Temple Square: Some 2011 Observations

Paul Derengowski, ThM

Recently my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Salt Lake City, and more specifically Temple Square—the home of Utah Mormonism. It had been almost thirteen years to the date since we last visited (1998), and we decided that part of our vacation would be drive on over and see what new things, if any, had taken place during the interim. We knew that the new Conference Center had been built north of Temple Square, but as for anything else we were unaware. The following is a brief account of our visit.

Genealogical Urgency

Our first stop was the Family History Library, which is across the street to the west of Temple FHL Square. We had visited this before, but had not been accosted by anyone with the vigor that we were during this visit. Within seconds of announcing our status to the greeter at the entrance, we were whisked away to fill out nametags and then met at the door by an elderly man and woman who ushered us into a room where a room full of patrons were intent on discovering their familial lineages. The man provided us with a couple of genealogical charts which we could use to help track our individual families, and the woman proceeded to show us how the computers worked at the Library to do research.

Since we were merely observing, I decided to do a search on my deceased father, and of no surprise, he managed to come up in their database. That said, though, the only information on record had his date of birth and death, but nothing else. Typically the Mormons are quite proficient in providing ancestry data that depending on the family and availability of records, one can trace one’s family roots back several generations. Our woman guide told us that the Mormons have approximately three billion persons on file in their database. Nevertheless, any additional information on my father was sparse. However, I did share with her that I possessed his death record, to which her eyes lit up, as if I was letting her in on some valuable secret that would be to the benefit of all mankind, if I would only contact LDS central and pass along the information.

After spending a few more moments checking other databases in their system, my wife and I decided to move on. We thanked our Mormon hostess, took a few more pictures, and headed next door to the Museum of Church History and Art. On our way we stopped to take a couple of pictures of the Pioneer Log Home that is situated between the Library and Museum. One thing that is quite evident about the Mormons: they love their historical artifacts, even though a good portion of what they believe is history is pure fiction.

Museum of Church History and Art

Our visit to the MCHA actually took place during two separate visits. On the first day we simply wanted to take a couple of pictures of the outside wall above the entrance to the facility. Of particular interest is the pentagram situated in the upper left hand corner of the facing. This is not novel, given that we had seen this before, but we wanted to take a couple of digital pictures this time, since thirteen years ago we did not have a digital camera. Although Mormons make light of having pentagrams adorn their buildings, making all kinds of specious equations to try and justify what amounts to a dance with the devil, pentagrams and pentacles have a long history of association with occultism, sorcery, and witchcraft. And given the diabolical doctrines that Mormonism espouses, it was no surprise to see the continued outward display of those doctrines in symbolic form for all to see.

It was during our second visit, on the next day, that we noticed a few new additions to their displays. In fact, on the third floor a brand new exhibit is currently under construction. So by this time next year it is likely that they will be finished and a brand new chapter in Mormon history, or one-world building, will be seen by many. One thing we noticed were the number of displays committed to children. Children’s art and themes can be seen on both the lower level and third floor. Although the Bible does teach that children should be trained at an early age in the way they should go, so that when they are old they won’t depart from it, one would be hard-pressed to imagine that God would have ever instructed His people to train children to idolize God, the family, and Joseph Smith, in the manner that Mormonism does. And if that isn’t enough, to gradually convince the children that if they will simply work for it, they can become gods and goddesses themselves one day.

Although our visit to the MCHA was interesting, and as my wife pointed out regarding some of the quilt work being beautiful, very little had changed since our previous visit. What was noticeable was the lack of urgency and friendliness we experienced at the Family Research Center. No one asked if we needed any help, said “Hello,” or asked why were there. We were merely left to ourselves to wander about uninterrupted.

Hanging Gardens of Neo-Babylon

The next leg on our short visit was to see the new LDS Conference Center which was built to house more people during General Conference than could be held in the Tabernacle. The Center itself sits directly across the street to the north of Temple Square and for those familiar with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, is reminiscent of its structure and design. Built after a multi-tiered plan, the Center itself is light grey in color, complete with multiple waterfalls, and flora and fauna on the roof. Nebuchadnezzar would have been proud, and likely could not have done better himself.

Although we did not venture to go inside the Center, I had heard that it is capable of holding twenty thousand conference goers. Given its outer appearance, and comparing it to some of the professional sports arenas I have been in over the years, that number seems quite plausible. Perhaps next year, or later, we will have the opportunity to take a tour of the complex itself. But for now, it has all the appearance that one would expect from the Mormons: as beautiful as a whitewashed sepulcher.

Assembly Line Weddings

One aspect of Mormon life that is extremely important to them is the wedding ceremony. The goal of all devoted Mormon males and females is to be married in a Mormon Temple, where they not only received their endowments, but are under the impression that by enrolling themselves in the marriage ceremonies associated with the Temple, they can be sealed to their mate for “time and eternity.” Then, if they will simply “obey all the commandments and ordinances” of Mormonism, they can go on to become gods and goddesses themselves one day. On the first day of our visit, as it was thirteen years prior, the Mormons were holding true to just how important marriage is to them, as one Mormon couple after another were put on display before “Gentile” world.

Wedding As my wife and I circled to the east of the Temple, there were two wedding parties celebrating what has been described by some former Mormons who had gone through the ceremony themselves years ago as “eerie.” Since we had not gone through the Square, to the west of the Temple, we did not know if there were several other parties lining up for a later exit. But, we would not have been surprised if there were. We did notice across the street to the east another recently married couple being photographed. Since it was late afternoon when we saw all of this, and that in manner of about five minutes, one could safely assume that this had been going on all day, with perhaps fifty to a hundred marriages taking place on that day, all in the Temple, with only the privileged allowed to witness what the assembly line workers had produced.

Although the brides and their dresses were beautiful, and the husbands, all decked out in their formal attire, looked gentlemanly and excited, I had to wonder whether any of these impressionable young persons even understood what they just went through. That the whole marriage ceremony involving secret handshakes and the like were either taken straight out of the Freemasonry that Joseph Smith involved himself, or were simply the byproduct of his ungodly imagination. One has to wonder whether anyone ever told them the truth, not only about the pagan marriage vows they just committed to or the history and doctrines that make up Mormonism, minus all the convoluted finagling the Mormon elite engage in to keep the young bride and groom bound in abject nonsense. For surely if they had been told, then obviously the delusion runs deep and only a miracle of God will rescue them from the deception. And if they had not been told, one has to wonder why not? Are there not enough Christians who care enough to tell them the truth or perhaps in God’s providence those young couples are destined to a life without Christ? Whatever the case, amid all the apparent and pretentious joy there seemed to be emptiness; an emptiness that was symbolized by the ten-foot iron gates and twelve-foot concrete walls that surround Temple Square. These young people were married in what amounts to be prison. So, just how joyous could they have really been?

Joseph Smith’s Building

After taking a few final pictures of the newly minted married couples, we wandered past the LDS Administration building and noted the number of reflecting pools the Church had built between the Temple and State Street to the east. Then again, Mormonism is all about appearance and creating warm, sentimental feelings in a person. Therefore, the better a person feels about the environment he is in or towards the person he is in conversation with, Pool then supposedly that is a way to measure the truthfulness of the experience. The reflecting pools, with the carefully manicured grass and flowers, added to the experience, probably with the hope that whomever would “feel the spirit,” ask the right questions of an all-too-willing missionary standing nigh-by, and become a part of Mormonism. Although all the landscaping was well done, a sign or two stating the motive for the aesthetic effort would have been appreciated as well. But, we know those signs will never appear, since that would require a commitment to and defense of Mormonism, and will be seen shortly, that is not a part of the agenda of the Mormon Church.

Street We walked south on State Street and took a couple of pictures of the pentagram that adorns the street sign. It is the same kind of pentagram that also adorns the Temple. What is ironic is that the statue above the pentagram looks like an eagle, which is symbolic of freedom. Of course, it could also be a seagull, since the Mormons have also idolized the seagull for helping to spare the community when the Mormon crickets invaded years ago. Regardless if it is an eagle or a seagull it is quite apparent that Mormonism is able to demonstrate its occult influence upon the city of Salt Lake and the city has no qualms about it.

Although we could have stopped at the Beehive House—Brigham Young’s residence—and the Lion House—the place where Brigham Young’s wives stayed—we decided not to, having made those tours years ago. Instead we wanted to stop and visit the Joseph Smith Memorial Building that is next door to the west. Really, the only reason for the visit was to check out the clothing section in the basement. Earlier this year someone managed to buy a pair of the Masonically inscribed undergarments that Mormons wear for protection purposes—although some Mormons want people to believe they are for devotional reasons—and then produced a silly YouTube video boasting about it. During our previous visit I could not recall if there were any signs on display that regulated the purchase of undergarments. This time, though, the sign was upfront for all to see. “Garment purchases require endowment verification at the register…Ceremonial clothing purchases require a current temple recommend.” One has to wonder why such restrictions are in place, given that the Masons have never thought that the gauge, the compass, or the square were “sacred” symbols. Yet, those emblems are stitched into the fabric of the Mormon undergarments and somehow are what makes the garments themselves “sacred.” Maybe someday a Mormon will explain to me his or her superstition.

Walking about the bookstore area a copy of Gospel Principles and Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood were picked up. While waiting in line to make the purchase I could not help but notice a CD being sold under the title “Praise to the Man.” For $15.50 one could either listen to or sign along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir “praise” Joseph Smith as the wonderful human being and prophet that all Mormons seem to think that he was. Although I’m sure the MTC did an admirable job of praising Smith, Jesus’ rebuke to Satan that, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” comes to mind. While some Mormons either have no problem worshiping Smith, others vehemently reject the notion that by offering “Praise to the Man” that they are worshiping him. They are simply paying him tribute. Such mincing of words, though, betrays an intellectual dishonesty among those kinds of Mormons that no one apart from God Almighty Himself will clarify in their minds, and that only upon spiritual regeneration. Needless to say, after a quick picture and purchase of the books, I was out of there and our first day of visitation came to an end.

Missionary Confrontation

On day number two my wife and I started out by going inside Temple Square and wandering through the Tabernacle and Assembly House. The organist impressed the few who were sitting in attendance while we were there, and the “sister” missionaries had struck up a conversation with a few visitors at the Assembly House by the time we arrived. As was usual the settings were impressive, but it was not until we decided to walk through the South Visitor’s Center that things became interesting.

SVC When we entered the Center a friendly missionary asked if there was anything she could do for us, and we told her we were only visiting. She asked from where, and we told her Texas. She said she was from California (Riverside), and we moseyed on our way. It was not until was reached the Temple display, which was complete with a large model of the Utah Temple that two other girls approached and asked if we had any questions. I had taken several pictures of the model, along with several of the displays explaining the importance of the Temple and the role it supposedly plays in the lives of the Mormons. It was at this time that I decided to take up the missionaries offer to ask some questions, after which I’m sure they wished they had not offered.

The conversation started after I had photographed a statement that explained, “We consider the temple to be the house of the Lord—the most sacred place on earth.” It continues, “In temples members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participate in sacred ordinances, make sacred covenants with the Lord, and feel a special closeness to God.” My question to lady missionaries, to get things going, was: “How many Mormons actually get to go into a Mormon Temple?” The reason for my question, from previous study, is that only about 15% of all Mormons ever obtain a Temple Recommend that allows them to enter a Temple. The response I received was that depending on the worthiness of the member would also depend on whether one was allowed to enter. Of course, that did not answer my question, but then again, what else is new? Very few Mormons ever answer questions asked of them, but instead skirt around them and offer canned responses that they have learned either at the Missionary Training Center, LDS Institute, or possibly even at home.

When worthiness became the subject of qualification to enter the Temple, I asked them what makes a member worthy. The missionary from Africa (the other one was from China) stated that one must keep “all the commandments” of the Lord. I said, “Really?” “Yes,” she replied. I asked, “So am I to assume that you have kept all the commandments?” She said, “Yes.” “All of them?” I probed her a bit further. “Can you list all the commandments of God?” She then got a blank look on her face. I said, “You’re much better than I, if you have kept all the commandments of God.”

Her partner jumped in and said that that “as long as one does their best, one is pleasing to Temple Model God, and is then permitted to enter the Temple.” Of course, what she did by making such a comment is contradict the previous statement made by her partner. So I asked, “Who determines whether you’ve done your best? Do you go before God, and He asks you, how you’ve done?” Her reply was that if one desires to go to the Temple, then one must first go before the bishop who then signs the Temple Recommend. “How does the bishop know that you’ve kept all the commandments or that you’ve done the best you could?” I asked. She said he doesn’t know and that the question is never brought up. “Doesn’t that seem somewhat odd, that commandment-keeping is a qualification to enter the Temple, but the bishop, who gives final approval, never asks or brings up the question about keeping the commandments?” Blank stares like deer in headlights is the best description of the look on their faces.

Although they had not noticed at first, my wife had been videoing the conversation (which unbeknownst to us was a no-no). One of the missionaries then turned to my wife and told here that recording was not allowed, although she never explained the reason why. One could take all the pictures and video one wanted, so long as conversations between whomever and the missionaries were not a part of it. My wife did not stop recording; she simply walked away.

As is typical of most conversations with those devoted to defending Mormonism at all costs, the missionary who informed my wife that videoing conversation was not allowed asked what my motive was for asking the questions that I was, since to her I seemed to be pretty informed on the subject. I told her that the reason I was asking was because of the display and then the responses I was receiving from her and her partner. Besides, whether I knew much about Mormonism, or nothing at all, was irrelevant. It did not make sense to me to be setting up a display lauding the wonders of the Mormon Temple, and telling people about its centrality in worship among Mormons, and only have 15% of its membership attending. Needless to say, the more experienced missionary (from China) decided that I had asked enough questions, even though it was clear that the missionary from Africa was troubled. Of course, even though nothing had been orchestrated in advance, I could have asked them both several more questions, causing them both to doubt even further and rethink just what it was that they were peddling. But, I complied with her wishes and we ended the exchange. Hopefully, though, a seed was planted whereby the Holy Spirit will continue to convict them both of their error and God will draw them into His kingdom.

North Visitor’s Center

Although not quite as exciting or interesting as the South Visitor’s Center encounter, then North Visitor’s Center is perhaps more picturesque than the SVC. The reason being that on the first level is several paintings dealing with various biblical themes, along with a scaled replicate of the city of Jerusalem. On the second floor is the location of the white marble Jesus idol that we witnessed several people wishing to have their pictures taken in front of, along with dozens of missionaries who happened to show up while we were there, wanting to do the same thing. It is on the second floor, as well, that a recording would play every ten minutes or so, which mimicked Jesus in a soft, sweet-sounding voice of assurance. Plus the backdrop painting of the universe was impressive to say the least.

One thing that is curiously missing from both Visitor’s Centers was any allusions to Book of Jesus Statue Mormon worlds or cultures. There were no paintings of Jesus in America, nor any videos or recordings from Lehi, Nephi, or Zarahemla. There was nothing by way of “Praise to the Man,” Joseph Smith, nor of Brigham Young and his exploits to bring the Mormons to Utah after Joseph’s death. It was purely centered on a biblical theme or that which most people would be familiar. In fact, it reminded me of the music being played next door in the Tabernacle. Familiarity is the name of the game in the Vistor’s Centers and the Tabernacle, because otherwise people would reject whatever the missionaries patrolling the grounds would have to say. “Milk before meat” is a common expression among Mormons, meaning that before one is capable of swallowing the really outlandish absurdities of Mormonism, one must have already drank the milder expressions of it, which seem similar to the Bible’s message. It is one reason why Mormon missionary outreach is not specifically geared toward non-believers, but Christians, who are familiar enough with the Bible to get themselves into trouble, but are not familiar enough to make a defense of the faith.

When All Was Said and Done

Although much of what my wife and I saw and experienced at Temple Square was similar to what we had seen and experienced thirteen years ago, there was enough difference to make the trip worthwhile. The urgency of the Mormons at the Family Research Center, the LDS Conference Center that reminds one of the Babylonian Gardens of yesteryear, and the face-to-face conversation with the lady missionaries was definitely different than before. Add to that the remodeling of downtown and the overall growth of Salt Lake City, and it was well worth the time and money spent to revisit the Mecca of Mormonism.

Even if the trip had garnered nothing new or different, it was still good to stop in and see the reactions and expression of those who know very little or nothing at all about one of America’s homegrown religions that continues to influence just about every facet of life. Because ultimately it is not just the Mormons that the Christian must deal with in the battle for the hearts and minds of people, but increasingly it is the people themselves, who are often lacking in spiritual discernment, that must be dealt with as well. For conditions are not more pleasant than they were thirteen years ago; they are worse. And if it is at all possible to spare one more person of the deception and heartache that ultimately comes from following a false religion like Mormonism, then one cannot afford to waste that opportunity. Hopefully this accounting of our most recent trip there will prove a degree of value when discerning just what Mormonism has to offer, and then flee before it’s eternally too late.

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