Why Don't Christian Denominations Build Temples?

Welcome to Day 22 of our 60-Day Challenge! But before we tackle today’s question, let’s take a moment to reflect on the question from Day 21: Why did Christ need 40 days with His apostles after His resurrection? Why spend more time teaching them when they’d already been with Him for three years?

This question might seem simple, but the answer is profound—and it has everything to do with preparing His apostles for the monumental task ahead. So let’s dig in and uncover why those 40 days mattered so much.

A Biblical Foundation: The Kingdom of God and Christ’s Mission

Let’s start with Acts 1:3:

“To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

This scripture highlights two key elements of Christ’s 40-day ministry:

1. Proving His Resurrection: He demonstrated, beyond any doubt, that He had risen.

2. Teaching About the Kingdom: He expanded their understanding of God’s eternal plan.

But here’s the thing—Jesus wasn’t just repeating what He’d already taught. This was a next-level masterclass, preparing His apostles to lead the church in His physical absence.

Why 40 Days?

Even though Christ had spent three years with His apostles, these 40 days were different. Here’s why:

1. Reinforcing Their Faith

The resurrection changed everything. Even the apostles, who had witnessed miracles firsthand, needed time to fully grasp what had happened. Those 40 days gave Christ the opportunity to:

• Strengthen their faith in His divine mission.

• Help them fully understand the purpose of His Atonement.

• Prepare them to testify of His resurrection with boldness and conviction.

Without this time, the apostles might have lacked the confidence and clarity they needed to take the gospel to the world.

2. Teaching the True Nature of the Kingdom

The apostles had often misunderstood the kingdom of God, sometimes viewing it as an earthly kingdom. During these 40 days, Christ clarified its spiritual and eternal nature, helping them see beyond worldly expectations.

He gave them the priesthood keys they’d need to lead His church and administer sacred ordinances, ensuring they were ready to carry forward His work.

3. Promising the Gift of the Holy Ghost

In John 14:26, Christ promised:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

During this 40-day period, He prepared them for the Holy Ghost’s role in guiding and empowering their ministry. The apostles wouldn’t just be relying on their own strength—they’d have divine help every step of the way.

Modern Insights from the Restored Gospel

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, modern revelation offers additional insights into Christ’s 40-day ministry. These teachings suggest that Christ may have also:

• Revealed truths about eternal families and temple work, providing a broader understanding of God’s plan for humanity.

• Discussed the future restoration of the gospel, preparing them for events that would unfold in the latter days.

This wasn’t just a period of reflection—it was a time of forward-looking preparation, setting the stage for the apostles to establish the early church and lay the foundation for future generations.

The Apostles’ Transformation

After those 40 days, the apostles weren’t the same men they were before. They went from followers to leaders, equipped with:

• Clear Purpose: They understood their mission to preach repentance and baptism to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

• Renewed Conviction: They were willing to face persecution and even death for their testimony of Christ.

• Spiritual Authority: They carried the priesthood keys and were guided by the Holy Ghost.

These 40 days were the turning point that transformed them into the spiritual giants who would carry Christ’s message to the world.

A Personal Takeaway

Here’s what I find so powerful about this story: Christ didn’t leave His apostles to figure it out on their own. He stayed, taught, and prepared them for what was to come.

And He does the same for us. Through scripture, modern revelation, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost, Christ continues to teach and prepare His disciples today.

What’s Next? Question 22

Now, here’s something for you to think about:

Why don’t many Christian denominations build temples when the Bible emphasizes their importance?

You’ll find insights in Hebrews 10:12, and trust me, it’s a question that opens the door to a deeper understanding of sacred spaces in God’s plan.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

I hope today’s lesson gave you new insights into Christ’s 40-day ministry and its significance for His apostles—and for us today.

What stood out to you the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and if this post inspired you, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the richness of Christ’s teachings.

Transcription:

     Hi, my name is Joe Cirillo with Gospel First, and thanks for your decision to follow me on this exciting journey. to find Christ's restored church in our day. But before I give you question number 22, did you get the answer to question number 21? What was Christ teaching His apostles during the 40 day ministry?

Why did He need an entire 40 days after He was resurrected, when He was with them every day for the last three years? Well, the Restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints teaches the 40 day ministry of Christ after his resurrection carries significant meaning, and it complements what is found in Acts chapter 1, verses 3, which states, To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being 40 days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints teachings align with general Christian interpretations, there are additional insights gained through modern revelation in Scripture. In the doctrine of the Church, Christ's 40 day ministry after his resurrection was crucial for preparing his apostles for their future roles.

Even though they had been with him for three years, This period provided deeper teachings and clarification. He focused on the kingdom of God, explaining its true nature and giving them priesthood keys to lead his church. Christ also promised the gift of the Holy Ghost, which would guide and empower them in their mission to spread the gospel to all nations.

These 40 days also allowed Christ to reinforce their faith in his resurrection, helping them to fully understand his mission and the atonement. The church's teachings also suggest that he also may have revealed further truths about eternal families, temple work, and the future restoration that would come in the latter days.

Now this time of preparation was essential for the apostles to carry on Christ's work and establish the early church. Here's question number 22. Why don't Christian denominations build temples? Now you can find the answer in Hebrews chapter 10, verses 12. And I'd love to hear your thoughts.