Rayna mahnken

A castle ON THE

hill

A DOCUMENTARY ON THE OAKLAND TEMPLE RAYNA MAHNKEN

Acknowledgements I would like to thank Bishop Rodney Norling for getting dressed up and going to an interview that I never showed up to. That was fantastic work ethic, and I greatly appreciate all the help he’s given me, even though I messed up. My parents have also been very key in my success. I never would have written on this location if it weren’t for my Dad, and it never would have been this good without constant help and support from my Mom. Thank you both very much! Lastly, I’d like to thank my teachers, Mr. Greco, Mr. Taylor, Ms. Parkinson, and Brother Tim Koide. They’ve all helped me in inconceivable ways, and without them this production would have never come about. All these people have been key in my success and deserve more thanks than I can give!

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Table

of

Contents

C HAPTER ONE: LATTER-DAY SAINT TEMPLES C HAPTER TWO: PEOPLE AND THE TEMPLE C HAPTER 3: THE OAKLAND CA TEMPLE C ONCLUSION W ORKS CITED 5

Preface This

Documentary

Proj-

ect posed a unique challenge for me in communicating the message I wanted to share about the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, of which I am a member. My goal in writing this book on the LDS temple in Oakland is to help inform non-members about both the Oakland California Temple and about LDS temples in

general. Regardless of where you walls. At one point I had to comgo you can find members telling pletely re-write my book, which you about how incredible it is and caused an incredible amount of how it makes them feel. You can stress, but it’s much better for it also find people who claim that now and I’m satisfied with the the inside is filthy with unholy results. I hope this book will serve oath-making and deception.

its purpose and help inform you

I am a member of the church about the temples that belong who has set out to clear up many to the Church of Jesus Christ of of the misconceptions the public Latter-Day Saints, and show you has about what we do inside its why they are so important.

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I ntroduction The Oakland temple: A massive structure reaching into the sky, white marble gleaming in the sun. It has intricate carvings, gold plating on the outside, and is surrounded by lush gardens.

Pointed towers make it look like a palace from fairytales.

Fountains adorn the blooming gardens carefully tended by temple volunteers. Undeniably, it is a beautiful place. Many people, including non-members

of the church to which it belongs, come here for weddings, Quinceaneras, and other important events to take photos. How could such a place be used for dark rituals, blood oaths, ungodly ceremonies, and worse? Yet, that is what some people claim!

The Oakland temple is a building belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also widely called the Mormon Church. (“Mormon� is a

nickname, and not the real name of the church. It comes from our belief in the Book of Mormon as scripture.) The temple is used for many things, but these works are not often discussed because of their sacred nature. (By sacred, I mean things that are generally too delicate and holy to talk about unless in the right setting.)

Much of the public is skeptical: Is it sacred, or secret?

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THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE IN CONSTRUCTION IN THE 1890’S

Chapter One: LDS temples Temples are one of the most important places for members of the Church, and have been since the beginning. In 1833, the Prophet Joseph Smith began working towards the creation of the first modern temple despite extreme poverty and unrelenting persecution. This first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, through no small sacrifice from the members, and was dedicated to the Lord in March, 1836.

After only two years the Kirtland Temple was abandoned because of the persecution against Latter-Day Saints.

The Saints fled first to Missouri, and later to Nauvoo, Illinois, where they began work on another temple. The Nauvoo temple was dedicated on April 30, 1846, but it too had to be aban-

doned only two years later and was soon burned to the ground.

It was only 1847 when the plans for the next temple went into place, despite the continued persecution and sacrifice of the Saints. That year, the Mormon pioneers established a settlement where now stands Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to build; it was finished in 1892 and is still actively used today.

Since then, the Church has built 144 operating temples, and is currently working on 26 more (14 under construction and 12 more announced in 2015).

For Latter-Day Saint members, temples are a priority, not only to build, but to go and actively serve in.

Since the temple is such a vital part of the Church, the

standards to enter it’s doors are very high. In order to partake in the work that occurs inside a temple’s walls one must be at least 12 years of age, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and possess a temple recommend. Starting at the age of 12 you can receive a limited use recommend, which allows you to go to certain areas of the temple and perform proxy baptismal work for the dead. When you reach adulthood you can receive a full use recommend and enter the temple to participate in all activities that take place there.

In order to receive a recommend pass you must speak with a Bishop (who acts similar to a Pastor or other Congregational leader) in your area. The Bishop will conduct a quick

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A PORTRAIT OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH

interview asking simple questions about your faith, your belief levels on certain doctrines, and if you’ve been following certain Commandments. It’s a very friendly meeting, and if it turns out you are not worthy to enter the temple the Bishop is always very kind and understanding. He does everything in his power to help you so that you can enter the temple.

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Although the invitation is open to all, some members choose not to go or are not worthy to enter the temple. A paper by the Pew Research Center found that in the “Mormon heartland,” being the Western area of the U.S., regular temple attendance was around 65%. However, upon further investigation, Mormonsocialscience.org discovered that the average worldwide attendance for regular temple worship was closer to 25%. Actual numbers are unknown, since the Church Headquarters does not release member information.

Even though many people aren’t allowed inside the temple, that doesn’t mean they can’t know what happens inside. A lot of members are not entirely certain of what they can and can’t share, which contributes

a lot to the air of secrecy temples have. Church leaders gave some clarification on the matter: [Those who have been in the temple] can talk about what the interior of the temple looks like, and you can freely share the feelings you have in the temple.

However, temple covenants and ordinances, including the words used, are too sacred to be discussed in detail outside the temple.

By avoiding discussion of these sacred things outside the temple, we protect them from mocking, ridicule, or disrespect. Do not be casual when talking about your experiences in the temple.

What I can tell you about what goes on inside the temple Brother Tim Koide, a teacher in an early-morning gospel class called Seminary, summarizes nicely: Inside the temple we do covenants for ourselves and also for our dead, that being done vicariously through proxy. Those ordinances and covenants include things like baptisms, and what is called the endowment which embodies several different covenants.

To endow means to give and the endowment is certainly that, it’s a gift from our Heavenly Father and it includes covenants like the law of Chastity and living the law of consecration. Probably the ultimate ordinance that is performed in the temple is the ordinance of eternal marriage. It’s a sealing ordinance which is what binds families together in this life and through the life to come.

Like Brother Koide said, the Endowment is an ordinance where members are taught about the purpose of life, the mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s children.

You gain a glimpse of what it will be like to live in God’s presence again, and members only receive it when they are getting married, going on a mission, or when they’re older and feel ready. We also “seal” families together in the temple. What this means is that even after we die, we’ll still have o u r

families and are married in the afterlife. “Til death do we part” is replaced with, essentially, a “happily ever after”.

A magazine published by the Church explains the importance of temple work, and why it is so precious to members: Much of the work that goes on within temples is concerned with the family. Basic to an understanding of its meaning is recognition of the f a c t that even as we e x isted as children o f God before we were born into this world, so also shall

we continue to live after death, and the treasured and satisfying relationships of mortality, the most beautiful and meaningful of which are found in the family, may continue in the world to come. ...

Was there ever a man who truly loved a woman, or a woman who truly loved a man, who did not pray that their relationship

might continue beyond the grave?

Has a child ever been buried by parents who did not long for the assurance that their loved one would again be theirs in a world to come? Can anyone believing in eternal life doubt that the God of heaven would grant His sons and daughters that most precious attribute of life, the love that finds its most meaningful expression in

family relationships? No, reason demands that the family relationship shall continue after death.

The human heart longs for it, and the God of heaven has revealed a way whereby it may be secured.

The sacred ordinances of the house of the Lord provide for it. ‌ But all of this would appear to be unfair indeed if the blessings of these ordinances were available only to those who are now members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The fact is that the opportunity to come into the

Photo of the Baptismal in the Oakland Temple.

It canRELEASED be veiwed in the Oakland Temples THE BAPTISMAL FONT IN THE OFont AKLAND TEMPLE - THIS PHOTO WAS

BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRISTVisitor OF Center.

LATTER-D AY SAINTS AND IS VEIWABLE IN THE VISITOR’S CENTER AT THE TEMPLE.

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ONE OF THE ENDOWMENT ROOMS IN THE OAKLAND TEMPLE - THIS PHOTO WAS RELEASED BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST -DAY SAINTS VEIWABLE IN THE VISITOR’S CENTER AT THE TEMPLE. One ofOF theLATTER Sealing rooms in AND the IS Oakland Temple - This photo was released by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is veiwable in the Visitor’s Center at the temple.

temple and partake of its blessings is open to all who will accept the gospel and be baptized into the Church. For this reason, the Church carries forward an extensive missionary program in much of the world and will continue to expand this program as widely as possible… But there are uncounted millions who have walked the earth and who have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Shall they be denied

such blessings as are offered in the temples of the Lord? Through living proxies who stand in behalf of the dead, the same ordinances are available to those who have passed from mortality. In the spirit world these same individuals are then free to accept or reject those earthly ordinances performed for them, including baptism, marriage, and the sealing of family relationships. There’s no compulsion in the work of the Lord, but

there must be opportunity (Ensign Special October 2010 Issue).

Many people ask “How far is Heaven?” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints strives to answer with, “Not far at all!” In their temples here on earth they work to bring blessings to those who come and work inside, as well as our ancestors and families. They are vital buildings that have changed many lives.

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THE CELESTIAL ROOM IN THE OAKLAND TEMPLE - THIS PHOTO WAS RELEASED BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AND IS VEIWABLE IN THE VISITOR’S CENTER AT THE TEMPLE.

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ONE OF THE SEALING ROOMS IN THE OAKLAND TEMPLE - THIS PHOTO WAS RELEASED BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AND IS VEIWABLE IN THE VISITOR’S CENTER AT THE TEMPLE.

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Chapter Two: People and The Temple A

better way to explain the importance of the temple to the Latter-Day Saints would be to compare it to something the public understands more. One of the best ones would be the Muslims’ opinion of Muhammad, their last and greatest prophet. Haroon Moghul wrote an article on Religiondispatches.org called “Why Are Muslims So Concerned With Muhammad?” in which he explains the following: … Muhammad is also dear to Muslim hearts because Muslims strive to be like him, to the extent of looking like him (and his close family and companions, with some differences between Muslim sects).

Muslim men grow facial hair because Muhammad did. They dress in certain ways, eat in cer-

tain ways, and behave in certain ways, based on how Muhammad did. …To mock Muhammad, then, is to mock what Muslims aspire to be, throughout their lives. ... (Haroon Moghul 4 - 6).

When I was training to be a missionary, the training center was right next to a temple so my companion and I went a lot. Then I went to Switzerland and the temple was closed, so for a year and a half I didn’t have a chance to go to the temple. I remember being really really excited when I got home to go to the temple. I just remember feeling when I was sitting there after it had been a year and a half, I remember having that overwhelming feeling that I was home. … I was home not like I was home from my mission, but that I was home in that I was in a place that I belonged and that I had been missing.

It is in this way that LatterDay Saints strive to be like Jesus, although not quite in the same physical manner. Instead of seeking to become like the Savior physically, we seek to “walk as he walked,” to follow all his teachings and try to become as close to his lifestyle as we can in this life.

Going to the temple helps members keep this focus in their lives and give them comfort.

Kathy Bowman, a return missionMany members feel this ary and a faithful member, shared this story about one of her experi- deep connection with the temple and have had intimate and ences with the temple:

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personal experiences inside. It’s because of this deep connection you feel inside that members are hesitant to share personal stories. On a FAQ on Mormon.org, Karen, a member, comments on the question “What are Mormon Temples Used For?” “To a Mormon, a temple is one of the most sacred places one can go on earth. We believe the temple is God’s house and that we are able to go there and receive instruction that He would want us to learn. A lot of people use the temple as a refuge from daily life.

It is a place where we can go and be in a Heaven-like setting for awhile” (Karen, 7).

Skepticism from those who have not had personal experiences of such magnitude often leads to speculation to fill in what they don’t know, and when they go to other sources, it ends up that much of the public’s opinion of the Church is influenced by media coverage and entertainment.

Non-members and ex-members often post what they’ve discov20

ered about the mysterious building on the internet, using various “anti-Mormon” blogs and personal sites to anonymously inform people what they’ve dug up. The following excerpts from Challengemin.org (a website that challenges the Mormon ministry) and Mormonismandchristianity. blogspot.com, respectively, claim to reveal the so-called truth about “Mormonism”:

“AFTER WATCHING THE HIDDEN CAMERA VIDEO OF THE MORMON TEMPLE, I JUST HAVE TO SAY WHAT A SMALL GOD THEY SERVE! … MY GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND ALL KNOWING. ... GOD ALREADY KNOWS US, OUR HEARTS, AND OUR MINDS. I SERVE A MUCH BIGGER GOD THAN WHAT THE MORMON CHURCH PORTRAYS (MORMON TRUTH 1)!”

Often these “anti” blogs are fueled more by passion and emotion than logic. They aim to discredit temple practices with claims that are often unsubstantiated.

Even though Mormons

believe that God is the source of these so called ‘sacred’ and ‘holy’ ordinances, the evidence that will be presented in this tract [from the hidden camera] clearly shows that the Mormon Temple Ceremony is far from holy or Biblical and certainly NOT from God (Jerry Ben 3).

These blog comments often show misunderstanding for the purpose and intent behind different practices that occur within the temple.

This, and much more, is sprinkled across the internet and in the minds of the public. It’s easy to see why they think like this; it is true in regards to temples, the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints keeps to itself. It is true that you must have certain qualifications to enter and participate in the events inside. Again, this is not born out of any malice or desire to keep the “truth” from the public, but rather a constant striving to keep the most important part of the Latter-Day Saint religion uncorrupted. Brother Koide says,

I guess purely by a textual definition it is kind of secret, in that we don’t divulge a lot of stuff. … We want everybody to know what goes on in the temple. We really do. But in order to really understand it for what it is, you have to be prepared. We don’t talk about it openly, but that’s because it’s sacred. We don’t talk about sacred things in a flippant way. … But the invitation is open to all.

The temple changes members in a good way when they are able to go through.

Many carry this change with them in small, everyday actions that can be seen by many others. Mark Phillips, a non-member who has Latter-Day Saint friends, gives his opinion of the Saints: “There are several doctrinal issues where my belief system does not align with the LDS church, so I would hold up some differences there. [But] I’ve been impressed by the actions I’ve seen and I’ve known good LDS people, kind, and they reach out to other people.”

Chapter Three: The oakland Temple The Oakland California temple was the 15th constructed and 13th operating temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It’s inspiration first came in 1924 when Elder George Albert Smith was visiting with a local

California church leader. They were on the roof of a hotel overlooking the San Francisco Bay when Elder Smith “ceased talking and for several minutes gazed intently toward the hills above Oakland” before speaking again.

According to Chad S. Hawkins’

book, “The First 100 Temples,” Elder Smith said, “I can almost see in vision a white temple of the Lord high upon those hills, an ensign to all the world travelers as they sail through the Golden Gate into this wonderful harbor.

A great white temple of the Lord will grace those hills, a glorious ensign to the nations, to welcome our Father’s children as they visit this great city” (Coombs Jr., 2).

It took 40 years for those prophetic words to be f u l filled. Purchasing the land alone proved to b e a long and difficult process that took 14 years. Temple

c o n for the 22

struction Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints would never pass this off has very high standards. The goal as acceptable work

is to build a house for the Lord, for a house and as such it needs to be as close of the Lord. to perfect as possible. This is re- It was then flected in every step of the cre- decided that ation process, from blueprints to they would construction to decoration. fly in a stoneBrother Nielson was over- cutter from Salt seeing the construction of the Lake to reshape which Oakland temple when he dis- the granite to the exhe could see covered one section of the white act dimensions. granite being installed on the outBrother Nielsen later dis- every detail of the temple under side of the temple that was 5/8” covered how Brother Price con- construction. “Brother Price told too wide. The architect, Brother firmed the error when he visited Brother Nielsen his job was to Arthur Price, confirmed the mea- his office. Brother Price had a see that the Oakland Temple was surements were off. Work was telescope at his window, through built like Our Heavenly Father stopped immediately until a fix could be found. The workers who had originally “Brother Price told Brother Nielson his job was to see that shaped the stone in Salt Lake the Oakland Temple was built like City suggested they continue wanted it built. He said he didn’t want to get on on with the work, because

Our Heavenly

Father

the other

no one would ever notice a 5/8” difference. Brother Nielson knew that Brother Price

side and have the Lord say, “Arthur, what happened down there?”

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wanted it built. He said he didn’t want to get on the other side and have the Lord say, “Arthur, what happened down there” (Coombs Jr., 6).

Building the temple was finally completed in 1964. When the building of a temple is completed, the church opens up the building for all to come and see the inside during an open house.

Over 347,000 people visited the Oakland California Temple during its month-long open house. Even on the last

many people came to see the new temple that they extended the open house period one week longer than originally planned.

Soon after the temple completion a U.S. Navy commander arrived at the site. The officer said, “I brought my ship through the Golden Gate early this morning and observed … on the foothills of East Oakland, a new landmark which I had not seen before. I immediately berthed my ship and made the necessary arrangements so that I could come here t o de-

termine day, w h a t people … this new stood in line landmark (is)” for almost two hours in (Coombs Jr., 9). This was the bethe rain waiting to get inside. So ginning of the fulfillment to Elder 24

Smith’s prophecy from back in 1924. Since this event, the Oakland Temple has been a landmark for ships and planes alike.

After the open house is complete a prophet of the church comes to the temple grounds to say a special prayer and dedicate the building and the grounds to the work of the Lord. It is after this ceremony that only members with temple recommends can now enter the temple doors. President David O. McKay came to dedicate the Oakland Temple in November of 1964.

Arthur F. Coombs Jr. in “A Sacred History of the Oakland Temple,” relayed what a miraculous event it was to have President McKay be able to attend and say the dedicatory prayer.

A few years before the dedication of the Oakland Temple, President McKay suffered a stroke and couldn’t speak clearly or walk well anymore. His son wrote, “His fluency and speech were gone. When we had dinner with him and mother in the apart-

The Oakland Temple under construction

ment, the wit and sparkle of the conversation of the old days were gone. He hated to talk because nearly always we could not understand him the first time … This embarrassed him, and his communication … became a series of terse statements” (Coombs Jr., 9). When the date came for the dedicatory services, many brethren in the church were concerned about President McKay’s ability to deliver the prayer and services needed. McKay’s personal physician did not recommend he attend the dedication at all. However, when the time came, President McKay 26

stood from his wheelchair using the pulpit for support and spoke at the podium with a voice “as clear as it had been years before. Every vestige of the stroke was gone.” His son wrote later, “My wife, with tears running down her cheeks… whispered, “Lawrence, we are witnessing a miracle” (Coombs Jr., 10).

In addition to the miracles involved in building it, the Oakland Temple has survived a few natural disasters.

In 1989, an earth-

billion in damages to the area, but there were only a few minor cracks found on the temple. In 1991,

“My wife, with tears running down her cheeks… whispered, “Lawrence, we are witnessing a miracle.”

a w i l d fi r e torched much of the area but was controlled before it reached the temple grounds.

Both people who have been inside and those who only see it from far away agree that the Oakland Temple is a beautiful structure. “People here call it the castle on the hill. You can see it from all over,” Sister Lavender, a missionary in the area, said.

“It brings a lot of people here because they see it and want q u a k e - to know what it is.” caused about $7

Conclusion works very hard to do just that. These buildchurch of Jesus Christ of Latterings bring peace to Day Saints are buildings that a those who go inside, lot of work and sacrifice goes change lives, and into. It’s always been this way, bring beauty to the both for the Mormon Pioneers landscape around them. and the Saints today. Their intriCommunities in which cate architecture represents that temples are built often opof fairy tale castles to convey pose the construction beforethe importance of the Happily hand, but appreciate it later.

Ever After we strive for inside Although it is true that what – the white granite, fountains, goes on is a secret, it was never blooming gardens, statues, and intended to be such forever. The carvings, all made with loving temple is certainly a place that hands. It is very difficult to make sows suspicion, but the blessa perfect building, but the Church ings from the temple are worth

Temples that belong to the

working for, even if it’s very difficult to be worthy to go inside. Everyone is welcome to come and feel the peaceful atmosphere there, and to walk the gardens and grounds. The Church hopes that someday everyone will understand why we love to see the temple.

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A VERSION OF THE CHRISTUS STATUE CAN BE FOUND IN THE VISITOR’S CENTERS OF SEVERAL LDS TEMPLES. THERE ARE 10 IN THE U.S. AND ONE IN NEW ZEALAND.

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Works Cited Ben, Jerry. “The Truth About Mormon Temples.” n.p. Mormonism Challenged. Challenge Ministry, n.d. Web. March 8, 2015.

Bowman, Kathy. Personal Interview. February 16, 2015 Coombs, Arthur F. Jr. A Sacred History of the Oakland Temple. Cupertino: Cupertino Institute, 1997. Print.

“Facts and Statistics.” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. LDS newsroom. LDS newsroom, Wednesday, 11 March 2015. Web. March 10, 2015.

Koide, Tim. Personal Interview. March 1, 2015.

Phillips, Mark. Personal Interview. February 23, 2015.

“The Publicity Dilemma.” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. LDS newsroom. LDS newsroom, March 9, 2009. Web. March 10, 2015.

“The Truth About Mormonism.” n.p. Mormons and Christianity. Mormons and Christianity, n.d.

Web. March 9, 2015.

“Views of the Mormon Religion.” n.p. Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, November 23, 2011. Web. March 9, 2015.

“What Are Mormon Temples Used For?” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Mormon.org. Mormon.org, n.d. Web. February 10, 2015.

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