15 replies to this topic

[Saints Alive]

We read all the time about how temples are popping up in places where the church is growing. Still there are many members who must travel days, and at great expense, to partake in the ordinances of the temple. Many people from poorer nations must save for years for a once in a lifetime trip to their closest temple. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could bring the temple to them?

I have been in the army for some time now. I remember using drafty canvas tents that weighed a ton and literally took an army to erect. They were unbearably hot in the summer and drafty in the winter. Many of them leaked like a sieve.  It is amazing how much they have evolved over the years. Now we use tents that are air conditioned and comfortable year round. They have electricity, running water, and even internet connectivity. By using modular, interconnecting tents, command centers and hospitals can be erected from nothing in hours, and the whole package can fit neatly into one or two shipping containers.

What if the Church could utilize this technology? We could have a Latter-day Tabernacle (or tabernacles) like the Hebrews in the wilderness. It would be possible to bring portable temples to places where the nearest temple might be 1000 miles away. Younger “service” missionaries could be used to setup the structure and it could stay in place for a week or months. The only difficult element would be the baptistry and that wouldn’t be impossible to engineer or it could be left out completely. There could be a separate and connected tent for each ordinance / sealing room and even changing rooms. The modular design would mean that extra rooms could be added if one location needed to serve more people than another. It could be dedicated once as a traveling structure or perhaps a general authority or mission president could be delegated to dedicate the structure at each individual site.

What are your thoughts? Other than the 1^st Presidency receiving revelation permitting this, are there any doctrinal issues that would prohibit a portable temple? Do you think this would be useful or appropriate? Or is it better for some people to sacrifice so much to receive the blessings of the temple? (I understand there is some value in sacrifice, even with portable temples some would still have to travel a bit to get to them)

(edited to add spacing)

Edited by Saints Alive, 26 July 2012 - 11:23 AM.

[CV75]

Saints Alive, on 26 July 2012 - 11:22 AM, said:

What are your thoughts? Other than the 1^st Presidency receiving revelation permitting this, are there any doctrinal issues that would prohibit a portable temple? Do you think this would be useful or appropriate? Or is it better for some people to sacrifice so much to receive the blessings of the temple? (I understand there is some value in sacrifice, even with portable temples some would still have to travel a bit to get to them)

No doctrinal issues that I can think of. Training and security would be interesting but not insurmountable challenges. I'm wondering if the temple patron assistance fund is a more economical approach as well as taking some of the pressure off alternative building solutions.

The relatively isolated areas where these would be put up (somewhere between the current population centers where temples currently stand and where those having difficulty travelling to them live) might also raise some logistical and cost issues for the workers (room and board for a few weeks/months at a time).

[Saints Alive]

CV75, on 26 July 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

might also raise some logistical and cost issues for the workers (room and board for a few weeks/months at a time).

They could have either a separate tent structure for housing or it could be attached to the temple proper, meals / water would be easy enough to figure out. This type of living might be a mild hardship for the workers but nothing that would be too uncomfortable. Security would probably be the hardest obstacle to overcome, especially in the areas where it would be employed. It would be interesting to see a cost comparison between assisting temple patrons travel and a portable temple. There are some intangible benefits to have a temple near you as well.

[David T]

During the presidency of David O. McKay, it was proposed to have a floating boat temple, to reach those in nations who couldn't otherwise make it to a Temple. Of course, that plan was never carried out.

[cinepro]

While the principles of the Temple would be the same, I suspect having a portable "tent-temple" wouldn't project the kind of "aura" that is desired.

And it would make for awkward wedding photos.  Maybe they could bring a backdrop of different Temples and allow the couple to choose which one they want to appear to be standing in front of.

Edited by cinepro, 26 July 2012 - 12:24 PM.

[CV75]

Saints Alive, on 26 July 2012 - 11:45 AM, said:

They could have either a separate tent structure for housing or it could be attached to the temple proper, meals / water would be easy enough to figure out. This type of living might be a mild hardship for the workers but nothing that would be too uncomfortable. Security would probably be the hardest obstacle to overcome, especially in the areas where it would be employed. It would be interesting to see a cost comparison between assisting temple patrons travel and a portable temple. There are some intangible benefits to have a temple near you as well.

It would be a cool thing to see, and not out of the realm of possibility as far as I can tell.

[CV75]

cinepro, on 26 July 2012 - 12:23 PM, said:

And it would make for awkward wedding photos.

Not for those for whom temple marriage would be the best thing that ever happened to them!

[Duncan]

The Church has that Temple patron travel fund or something? I too am concerned about the situation that the members worldwide face. My city is getting a Temple and honestly it still baffles me why we are getting one yet so many others worldwide haven't yet, so now I await the conferences when they announce new ones and rejoice therein!

[Saints Alive]

Maybe there is a GA or somebody with the Prophet's ear on this site who can mention the idea

[Saints Alive]

cinepro, on 26 July 2012 - 12:23 PM, said:

While the principles of the Temple would be the same, I suspect having a portable "tent-temple" wouldn't project the kind of "aura" that is desired.

I guess that begs the question... Is it the building that gives off that "aura" or is it the Spirit. Either way the replicas of the tabernacle that I have seen would still be a sight to behold in full scale.

[Pa Pa]

Saints Alive, on 26 July 2012 - 11:22 AM, said:

We read all the time about how temples are popping up in places where the church is growing. Still there are many members who must travel days, and at great expense, to partake in the ordinances of the temple. Many people from poorer nations must save for years for a once in a lifetime trip to their closest temple. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could bring the temple to them?

I have been in the army for some time now. I remember using drafty canvas tents that weighed a ton and literally took an army to erect. They were unbearably hot in the summer and drafty in the winter. Many of them leaked like a sieve.  It is amazing how much they have evolved over the years. Now we use tents that are air conditioned and comfortable year round. They have electricity, running water, and even internet connectivity. By using modular, interconnecting tents, command centers and hospitals can be erected from nothing in hours, and the whole package can fit neatly into one or two shipping containers.

What if the Church could utilize this technology? We could have a Latter-day Tabernacle (or tabernacles) like the Hebrews in the wilderness. It would be possible to bring portable temples to places where the nearest temple might be 1000 miles away. Younger “service” missionaries could be used to setup the structure and it could stay in place for a week or months. The only difficult element would be the baptistry and that wouldn’t be impossible to engineer or it could be left out completely. There could be a separate and connected tent for each ordinance / sealing room and even changing rooms. The modular design would mean that extra rooms could be added if one location needed to serve more people than another. It could be dedicated once as a traveling structure or perhaps a general authority or mission president could be delegated to dedicate the structure at each individual site.

What are your thoughts? Other than the 1^st Presidency receiving revelation permitting this, are there any doctrinal issues that would prohibit a portable temple? Do you think this would be useful or appropriate? Or is it better for some people to sacrifice so much to receive the blessings of the temple? (I understand there is some value in sacrifice, even with portable temples some would still have to travel a bit to get to them)

(edited to add spacing)

I remember the tents well. Esspecally in Alaska and Germany in the winter.

[mrmandias]

So, how do you transport it?  Does it 'undedicate' a temple to have it broken down, exposed to the outside, and then packaged in a bunch of shipping crates?  What about getting it through customs?  Does it 'undedicate' the temple to have the customs officials paw through it?

I think you probably have to rededicate the tent-ple every time you put it back up, which may be onerous and a little silly.

[mrmandias]

Saints Alive, on 26 July 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

I guess that begs suggests the question... Is it the building that gives off that "aura" or is it the Spirit. Either way the replicas of the tabernacle that I have seen would still be a sight to behold in full scale.

Its a bit of both, or else we wouldn't bother to make our temples look nice and act reverent inside them.  The LDS way of putting this is that reverence, including reverent architecture, invites the spirit.

[Pa Pa]

mrmandias, on 26 July 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

So, how do you transport it?  Does it 'undedicate' a temple to have it broken down, exposed to the outside, and then packaged in a bunch of shipping crates?  What about getting it through customs?  Does it 'undedicate' the temple to have the customs officials paw through it?

I think you probably have to rededicate the tent-ple every time you put it back up, which may be onerous and a little silly.

Israel did it for 40 years.

[selek1]

In my opinion, it would be unwise to discount the benefit the Saints enjoy from the time and energy it takes to scrimp, save, and prepare to travel to the Temple.

Many faithful Muslims save and prepare all their lives for the hajj- and it becomes a pivotal, if not seminal event in their lives.

Ease and familiarity all too often breed contempt.

What percentage of Saints who live within an easy hour's drive of the Temple take full advantage of that luxury?

How many instead take it for granted?

All that having been said, were this idea to be approved through the proper channels (ie, the Lord indicates his acceptance of such a Temple to the Prophet and the Apostles), I would be a willing and enthusiastic supporter of the idea.

[CASteinman]

I love this idea!