Earth's Sacred Places

I have been in many of the world's sacred places. I have stood on the temple mount in Jerusalem, a holy place for two world religions. When my friend Dave and I received permission to enter the temple compound we were constantly watched by Israeli police. We were allowed to wander at will around the grounds but we entered neither of the Mosques that occupy the space once occupied by Herod's temple, the temple visited by Jesus.



Yesterday in Rexburg, Idaho I visited one of the holy places of another world religion, Mormonism. In the brochure they gave me is the statement, "The Temple is the Most Sacred Place on Earth for Members of Our Church." We were told that it is a holy place because it says so right on the facade, "Holiness to the Lord."

I have never toured a temple before but it was much like I thought it would be. We were encouraged to find a place of peace and inspriation there. Instead I found a place of boring sterility.

And much like our tour of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem we were watched carefully by the temple police. We were picked out as possible trouble makers early in our tour. Why? Well first of all, we (my friend Dan Walker) and I were two men while almost all the other tourers were families. Second we were not in the proper attire. They should have sent an announcement with the tickets clarifying the uniform of the day was dark suit, white shirt, dark tie. Very few men were not so dressed.

Anyway, we picked up a tail at the first room we visited and were followed all the way through our tour. Dan and I both picked this tail out even though we didn't talk about it until we were once again outside. As we passed other "agents" with ear pieces and radios we could hear them speak into their microphones, "clear." I suppose we could have just been imagining things, but the other tour groups didn't have radio equipped agents following them.

There was never an opportunity given to ask questions so many of the questions I had then, I still have. I probably wouldn't have asked them anyway since they would have further identified me as an infidel, oops, I mean gentile.

While the tour guides continually reminded us that this temple was dedicated to the savior, and the fulfilment of the gospel, and throughout they have framed preschool pictures of Jesus during his earthly ministry, the only appeal to believe was given in the sealing room where we were encouraged to think of eternity with our families.

Twice we were told that heaven wouldn't be heaven without our wives and children. In the sealing room we were told that this could happen under the authority of the priesthood given to Peter when Jesus told him that his were the keys to the kingdom and restored to Joseph Smith and the church in these latter days.

I was left with a sterile feeling. Beautiful buildings, (and beautiful is in the eye of the beholder) soft words, solemn testimony, strict security, complete control, shoe covering slippers, hundreds of smiling pointing usherettes, just left me with an aching heart to share with this people the simplicity of the true gospel.

Jesus built no buildings, he never had a building program. The disciples built no buildings. Paul, in all his missionary travels never encouraged his followers to build a temple. I am not sure when Christians decided they needed buildings of their own to gather in, but it sure wasn't in the NT period. Perhaps they knew, when beautiful building are built, men have the tendency to worship the building. That tendency is not limited to Mormons either by the way.

Well, this blog is becoming a sermon. I apologize. I will conclude with this condensation.

Condensation removed by Rodger