- According the Mormons, Joseph Smith was directed by God to follow the lead of Solomon and build temples on the Earth. A temple is a place where God dwells, and thus is a sacred and holy place. Mormons believe that in a temple members of the faith can pray and commune directly with God, so only the most worthy of Mormons can enter. Those who are not Latter-Day Saints members cannot enter a temple except during the open period between the end of construction and the dedication by the leader of the LDS church and even members of a Mormon congregation may not enter a temple if they are not deemed sufficiently holy by LDS leaders.
- Inside the temples, Mormons pray and reflect directly with God. They learn eternal truths during these periods of prayer. Mormon couples marry in the temple. Several other sacred rites are performed in the temple, such as ordinances for families and relatives who have passed away without being baptized.
- To the Mormons, a meetinghouse, or chapel, is where normal Sunday services are held. Usually, meetinghouses are quite large as several congregations attend services in the same building. The meetinghouse is also a place where members of the LDS church have meetings and other fellowship. Visitors are always welcome at the meetinghouse.
- The main service on Sunday is called a sacrament meeting. It is a typical Christian church service with hymns, prayers, communion and sermons. The other typical Sunday activities are religious instruction for all ages, and meetings for the adults. A meetinghouse is usually full of activity on a given Sunday, much like any other church.
- Knowing the structure of the LDS church will help you remember the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse. Congregations meet in the meetinghouse. Several congregations make up a stake, or district, and then several stakes and districts make up a temple district. The St. Paul LDS Temple district contains nine stakes and districts located in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario.