Edmonton Alberta Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples all around the world where faithful members go to learn more of Jesus Christ and his plan, receive ordinances for themselves, and perform vicarious work for their deceased ancestors. These temples are beautifully constructed both inside and out. They are designed to direct our thoughts heavenward and seal families together for eternity. The redemptive work that is performed here is not to be found anywhere else on the earth. All people are invited to experience for themselves the grandeur and blessings of temple work by qualifying themselves to enter the House of the Lord.  In the meantime, I'll be taking you through the A to Z of our temples.

EDMONTON ALBERTA TEMPLE

The Edmonton Alberta Temple

The Edmonton Alberta Temple is a basic block design of a temple opened in December 1999. A number of other church temples around the globe are made in the exact same way, perhaps for ease of cost and construction. 

Temples represent the pinnacle of Christian worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In typical churches where members meet each Sunday for worship services, members enter into covenants such as partaking of the Lord's Supper, baptism and confirmation. But in the temples, we are introduced to higher covenants associated with ceremonies such as the endowment and eternal marriage. The aim of the church is to provide the basic ordinances of salvation in the churches and to motivate its members to be worthy of receiving the ordinances of exaltation in the temples.

Celestial Room in the Edmonton Alberta Temple

As you will see through this A-Z series, there is a wide array of unique and distinctive structures in operation. And while the exterior and interior decorations are wonderful and can serve to aim our thoughts higher, it is the saving ordinances of the gospel that are performed within its walls that capture the imagination. It matters not which of the many grand and glorious temples a person may enter; the ordinances and covenants remain the same. 

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints possess a mix and balance of both physical and spiritual fulfillment.

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Dallas Texas Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples all around the world where faithful members go to learn more of Jesus Christ and his plan, receive ordinances for themselves, and perform vicarious work for their deceased ancestors. These temples are beautifully constructed both inside and out. They are designed to direct our thoughts heavenward and seal families together for eternity. The redemptive work that is performed here is not to be found anywhere else on the earth. All people are invited to experience for themselves the grandeur and blessings of temple work by qualifying themselves to enter the House of the Lord.  In the meantime, I'll be taking you through the A to Z of our temples.

DALLAS TEXAS TEMPLE

The distinctive sloping roof design of the Dallas Texas Temple is found amongst several other temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for example in the Las Vegas Nevada, Manila Philippines, and Seoul Korea temples and is a sister building to the Boise Idaho and Chicago Illinois temples. This design, coupled with the tall spires, naturally draws the eyes heavenward, suitable for the holy purpose of this building.

These temples are monuments to the Lord and desire to instill in all who see them or go inside, a deep reverence for Deity and to encourage our minds to draw nearer to the things of godliness. 

Through revealed scripture, Latter-day Saints have an eternal perspective, viewing this life as an important stepping stone and preparatory time for an eternal life to come. In temples, families can be sealed together forever.

"I have a fam'ly here on earth,

They are so good to me,

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Fam'lies can be together forever

Through Heav'nly Father's plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord, has shown me how I can."

(From Church Hymns, #300)

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Copenhagen Denmark Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples all around the world where faithful members go to learn more of Jesus Christ and his plan, receive ordinances for themselves, and perform vicarious work for their deceased ancestors. These temples are beautifully constructed both inside and out. They are designed to direct our thoughts heavenward and seal families together for eternity. The redemptive work that is performed here is not to be found anywhere else on the earth. All people are invited to experience for themselves the grandeur and blessings of temple work by qualifying themselves to enter the House of the Lord.  In the meantime, I'll be taking you through the A to Z of our temples.

COPENHAGEN DENMARK TEMPLE

Entrance to the Copenhagen Denmark Temple

The Copenhagen Denmark Temple (dedicated May 2004) is in fact a complete renovation of the former Priorvej Chapel which once stood in its place (built in 1931). While it is rare for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to construct temples from existing structures, it has happened a few times. The gospel of Jesus Christ places high significance on saving that which is lost, as we will explore more with the Provo City Centre Temple later.

Unique in its appearance, it is unlike the more extravagant temples built anew in various other locations around the world and sits bisecting two general streets surrounded by other buildings.

The Celestial Room in the Copenhagen Denmark Temple

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Brigham City Utah Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples all around the world where faithful members go to learn more of Jesus Christ and his plan, receive ordinances for themselves, and perform vicarious work for their deceased ancestors. These temples are beautifully constructed both inside and out. They are designed to direct our thoughts heavenward and seal families together for eternity. The redemptive work that is performed here is not to be found anywhere else on the earth. All people are invited to experience for themselves the grandeur and blessings of temple work by qualifying themselves to enter the House of the Lord.  In the meantime, I'll be taking you through the A to Z of our temples.

BRIGHAM CITY UTAH TEMPLE

A Hallway in the Brigham City Utah Temple

Interestingly, the Brigham City Utah Temple won the PCI (Precast/Pre-stressed Concrete Institute) Design Award for Best Religious Structure in 2014. The temple officially began operations in September 2012. It is undoubtedly a quite marvellous structure, with an equally marvellous purpose of entering into covenants with God and then performing covenant-making ordinances for our deceased ancestors who may never have had the chance to embrace the gospel while they were alive.

This is the reason why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is big on Family History. Not only do we research and learn our family lines, stories and ancestors, but we have the opportunity to perform saving ordinances on their behalf.

Enjoy the tour of the Brigham City Utah Temple in the video below:

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Atlanta Georgia Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples all around the world where faithful members go to learn more of Jesus Christ and his plan, receive ordinances for themselves, and perform vicarious work for their deceased ancestors. These temples are beautifully constructed both inside and out. They are designed to direct our thoughts heavenward and seal families together for eternity. The redemptive work that is performed here is not to be found anywhere else on the earth. All people are invited to experience for themselves the grandeur and blessings of temple work by qualifying themselves to enter the House of the Lord.  In the meantime, I'll be taking you through the A to Z of our temples.

ATLANTA GEORGIA TEMPLE

The Celestial Room in the Atlanta Georgia Temple. This is typically a place of peace and reflection after receiving instruction and entering into covenants, culminating into entry into the Celestial Room

Each temple has a Celestial Room. While no ceremonies are actually performed in the Celestial Room, it acts as the final stage of progression in an instructional ceremony called the Endowment. After being taught of God's plan and symbolically passing through the veil, patrons arrive in the Celestial Room. It is a representation of the Celestial Kingdom, the highest degree of glory in heaven, a place where God and Jesus dwell. This room helps us visualise ourselves in such a place. It is a place of peaceful contemplation and meditation, a place to pray and receive inspiration and revelation for issues or struggles we may be facing in life. A person may stay as long as they wish in the Celestial Room at the end of their Endowment Session.

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Seal of Melchizedek

While searching through pictures of the church's magnificent temples, I inevitably came across the San Diego California temple. At the same time, I was searching on Google for "LDS temple symbols" as I had read the words of a church authority that the temple is our symbol.

This opened up an intriguing presentation of the Seal of Melchizedek.

Two squares, with one at a 45 degree rotation over the other one, makes up the Seal of Melchizedek.

I learned that the San Diego California Temple displays the Seal of Melchizedek over 10,000 times in and around the temple and its grounds. I found that quite astonishing. What is this symbol and what does it mean?

The San Diego California Temple is awash with the symbol of the Seal of Melchizedek

Apparently, the gentlemen in charge of designing the temple, one of them a Brother William "Bill" S. Lewis Jr. (a church member), spent months to come up with the symbol of two squares superimposed on each other at a 45 degree rotation. To the architects it was simply a nice architectural design and seemed to work increasingly well the more they adopted it throughout the structure.

Coincidence or not, famous LDS scholar and historian, Hugh Nibley, immediately identified this symbol as the ancient Seal of Melchizedek when quizzed about it after a gentleman who was photo-documenting the construction of the temple developed a fascination with it.

The Seal of Melchizedek, as it has been termed, goes back to iconography in basilicas of Ravenna, Italy, featuring, prominently, the high priest Melchizedek.

One such mosaic displaying the Seal of Melchizedek, or 8-pointed star, on an altar cloth, together with Abel offering his sacrificial lamb, and Abraham offering his son Isaac as sacrifice. Melchizedek also offers sacrifice on the altar

In this mosaic, both Abel and Abraham are clearly depicted offering their sacrifices of a lamb and Isaac respectively, along with Melchizedek offering sacrifice on the altar. The hand of God can be seen protruding from behind the veil to show the sacrifices have been accepted.

As with all sacrifices in the Old Testament, they functioned to point towards the great and last sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

In fact, everything about the Seal of Melchizedek points to Jesus Christ. Seeing as this symbol appeared on the altar (in the mosaic above), this would be representative of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Not much is written about the Priest Melchizedek. His very name in Hebrew is "Malki Tzedik" which means 'My King is Righteousness' - another reference to Jesus Christ.

The Seal of Melchizedek looks very much like an 8-pointed star, which is representative of the biggest star (The Sun) in our solar system. Jesus Christ's brightness and glory is compared to that of the Sun. 

The number 8 is also religiously significant as representing new beginnings. For example, the 6 days of creation were followed by a 7th day, the Sabbath Day, making the 8th day a new beginning, the start of another cycle. Also, the 7,000 years of recorded history of this earth, 5,000 years leading up to the birth of Christ and the 2,000 years since that event. We are now beginning the 8,000th year, another new beginning as we await the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Seal of Melchizedek has close connections with Jesus Christ. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read:

"There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood...The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things." (D&C 107: 1-4;8)

The Seal of Melchizedek is seemingly a representation of Jesus Christ, one that perhaps has not gathered much pace or attention to the Christian world at large, but is making more waves with Latter-day Saints in these times.

Living away from the church community

After a recent visit from President Boyd and his family, who joined us for our simple church service, I have been reflecting on both the difficulties and blessings of living away from the church fellowship.

Pres. Boyd and his family of 7 left KL around 6am while we were still asleep. They drove the 3-4 hours to Kuantan with children ranging from 3-16 years old. They even found our house without having to call for directions! They brought food and together with our chicken curry, we had quite a feast after our meeting. Their son made the most delightful pumpkin pie I have ever tasted! We really need to get together again sometime soon!

But they also brought fellowship and the opportunity to be in the company of people who possess the same beliefs and standards as us. After living for months on end away from communion with church friends, times like this are priceless to us. 

Thanks to the good and thoughtful people including the Boyds who have visited us over the years, we have renewed motivation to continue in the faith and to hold Sunday meetings for just the four of us in our family which are normally so difficult and challenging to do.

Have a look at this recent video diary where I addressed these thoughts: