Latter-day Saint temples are not places of regular worship. They are erected for specific, Christ-centred ordinances designed to unite family members in an eternal unit. Nowhere is the Latter-day Saint emphasis on the importance of the family better exemplified than in the temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes the validity of civil marriages and regards them as legally and morally binding contracts. However, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that such marriages end at death, having no validity beyond the grave. It is possible for the marriage and family to continue beyond the grave only when couples have their marriages and families sealed for eternity. Such special marriages must be performed in a sacred temple, by the authority of the holy priesthood.

Latter-day Saints believe deeply in the eternal nature of the family and view temples with special reverence and respect. They also believe that for sealing ordinances to be valid, husbands and wives must show total fidelity to each other throughout their marriage, as well as lead lives of service and commitment.

The Sydney Australia Temple is located in the Sydney suburb of Carlingford in New South Wales. The temple was dedicated on September 20, 1984. In the past few years, temples have been built in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.