Archaeology and the Book of Mormon ~ Temples in the Americas

What the Book of Mormon Says:

And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses .  .  .  And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (2 Nephi 5: 10. 16)


What Scholars Say:

The Nephites didn't have the same materials or tools as did the builders of Solomon's temple, nor did they have the financial resources.  Their first temple would have been simple out of necessity.  So when Nephi says that the manner of construction was like Solomon's, he must have been referring to the pattern and function of a temple in Israelite worship.  So what was that pattern and function? John Sorensen has done some research on that subject.  I will be quoting from his book, An American Setting for the Book of Mormon:



The temple of Solomon was build on a platform, so people literally went 'up' to it.  Inside were distinct rooms of differing sacredness. Outside the building itself was a courtyard or plaza surrounded by a wall.  Sacrifices were made in that space, atop altars of stepped or terraced form.  The levels of the altar structure represented the layered universe as Israelites and other Near Eastern people conceived of it. [1]


The temple building was oriented so that the rising of the sun on equinoctial day (either March 21 or September 21) sent the earliest rays - considered "the glory of the Lord' - to shine through the temple doors, which were opened for the occasion, directly into the holiest part.[2]

The same features generally characterized Mesoamerican temple complexes.  The holy building that was the temple proper was of modest size, while the courtyard area received greater attention.  Torquemada, an early Spanish priest in the New World, compared the plan of Mexican temples with that of the temple of Solomon. [3]

A modern-day temple at Laie, HW, built to the old design.

Many cultures in the world have built - and continue to build - temples.  Temples are the holy places where heaven and earth meet.  In temples built to the One True God, sacred covenants are made and blessings given.  Those who enter are reverent so as to welcome the Holy Spirit.  The Nephites went on to build other temples in cities like Zarahemla and Bountiful.    

Later apostasy from the worship of Israel's God led the Nephites and later, the Lamanites, to build temples for dark purposes.  The name of the great temple complex at Teotihuacan, Mexico, means the place where men become gods.  In a state of apostasy, it became a "place where men became gods unto themselves." [4] 

 [1] An American Setting for the Book of Mormon, John L. Sorenson, citing G. E. Wright, National Geographic 1967 and Roland de Vaux, Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions, McGraw Hill 1961, and multiple sources in the Old Testament.
[2] An American Setting for the Book of Mormon, John L. Sorenson, citing F. J. Hollis, 1931,  and Julius Morgenstern 1963.
[3] An American Setting for the Book of Mormon, John L. Sorenson.
[4] Chris Heimerdinger, Gadiantons and the Silver Sword.

Primary texts quoted were the Book of Mormon and An American Setting for the Book of Mormon, by John L. Sorenson
Additional Text Copyright July 2013, Gebara Education

 

Pictures:

Nephi www.theengraving.blogspot.com

Solomon's temple www.bestofq8s.blogspot.com

Temple of the Sun at Palenque, Mexico, www.casadelasolascom

Laie Temple www.ldstemples.com