Early Saints' Commitment to Temple Building

The early Latter-day Saints showed a remarkable dedication to building temples, viewing them as more than just physical structures but as integral to their religious devotion. Temples, which played a central role in their faith, symbolized access to the divine and were crucial in the concept of gathering for the church members. Joseph Smith considered the temple to be the symbolic center of his beliefs and life, emphasizing spiritual preparation, repentance, humility, and unity as essential for accessing divine power within the temple.