By Sandra Tanner

LDS temples and their ceremonies, which are said to restore ancient Jewish/Christian practices essential to eternal life, bear no resemblance to either the Old or New Testament records.

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Eternal Marriage

There is nothing in the New Testament about “eternal marriages” and secret rituals in a Christian temple. The Jewish temple ceremonies are clearly explained in the Old Testament (Exodus, chapters 26-30) and have no relationship to the LDS temple ceremony.

The only eternal marriage in the Bible is the spiritual marriage of the believer to Christ. Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth: “I have espoused you to one husband [Christ], that I may present you [the Christians] as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).¹ Paul also wrote in Romans 7:4 that Christians are to be “married to another, even to him [Christ] who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” This is a spiritual union, not an actual marriage. Christ never mentions the need for an eternal marriage. In fact, he taught just the opposite:

• Luke 20:34-36
  “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, . . . ”

Notice that Christ equated those who are not married in heaven with “the children of God.” Christians look forward to being with their loved ones in heaven. As brothers and sisters in Christ we will be together as one large family, the family of God. However, the Bible does not indicate that this would include marriage relationships.

There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that the Christians were to build temples. Some of the early Jewish Christians met in the courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem for prayer but they certainly were not performing any rites like the Mormon ceremony. The New Testament teaches that God’s temple is a spiritual building made up of all Christians, with Christ as the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:16). This is emphasized in Ephesians 2:19-22:

• Ephesians 2:19-22 (NKJV)
  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers . . . but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Baptism for the Dead

When trying to establish the need for baptizing the dead, Mormons appeal to 1 Corinthians 15:29:

• 1 Corinthians 15:29 (NKJV)
  Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

This is the only verse in the Bible that mentions baptism for the dead. Notice that Paul is not advocating this practice. He merely makes a passing reference to some group that had such a practice. His emphasis throughout that chapter is on the resurrection. Had baptism for the dead been a primary function of the early church surely there would be more teaching on it than this casual reference.

Genealogy

Latter-day Saints spend millions of dollars and man-hours to research the names of dead people in order to do their proxy baptisms and marriages. However, the Bible has no such teaching.

• 1 Timothy 1:4
  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies . . .
• Titus 3:9
  Avoid foolish questions and genealogies . . .

Marriage

The Mormons teach that every one needs a temple marriage in order to enter the top level of the Celestial Kingdom. Yet the Bible has no such emphasis.

• Luke 20:34-36
  . . . neither marry nor are given in marriage . . . they . . . are the children of God

Married to Christ — the Bride Groom

Latter-day Saints teach that marriage is essential for Eternal Life. But the Bible only mentions our spiritual marriage to Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 11:2
  I have espoused you to one husband [Christ] . . .
• Romans 7:4
  . . . married to another, even to him [Christ] who is raised from the dead . . .

We Are God’s Temple

The Mormon Church builds temples all around the world for their baptisms and marriages for the dead, as well as for their marriages for the living. But the temple of the Old Testament was used for animal sacrifice, not marriage. Christ fulfilled the Old Testament use of the temple. Now we are the spiritual temple of God.

• 2 Corinthians 6:16
  Ye are the temple of the living God
• Ephesians 2:19-22 (NKJV)
  . . . you are . . . members of the household of God, . . . built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; . . . in whom you are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

We are built together as God’s holy temple.

Christ — Our Only High Priest

In the Old Testament the High Priest went into the holy place of the Jewish temple (the holy of holies) once a year, which was a figure of Christ, our High Priest, atoning for sin once and for all. The LDS have thousands of High Priests but Jesus is the only High Priest in the Christian church. (See Hebrews 9:6-12)

• Hebrews 9:12 (NKJV)
  . . . with His [Christ’s] own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
• See also: Hebrews 5:9-10, 7:11-17, 24-27

Footnotes:

1. Bible verses are taken from the King James Version (KJV), unless otherwise noted (e.g., New King James Version [NKJV]). ↩︎

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