Chapter 14c - The Mormon Temples: Ordinances, Worthiness, and Objections

Why are temples restricted?
Is baptism for the dead actually in the Bible?
And who does God allow into His House?

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‍Chapter 14c – The Mormon Temples: Ordinances, Worthiness,

and Objections

INTRO

Welcome back to the Mormon Mann YouTube channel. I’m Kendall, the Mormon Mann.

So far, we’ve established two things:

👉 Temples are biblical
👉 Temples are prophesied in the last days

But now we come to the most controversial part:

👉 What actually happens inside temples… and why do people object to it?

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD

One of the most criticized teachings is this:

👉 Baptism for the dead

Many say this is not biblical.

But listen carefully to what the Apostle Paul taught:

1 Corinthians 15:29

“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”

That’s not symbolic language.

👉 That’s a real practice being acknowledged by Paul.

The question is not:

👉 Is it in the Bible?

Because it clearly is.

The real question is:

👉 Why would it exist if it were not meant to be practiced?

THE TEMPLE PATTERN

Now let’s go back to the Old Testament.

In Solomon’s temple, there was something very specific:

A large basin of water supported by twelve oxen.

1 Kings 7:23–25

“And he made a molten sea… ten cubits from the one brim to the other…
It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east…”

And again:

2 Chronicles 4:2–4

“Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits…
It stood upon twelve oxen… three looking toward the north… west… south… and east…”

Some say this was only for washing.

But the structure itself raises a question:

👉 Why is there a large body of water in the temple… elevated on twelve oxen representing Israel?

The pattern is there.

The interpretation differs.

This is a picture of a modern-day Temple baptismal font where baptisms for the dead are performed.

THE LAW OF WORTHINESS

Another major criticism is this:

“Why can’t everyone enter the temple?”

But the Bible gives a very clear answer:

👉 Not everyone was allowed into the House of the Lord.

WHO MAY ENTER?

Psalms 24:3–4

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…”

Psalms 15:1–2

“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness…”

👉 Entry was never casual.

It required:

Purity
Obedience
Righteousness

STRICT REQUIREMENTS

God gave even stronger instruction through Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 44:9

“No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary…”

And through Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 7:3

“Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.”

👉 Repentance was required.

👉 Worthiness was required.

EVEN DAVID WAS NOT ALLOWED

One of the most powerful examples:

David—chosen by God—was not permitted to build the temple.

1 Chronicles 22:8

“Thou hast shed blood abundantly… thou shalt not build an house unto my name…”

👉 Even a prophet could be restricted.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNWORTHINESS

This wasn’t symbolic.

This was serious.

Numbers 1:51

“…the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.”

And in the New Testament:

Acts 21:28–31

“…this is the man… that brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place…
And all the city was moved… and they went about to kill him…”

👉 The temple was protected.

👉 Access was controlled.

CHRIST’S VIEW OF THE TEMPLE

Now consider Jesus Christ Himself.

One of the only times we see Him act with force—

Is in the temple.

Matthew 21:12–13

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple…
And said… My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

John 2:15–16