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What is the difference between attending church and the temple?

Official Answer

Our churches are dedicated public places of worship where Mormons and visitors can meet to pray, study scripture, partake of the sacrament, and continue to learn their responsibilities as children of God. The temple is literally, as it has been throughout history, the "House of the Lord" (see 1 Kings 6:1, 37). The primary purpose of the temple is to provide a dedicated place where sacred ordinances needed for eternal life can be preformed. Because of its sacred nature, attendance in the temple is limited to Mormons who obey God's commandments and therefore are worthy to enter.

  • Kimberly.

    We go to church weekly to worship and take the sacrament, which is like communion. Everyone, no matter their faith, is welcome to come to church services and learn more about the Gospel. The temple is a special place where members make further promises to Heavenly Father that they will keep his commandments. It is also where we are married, or sealed together, and where we can be baptized and sealed for our family members who have died before having those opportunities in life. To go to the temple you need a card called a temple reccomend from your church leaders that confirms that you are currently doing your best to follow Christ and His Gospel as a member of the Church. Show more

  • Becky

    Attending Church we are able to participate in partaking of the Sacrament. This is so we can renew our covenants that we took upon ourselves at baptism. At baptism, we promised our Heavenly Father that We were willing to take upon His name, always remember Him and Keep His Commandments. As we attend church we learn basic principles that help us learn about our Savior, who He is, the gospel plan. As we grow each week by attending church, keeping the commandments and having our testimonies grow, we can choose to qualify or become worthy to obtain a temple recommend. This recommend allows us to go to the temple and gain more knowledge and take on more covenants with the Lord. Attending the Temple is where we are able to learn and participate in doing work for those who have gone before us. Show more

  • Jennie

    We attend church (a ward as we call it) every Sunday for 3 hours. We have Sacrament meeting, in which everyone in the ward is present and we take the Sacrament of bread and water (symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus Christ) and hear from various speakers. The other 2 hours are devoted to Sunday School, where men and women meet together, as well as a Sunday School style class separated by gender: Relief Society for the women and Elder's Quorum for the men. The Temple is a place we go to make and remember sacred covenants that we make with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. These covenants are beautiful promises to help us make our way back to the Kingdom of God once we die. Show more

  • Sister Chelsea Smaellie

    Attending church is where we go to partake of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenant. We also go to church to be edified by learning the word of God and knowing what we must do to come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Church is a place where we learn how to live our faith and fulfill our responsibilities as children of God. Temple's are sacred places where we go to make covenants with our Father in Heaven. It is also a place where sacred ordinances are performed that are needed for eternal life. The temple is also a place where husbands and wives can be sealed together for time and all eternity. Those who are worthy members of the church and keep God's commandments, are allowed to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple. The temple is the House of God and blesses all who enter. Show more

  • Steve Miles

    The church is where we go every week to worship God in a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. The temple is where we go to feel even closer to our Heavenly Father, worship him, and just do so many things that grow and encourage our faith in him. We also make sacred covenants there and learn more about how we can help ourselves and the people around us find ways to improve our lives. Because of its sacred nature only members of our church who keep themselves worthy through obeying gods commandments can attend. Show more

  • Michael

    the temple is a sacred place not only for worship, but to make very sacred covenants with god. Only members of the highest standards are allowed to enter, and it is there that the presence of god is the strongest. In the temple is where we are sealed to families forever, and do ordinances like baptism for the dead. Show more

  • Rachel

    Church services are offered on Sunday only, and last 3 hours long. Church is a place to take the sacrament, go to classes, and have opportunities to serve other members in the assigned ward. Church worship is open to anybody and everybody. The temple on the other hand is for worthy members who have been interviewed. It is a place to perform sacred ordinances for the living and the dead. These ordinances allow families to be sealed for time and eternity. Temple worship can be done any day of the week, except for Sunday and sometimes Monday. It lasts for 1-2 hrs. Show more

  • Sharon

    Attending the Temple means you have to have a temple recommend, live higher ethical values, pay 10% tithing, meet with the bishop and be counseled on living our faith in accordance with our religion. The temple is a sacred place, the most holy place on earth. The home of God here on earth. A place of doing his work not mans work. More peaceful than any other place you can be on earth. Where you can feel love and joy. Attending the Temple means you have the opportunity to be in a house of God a house of learning and closer to the spiritual ways of God. We need to feel his strength by doing his work. Attending the church means come and worship with us learn the Lords ways so we can be closer on a daily bases. Teaching our children all they need to have peace and love in this world. Studing the scriptures and lessons about Christ is a centered activity each Sunday. Families are strengthened and each individual is inlightened from the spirit. Show more

  • Chris

    A Mormon church building is where we go on Sunday's for our worship services. We also have weekly activities in the church building. Anyone is welcome to come to a church building. A Temple is much different than a church building as they are much bigger and are made of finer materials. A Temple is the House of the Lord where at anytime He may come and visit. Only member's of the church who hold a Temple recommend may enter a Temple. In Temples we learn our true relationship with God. We learn more about His plan for us. We perform sacred ordinance's in the Temple Show more

  • Heidi

    We go to a meetinghouse, known as a chapel, on Sundays. We may attend the temple for special things like weddings. We refer to temple weddings as "sealings." We believe families may be "sealed together" for all time by participating in temple ordinances. We consider the temple to be extremely sacred, so only members of the Church who commit to obey Heavenly Father's commandments qualify themselves to enter. Show more

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