You Are Clean
“The marvelous description of the Savior and the appearance of ancient prophets who restored essential keys make the 110th section of the Doctrine and Covenants one of the most sacred and profound of all the communications the Lord has given us.
“Some of the most beautiful words in this section, or that any of us could ever hope to hear, are contained in verses 5 and 6:
“’Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.
“‘Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.’” – Quentin L. Cook, “Rejoice!”
1 Corinthians 3:16; “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1 Corinthians 6:19; “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
Psalm 51:16-17; “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Where in scripture does it say that building a temple will make you clean? Implying such a thing completely contradicts the gospel! Why did Jesus pay for man’s sins on the cross if all we had to do was build a temple?
The words of Mr. Cook also tell Mormons that it’s because of their might they can be saved. Where is the humility in knowing and accepting that you aren’t God and you’re not the one in charge?
Also take a look at the fact that dead people are appearing to these people inside a building that isn’t even following orthodox biblical sacrifices like in the Old Testament. If you’re going to live by Old Testament Laws of making sacrifices in the temples then where are the animals, the blood and the proper temple clothing?
Where are the rituals clearly listed in the Bible for the proper way to sacrifice and worship God?
The bible is clear that we aren’t to have anything to do with the dead. God is the God of the living, not the dead!
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg, 1596 defines worship as working.
“Latter-day Saint worship is defined as coming unto the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, in spirit and truth (D&C 93:19; cf. JST John 4:24). All of life may be worshipful, as manifest in prayer and in devotion, in the ordinances of the gospel, including the Sacrament, in selfless service to mankind, and in the culmination of all worship in the temples of God.”
To quote one of my favorite authors, Oswald Chambers, “Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him”. While doing good deeds for your neighbors and working for God can be a good thing, these all take our attention away from Him.
Are you undividedly focused upon Him while in your temple? What about when you’re volunteering at church? Not hardly. The focus is on the task at hand and not being physically on your knees with no distractions.
I finally learned the real meaning of worship after I became a Christian. I desired and needed to have alone time with God so I could praise Him for who He is, for what He had done, for the promises He kept, for His word, for His love, for the assurance He gave me, for His Holy Spirit inside of me…the list is endless and continues to grow as I age in years and maturity.
Worship can also be spent in corporate worship with other believers when we sing praise songs to Him and pray.
Worship is a human response to the presence of the divine. Doing works is not a response.