What Are Temples?

Temples are literally houses of the Lord and the only places on earth where families can be united forever. In temples, we draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Why do Latter-day Saints have temples?

Temples have been around for a long time. The Bible tells us Moses had a tabernacle, Solomon built a beautiful temple, and Jesus taught at the temple in Jerusalem. Today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples all over the world that connect us to our families eternally and prepare us to eventually live with God.

In hundreds of temples worldwide, faithful members of the Church find opportunities for peaceful reflection and for learning more about God’s plan of happiness and Jesus Christ’s role in that plan. Temple worship teaches us who we are and what we can become.

Inside temples, families can be united for eternity. People can perform saving ordinances such as baptism for their ancestors who died without that opportunity, making God’s greatest blessings available to all, no matter when or where they were born.

The Joy of Temple Sealings

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The blessings of the temple

Because each temple is the house of the Lord, we can feel a special closeness to God when we visit. In temples, we make sacred promises to be obedient to and sacrifice for God, to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, to live virtuous lives, and to consecrate what we have to God’s purposes. By doing so we experience joy and peace and receive spiritual power to face life’s challenges.

The temple is also where we can receive the greatest blessings God has to offer us, including the opportunity to live with our families forever, even after we die. We can also honor and serve our deceased loved ones by providing these blessings to them as we act on their behalf.

A prophetic blessing

President Russell M. Nelson, prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, promised that those who worship in the temple will receive answers to prayers, as well as increased faith, strength, comfort, knowledge, and power from God.

He said: “Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing! The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us” (“Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” Liahona, May 2024).

Learn how your family can be together forever

Missionaries can answer your questions about temples and share how the gospel of Jesus Christ can help you have strong, lasting family relationships.

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Common Questions

Below are questions often asked about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Want to read more? See our full list of common questions.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worship in meetinghouses around the world, and visitors are always welcome to participate.

Depending on the size of the congregation and other circumstances, these meetinghouses could range from a large brick church building to a rented storefront. In any case, these meetinghouses are where people gather together regularly for Sunday worship services, classes, social activities, and more. If you’re interested in worshipping with us, missionaries can help you find your nearest congregation.

Temples are set aside from the everyday world as sacred, holy places where we perform the ordinances that bind us to God and to our families for eternity. They are a place of deep reverence where Latter-day Saints who have prepared themselves for temple worship put away distractions such as cell phones and casual conversations to focus on God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

When temples are first built or after they have undergone extensive renovations, open houses are held for the public so they can take a tour inside. After a temple is dedicated for sacred use, it is open only to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have worked to prepare themselves for the experience. However, many dedicated temples have beautiful grounds and even visitors’ centers that are still open to the public.

Jesus Christ taught that baptism is required to enter the kingdom of heaven (see John 3:1–13). But what about people who die without being baptized or even knowing about Jesus Christ? How can they be saved?

Thankfully, God is loving and has provided a way for everyone to receive all of His blessings—even after death. In the temple, baptisms and other essential ordinances are performed on behalf of those who have died without the opportunity. The Apostle Paul spoke of this practice in the Bible (see 1 Corinthians 15:29), and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue it in temples today.

Here’s how it works: Latter-day Saints study family history to discover names of people who have died without being baptized. Members are then baptized on behalf of those ancestors in the temple. This service for others is offered in love—and because life continues after death, those who have died are aware of the ordinances and can choose whether or not to accept them.

Families are central to God’s plan for our happiness, and marriage is meant to last beyond death. In the temple, husband and wife are united forever. This marriage ceremony is called a temple “sealing” because the couple is joined, or sealed, together for this life and for eternity. Children can also be sealed to their parents for eternity in the temple.

During the temple sealing ceremony, the bride and groom promise to honor and love each other completely and commit to follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. In turn, they are promised that their marriage and their family will endure into the next life.

Sometimes a bride and groom are legally married in the temple as part of the sealing ceremony. They will often hold a wedding reception or other traditional celebration for friends and family at another location afterward. In other circumstances, an already-married husband and wife and any children they have are sealed together in the temple as an eternal family.