During the past 15 years, the number of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has increased dramatically throughout the world. The Church and its members welcome an opportunity to talk about why temples are so important to the faith, just as they were to believers anciently.
The Church's 140 operating temples are sacred buildings where those who enter can feel close to God. Every person of faith understands the importance of a place set apart for communion with God. To help the public better understand the purpose of these temples, each one is opened to the public for before its dedication. This year alone, over one million people have toured Latter-day Saint temples during their open house period.
These resources will be helpful to anyone trying to better understand these houses of worship:
Washington Post "On Faith": Mormon Temples Are Places Apart
More information, photos, videos and resources about Mormon temples are available here: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/topic/temples