an interview of course. But they are not allowed in the main building until they are older.

After a new temple is built there is a viewing/tour period where everyone can visit and tour the temple. All you do is show up and walk through it. You’ll find out that the building itself is not sacred as the things that happen inside. But, once the temple is “dedicated” only worthy members can enter. There is no other way anyone can enter a temple, but before a dedication and to be a worthy member.

3. Inside the temple sacred personal covenants (promises) are made. First, although baptisms are generally outside the temple in churches. Worthy members, including Teenagers can perform baptisms “for the dead”. It’s believed that everyone that has lived on this earth deserves a chance to hear the gospel and be baptized to be “saved”. Those that have died without given the chance to even hear of Christ are believed to be taught about Christ after death. Then given the opportunity to accept him. After all it’s not their fault they never even heard of Christ before. Even those who have rejected Christ or need help are given a chance after death. The problem is that baptism (as well as other ordinances) is required to be saved. And, being dead and in spirit, baptism is impossible. Mormons perform baptism by proxy for everyone who has died to give them a chance to accept it.

Weddings are one of the other ordinances done in the temple. Since it is in the temple, only worthy members can attend the actual wedding. Marriages performed in the temple are legal by government standards, depending on the country. Anything else part of a wedding (reception, dance, etc) is not in the temple and open to everyone. As far as laws concerning this, I haven’t heard of any law requiring weddings to open to the general public. But, that is something that depends on what state or country you might be in. To me though, why would it need to be open to the public when it is a private affair?

There is a lot more I cold discuss but this wouldn’t be the place to do it. Ask a member in person, or visit the church site and you can get more details, good luck.

Answer 6

a) To enter the temple, each member must have a temple recommend. (basically a card stating that they are worthy to enter the temple).
b) Along with being a member, you must interview for the recommend and prove that you are worthy to go to the temple.
c) They do weddings, and baptisms done in the temple are baptisms for the dead. The weddings done in the temple are private sealings... don't know about that leagle requirement.

and Buzz: Use real doctrine when you are trying to prove stuff instead of loads of crap from other anti-mormons!

Answer 7

Buzz - not sure what you mean by 'not exalting God'...every single thing we do in the temple has to do with God and the gospel.

Coool did a wonderful job. One thing you must understand, as he pointed out, after it is open to the public for viewing, it is "dedicated" as a House of the Lord. That means it is "consecrated" and blessed and dedicated to be his house. Now picture God's house. God is perfect, is clean, is holy, and no "unclean" thing/person can be in his presence.
The temple is the most holy place on the earth, it is His house. SO could not God himself set the standards those who attend must be abiding by? He has set the standard, and we (try to) do what He says to the best of our ability.
Curiosity does not warrant deeper answers or especially entrance. It is holy. It is sacred. It is special.
BUT, the wonderful thing is any person who becomes worthy to enter CAN!