The Seoul Korea Temple (HD) - Mormon Temples - 예수 그리스도

[10joi]

the house of the Lord

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

My point is quite simple, if every celebrated 1st and 2nd century Church historian clearly documented the univeral belief in aboslute theosis among early Christians, then why do the creedal sects reject such beliefs as being Christian? Better yet, if the beliefs of early Christains regarding eternal progression were not widely known to Christians in the early 1800s, how did Smith and the other latter-day saint prophets know about them? Please provide these answers. Thanks.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354—430), the greatest of the early Christian Fathers, said: "But he himself that justifies also deifies, for by justifying he makes sons of God. 'For he has given them power to become the sons of God' [John 1:12]. If then we have been made sons of god, we have also been made gods."

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria (about A.D. 296—373), also stated his belief in deification in terms very similar to those of Lorenzo Snow: "The Word was made flesh in order that we might be enabled to be made gods. . . . Just as the Lord, putting on the body, became a man, so also we men are both deified through his flesh, and henceforth inherit everlasting life."

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Still in the second century, Justin Martyr (about A.D. 100—165) insisted that in the beginning men "were made like God, free from suffering and death," and that they are thus "deemed worthy of becoming gods and of having power to become sons of the highest."

Hmm, sounds like the premortal life and the plan of salvation to me.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

St. Clement again:

If one knows himself, he will know God, and knowing God will become like God. . . . His is beauty, true beauty, for it is God, and that man becomes a god, since God wills it. So Heraclitus was right when he said, 'Men are gods, and gods are men.'

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

St. Clement of Alexandria:

Yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Irenaeus again.

Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High." . . . For it was necessary at first that nature be exhibited, then after that what was mortal would be conquered and swallowed up in immortality.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Irenaeus again.

Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods?

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

I would hate for you to leave thinking that the doctrine of eternal progression is un-Christian.

The doctrine of the deification of man is not an exclusive teaching of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Rather, it can be found in early Christian history. In the second century, Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (about A.D. 130—200):

If the Word became a man,

It was so men may become gods.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Aslan, you also made reference to "our place in eternity." What is that exactly? Historically, first century Christians universally believed in absolute and literal theosis/deification through Christ's sacrifice? Like temple worship, why have the creedal sects abandoned this core Christian belief and practice as evidenced by nearly all of the most celebrated early Church historians and Church fathers of the first through fourth centuries?

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Also incorrect about no reference to temple worship in the BOM, There are many. Ex.

"And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (2 Ne. 5:15–16)

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

It is not surprising that some Christian sects have since down-played the importance of the temple, since most do not have one. No one would want to admit they are missing an important part of the gospel. But, if Paul and other apostles valued and honored the temple, why do critics attack the Latter-day Saints for doing the same?

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Conclusion: there is absolutely no evidence that the early Christian apostles abandoned the use of the temple. Indeed, they embraced it, and continued to use it for worship and the receipt of prophetic calls. There is ZERO evidence to support your claim that the temple was abandoned.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

"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?"

Attempts to shrug this off as a reference by Paul to a practice he does not condone but only uses to support the doctrine of the resurrection are indefensible. Paul's statement makes no sense unless the practice was valid and the saints in Corinth knew it.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Thus, baptism for the dead was banned about four hundred years after Christ by the church councils. Latter-day Saints would see this as an excellent example of the apostasy—i.e., the politicians of the early church councils altering doctrine and practice that was widely accepted at an earlier date.

[TheAslan1975]

@RestoChristian Again no historical record of the building of temples by early Christians for the practices of celestial marriages and marriage for time and eternity. This was an addition to the gospel by JS and BY, and has no validity in the Christian faith, and has nothing to do with our position in eternity.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975 The early Christian saints were persecuted beyond comprehension and were driven to near extinction. Two centuries after the acension, the Roman Emperors erected monuments to Zeus celebrating the eridication and extinction of the "false" religion of Christianity. The fact that the Lord never commanded his servants in the few decades after his acsension (but prior to the apostacy) to build a temple is hardly evidentiary that temple worship is (as you say) "not Christian."

[TheAslan1975]

@RestoChristian If the apostasy, as you say happened, then surely the Book of Mormon given hundreds of years after the apostasy would have instructions and insights for the building and need for temples and temple worship. Where are those instructions in the Book of Mormon.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Tertullian: Now if some of them are "baptized for the dead," can we not assume that they have a reason for it? Certainly, he [Paul] is maintaining that they practised this in the belief that the ordinance would be a vicarious baptism and as such be advantageous to the flesh of others, which they assumed would be resurrected, for unless this referred to a physical resurrection there would be no point in carrying out a physical baptism. Adversus Marcionem in PL 2:495.

[Oilstories]

@TheAslan1975 You know, I have heard other Christians say this before. I have an LDS friend who was a Mason, and I watched her get all confused in the LDS temple between her beliefs as a Mason and our beliefs as Latter-day Saints. To me, this was very telling. I believe the old adage that a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Be happy, my friend, in your faith, as I am happy and find peace in mine.

[TheAslan1975]

Neat building...looking into the Book of Mormon, but I cannot find any reference to the present temples or the rites within, which are practiced as part of the restored gospel.

[Oilstories]

A sincere inquirer would be able to find at least some reference in the verse, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all"

[TheAslan1975]

@Oilstories The verse you mention has many meanings according to commentators. A good guide is that the Mormon idea of baptizing for the dead was never practiced or mentioned in any of the Christian writings of the early church. The Temple practices of celestial marriage and becoming more worthy of a higher rank in the celestial kingdom has no authority in the Book of Mormon or the Bible. The whole temple concept was an invention of Joseph Smith after he joined the Masonic lodge.

[Steedlaw]

@TheAslan1975 "baptizing for teh dead was never practiced or mentioned in any of the Christain writing of the early church."

With all due respect, this is a very untrue statement. The truth is that the practice of baptism for the dead was widely commented by many of the most celebrated theologians and historians of the early Christian church. Ignatius went so far as to state his confirmed belief that this practice was taught by the Apostle Paul himself.

[TheAslan1975]

@Steedlaw Please provide evidence of what you have just said.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975 Epiphanius: From Asia and Gaul has reached us the account [tradition] of a certain practice, namely that when any die without baptism among them, they baptize others in their place and in their name, so that, rising in the resurrection, they will not have to pay the penalty of having failed to receive baptism, but rather will become subject to the authority of the Creator of the World. Epiphanius, Against Heresies I, 28, 6, in PG 41:384.

[TheAslan1975]

@RestoChristian As is stated this was a certain practice by some, but not all Christian communities. There is no mention of the practice of building temples for the purpose of celestial marriages, and marriages for time and eternity as the Mormon Church claims is a restoration of the gospel. That was never the gospel, and early Christians never built temples for that purpose.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

With all due respecct, you are not correct. Early Christians hardly had the opportunity to build temples. LDS believe that the apostacy occured not long after the death of Christ. Temple worship was still of utmost importance. It is quite clear that the New Testament apostles continued to worship in the Jerusalem temple after Christ's ascension (Acts 2:46, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 5:20-42).

[TheAslan1975]

@RestoChristian No mention in the New Testament or the Book of Mormon for the need to build temples for the practice of Celestial Marriages of Marriages for Time and Eternity. There was only one temple ever to be built according to Biblical instructions and that was the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus correctly predicted the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and no instructions were given for rebuilding it. Christians are the temple of God. 1 Cor. 3:16 No building adds to salvation.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Speaking of early Christian temple worship. Even Paul worshipped there (Acts 21:26-30, Acts 22:17, Acts 24:6-18, Acts 25:8, Acts 26:21). Paul is explicitly said to have performed purification rituals (Acts 21:26, Acts 24:18), and prayed in the temple (Acts 22:17, cf. Acts 3:1); he claims that he has not offended "against the temple," implying he accepts its sanctity (Acts 25:8).

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Epiphanius:

"For this reason this tradition which has reached us is said to be the very thing to which the Apostle himself refers when he says, "If the dead rise not at all, what shall they do who are baptized for the dead?" Epiphanius, Against Heresies I, 28, 6, in PG 41:384.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Important Note: It is significant to find this practice surviving in those outlying places where, as Irenaeus points out, the "pure old Christian doctrine was best preserved." Irenaeus, Against Heresies III, 4, 2, in PG 7:855—56.

[RestoChristian]

@TheAslan1975

Historical records are clear on the matter. Baptism for the dead was performed by the dominant Christian church until forbidden by the sixth canon of the Council of Carthage in A.D. 397. Some of the smaller sects, however, continued the practice.

[RestoChristian]

Of the Marcionites of the fourth century, Epiphanius wrote:

“In this country—I mean Asia—and even in Galatia, their school flourished eminently and a traditional fact concerning them has reached us, that when any of them had died without baptism, they used to baptize others in their name, lest in the resurrection they should suffer punishment as unbaptized.” (Heresies, 8:7.)

[ktxsu]

Ive been there!

[ninamariemegumi]

whoa i want go there soon korea temple

[kynAxiz]

Korean Temple so beautiful :D

[1MormonT]

I have a neighbor from Korea; going to send this to them; hope they like it too...

[acv2s]

iN ANY & ALL LANGUAGES, HOLINESS TO THE LORD!

8-)

[fromethan]

I love Seoul temple

[fotofabio]

excellent Fabio

[alihakawati]

very nice combination of architectural shots and music theme.

[omiolo2]

I wish I knew the symbolism behind the specific architecture and design of this temple. It truly is magnificent.

[texancobabe]

@omiolo2 There are many unique symbols in this temple, and there are many symbols that are incorporated into the building itself that are common to many of the temples built in this decade (the 80s). First, the overall shape is like a tent or pavilion, with two peaked, gable ends. This represents the shelter and safety that is available from the temple. Next the six spires are similar to the spires of the Salt Lake Temple, representing the Priesthood (Aaronic and Melchizedek). (cont'd).

[1900lovely]

wow just beautiful...love the background music also!