Washington Temple- A New Landmark

it certainly will be a tremendous addition to the uh the great monuments uh religious monuments of uh Washington along with the other two great Cathedrals that are here I think the temple itself is probably one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen in my life and we're absolutely delighted that it's located here in Maryland it certainly adds something to our state I said I think it's fantastic it's just fantastic why I'm not sure why but that's how I feel I just thought it was fun I liked it a whole lot I liked all the different things in it and the colors and everything look real pretty the serenity of it was the thing that struck me most it's just a peaceful Serenity people say it's very elaborate on the other hand it is it seems like there's an awful lot of Lux almost luxurious let me put it this way all the whole thing to me is I mean the Crystal chandel and the cushions and the whole bit when we began we wondered uh how we might best cause people to want to come and the interest that has been manifest in coming to see the temple has been greater than any of us ever expected and here we are before the opening for the general public and all of the tickets that we had planned to control the traffic here are already gone when all the telephones were ringing at once well sometimes we would turn the the Bell completely off with the understanding that the woman who was sitting there as soon as she hung it up would would take it up again because someone would be there because the noise became so loud and so bothersome to the other people who were trying to take orders on the telephones that we couldn't cope One customer called the teleph company and complained that she'd been trying for 3 Days to get through he explained that we had 10 telephones manned constantly but he says Madam if they had 100 telephones it still wouldn't take care of the demand that we have for tickets to go through the Mormon Temple Washington DC Capital of the United States of America a city of well-known monuments now a new Landmark has arisen and it too is receiving a prestigious welcome how president and Mrs Ford joining in a reception with Spencer W Kimble president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife the Mormon Tabernacle Choir invited to perform in the Kennedy centery [Music] [Music] [Applause] all this to commemorate the completion of a striking new edifice just a few minutes outside of downtown Washington taking the capital Beltway toward Kensington Maryland you come over a rise and there it is lifting majestically above the landscape the Washington Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons 173,000 Square ft of white Alabama marble six Liquid Gold covered spires Rising nearly 300 ft above the ground and perched at top the highest a two and 1/2 ton goldleaf Statue Of An Angel called Moroni with an ancient scripture in one arm and a trumpet to his lips he Heralds his message to the world Beyond from any angle it is a spectacular sight the newest Landmark on the capital Horizon on September 9th president Spencer W Kimble world leader of 3 and 1 half million Mormons and his second counselor Maran G Romney arrived to seal the Cornerstone officially completing 3 years and $15 million worth of construction an interesting sidelight is the fact that this Temple as with all Mormon temples was completely paid for before the Cornerstone was laid then as is traditional for a few weeks prior to dedication visitors are invited to view the temple and its grounds during the ceremony president Romney explained the temple to an interested press and public we are here to Mark the completion of the erection of This Magnificent Temple a temple is not an ordinary Meeting House the temple is the house of God it belongs to God it's his Dwelling Place from the earliest times people who have known the true and living God have builded houses to him it's a place where God reveals his presence to his faithful Saints you could almost feel the presence of the Lord there that's what I feel I don't know about the others but that's what I it's nothing outside the world you know that can be compared to well this is a real truly great experience for me I think the temple is one of great Duty and a great addition to our surroundings here in Washington and it's a really an inspiration to all of us and I don't know when I have enjoyed anything quite so much is in my mind a wonderful creation of six years and it stands high in the outskirts of our city and we all of the people here on the East Coast observe I'm from Ohio my wife's from Indiana we're both methodists it's a place of worship and of course we worship the same God and we worship the same Christ and so for that reason I feel a a worshipful attitude as I walk through the building today there are certain sacraments that take place in this building that um I think we all believe in and uh I certainly wouldn't be one to find fault with a way a group of people decide to carry out sacrifice um sometimes I think we have to spend money on creating more beautiful things that life is more than just you know eating and sleeping that life is made up of of beauty and this is certainly a thing of beauty very impressive uh very inspiring uh I I would call it simple rather than ostentatious it's great Bey than it huh great church most interesting visit oh it's very beautiful and inspiring it's just fantastic what do you mean when you say it's inspiring what does well uh anything that causes you to look up and think about things that have eternal significance and beauty and Beauty I think that's inspired this is going to be here permanently for a permanent good for many people who aren't even born today very beautiful it's very massive and very uh I guess impressive the anywh baptismal found why was that signic it was uh well they had the ax and representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the uh the size of it I don't know why it was so big or did it mean anything to you what did you think about it I thought it was beautiful I mean the whole concept of it it just seems beautiful I really don't have never been you know into anything more than or anything or even known about it but I just I'm interested temples to the true and living God are built by his faithful Saints offer it great sacrifice and they're always built with the finest materials and by the finest Craftsman that can be assembled well you think that you know that it's going to be the house of the Lord and it just has to be right and it has to be the best and and uh and you do everything to make it as fine as you possibly can the temple is an intriguing structure it is 16 stories high but has only nine levels it is laced with thin marble Windows invisible during the day and has a fluting like vertical design that seems to lift the eyes to the spires above from any angle its glistening walls are reaching Skyward as is Moroni who according to Mormon theology was an ancient American Prophet fortunately there are guides to answer questions and explain the significance of details like the symbolic medallions on brass doors found in all entrances to the temple medallions representing such things as the Stars the earth and the Seven dispensations of time or the inscriptions on outer walls and of course the Artistry of hand laid faceted glass windows the glass is about 1 in thick and is chipped or faceted on one face to increase the natural Brilliance the tracery is a part of the pointed Arch Motif used throughout the building by day or night the windows make a colorful accent to the marble finish the Craftsman did such an Exquisite job that it's hard to believe believe that it could be done now when everything is made out of plastic and houses or boxes that the craftsmen who did this were so fortunate and The Architects because the work is is just there the marble is so thin it's transparent and the windows the stained glass is done by hand and set into stone this is exquisite and I don't think the Craftsman could find this kind of work anywhere else I wonder what the the men are doing and to be able to have this opportunity to work on such a beautiful piece of art it's again it's a a feeling uh of pride of of doing the very best I think I've watched it through the building I've seen many many examples inside the building where it could have been hidden and was going to be hidden what they were doing you would never see afterwards and uh still the workmen weren't satisfied and took it down and did it over because of their pride we can sometimes uh do much with detail and just the way a building is put together without having go to Great extravagance uh to achieve it and I think that uh this is part of the inspiration that we have received that we've been able to achieve a a a fine building a delightful building as an inspirational Building without just going all out of bounds uh as far as the the price tag is concern the temple is for special ordinances the eternal marriages and the baptisms for the dead remembering that Paul said else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why then are they baptized for the dead so this is not new to the world it's the Revival or restoration of many of the blessings that have been known before well when you talk about many of the blessings that have been known before I hear many times you talking about the unifying of the family how does the temple come into that yes the the temple is basic in the lives of families the the father and the mother are married for time and all eternity by Authority which has been granted by the Lord Jesus Christ to his leaders that seem me the father and the mother together then when children are born they're born what we call under the Covenant and they belong to their parents forever as we return and do work uh for our ancestors in the temple here we are reminded of the covenants that we made at marriage we are also uh reminded of the instructions that we have received here uh as to our purpose here in life uh why we have come to this earth and what our objectives as a family should be the most important thing to us is that we can be together eternally that this marriage of ours is not just you know for this life it's for always and we'll always have our children with us and taking it further we'll be with our parents and their parents and I look forward to a happy reunion with my heavenly father someday I think that if you really love your family if you want to be with them there's no greater blessing than being able to seal yourself with them for eternity I'm going to be married the temple this one for all Time and Eternity to a guy I really love there's lots of things I should say it's very interesting what's are you are you a Mormon yes what does the temple mean to you it means a place where you can where a family where family stays together and stuff where family stays together or it keeps a family together do you want to be kept together with your family yes because then when we go up to heaven we all be a so family I was baptized 196 August the 19th I was baptized by Elder Thomas erck and confirmed by Elder J C what what has this temp me to you the building of it well I don't know all I can said has made me feel very happy I felt so happy since I've been angel I don't know what to do I just I didn't know I I know it is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and that this is God's work that's going on and I'm so thankful that he's let me stay here long enough to see this it's really a standard of of truth that the world is looking up to and it's kind of ironic in a way but I people are looking up to it and they're trying to Fathom what it means to them but me in the church I feel it it's It's Something Beautiful Something firm and solid that gives us a way of Happiness so choose it means family Unity uh Eternal aspects that uh are really consolation to me I recently lost my grandmother and my family grieved quite heavily over it but if they really understood the Eternal plan and the meaning of temples and what we can do it would put a lot more peace in their soul and a lot more comfort in this in their expectations of this life I think it means a lot of chances for a lot of people to in this area even if their Mormons to grow greater in their knowledge of the Lord's dealings and plannings and preparation for them this building of the temple is something special it's it uh it has a lot of purposes that are really important marriage for Time and Eternity and baptisms for the dead and work for the dead and ceilings for the dead and so forth uh we think are tremendous importance the church you know spent millions of dollars in getting genealogy and find out about our ancestors so that work could be done for those people so the the temple work is a is a vital part of the work in this church so it's really a family church everything is based on the on the family that's the basic unit that's what the Lord wants and he's designed his church that the family is the key effort and it's all built around it we come to the temple to be sealed and that family unit will last forever as I said before it's kind of fruitless to think things the end would really end here and that by the promises of a temple that uh I can have a choice woman for her wife and have a family and really increase that love through a family unit and what which will conquer death that's really great I don't know what I'd do if I didn't think that I could stay with his lovely family the Lord sent them to me to trust them to me for a short while and to raise them and to train them and then they'll do the same for other spirits and I'd be kind of lost if I couldn't keep them wouldn't you want your children to be with you and to be with your parents [Music] again to Mormons this is truly the house of the Lord entrance to the temple is through this Annex after dedication faithful members of the church will pass through here into the temple proper to participate in the highest sacraments of their [Music] faith anx connects with the temple via a 90t glass enclosed Bridge Mormons believe in a living Christ consequently the only mural in the temple depicts the savior's Second Coming he's shown here on the morning of the first resurrection when the righteous of all nations are caught up to meet him and the wicked out of guilt guilt and shame shrink from his presence [Music] [Applause] [Music] everywhere there is a sense of simple elegance and a reverence for fine craftsmanship [Music] [Applause] [Music] there's a small Chapel for assembly before continuing to the temple its gold tipped organ pipes are reminiscent of the spires at top the temp Temple [Music] itself this is the bride's room where young women wait to be married for time and all eternity [Music] [Music] the celestial room symbolizing the Fulfillment of a righteous life eternal exaltation in the kingdom of God for [Music] in this Lounge people wait before receiving an explanation of man's and woman's Eternal [Music] Journey this is one of several ceiling rooms where couples kneel facing each other to be United in marriage for time and for all eternity these ceilings as they are called and all other ordinances performed in the temple are available through living proxies to ancestors and others who have died without having these [Music] Privileges and there are always the NeverEnding Reflections in the mirrors reminding one of the Eternal nature of the marriage and family [Music] covenants from here you move to the highest level of the temple this is the solemn assembly room room where the dedicatory services of the temple will be [Music] held it may also be used for other meetings convened by the leadership of the church [Music] [Music] now you descend to the lower level to observe the baptismal font it rests on the backs of 12 oxen symbolic of the ancient 12 tribes of Israel it is here that vicarious baptisms are performed by imersion of a living proxy representing a deceased [Music] ancestor after the temple is dedicated for the purpose of fulfilling sacred ordinances it will be closed to the general public and used to unite families past and present into one Eternal Bond time will not permit us to go into further detail but to say to you that we're a temple building people we believe in eternity we believe in permanence we believe in righteousness and we believe that the Lord is at the helm and his Revelations will continue to direct us in the paths that we should go [Music] let us makee God ising Glory Glory hallelu Glory Glory hallelu Glory Glory Hallelujah his truth is Maring glor Glory hallelu Glory Glory hallelu Glory Glory hallelu his is mighty [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]