Temples: what are they for?

Imperfect information is a market weakness.  It stops beneficial exchanges from happening, or causes harmful exchanges to happen.  For example, if you're on the streets of a foreign country, you might not buy food even though it's perfectly sanitary, just because you don't know what's in it.  Or you might buy food with a parasite because you didn't realize that that street vendor doesn't use clean water.  The lack of information stops the market from doing what we wish it did.

I believe that imperfect information about temples (sacred buildings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) causes some misled exchanges/conversations about the temple to occur and stops some super beneficial exchanges/conversations that would occur if people knew what the temple has to offer.
I have a friend who asked me about our church with a golden statue on it, and that's what inspired this post.  We call those large, mostly white buildings with angels on top 'temples'.
     
Far from being the center of our worship,  the golden statue is actually the angel Moroni (a prophet from the Book of Mormon) announcing the second coming of Jesus Christ.  How glorious!  :)

"The temple’s purpose is to serve mankind and give all of Heavenly Father’s children the ability to return and live with Him."(Sharing Your Light)  I know that's true.  In my life one struggle I have is worrying about unimportant things and sometimes I go a little crazy.  For example, when I'm doing leisure activities I worry a lot about if I'm wasting time and should be doing something better.    I have a couple methods to try and be calm, like talking to new people, reading scriptures, watching Mormon messages etc.  But possibly the most reliable way for me to see the big picture is sitting in the temple and communicating with my Heavenly Father as I receive the regular instruction given in the temple.

  Something else special about the temple is that we make covenants (sacred promises) in it.  For example, recently my sister got married for all eternity in the temple.   She and her husband looked like the happiest people in the world, and I had never felt happier for my sister.  The temple is a happy place.

     Are you a crazy person like me sometimes?   I just sometimes have little worries that sort of freeze me up.   I imagine everyone has their own challenges.   I feel that everyone could find peace by consistently going to the temple, so I hope that those reading will find a way to do so.

Tour of the temple!
Sister Marriot's talk on Sharing Your Light

Miracle of Exchange

Trade among people is often underestimated as a source of wealth.  A lot can be gained without even producing anything!  For example, if I give $2.50 to Smith's for a bag of potatoes, obviously I gain because I chose to buy them and Smith's gains because they chose to sell them.

To clarify, say that one dollar represents one unit of utility, or a unit of well-being(happiness).  I must receive more than 2.5 units of happiness from the bag of potatoes and Smith's must receive less than 2.5 units of happiness from the bag of potatoes, and so by simply changing the owner of the potatoes we both gained units of happiness!

In this way, billions of slightly beneficial exchanges happen each day, with buyers and sellers becoming a little better off; and in this way we have progressed from a state of cavemen to our modern society.



This concept of progressing through many small beneficial actions is seen in the scriptures.  "Thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more." 2 Nephi 28:30

If we can manage to keep our decisions consistently in line with God's commandments then I am sure we will look back and see consistent progress.Related ideas: Learning Line Upon Line