Why do Latter-day Saints have multiple temples when the Bible only allowed one? Ep. 86

Many people believe that in ancient times, God only ever allowed one temple to exist at a time (the Israelite tabernacle, and later the temple at Jerusalem). Many believe that Deuteronomy is clear on this subject. In this episode, Dave addresses why Deuteronomy may not be as clear as some would like it to be, and what the historic and archaeological record have to say on the subject.

See video transcript here: https://saintsunscripted.com/faith-and-beliefs/living-the-gospel/more-than-one-temple/
Biblical Archaeology Review report about Tel Moza: https://bit.ly/3c5kbpq
Elephantine and the governor of Judah: https://bit.ly/2B7VHPu
“The Jewish Temple at Elephantine,” by Stephen Rosenberg: https://bit.ly/2WLP7qi
From the Jerusalem Post about the Elephantine temple: https://bit.ly/2WQWUDj
Elephantine Papyrus petition to rebuild temple: https://bit.ly/3g6FKJi
BoMC: “New Archaeological Discovery Sheds Light on Nephi’s Temple”: https://bit.ly/2AHALyp
BoMC: “Did Ancient Israelites Build Temples Outside of Jerusalem?”: https://bit.ly/2TLpF29
A pretty good Master of Divinity thesis that touches on this subject: https://bit.ly/2WQYoNT
“How the Jerusalem Temple was ‘Chosen’ as the Only Place of Worship”: https://bit.ly/3gc8aBL
Encyclopedia Britannica on Deuteronomy: https://bit.ly/3gbv4cx

Notes:

-Changes/additions in Deuteronomy would have understandably affected other scriptures. For example, if temple centralization was a late addition, then previous kings (who did not centralize worship) would logically have to be condemned for not following that law. Thus, we see a pattern in the book of Kings in which the narrator condemns various kings for neglecting to tear down the “high places,” even if the king is otherwise described as righteous.

A non-Latter-day Saint scholar said, “All of the verses in the Book of Kings related to the theme of centralization are generally assumed to be part of the editorial layer of historians influenced by Deuteronomy…from the 7th-6th centuries. These editors attributed Deuteronomy itself to Moses, so they had to condemn the earlier kings for not centralizing worship.” Until, of course King Josiah comes along, who is praised for centralizing worship in Jerusalem. See 2 Kings 12:2-3, 2 King 15:3-4, 1 Kings 22:43, 2 Kings 23:8-9. Source: Dr. David Glatt-Gilad, https://bit.ly/3gc8aBL

-There are many theories about why King Josiah may have wanted to centralize worship in Jerusalem, ranging from purely religious to purely political reasons. One scholar wrote that “the disappearance of a temple always resulted from a loss of jurisdiction, not a royal policy. So, for example, the temple at Lachish ceased to exist because Sannacherib dismantled it, not because any king followed a policy based on Deuteronomy 12 and related texts.” He wrote that Deuteronomy 12 “might be little more than a religious rationalization for facts on the ground…”

-“The extent to which centralization was achieved is viewed in several ways. Some see it as merely an impractical ideal, never put into practice; others see it as having been achieved for short periods of time; others as only happening after the exile. And some have denied that it was ever really intended to happen at all.” Source: Marvin Huggins, Master of Divinity Thesis https://bit.ly/2WQYoNT

-“That there were several sanctuaries is generally accepted. Some scholars, like [Samuel Rolles] Driver, held the view that the sanctuary at which the Ark was located certainly had the preeminence. Yet at the same time the evidence indicates that sacrifices were offered at places other than the sanctuary of the Ark, the only restriction being that these places should be properly sanctioned and approved.” https://bit.ly/2WQYoNT

-“Oestreicher maintained that the story of Josiah’s reform in 2 Kings 22f. is interested not in the centralization of the cult in Jerusalem but only in its purification from all heathen and especially Assyrian elements both in Jerusalem and, elsewhere, not in Kulteinheit but in Kultreinheit. The abolition of the high places and the bringing of the priests to Jerusalem were temporary measures to be done away with as soon as conditions permitted.” Julius A. Bewer, “The Case for the Early Date of Deuteronomy,” Journal of Biblical Literature, XLVII (1928), p. 312. As cited here; Cited here: https://bit.ly/2WQYoNT

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