The existence of a Latter-day temples is yet another evidence that the Christ of the current Church is not the same as the Biblical Christ.
The Church does not publish temple costs (they haven’t since the 80’s.) However, based on published costs in the 70’s and 80’s adjusted for inflation, Latter-day temples are suspected to cost upwards of $70 million to build. Seventy million dollars.
Why are they so expensive? The Biblical Christ was a traveling nomad. He wore poor-man’s clothes and he hadn’t a roof of any kind. The Biblical Christ spoke against riches, imploring his disciples to instead give all to the poor.
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me…Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” [1]
Christ did not have riches. He condemned riches. He condemned earthly possessions, calling His followers to give to those in need; never to store riches in earthly possessions.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [2]
Where, then, is the heart of a Church who spends $70 million of its members’ tithing dollars on a building made for the Savior? Surely, the Lord does not need such a house. Surely, He does not want it. Surely, “treasures on earth” include big white buildings made of stone.
It seems silly to spend so much on a building. It seems to go against all that Christ taught. Ordinances may be important, but why must they be completed in such a lavish building?
