Temples, Part 1

Shawn McClanney discusses the historical significance of temples in Israel, starting from the portable tabernacle used in ancient times to King Solomon's temple, emphasizing the sacredness and uniqueness of the temple site on Mount Moriah. He highlights the importance placed on the temple's location, construction without the use of iron tools during the building process, and the unity of temples for the Jewish people, in contrast to naming buildings after religious leaders, as illustrated by the newly opened Hinckley Center at BYU.

Solomon's Temple, symbolizing God's presence, was central to Israelite worship with its distinct sections: an outer court for public gatherings, a Holy Place for offerings, and the Holy of Holies for atonement rituals performed by the high priest. Despite various rebuildings, including Herod's grand reconstruction aimed at gaining favor with the Jews, the temple's historical sequence concluded with its destruction by Roman forces in A.D. 70, aligning with Jesus' prophetic declaration.

Shawn explains that while ancient temples served as physical places of worship, the New Testament redefines the concept of a temple as the spiritual dwelling of God within believers, making each individual a "temple of God" through faith. The teaching emphasizes that this spiritual transformation is not crafted by human hands but is a work of the Holy Spirit, signifying a relationship with God that is continuous and personal, rather than confined to any physical structure.

The teaching emphasizes that God's temple has evolved from ancient structures like Solomon's Temple to residing within the bodies of individual believers and collectively within the Church, serving as a place for spiritual sacrifices like praise and worship. Furthermore, it explains that heaven is considered the ultimate temple, accessible through the sacrificial act of Jesus Christ, while inviting contemplation on how LDS temples fit into this biblical narrative.