Medford Oregon Temple
The Medford Oregon Temple is the 79th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Medford Oregon Temple is located midway between the Oakland California and Portland Oregon temples. Now the 28,600 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have a temple closer.
"This new temple is now another ensign to the restoration of the gospel," said Elder D. Lee Tobler of the Seventy during the groundbreaking ceremony. "It is an ensign not only for you, but it is an ensign for your neighbors. It is an ensign for all."1 An ensign is a standard or banner.
As Elder Russell M. Nelson explains, "Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families." 2
God commanded members of the Mormon Church to "establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." 3 That house is a Mormon temple. Where members of the Church go to learn about and grow closer to God. Temples are considered to be houses of the Lord here on earth. Because of the sacred nature of temples only worthy members of the LDS Church may enter after its dedication.
Temples are not only built for "members of today but also for the those of tomorrow and the families of yesteryears." 4 Within Mormon temples members make covenants with God and are sealed together as families, providing future generations with the blessings of the gospel. Ordinances are also performed by proxy for the deceased. Members search out their deceased ancestors and have them sealed together as families, creating an unbroken eternal family chain.
During the open house nearly 46,000 people toured the new Mormon temple. Many non-members felt the reverent spirit of the building commenting that they felt a “a sweet feeling inside the temple,” and a "sense that [the temple] was a very spiritual place.” Many entered the temple casually but came out "with a spirit of reverence about them." 5
President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Medford Oregon Temple on 16 April 2000. During the dedicatory prayer President Faust prayed, “Wilt Thou touch the hearts of Thy people in this temple district that they may ever regard it with gratitude and appreciation, that they may qualify themselves to come here as Thy servants and carry forward the great work for which it is designed.” 6
The Lord desires all to enter His temple, but unfortunately many are not worthy of entering. Because the Lord judges mankind from the knowledge that they possess; the more knowledge a person possesses the greater the judgment. Those who have entered the temple and made covenants possess greater knowledge and have a greater responsibility to live their lives accordingly. Many would find this task difficult. So members who enter the temple must be worthy and accept the responsibility. Members willingly accept this responsibility because they know of the blessings that can only be received within Mormon temples.
It is the Lord's desire as President Faust said in his prayer, "May they come to this Thy house to solemnize the most sacred event of their lives, their marriage to partners of equal worthiness, and may the covenants which they will make in this house be kept inviolate throughout their lives." 7
The Medford Oregon Temple has a total floor area of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Notes
(1) Church News, 29 May 1999. (2) Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, 32 (3) Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 (4) Church News, 29 May 1999. (5) “News of the Church,” Ensign, July 2000, 74 (6) "Medford dedicatory prayer: 'Carry forward the great work,'" Church News 22 Apr. 2000, 25 Jun. 2005 (7) "Medford dedicatory prayer: 'Carry forward the great work,'"
See also
External links
- Official Medford Oregon Temple page
- Medford Oregon Temple page
- Medford Oregon Temple page
- Mormon Temple Ordinances - ReligionFacts
- Mormon Temples - Wikipedia
- Mormon Temples and Secrecy
- Mormon Missionaries - BBC Religion & Ethics
- Prophet Joseph Smith - Lightplanet
