What the D.C. Temple Opening Means to Me
God always has hallowed spaces where He can appear to His children to teach and bless them. Initially, these spaces were unique natural locations, such as the Garden of Eden and Mt. Sinai. However, over time God directed His chosen people to construct “temples” – buildings where they could deepen their commitment and draw closer to Him through sacred ceremonies. As part of his restoration of ancient religious truths, the prophet Joseph Smith believed that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints needed to be temple-building people. Therefore, temple construction has been an essential focus of the church since God first commanded it to build a temple in 1836, one year after its formal organization.
For us, temples are different from the meetinghouses where we partake of the Lord’s Supper. They are grander, more beautiful edifices imbued with symbolism and offered to God as His home on earth. They are set apart from the profane and mundane, where only those who meet God’s standards are allowed to enter. These standards facilitate God’s presence, as His spirit only dwells in pure and holy locations. This opportunity to commune with God is one of the greatest blessings of temple worship, as it allows us to feel God’s presence and love, partake of His peace and receive revelation from Him. It is one of the reasons why we will often turn to the temple when faced with difficult trials or hard life decisions.
As part of our temple worship, we participate in ceremonies that only occur in such a sacred location. Foremost among these is the “endowment,” which refers to God’s blessings for all his children. Through the ceremony, we learn about God’s plan for His children’s eternal happiness through a ritual representation of the Creation, the Fall of Adam and Eve, and our redemption by Jesus Christ. Participating in the endowment enhances our understanding of God’s love for his children. It gives us more significant knowledge of God’s purposes and emphasizes the need to serve our brothers and sisters. In the ceremony, we make solemn promises with God to obey His commandments, live Christ’s gospel, be morally pure, and dedicate our time and talents to God’s service. In return, God promises us beautiful blessings, including the power to do all He wants us to do in this life and the opportunity to live with Him and our families in eternity.
Worshipping God through a ritual drama is a foreign concept for many. For me, it is principally about my relationship with God. In the endowment, past, present, and future are ritually condensed into one moment – a great reflection of the human condition. Like Adam, I am cut off from God’s physical presence by my human weakness and sin. However, in God’s mercy, I am not forsaken. Instead, He has given me a savior – Jesus Christ – whose love and sacrifice enable me to draw closer to Him. I do this through my faith and obedience, which I demonstrate by making and keeping covenants. If I strive the best I can to draw closer to God every day, then one day, Christ’s grace will restore me to God’s physical presence once more, just as it has done for Adam. Then, in the most intimate of moments, my Heavenly Father will acknowledge my faithfulness and dedication and welcome me home to abide in His love and peace forever. This knowledge and ability to deepen my relationship with God give me the hope and strength I need to confront the challenges I face in my life.
After its open house and rededication, the local temple will no longer be accessible to the public. However, we hope that the temple and its grounds can still invite all to commune with God according to their traditions and beliefs and obtain blessings of peace, inspiration, and power from Him. It is our prayer that after receiving these blessings, we can work together to manifest God’s love to all His children and make the whole world a temple, where His presence can dwell in every heart and where we can live together in peace, faith, love, and unity.
Christopher Meldrum is a local attorney and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington (IFCMW). He received his Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Brigham Young University and his Juris Doctor from The George Wahington University Law School. A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a two-year proselytizing mission for the church in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He has also volunteered in several support positions for the local and regional congregational lay leadership and the church’s local interfaith and community outreach efforts.
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