The Richmond Temple: A Blessing to SVU Students
By Kedron Phillips
My most recent visit to the Richmond Virginia Temple was in February. This was my third visit to a temple as an endowed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I attended with my husband and our two friends. It had been a rough couple of weeks at school and the days leading up to our visit I found myself being so excited to go. My relationship with the temple is something that has been developed very recently. For me, this is a sacred place where I can go and find peace as I work for the Lord.
As I left I felt so refreshed and felt like I could confront the rest of the semester head on. This sparked a curiosity inside of me. How do member SVU students feel about the temple so close in Richmond? Is this their place where they can find peace in hard times like I do? What does having a temple only 2 hours away do for their lives? It took me a long time to figure out how to go about this research and how I should portray it. I recognize that there are nonmember SVU students who may not understand why we have temples or why we attend them. This article is meant to create a better understanding for those students as well on why we choose temples as one of the main focuses in our practices. I decided to interview three students who consistently work in the temple: Addy Thorpe, Devin Barbee, and Audrey Mckeon. The idea behind this was they have so much knowledge to share about this subject.
Many find it interesting that only those who are members of the church are able to go in. According to Addy, “The temple is where we go to get closer to God and make those covenants for both ourselves and those on the other side of the veil.” The temple is set apart from the rest of the world as a sacred place for these things to happen. Ultimately, our goal is for everyone to be able to go in. Devin Barbee described the process this way: “The temple is a symbol of spiritual progression. In our faith we believe that spirituality is made step by step, level by level. Our first promise or ‘level’ is baptism, which is something we do in our meeting houses. The further down that spiritual journey that you go, the promises and the steps you take become more sacred and more spiritual. And that’s why we protect them. We do them in a sacred place, which is the temple, so that we can have those deeper spiritual experiences.”
The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel
There has been a long history of temples throughout the history of the world. A temple is a place of worship. In ancient times, the people of Israel were distinguished among nations as the builders of sanctuaries to the name of the living God. These sanctuaries are known to us in the western world as temples. They completed this service due to the requirement of them by Jehovah, who they professed to serve. The history of Israel as a nation dates back to Exodus. After they had escaped from the environment of Egyptian idolatry they were required to prepare a sanctuary. Here is where Jehovah manifested His presence and made known His will as their accepted Lord and King.
The Temple of Herod was the last temple built in the Eastern Hemisphere in ancient times. Until the time of the reestablishment of the Church of Jesus Christ in the mid 19th century, the only mention of temples being built is found in the Book of Mormon. Here we learn that temples were built on the American continent, but there are not many details as to the construction. There are even fewer details as to the practices that went on. After the Nephite nation (those who built the temple) came to an end, it is evident that in both hemispheres temples no longer existed and the idea of a temple had perished among mankind.
For a long time there was no building of temples made for the worship of the Lord. It wasn’t until the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the 19th century that temples began to be constructed again. Through Joseph Smith, the gospel was restored and the ancient laws were reestablished.
Latter Day Temples
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began very early in the history of its restoration to bring ideas for the construction of a temple. The members at this time wanted a proper and holy place to worship God. In June of 1833, the Lord directed Joseph Smith to begin building a holy house. At this time the people were deep in poverty, but they responded to this request with devotion and a willingness to complete the work of the Lord. In March of 1836, the first temple of modern times was completed. This temple is known as the Kirtland Temple which stands in Kirtland, Ohio.
Within two years of the dedication, the people were forced to abandon it as they were driven out from the persecution of a local mob.
After several relocations, the early pioneers eventually found a place in what is now known as Salt Lake City, Utah. A few days after arriving, it was declared by Brigham Young that they would construct another temple.
This temple still stands today and has undergone a large renovation within the past few years to reinforce its foundation so it can sustain itself for years to come.
Addy Thorpe says, “Lots of churches and religions have temples or sacred buildings where things happen. You can see it across several religions. There are sacred spaces for certain things to happen. We make ordinances and covenants in our church buildings like when we are baptized and when we take the sacrament every Sunday. The other ordinances we make like the endowment, the sealing, baptisms for the dead, we believe are more sacred so we have a specific place for them that’s dedicated and set apart from the world for that particular thing. It’s not uncommon in religions. However, in other religions it is more like a public display and so it is weird for others that they can’t go in. When you can understand that is the temple’s purpose it can make more sense.”
Regarding why we have temples Audrey Mckeon says, “There are some key baseline blessings that God has promised us when we go to the temple. And most importantly, we make what’s called covenants in the temple or these promises to God, and there are opportunities for us to continue to become more like Him and to become better versions of ourselves. We feel peace in the temple because we are separated from the rest of the world. Everytime I go to the temple I learn something new about God’s will for me and where my life should go.”
SVU Student Experiences
My goal of sitting down with students at Southern Virginia University was to ask them their take on the Richmond, Virginia Temple. I wanted to find out what effect having a temple so close plays in terms of benefit to college students here in Buena Vista.
Addy Thorpe, who is now able to work in the Richmond temple every other weekend says, “before we had a temple in Richmond, we had to go into DC which is exhausting in itself. It’s like you didn’t even go because of how far it is and you would spend more time in the car than in the temple. The time almost felt wasted because during the drive you stress about homework and other things. With it being closer it’s so much easier to feel like the trip was worth it. It just feels more like home when you go. You get to see your friends and your professors. What we’re doing in the temple is participating in the gathering of Israel and I think it’s amazing just going to the temple and seeing people from SVU knowing you are all there for the same cause.”
Audrey Mckeon works in the temple every other weekend as well. She spends the night at her aunt’s house in Richmond, then wakes up early the next morning to begin her shift in the temple at 6am and works until around 1 in the afternoon. Her thought is that sacrifices that are made for the Lord are never wasted. Getting up that early as a college student on weekends to serve for eight hours is a very commendable thing to do.
Land Value
It’s important to note that LDS temples significantly increase land value. As temples go up, more people want to be near them. For example when the Billings, Montana temple was completed in 1999, it was on undeveloped land. When it was completed, people wanted to build their homes closer to the temple, which helped in developing the land surrounding the area.
In 2003 a study was done by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, a statistical analysis was completed on 207 properties in three U.S. cities where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built temples. In 95% of observations, a temple added between $29,455 and $77,445 to neighboring property value.
The larger the temple is, the more effect it has on neighboring property values.
New temples are announced every General Conference. It is quite the process for plans for temples to be built. It entails more than picking a spot and placing it there. The construction and planning is just like that of any other building. First the leaders examine and identify the need for a temple in a certain area, they select a site, and architects design and contractors build. This process is special because of the significant role temples play in Latter-day Saint Theology.
Members of the church pay tithing. Tithing is the donation of ten percent of your income that goes towards the church’s needs. These needs include temples. Through tithing the Church pays for the costs without a mortgage or other financing.
The leaders of the church want their members to have as easy access to temples as what is physically possible. Although there is no required number, temple sites are located in areas with enough members to justify construction or where there is a great distance between existing temples.
Once the decision is made that a certain area needs a temple, the First Presidency then prayerfully chooses the precise spot where the temple will stand. This has been in place since the Church of Jesus Christ’s beginning. On newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org they give the example of Brigham Young. “Soon after entering the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, Brigham Young identified the block of land on which to build the Salt Lake Temple.”
Temples are meant to last forever. The building materials that are selected are nothing but the best. After all, the House of the Lord deserves only the best. This practice is found in the Bible’s description of Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 7. They used the finest materials and workers. The Church of Jesus Christ follows the same pattern.
Each temple that is constructed is unique and incorporates unique designs that are specific to the area they are in. In order to create a look and feel that is correct for a specific area, the architect teams meet with locals to understand the nature of the people and the country they live in.
Open House
Only Latter-day Saints who live the highest standards of the faith are permitted to enter a dedicated temple. This may sound unwelcoming, but the reality is that we hold temples very near and dear to our hearts. It is our responsibility as members of the church to preserve the sacredness of the temple. It’s not that people are not welcome, in fact our goal is for everyone to enter. It’s just that there are specific steps in place for each person who enters the temple.
Once construction is complete and before the temple’s dedication, the temple’s doors are open to the public for a few weeks for free tours. These provide the unique and rare opportunity for anyone in the community to walk through a temple and learn more about Latter-day Saint beliefs.
When the open house is over, a Church leader comes to formally dedicate the temple. This is done by offering a dedicatory prayer to consecrate the temple for those sacred purposes that the temple was built for.
Sealing of Families
A key belief for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we are sealed to our families for time and all eternity. Eternal families are central to Heavenly Fathers plan.
In January I was sealed to my husband in the Richmond temple. Without a doubt it was the most sacred and beautiful experience I have ever been part of. There is a special feeling that comes with the knowledge that I get to be with him forever. I would identify it as a sense of security in that knowledge knowing that no matter what happens I am sealed to him, as well as our future family, forever.
As Latter-day Saints we know and believe that in our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness, a husband and wife can be together forever. The authority to unite families forever is called the sealing power. This power is the same that Jesus gave to His Apostles while he ministered here on earth. Children who are born or adopted into eternal marriages are also sealed to their families forever. This sealing process takes place in the temple.
In order for marriages to continue after death, they have to be sealed in the right place with the correct authority. Temples are where these marriages take place and the right authority is the priesthood. During a sealing a husband and wife who are being sealed make covenants with the Lord and with each other. These covenants are promises between you, your spouse, and God that you commit to keeping throughout your lifetime.
Our goal as members of the church should be to attend the temple as often as we can or as often as your circumstances allow. Keeping yourself turned towards the temple will make it easier for you when life does hit those fuzzy moments. Most of us can say that the times we need it the most are the times that may be the most difficult to go. Devin Barbee says “in the times that you’re not going to the temple it’s important to remember the covenants you have made. As SVU students we’re not going to be able to go everyday. Putting yourself in environments where the spirit can dwell and actively remembering your temple covenants and what you have promised to do. The Lord will bless you if you do those things.”
I asked Audrey what her relationship was like with the temple when life gets hard and this is what she said: “In my best of times and my worst of times my hope is that the temple is my refuge from the storm. Because it’s such a source of light and truth there are forces that work against us that want us to think we don’t deserve to be in the temple or that we are not good enough. Not letting those bad thoughts convince us is really important. If you are doing your best to follow God and keep the commandments that is what God wants. Even when my life is hard and difficult I know that I can go to the temple and feel like I’m going to be guided and directed. We all have those fuzzy times where it seems like everything is falling apart or we don’t know where to go next. Instead of being mad at God it should be the complete opposite, the temple should be where we turn first.”
As members of the church we invite all those who do not understand the temple to come and learn more. From the outside looking in, temples can seem very strange. What’s important to remember is that there has been a long history of temples throughout the world. Blessings come from attending the temple. As more and more temple’s continue to be built around the world, the Richmond temple will always hold a special place in my heart, as I know it will for many others. Oh how special it is to have a place designated for the work of the Lord and the sealing of families.
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