# Inside The Mormon Temple **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209 "2005-03-12T18:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209/1 "2005-03-12T18:08:42Z")
I have heard that the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City is off-limits to non-Mormons, much as Mecca is off limits to non-Muslims. My questions: -How do they screen people who wish to enter; and -Has a non-Mormon ever managed to sneak in? -If so, What’s it like? ---
**Author:** ![Eran\_of\_Arcadia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eran_of_arcadia/32/7277_2.png) [@Eran\_of\_Arcadia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eran_of_Arcadia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209/2 "2005-03-12T18:29:05Z")
After the front doors, there is a recommend desk, where someone will ask you to show your “recommend”, a piece of paper that says you are a member in good standing and can enter. If you don’t have one, I’m sure you will be asked to leave but other than that I don’t know. If you steal a recommend, they will still be able to tell if you did because you will have no idea what to do next (and first-timers are always accompanied by someone else). There are photos of the inside of that and other temples online, try [lds.org](http://lds.org). And this question seems to come up a lot. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209/3 "2005-03-12T18:32:58Z")
A couple of [Mailbag](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmormoninvade.html) [answers](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmormonwed.html) on Mormon temples and the secrecy associated with same. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209/4 "2005-03-12T19:28:42Z")
Before a temple is dedicated there is an “open house” for about a month when the public is allowed to tour the temple and get an idea what is inside. There is currently a new temple in San Antonio which will have an open house in April and be dedicated on May 22nd. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209/5 "2005-03-12T20:14:14Z")
> [@](#): > > -How do they screen people who wish to enter; and You get an interview with your bishop, who asks you some questions (some are pretty probing, such as “Do you masturbate?” I always said no, and they believed me. Suckers, heh heh heh.) It’s actually rather painless, but I guess that depends on the individual bishop. Anyway, then he gives you a temple recommend. > [@](#): > > -Has a non-Mormon ever managed to sneak in? I’m sure it’s happened. I mean, you just need a little piece of paper and some nice clothes. There’s not much to see, though… although I was always impressed by the baptismal font they have in the basement. > [@](#): > > -If so, What’s it like? Pretty much like any other church… really big inside, high ceilings, really quiet atmosphere. Pretty peaceful, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-the-mormon-temple/294209/6 "2005-03-12T20:41:48Z")
For more details, have a look at this recent thread: [Ask me about Latter-day Saint Temples](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305902&highlight=mormon+temple)