In August 2016 The Church of Latter Day Saints announced their new Temple at 17th and Vine Streets was completed. During the first month of completion the Temple is open for public viewings, however, after this period the Temple would only be open to Mormons who have been "recommended" by a Mormon Bishop.
The Temple is not a building where services are held but rather a space where the religion's holiest ordinances - baptism and marriage - may be performed. These ordinances link family members on earth and in the afterlife. After an introductory video that presented the Church's eternal family concept we took a tour.
The Temple is not a building where services are held but rather a space where the religion's holiest ordinances - baptism and marriage - may be performed. These ordinances link family members on earth and in the afterlife. After an introductory video that presented the Church's eternal family concept we took a tour.
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PHILADELPHIA MORMON TEMPLE TOUR
The foyer sets the tone for the rest of the building - it's impressive but not a grand and open gathering space. During the first half of the tour I kept expecting to enter a room similar to a medieval Gothic church that has rows of pews and a high arched ceiling - this Temple was nothing similar to that architecture. From the foyer we walked around the corner to the Baptism Room. The Baptism Room upped the impressiveness. A circular pool sits atop twelve oxen and water related landscapes are painted on the wall - each room had paintings reflective of the Philadelphia area historical wilderness. The Church of Latter Day Saints offers its members the option to baptize ancestors so that the family may remain together in eternity.
The tour continued up to the second floor, then the third floor and fourth floor, before descending back to ground level. The second floor contained a series of male and female changing rooms. To enter the ordinance rooms a Mormon must wear all white. The third floor contained several Instruction Rooms and the Celestial Room. Silence was to be observed in the Celestial Room which was made easier by the large crystal chandelier that was so large it left you speechless after entering. The fourth floor contained four Sealing Rooms. Mormon marriages are performed in these rooms. The couple kneels next to a stone altar and they are "sealed" together for eternity.
The Temple was impressive in not only its opulence but also its detail. The Baptism and Celestial rooms had a significant wow factor, however, all the paintings, furniture and dressers, woodwork, carpets, etc. were meticulous planned and culminated in an equal wow factor. After the tour we headed across a walkway into a welcome center then went upstairs to a rooftop garden for more views of the Temple. We talked with some Mormons to gain understanding of the religions worship structure. Mormons hold services by ward on Sundays. A ward may have 100 - 150 families and rolls up into a larger parish. Each ward holds individual services at a single Mormon meeting house each Sunday.
No photos were allowed inside, however, the video below was made available. You have until September 10, 2016 to see these images in person, unless you are a Recommended Mormon.
The foyer sets the tone for the rest of the building - it's impressive but not a grand and open gathering space. During the first half of the tour I kept expecting to enter a room similar to a medieval Gothic church that has rows of pews and a high arched ceiling - this Temple was nothing similar to that architecture. From the foyer we walked around the corner to the Baptism Room. The Baptism Room upped the impressiveness. A circular pool sits atop twelve oxen and water related landscapes are painted on the wall - each room had paintings reflective of the Philadelphia area historical wilderness. The Church of Latter Day Saints offers its members the option to baptize ancestors so that the family may remain together in eternity.
The tour continued up to the second floor, then the third floor and fourth floor, before descending back to ground level. The second floor contained a series of male and female changing rooms. To enter the ordinance rooms a Mormon must wear all white. The third floor contained several Instruction Rooms and the Celestial Room. Silence was to be observed in the Celestial Room which was made easier by the large crystal chandelier that was so large it left you speechless after entering. The fourth floor contained four Sealing Rooms. Mormon marriages are performed in these rooms. The couple kneels next to a stone altar and they are "sealed" together for eternity.
The Temple was impressive in not only its opulence but also its detail. The Baptism and Celestial rooms had a significant wow factor, however, all the paintings, furniture and dressers, woodwork, carpets, etc. were meticulous planned and culminated in an equal wow factor. After the tour we headed across a walkway into a welcome center then went upstairs to a rooftop garden for more views of the Temple. We talked with some Mormons to gain understanding of the religions worship structure. Mormons hold services by ward on Sundays. A ward may have 100 - 150 families and rolls up into a larger parish. Each ward holds individual services at a single Mormon meeting house each Sunday.
No photos were allowed inside, however, the video below was made available. You have until September 10, 2016 to see these images in person, unless you are a Recommended Mormon.