It’s true.
It was announced in General Conference (like a State of the Union address only it’s about church) this weekend that an LDS (Mormon) Temple is going to be built in Indianapolis. It will take a few years, but one is really coming.
This is huge for the Indianapolis LDS community.
The closest temple to us now is in Louisville. There is also ones nearby in Chicago and Columbus.
Before 1985 the closest temple to Indianapolis was Washington DC.
A temple is different from a regular church meetinghouse.
It is very, very sacred to us.
And sacred is much different than secret.
Have you ever tried to explain what being in love is like to someone who thinks love is a waste of time? Or explaining the joys of parenthood to a single, carefree person who thinks kids are a waste of time and money? I know the one that gets me is when people talk about the “high” of running. I loathe running unless it’s to get away from bears, and no matter how much you tell me running is amazing and life changing? I’m not sure I’ll ever really understand.
And I fully admit that is my own ignorance and dislike with running that will keep me from not understanding, but if you like it?GOOD ON ‘YA! Keep it up, I admire you for it. I’m just not going to be training for a marathon along side you. (However I will wait at the end with Gatorade.)
This is how temples are for members of the LDS church. Amazing things happen in temples. They are beautiful, an escape from the outside world. A place where one can feel so close to God you’d swear you could feel Him standing right behind you.
But I realize a lot of people feel about religion the way I feel about running.
And that’s fine.
Just as I respect runners, I would ask you to respect my beliefs. Or anyone’s beliefs for that matter.
Being mean isn’t going to get us anywhere. (Well, anywhere good at least.)
To (almost) everyone who isn’t LDS in Indianapolis the temple is just going to be another building to you, albeit a very beautiful, well maintained and landscaped building.
But for those of us who are LDS? This means so much.
(I compared it to an Ikea on twitter, maybe not the best comparison, but given there are some people who believe Ikea to be the holy of holies when it comes to home decor? Ikea it is.)
I can tell you that I have had experiences in various temples that simply sit in my heart and glow. Last February when I was in NYC the security guard at the Manhattan temple let me just stand inside the entrance. The quiet and the warmth and the light that I felt just one foot inside the doors of a temple was overwhelming.
That same feeling is going to be here, right here. Where I live.
The other fantastic part? After it is built and before it is dedicated to temple service, anyone can tour it. Meaning I can take my friends into the temple and show them how peaceful and lovely it is. It doesn’t mean they will understand it, but they will get to see it. To feel it.
Want to know more? Here’s some FAQ’s about the temple. More here. Or here.
Just as google should be avoided for medical diagnosis? Google should generally be avoided for religious questions as well (thanks.)
making unbreakable - formerly moosh in indy. 
Beautiful post Casey
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I’m definitely not LDS and don’t pretend to really get it. That’s okay. I don’t get a lot of things. But I can tell you as an “outsider” growing up near Washington, DC, it was almost magical to view the Mormon Tabernacle (I think it’s a tabernacle) as we rounded the Capital Beltway.
As a non-LDS, you could only go as far as the visitor’s center so I can imagine it would be really cool to see the inside.
You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate how incredibly gorgeous St. Peter’s is at the Vatican.
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@Fadra, That’s totally a temple. They even had to dim the lights on it because it was knocking people senseless as they rounded the beltway.
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I’m with you on the running. My stand-by statement on running is: If you see me running, you better start running too…’cause something’s about to get you!
And Oh me! me! ME!! I wanna go before it’s dedicated! Oh how much I want to go!!
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Casey, This is exciting news. I was traveling this weekend and missed all of conference. I’m excited for you and so glad that you blogged this. *hugz* ~Heidi
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Just curious. Do you think that this will attract lots more LDS to Indianapolis? I will definitely go see the temple during the open house. I’ve always been curious about Mormon history and ritual.
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@Melody, I don’t think it will attract any additional LDS people to Indy, but it may be the deciding factor when deciding to move here instead of…um…somewhere without a temple close by (which is getting more and more rare.)
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Thank you for sharing this. It really does put what so many of us don’t understand into perspective. Lovely post.
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I will take you up on this tour…
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I remember when I was growing up in Indiana (Brazil and Terre Haute, although we were in the Indy stake), the closest temple was Washington, DC. When I was sealed to my parents at three years old, they went to Utah because they didn’t know anyone in DC, but the friend who baptized them lived out west. I remember my parents taking a temple trip exactly once before we moved to California when I was twelve. I remember saving my Primary pennies for the Chicago temple. When Pres. Monson said “Indianapolis, Indiana” I squealed out loud and ran to my computer to comment on your last post because I didn’t want to bother you with an email. (You know, you being so sick and all – more hugs for that.) I don’t know why Indy still has such a hold on my heart. I haven’t been there in… well, let’s just say a LOT of years. But I am so happy for you I’m dancing around my office with glee.
Thank you for writing such a wonderful, sensitive post about it!
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I hope you know that I wanna be on your People to Take on the Temple Tour list.
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@Nichole, Done, maybe I can get them to use me as the “blogger docent”
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Oh, I am so excited! This is the first time I’ve thought, “I hope we can live in Indianapolis just a little longer”, for awhile. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here. I’m just ready to be done with school and move on.
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I’m thrilled for you! The Cardston Temple is just 45 minutes away from me, and i think i’ve always taken it for granted! What a blessing to have a Temple so close. That’s fantastic news!!
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Dig this post – especially sacred – not secret. Describes perfectly!
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Casey,
I went through the temple here in St Louis before it was dedicated with a co-worker who is LDS. It was wonderful for him to share a part of his faith with us and it was a beautiful sight to see. I am Catholic and like visiting our beautiful Cathedrals. So I can understand your excitement to have this holy building in your city.
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Oh my goodness – that is SO beautiful! Which temple is that? It’s amazing! I want to tour the Indy one when it’s open for tours!
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@Heidi, The top one is Salt Lake and the bottom picture is the British Columbia Celestial Room.
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I’m going through some spiritual transformations. It’s a matter of things I know in my heart are directly opposed to some of my religious teachings – so basically heart versus brain. It’s been difficult but I’m finding my way. I’m so glad that you have found such peace about your faith. I’m also thrilled you’re getting a Temple!! That’s awesome! It must be disheartening to have to travel so far to visit one. Anyway, I just wanted to say that for all your human struggles, your faith and God shine through you. I just wanted to tell you that in case no one else has.
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@Michele Wilcox, Thank you. This is a lovely compliment and I will remember it. Best wishes in your spiritual travels as well. I know all to well the heart/head battle.
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Cheering you on with the Gatorade at the finish line! The temple is beautiful and I love your love for your faith.
(Also, from someone who runs? I hate it. I hate pretty much every second of it. I only run because I love cookies more than I hate running)
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Oh, Casey! That’s fantastic!
I used to live in the metro DC area and there’s a spot on “the beltway” where you can see the Mormon temple jutting up through the trees. That was always the highlight of that dirve for me, to look for it because the temples are so lovely and such feats of architecture.
I would so love to tour one, maybe just maybe, I can make it up to Indy during that time and get to experience it with you.
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Well said, Sister.
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Thank you for this. You said everything perfectly. 🙂
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a post about temples and i still laugh…to run away from bears. bwahahaha. thought of you within a split second of hearing the announcement. so exciting.
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Congrats to you and all the LDS-ers in Indy! I’m a little upset I don’t live close so I can see it up close and personal before the dedication.
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I want to see it. Will it look like that?! Or is this the dream image of what it can be? How wonderful you will have a temple closer to you.
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@lu, It will look very similar to this one… http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/louisville/gallery/download.php?id=523
The top image is the Salt Lake Temple, kind of the crown jewel of temples.
The inside will look very similar to the bottom picture, they are all equally lovely inside.
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Great post, Casey. I teared up reading it. I am so blessed by the temple(s) in Utah and I’m ashamed to admit I often take them for granted. Love you.
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@Barb @ getupandplay, Last time I was in town I felt like I was in a weird movie, being able to see three temples from one place on I-15.
I took them for granted too when I lived there, let’s be honest, a lot of us do.
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I love this post!!! My dad told me that when they announced it the congregation (where he was watching) burst into tears. We are getting one in KC too. They announced it two years ago and broke ground in May. I cannot wait for it to be finished. Our closest Temples are Omaha and St. Louis.
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I know you’re excited, but I have a diffrent view of this all. Probably because I’m not Mormon, my husband is ex (as in had to have his name removed from the books so they’d stop pestering him, ex.) My SS is getting married, because we are not Mormon we will not be allowed to see him get married. Nor is the brides family whom are Baptist. And even my SS’s mom & stepdad (who are Mormon) are not allowed in because they haven’t been tithing and so that makes them unacceptable to enter the temple. I dont’ like exclusionary practices, and the temple and it’s guidelines are just that to me. I don’t understand a god who would only allow those who attend his church to enter this temple.
My entries explains this better than I can here. http://ivoryhousemom.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/the-god-seriesone-true-church/ & http://ivoryhousemom.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/the-god-series/
I care for you, and I think you’ve got a good heart Casey. I do not agree with this religion, because it’s just too secretive and exclusive for me and mine.
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@Michele, And we continue to agree to disagree. With respect of course, thank you.
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I can’t wait for you to take me on a tour.
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I was in attendance at the Conference Center on Saturday morning when President Monson announced the new temples. Even though I don’t know you in RL and I mostly stalk and rarely comment, I have to admit that when he said “Indianapolis”…my heart skipped and beat and I thought of you. :o) I am so happy that the blessings of the temple will be practically in your own backyard!
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I love this post. You always give respect while demanding the same…all respectfully.
But I do have a question. I’m a Christian and completely get what you are saying but that building that like that looks like it’s going to cost a LOT of money. What are your thoughts on the church alternately using that money for missional work locally or abroad? Will it provide a purpose that the others do not?
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@Amy, Excellent question!
The temples in and of themselves are missionary work as they generally have a visitors center on the grounds. MUCH thought is put into where to build a temple before it is announced. They aren’t just built for the sake of building them.
There are 134 working temples throughout the world, 7 under construction and 16 announced. The membership of the LDS church is just over 14 million, so there certainly isn’t an overabundance, whereas there are approximately 53,000 missionaries currently serving throughout the world.
The building of temples has also been put on hold when more pressing issues arise (although it is not common.)
Another consideration is that locals in Indianapolis travel nearly 130 miles one way just to attend the temple now, having one nearby saves the members who use the temple so much money in travel costs and time that can be spent with family.
We have no paid clergy anywhere in our church, and all of the workers in all of the temples are volunteers so the cost of running and maintaining them is much lower than some other religious buildings.
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@Casey,
I respect your views but feel like you dodged Amy’s question in your response. Or maybe my question is a little different to Amy’s.
The clergy isn’t paid, the temple staff isn’t paid, and don’t forget the 53,000 missionaries in the world all pay their own way, too. So it seems like a lot of tithing is being paid into the Mormon church that’s not finding it’s way back out again. So they build these lavish temples. Which are admittedly important to the members but, like Amy says, wouldn’t it be better if they were using that money to fight homelessness in Indy? To help single moms? Or the addicted? I get that the members need this special place, but the lavishness of it seems inappropriate when so many people – so many church members – could use that money to meet the more basic needs in life.
I mean, what is it that makes you feel so close to God there? Is it because of the lavishness? Because of the exclusivity – that us sinners are kept out? I just don’t believe millions of dollars need to be spent on a building to invite God in. God lives in homeless shelters too.
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@kalisa, I believe this will answer some of your questions as far as “where does all that money go”
http://tinyurl.com/24gs7tr
http://tinyurl.com/blq2am
It also goes to building church meetinghouses worldwide, to having storehouses in each state where food is readily available to those who need it most.
When there is a Natural Disaster the Humanitarian Aid center in Salt Lake can easily pack up a truck of thousands of blankets, supplies and food and have it to the people who need it in however long it takes to drive to where it is needed.
On top of being able to deliver actual goods to those in need they are able to write a check, which they do, immediately. This happened with Katrina, with the Tsunami and with the earthquake in Haiti.
There is also the Perpetual Education Fund that allows those who would be unable to attend college in other countries the opportunity to gain higher education.
I’m sorry if you feel I dodged the issue. My husband even said last night I should have mentioned the humanitarian efforts of the church because they are plentiful. I am perfectly proud of the efforts put forth by the church and with the humanitarian aid they provide.
Yes, we build pretty temples. Catholics build pretty cathedrals. Other churches build huge mega churches that cover three city blocks. The top temple is in Salt Lake, one of the first ones started and the one that took the longest to build, it is not what all temples look like. Most, including the one in Indy will be much smaller and much more modest, but no less well maintained.
And well maintained doesn’t have to mean lavish and expensive.
Never did I say you were a sinner. And that was a cheap uncalled for shot.
Period.
I am willing to answer questions but it’s so much easier when someone is not instantly assuming the worst about you.
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@Casey,
Sorry. I didn’t mean it as a cheap shot. But you have to know the rest of us feel that way when you have an exclusionary policy. I imagine commenter Michelle’s relatives who were kept out of their own family members’ wedding felt the same.
I’m glad to know of your church’s humanitarian efforts. I would ask the same questions of the religions who build the megachurches as well, so I wasn’t singling the Mormons out. I feel like organized religions have a bigger responsibility to their communities that they’re not really living up to. As for the Catholics, I have A LOT more questions than just where the money’s going, but that’s for another post, another day.
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@Casey, I felt like you answered my question. My “issue” is not just with LDS. I have doubts about all those catholic churches and megachurches that are built as well. My current church just bought an old grocery store as another campus and we use extra services and video to let more people hear the service.
We are working towards 50% of all money going out to the community locally and globally. I’m not trying to
come down on anyone, I was just genuinely curious what it would provide and I think you satisfactorily addressed it.
I’m happy you and many others do not have to drive so far to attend!
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I’d love to see the temple during an open house. I feel such a sense of peace and calm when walking into a Catholic cathedral that it makes me sad they aren’t all open 24 hours anymore (because of crime and vandals) I imagine that’s something of what you feel in a temple.
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I literally heard the announcement and got so super excited for you. I think I even said something like, “Casey can go to the temple now!” As though you wouldn’t be able to prior LOL.
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I must tour this with you, PROMISE ME you will take me to tour it!
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Hi Casey, I’m just curious – when you walk up to a temple, is there a security guard standing there asking for your secret handshake? Or, do you carry special laminated cards that say you are LDS? How would they know that I wasn’t LDS and just walked in with everyone else? I know when I used to go to church (have long since abandoned the idea and renounced all religion), we would all just park our cars, walk right in and sit down in the pews. There wasn’t anyone carding us at the door.
Like I said, just curious. Thanks so much and enjoy!
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@Cate, A temple is not the same as a church. Anyone can enter an LDS church on Sunday (or any day there is an activity there) and listen to services.
A temple however is where different ordinances are performed, they are not open on Sundays and are attended by members when they are able.
The reason for the security guard in NYC is simply because it’s NYC. There are not normally security guards at temples.
When someone enters the temple there is a desk where they will ask to see a temple recommend, it’s not laminated or anything fancy.
It’s simply a card that says someone is worthy to enter the temple.
Anyone can go to church, but is a priviledge that must be earned to be able to enter a temple.
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i too thought of you immediately when i heard the announcement about this temple! i’m in philly, and although the temple here was announced over a year ago, the legal stuff has just barely been worked out. i’ve driven by the spot where it’s supposed to be, and can’t wait to see a beautiful temple be built in what is now a lonely parking lot. hopefully the church in indy doesn’t face as much opposition as philly has.
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I am so excited for you. Also, I have to tell you, I returned home from my mission to the Vancouver Mission about a month ago and I was one of the sister missionaries that helped out at the open house. Naturally, I loved being able to see and recognize the Celestial Room picture because it means SO MUCH to me.
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Casey, on Saturday morning, I took one of my daughters to Costco for a quick-as-we-can trip so as to be done before conference began. We were able to start conference by listening to it in the car. When the Indy temple was announced, I kid you not, I clapped my hand over my mouth, pulled the car over to the side of the road, and sobbed giant tears into my lap. My daughter asked what was wrong, and I just told her how happy I was that all my cousins, my extended family, and my friends were being blessed with a temple close by. Then she began to rub my back, so I pulled myself together enough to drive home to enjoy the rest of conference.
And that is my story. Lots of love to you.
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This is so intriguing to me. I love learning about other religions? I have a couple of questions: You said on Sunday, you go to “church”. What kind of events are held at temple? Are there certain times to attend or just for special events? I live near the Temple in Orlando. It is breathtaking. I will sometimes go at night just to take in the beauty of it all. I can see the figure on top (which is in Gold) from miles away as it is so lit up! Amazing!!
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@Bobbi, Members go to the temple when they are able to, with personal schedules and such. It is open Tuesday through Saturday.
In the temple ordinance work is performed for the ourselves and for the dead. They are ordinances that empower us spiritually, bring us closer to God.
(Um, so I’m trying to write this so it makes sense, I’m sorry if it doesn’t. The temple is like very very intense church services that one must be mentally and spiritually ready for.)
Church on Sunday is just regular church, where we go, we sing, we learn, we make casseroles for funerals…the usual.
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@Casey, Thank you!
This is all so interesting to me!
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Well said.
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You are the first person I thought of when I heard this!
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My best friend is (once again) LDS and I get to be a part of some of the things she does with the church. It’s a fascinating and lovely religion and you are very lucky to have such a temple coming your way. I’m excited for you!
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I’m not LDS. I had a friend who was. She was the sweetest person ever. I am an open person (being brought up a Lutheran with a Jewish father). She took me to the temple here in San Antonio just so I can see the outside. I was just in awe of it. It was gorgeous. How I would love to see the inside of that beautiful building and feel the warmth and love that is obviously in there.
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This sounds wonderful, I’m so glad for you. I hope when I stay with you after it’s built you’ll take me there. 🙂
Steph
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Casey-Thank you for this post! More truthful info about different religions will make people realize we have more in common than not!
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I admit I do not know much about LDS and I do like how all you want is respect for your religion while you are willing to show respect to other religions. Thank you for that!
My question since I first heard about the temple (from you on Twitter actually!) and then looking in to what the temple actually is for LDS, how does one become eligible to enter the temple or deemed worthy? I mean no disrespect, it’s just an honest question that I can’t seem to find the answer to. Thank you!
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Oh good heavens! I don’t have my temple recommend yet, so the only way I can -go- to the temple is at “open house” viewing time…. I would so love to be there …..
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I’ve never seen a picture of the temple in Salt Lake City before – that is GORGEOUS. Wow.
And I know what you mean. I can’t explain to you what it’s like to be in front of the consecrated host in a Catholic Church… but that doesn’t make it any less miraculous for me.
I’m so happy for you that you’re going to have that so close by!
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Next time the Sluiters are in Indy? We would like a tour! this is fantastic news!
What a blessing indeed!
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Casey, has anyone been speculating about the temple’s location in Indy? I know the Church hasn’t said yet, but I wondered if the locals have started their always-faithful “Mormon rumor mill” about where it will be built. I lived in Fishers in high school (about eight years ago) and would love to see it on the north side, but that’s just me. Regardless of where it goes, congratulations to the faithful members in the Hoosier State!! I can’t wait to get back and see it.
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Church architecture, when done right, is stunning. Your temples are certainly “done right”. The pictures are stunning.
I am in your fair state now. I am visiting Carmel for training. Everything is so new and shiny! I am in my own little heaven now that I found decent tex-mex chains. Whew hoo!
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