There have been a few threads about the LDS faith recently, and they got me to thinking. In an area where there is not a large concentration of Mormons (so that you can’t assume that there would be enough appropriately “authorized” Mormons in the emergency services), what happens in the case of a fire or serious crime in a Mormon temple? Would they actually allow the temple to burn in preference to allowing fire fighters inside? Similarly, would they prevent the police from responding to the crime?
If the answer is that fire fighters/police would enter under those circumstances, would the temple need to be re-consecrated (or whatever the term is in the LDS faith for “starting” a temple) again?
There is no “allow”. The emergency personnel are going in. The personnel will try to allow for their beliefs when possible but in an emergency all bets are off. When I have responded to the local mosque I will wait outside for someone if it is not an emergency. If it is an emergency I will go in and I’m not stopping to take off my boots.
I don’t know the specifics with fire supression but preventing EMS from entering the scene in a life threatening emergency would get you arrested. Fire supression is not just about the building in question but other nearby buildings (Exposures) and the unhealthy effects of a giant plume of smoke spreading through the neighborhood possibly generating other medical emergencies for asthmatics as well as possibly starting other fires downwind from wind carried embers and such.
In addition any heavily occupied structure is going to be difficult to confirm all occupants escaped meaning there is a possible search and rescue situation as well.
Good luck stopping firefighters from entering if they know there are people trapped in there.
I guess I misphrased my question, because I do know that in a real emergency the emergency services will go in. So, to rephrase, would the LDS have any interest in trying to prevent it (e.g. if it’s something that should be called in, but isn’t blatantly obvious outside the temple, would it be called in?). The second part of my OP still applies - what is the religious impact on the temple?
Speaking as a Mormon, but not an expert, others may correct me if I’m wrong.
Obviously, in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or severe medical problem, emergency personnel would be allowed to enter the temple. As I understand, even for more mundane reasons there have been times when non-LDS people have been allowed in, such as for emergency electrical or mechanal repairs and other such things. Usually they try to get contractors who are LDS, but that is not always possible in some parts of the world.
Normally each temple is closed for 2-3 weeks each year for such things as renovation, repairs, major cleaning, etc. and crews from the church will come in and work on these things, but in an emergency they will temporarily close the temple for religious work and have the repairs done by local contractors.
In the case of a major disaster such as a fire, the temple would be re-dedicated after repairs have been done, but for a minor interruption this would not be necessary.
In my experience, EMTs and other emergency personnel are allowed in, no problem. It’s not that huge a problem. FBG said it just fine; it doesn’t have a huge impact or anything.
I used to work at an air conditioning company that serviced the Las Vegas temple. None of the techs who went out there were even LDS, let alone temple-recommend-carrying Mormons, but they were allowed to come in and service the A/C units anyway.
At the time, I have to admit, I was kind of shocked at the idea that they would allow heathens into such a sacred place. Yeah, I was pretty uptight.
The answer is that, when human lives are in danger, the emergency responders have every right to break every door and window to gain entry to the premises and save the lives that are in danger.
After everyone is safe, then the emergency responders have to respect the wishes of the owners/tenants of the building.
Churches, Synagouges, Temples, Mosques, they are all buildings within a city or county, and they are subject to that county’s or city’s codes.
My Father in Law helps run one of the temples in Utah. He stated that whenever someone not ordained to enter the temple does so it is re-dedicated. He didn’t specify what this entailed.
This encompasses any situation, maintenence workers, EMS personell, someone breaking is (which has happened a few times). So basically there would be nothing to bar the people from entering if need be, EMS, fire department, police what have you.
The temple will be re-dedicated prior to any religious ceremonies being conducted therein.
