REVIEW: The Temple: Where Heaven Meets Earth

Author Truman G. Madsen conveys the feelings and importance of temple work in his June release "The Temple: Where Heaven Meets Earth." He adeptly does so in an indirect way fitting of his subject. Through insight and comparisons to earthly examples, Madsen explains the power available within the "House of the Lord" in the collection of essays and talks that previously were available in separate compilations. In the book's preface, Madsen outlines his hope for the book: "If these studies can help readers, anywhere and in any way, to enhance their temple experience, in the image of the Redeemer, I will be more than grateful."Each chapter addresses a different theme or topic related to the temple, such as "Foundations of Temple Worship," "Purposes of the Temple" and "House of Glory, House of Light, House of Love."To make the eternal topic relatable, he uses some earthly analogies and figurative language to convey his point. Throughout the book the temple is referred to as the "Lord's University," a "powerhouse," "a channel through which prayers ascend," the "crowning of our lives," the "bridge between heaven and Earth," wherein the eternal family is "knit together." More often than not, though, the author states that the beauty and weight of certain aspects of temple worship are indescribable.The chapters are written like sermons, but with language and depth that cause the reader to sometimes go over the same sentence or thought several times to grasp the power of it.Madsen also discusses the temple in a historical context when he discusses Joseph Smith and the Kirtland Temple, as well as ancient temples. Some of the details and stories he uses are repeated throughout the book, though the redundancies never serve as distractions but more as emphasis. Madsen states in a few places that he knew he was going to marry his wife, Ann, because of revelation he received in the temple. While the couple was dating, she attended a fireside at which he was speaking where he felt prompted to express that he knew they were going to get married, much to both their surprise. A long chapter in the middle of the book features the insights of both Truman and his wife alternately. Their voices are similar, and commentary complementary. In it they discuss how the temple helps members better understand the role of women in the plan of salvation, the ways members can take the temple home with them, and how they can prepare. The couple's writing style is almost interchangeable at times, their message is so unified. Madsen's most recent book includes instruction as well as prose, as he includes a few poetic thoughts about the temple. It contains some personal experiences, and the chapters contain several scriptural references and quotes from prophets. Readers might take interest in the stories he shares about President Howard W. Hunter and President David O. McKay that came from his first-hand experience. Madsen is able to describe the temple without going into specifics, and yet somehow readers walk away feeling as though they've glimpsed the beauty of the temple even though they may have never entered.