This is a frontal view of the newly dedicated Rexburg, ID
Temple. All Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Temples built since the Salt Lake Temple feature a golden angel Moroni sounding his trumpet atop the large spire. The angel Moroni represents a messenger of the restoration of the gospel and also of the
Second Coming - "
for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds".
This is the baptismal room in the temple. It is where
baptisms for our deceased ancestors can be performed so that they may receive the gospel if they did not have that opportunity while living. In the center of the room is the baptismal font being supported on the backs of twelve oxen. These twelve oxen which uphold the font represent the twelve tribes of Israel. They are placed facing outward toward the north, south, east and west - in every direction of the compass. The beautiful oxen are difficult to see in this picture because they actually stand below the floor level from which the picture was taken.
Here is a better view of the oxen taken in the older Nauvoo Temple.
This is the Bride's Room in the Temple. This is where a woman preparing to wed in the temple dresses for the blessed occasion with the help of sweet temple workers as well as a few family and/or friends she may have chosen for the occasion. (Thank you, Kris and Chelsea, for assisting me on my wedding day. I will never forget that wonderful memory.)
This is the Sealing Room in the Temple (although the actual altar is not pictured). This room is where couples and even, in some cases, entire families, are
sealed to one another for time and all eternity. We believe that families can be together forever through the special ceremony performed in this room. If you are married in the Temple, your children born thereafter are automatically born under that covenant and will forever be sealed to their parents from birth. For those who adopt their children, a very special sealing ceremony that includes the children is held to unite their family for all eternity.
This is the Ordinance Room. It is a room where the ceremony known as endowment is administered. The Idaho Falls Temple is considered a moving Temple (which is my favorite to attend) where those participating move from room to room, each room representing a progression of mankind. There may be (depending on the temple) a
Creation room, representing the events of Genesis; a
Garden room representing the Garden of Eden (where Adam & Eve lived prior to the "fall of man"); a
World room representing where Adam and Eve lived after the fall; and the
Terrestrial and
Celestial rooms representing two of the three kingdoms of God. The
Celestial Kingdom is the highest degree of glory (what others may describe as "Heaven") and also considered the glory of the sun.
The Terrestrial Kingdom, the glory of the moon, is the second kingdom and
The Telestial Kingdom, the glory of the stars, is the lowest kingdom.
This is the Celestial Room and is usually where most temple ceremonies and/or ordinances end (aside from baptisms). This room represents the Celestial Kingdom, which, as stated above, is the highest degree of glory; the glory of the sun.
Learn more about the three degrees of Glory, Joseph Smith and more
HERE.
P.S. Please ignore my gross sweatshirt from middle school. I should really throw it away, but I won't. Oh well. :o)
