Have you ever driven past a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thought, “Wow, what a stunning building!”?

It’s hard not to notice them with their mmaculate grounds, white stone facade, and the spires reaching up to the sky. But right after that thought, another one usually pops up: “It looks really expensive. I bet they spent millions on this one building alone.”

And naturally, you probably wonder, “But why? Why would they spend so much on just one building?”

I totally get why that question comes up. It’s a fair point! But let me pull back the curtain a little bit and explain why these buildings are so important to us—and why we believe no expense should be spared when it comes to them.

Temples Are Houses of The Lord – It’s For the Lord

The simplest answer is actually in the name we give them: We believe the temple is the House of the Lord.

For us, this isn’t just a meetinghouse or a chapel where we go for Sunday services. This is a place physically consecrated to God. And just like you would want to give your very best gift to someone you love, the Church offers its very best materials and craftsmanship to the Lord.

This isn’t a new idea, either! In the Old Testament, when King Solomon built a temple for God, he didn’t use cheap materials. He used the finest cedar, gold, and precious stones.

“And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.” — 2 Chronicles 2:5

Just like in ancient times, we believe that if we are building a house for God, it should reflect His glory and majesty. We want it to be beautiful because it represents our love for Him and our desire to give Him the very best we have.

But beyond the beauty, there is actually significant, essential work that happens inside those walls.

Why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Builds Temples

So, what actually happens there? Unlike our local chapels where we sing hymns and take the Sacrament on Sundays, temples are built for specific sacred work.

Here is a look at the four main things that happen inside:

1. Baptisms for the Dead This is one of the most unique aspects of our faith. We believe that baptism is essential for salvation, but what about all the people who died without ever hearing about Jesus Christ or having the chance to be baptized? In the temple, we perform baptisms on behalf of our ancestors. We stand in for them, giving them the opportunity to accept that ordinance in the spirit world if they choose to.

2. Living Ordinances Before we can do work for others, we go to the temple for ourselves. We participate in a ceremony called the Endowment, where we make special promises (covenants) with God. We promise to keep His commandments and live a higher standard of discipleship, and in return, He promises us power, protection, and guidance.

3. Sealing Families This is my favorite part. We believe that marriage and family relationships shouldn’t end at “until death do us part.” Inside the temple, couples are “sealed” together. This means that through the priesthood power of God, their marriage and their family unit can last for eternity, not just for this life.

4. Learning Finally, the temple is a house of learning. It is a quiet refuge away from the noise of the world where we go to seek peace and receive personal inspiration. We learn more about the Creation, the purpose of life, and God’s plan for His children. It’s a place where we can truly disconnect from the world and connect with heaven.

Shouldn’t the Church Just Give This to the Poor and Needy?

This is the big question, right? If the Church has enough money to build gold-adorned temples, shouldn’t they just give that money to the poor?

Here’s the thing: We believe we can—and must—do both.

It’s not an “either/or” situation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actually one of the leading humanitarian organizations in the world. We donate millions of dollars every year to aid refugees, provide clean water, and help with disaster relief globally—regardless of the recipients’ religion.

We believe in feeding the hungry and feeding the soul. Jesus Himself cared deeply for the poor, but He also worshiped in the temple and zealously defended its sanctity. We try to follow that example by caring for those in need while also building sacred spaces to worship God.

Feel The Spirit In The Temple

I hope that helps make a little more sense of things! We don’t build these temples to show off wealth; we build them to honor God. They are our offering to Him, a place where heaven meets earth.

I love this description from the Lord Himself in the scriptures, describing what His house should be:

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and 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.” — Doctrine and Covenants 88:119

If you are curious to see what I’m talking about, you have a unique opportunity coming up!

The Alabang Philippines Temple is opening its doors for a public open house from November 21 to December 13, 2025. This is a rare chance for the general public—regardless of religion—to walk through the halls, see the beautiful craftsmanship up close, and feel the peace inside before the temple is dedicated.

There is no cost to enter, and everyone is welcome. I’d love for you to come and see the House of the Lord for yourself.