The Veil
The significance of this event must be explained away, as the one who posed this question seems to believe. I have read many of the other answers, as I am sure you have, and concluded that many words, wresting of scripture and simple "filling in blanks" are put forth yet, in the end, are inadequate.
The gospel of Christ was on the earth from the beginning. The Lord wrote "the Law" into the hearts of the children of men. However, due to wickedness, that Law was blotted out of said hearts. Therefore, the Lord wrote the concepts of "the Law" on tables of stone.
Galatians 3
19. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
This is confirmed by the Book of Mormon.
Mosiah 13
29. And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;
30. Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of [temple] performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.
31. But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come.
That last clause is important. The Law of Moses was full of types and shadows that would lead, as a schoolmaster, to the Gospel or to the Law of Christ. The tabernacle and then the temple were part of this shadowy method of teaching.
They were to observe these performances and ordinances until Christ should come and be the archetype.
2 Nephi 25:30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses.
Alma 25:15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them.
One type of Christ in the tabernacle and the temple was that the high priest, representing Jesus, was to enter through the veil into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood on the ark of the covenant. He was the only one that could do that and that was only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The veil separated God from everyone else.
Once the atonement of Jesus was accomplished, they abandoned the temple performances and ordinances.
4 Nephi 1:12 And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God...
Let's see if there is some truth in what I have presented so far by exploring the book of Hebrews.
We see that the High Priest (only one) was a type of Jesus.
Hebrews 7
23. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Hebrews 8
1. ...We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3. For every high priest is ordained to .... serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle...
Hebrews 9
7. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9. Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
I know that was lenghty, but those who endured and studied the citations will see that the tabernacle and temple and the high priest were only types and shadows, visual aids, if you will, that illustrated the atonement to those who had to be taught in that way.
That method was abandoned when the schoolmaster was no longer necessary because Jesus came to fulfill those types and shadows. The veil tearing from top to bottom, exposing the way to the Holy of Holies in Jesus, was the final type to be fulfilled.
Jesus made this clear.
Matthew 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
John 2
18. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21. But he spake of the temple of his body.
That explains the conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well. The Kingdom of Israel built an apostate temple in the mountain whose ruins were visible from the well. The Jews had the temple in Jerusalem. The woman said,
John 4
20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
There would no longer “a place” to worship. When Jesus resurrected and the way to the True Holy of Holies was opened up for us through the veil, there would be a new temple.
1 Corinthians
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Peter taught that the saints were stones that made up the new temple.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
That's why Stephen would be able to say:
Acts 7
47. But Solomon built him an house.
48. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49. Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50. Hath not my hand made all these things?
Where does God Dwell? Still in temples? See this chiasam:
Alma 34:36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said
[a] he dwelleth not in
[b] unholy
[c] temples,
but in the
[c] hearts of the
[b] righteous doth
[a] he dwell;
Temples and hearts are similar concepts. Furthermore,
4 Nephi 1:15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
In conclusion, the tearing of the veil is very significant. The whole concept of "temple" has been completely transformed after Jesus died and has raised a new temple, the temple of his body, at the resurrection. All previous temples were just "shadows" of this transformation. There would be no need for future temples made with hands.
Some answers to objections/rejections to the above.
"Christ and his disciples often taught and worshipped in the temple"
While Jesus was alive, He was still under the schoolmaster.
"After the resurrection, we find the disciples "continuing daily... in the temple" (Acts 2:26) praising and blessing God (Luke 24:53) and we also find the apostles teaching and healing as Christ had done (Acts 3:1-26). Significantly, Paul was praying in the temple and was there visited by the Lord in his glory (Acts 22:17-18)"
There is no reason to conclude they were performing the ordinances nor performances while in the temple. The absence of mentioning this fact is telling. They were there because Jews and Gentiles were allowed to gather in the open courts and that location would be ideal for missionary work.
"In his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul asks, "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? (1 Cor. 9:13) How can we live of the things of the temple if there is no temple? Apparently then, the temple remained the center of Christian worship even after Christ's death".
The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.. There were performances and ordinances still being performed by the Levites until that destruction. To conclude that Christians were “living off of things in the temple” is absurd. The temple was merely the center of missionary work, not of Christian worship, which was in the homes of believers. Going to temples to do missionary work was common among the Nephite missionaries.
Alma 16:13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.
Alma 23:2 Yea, he sent a decree among them, ….. that they should have free access to their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries.
Alma 26:29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them;
"Those who hold that temples are no longer required ignore the fact that the Lord will return suddenly at the last day 'to his temple' (Mal. 3:1-2) and that the anti-Christ will reveal himself 'in the temple of God' (2 Thes. 2:4)".
As explained above, the concept of temples has been transformed. LDSaints: which temple will he suddenly come to? The cited verse would indicate that multiple temples dotting the land is an error. Furthermore, do you believe that the anti-christ will reveal himself in an LDS temple? And which one? The verse is better understood with the understanding of the “New Testament” temple, the body of Christ, as laboriously explained above.
"We are also told by John the Revelator that those who "wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb" will serve God "day and night in his temple" (Rev. 7:14-15)".
We are told in Hebrews that there is a perfect tabernacle not made with human hands that are not a part of this creation.
Hebrews 9:11 (NIV) But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.
See other interesting translations
It is in this “perfect”, not of this creation, tabernacle where those white robed inhabitants will serve God night and day. Besides, I think the LDSaints have other things exalted beings would be doing!
"Modern revelation affirms that, in a very real sense, the highest kingdom of heaven can only be obtained through the temple (D&C 131:1-2)"
That is the problem, isn’t it. This core concept is the reason why the tearing of the veil must be desperately answered and explained. Beware when doctrine has to be affirmed by “modern revelation”.
"Bruce R. McConkie has stated that, 'Salvation cannot be gained except through baptism of water and of the Spirit, nor can exaltation be achieved except through temple endowments and the sealing of families together for eternity'."
Jesus clearly explained, repeating three times, of what his gospel consisted.
3 Nephi 11 (read the whole chapter, along with 2 Nephi 31 and 3 Nephi 27)
31. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
33. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
34. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
Notice there is no mention of temple ”performances nor ordinances” beyond baptism. Certainly there is no promotion of “temple endowments and the sealing of families together for eternity” as being necessary. We also should note that there are but two possible destinations in eternity, rather than this kingdom and that, and one kingdom divided into three parts with the top being the only abode of the exalted gods who did temple performances and ordinances. Then he gives a solemn warning:
39. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
40. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.
Finally, Elder Bruce R, McConkie indicated in The Mortal Messiah (Book 4, p. 230) that, “Thus, did Jesus the Atoning One, through whose blood all men may freely pass through the veil into the presence of the Lord, thus did he, by the rending of the veil of the old temple, signify that its ordinances of atonement and forgiveness, were done away in him. Thus did he, making his body a new temple, as it were, signify that his atonement, and the forgiveness of sins made possible thereby, shall admit all true believers into his eternal Holy of Holies.” (See Hebrews 9:24).