| Across the hall from the chapel is the entrance to the worshiper's path,
the beginning of the journey to the sanctuary. This entry is surrounded by
panels of carved glass symbolic of the Palmyra, New York, grove where
Joseph
Smith Jr. sought God's guidance in a prayerful experience that led to the
formation of the church.
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The path begins with a carving depicting the parable of the prodigal
son--a young man who, despite leaving home to pursue a lifestyle which
subsequently humbled him, is welcomed back by a forgiving father.
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| We then pass through the shadow of a rough-hewn wood cross, a universal
symbol of the Christian faith.
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Halfway up the path, visitors can stop and rest by a display of Ikebana,
the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
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| At the end of the path is a stone fountain of water, symbolizing the
living water and bountiful love of God. It is an illustration of the Gospel
scene in which Jesus tells a Samaritan woman, "Whoever shall drink of this
well shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water I give will be a
well of water springing up into everlasting life."
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The worshiper's path ends in the sanctuary, sacred space where the
spiral seems to focus prayers heavenward.
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| A Daily Prayer for Peace is offered 365 days a year at 1:00 p.m.
central time in the Temple sanctuary.
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The Casavant organ, often played by Jan Kraybill, the Principal
Organist, provides the musical foundation of many Temple worship services.
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| Leaving the sanctuary, worshipers see a large stained glass window that
depicts the scripture, "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for the
are white already to harvest." Stylized rice and wheat, representing the
harvest of the eastern and western worlds, and clear panels of glass evoking
the act of harvesting, symbolize the church's call to the world.
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| Leaving the Temple, one passes through bronze doors emblazoned with a
sculpted relief of the church seal.
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The doors lead to the World Plaza, where colored paving stones form an
immense map of the earth, reminding us of the great commission to witness
to the world of God's grace and peace.
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Worshiper's Path
Auditorium
Temple
Worldwide Gatherings |
