For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as Latter-day Saints), the temple is the most sacred place of worship on earth—it is the house of the Lord. It is a place set apart from the rest of the world where members seek to draw closer to God. 

The phrases “Holiness to the Lord” and “The House of the Lord” are found near the entrance of every temple and remind us that each is a sacred place (ChurchOfJesusChrist.org).

Can you find that phrase on the Oakland California Temple?

“Making and keeping covenants is part of the plan of salvation and essential for all who have ever lived. To fully understand the plan, we must also understand the principle of vicarious service—that is, that one person can act on behalf of another. In other words, one person can act as a substitute for the benefit of another. The principle of vicarious service is best shown through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as He made payment for the sins and shortcomings of all humanity. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: ‘We must never forget … our Savior, our Redeemer, the Son of God, gave Himself, a vicarious sacrifice for each of us'” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Symbol of Our Faith,” Ensign, April 2005).