Church versus Synagogue: Same or Different?

[The Rebbe]

For the sake of conversation...

...May I ask you:  Is the purpose of your church (individually or collectively) the same as that of the synagogue?  

Has this changed over time, or does it remain the same?  I am referring, specifically, the the local warehouse (or the idea of warehouses, collectively) and not the larger mission of LDS evangelism, etc.

Let me give you an overview of the synagogue as well as synagogue life so that you may better assess what similarities and differences they may have with your warehouse.  (I sincerely hope that I am using that term--wardhouse--correctly.  It didn't seem right to say "building."
 
Even before the destruction of the Second Temple, perhaps even in early Biblical days, there were already rudimentary synagogues in ancient Israel.  It clearly became the central institution for the cultivation of the faith during the Babylonian captivity.  The restoration under Nehemiah and Ezra left a large Jewish Diaspora outside the Holy Land, and that Diaspora increased in succeeding ages.  Its central institution was the synagogue.  Here the Jews gathered to pray together, but that was not its most important function.  The mitzvah (commandment) to pray, we believe, is incumbent upon every individual Jew, three times a day--morning, afternoon, and evening--and there is relatively little difference in the prescribed order of prayer between the service as said in public in the synagogue and the version of it that is prescribed for the individual.

The central function of the synagogue is to cultivate a value perhaps more important than prayer to Jewish faith--study of the Torah.  On Shabbat (the Sabbath) as well as on festivals (Feasts of the L-rd) people gather in the synagogue to hear a reading of a passage from Torah and to be led in the understanding of its interpretation.  This is enshrined in the central act of public worship in Judaism on every major occasion.  The Scroll of the Torah, which is written in prescribed ancient form by hand on parchment made of the skin of a (kosher) animal, is taken from the Ark and an appropriate section is read.  On the Shabbat, the cycle of readings from the Torah comprises a consecutive reading of the Five Books of Moshe in the course of the Sabbaths of the year.  A complementary section from Prophets, known as the Haftarah, is also read on Shabbat and Festivals.

The synagogue is a Beit K'nesset (House of Assembly), a Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer), and a Beit Midrash (House of Study).
 
How do you see the building in which you worship?  I know that it is an important gathering place for you.  Do you see it functioning in the same way?  Are there differences?

Thank you kindly!  Shalom, shalom.

[Thinker]

Thanks for sharing, Rebbe.

When I visited a Synogogue, it was built almost identically to our wardhouses, maybe because it was in Utah. I went to another Synogogue in the east US, and it wasn’t so alike - but still similar. The feeling I got on the Sabbath (Saturday) at Synogogue was a similar feeling I get when I go to lds church on Sundays - in the reverence and focus on scriptures. And most people in both areas tend to mostly ignore rare visitors, except a couple friendly people.

I imagine the main difference (besides doctrine) in how we use our church building compared to the use of Synogogues, may be our churches are used for sports, and lots of non-religious activities and meetings throughout the week. My impression of Synogogues is that they are used primarily for religious purposes. Oh, and we’re ok turning on or off the lights on the Sabbath.

I don’t know the proper terminology but a lady took the scrolls and invited Jews (looking at us as to say “not you!”) to follow her as they walked around the chapel-like room. This seemed like a sacred ritual. Mormonism has sacred rituals that (besides sacrament & baptisms, etc) are only performed in the temple. In that sense, Synogogue reminded me of a mix between our church and our temples.

I read, “In the Torah, it is expected that when the messiah comes, he will build the Third Temple. Until then, it is forbidden.” So, Rebbe, do you have any experience or knowledge as to why this is & what are you missing by not having temples in Judaism?

[Kingdom of ZION]

Hi Rebbe,

I am tending to wonder why you seem to be side stepping issues I pointed out about Judaism history a while back? viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50639&start=30#p912563
Not that you owe me anything, and that is fine if it is on subjects you have not studied and are not knowledgeable on or comfortable with, so you would rather not comment...

I was not trying to put you on the spot or challenge your beliefs (maybe have you re-question one or two traditions held in Judaism). And yes, I have my beliefs and they probably vastly differ from yours. However, I wanted to see what you did believe about these important issues, that are at the heart of the true Gospel. For it is all one story! It is not just Jewish, or Christian, or Mormon. It is our heavenly Fathers instruction on life... to all His children, who will hear and listen.

The Dead Sea Scrolls and many of the discovered libraries, have challenged both Jewish and Christian faiths. The Jew find these writings to Christian, though they predate the Messiah's birth. The Christians feel these writings steal their thunder, as the Jews had baptisms and sacraments long before they ever did. And what perplexes them both is that the real Temple Ordinances, which were kept in the first Temple period, and thereafter by desert wanderers, who kept the secrets of such sacred, validates what the Mormon believe (in eternal marriage and baptism for the dead). Yes, the outward forms and traditions to bring comfort to people is normal, but the actual will, mind, and desires of Yah is more important than all the rhetorical devices used by men to distance themselves and others from what Father has commanded His children to do! They have done this so that they have a more comfortable religion, easier to except, a more popular gospel that can be embraced by the masses. They think that what really matters is what they think, or what is politically correct to the current governing societies, than what G_d thinks.

What say ye?

Shalom, Shalom

[brianj]

Churches, synagogues, mosques, gurudwaras, and others serve the same general purpose as a house of worship, religious learning, and other religious based activities.

[Maroriginal1]

Welcome back Rebbe! Thank you for your explanation of synagogue. I found it very interesting. It makes me think we are more alike than different

Our ward houses are merely buildings to gather with the primary purpose of a place to take the sacrament each week. Although these buildings are respected , they are not sacred as our holy temples are. Notice any LDS temple and it will state “Holiness To The Lord” on it. It is his holy house where worthy members offer redemptive work for the dead inside. Whereas a ward building is open to anybody, member or not, and offers a place to edify the living. It provides us a place to perform baptisms, to take the sacrament, listen to uplifting messages, study together, network, and feel of His Holy Spirit. Technicaly anything performed in a ward building can be offered in any building so long as priesthood holders preside. Some examples I’ve known are a ward meeting in a rented catholic Orthodox church in eastern block Europe, or in unmarked buildings during WWII in the Netherlands (members were at risk of concentration camps), private residences in China, or even in the bush of Africa where missionary work was just beginning. A physical ward building matters less than the function it provides. But a building quickly becomes a priority when safe and approved by local government. Please know you can visit one at any time just for curiosities sake.