subject: temples are…
Temples are a very clever mechanism to compel members to pay tithing. Without temples, the church has no leverage to compel members to pay tithing.
Temples are, indirectly, the money maker for the church. Those who do not pay 10% of their earnings to the church are not worthy to enter the temple. If you don’t settle with the church on your donations (10%) at the end of each year (during tithing settlement) then your temple recommend (signed card) can be revoked until you catch up on paying. That makes temple attendance a very public, though indirect, way to pressure members to keep up on their donations.
This is what I think of every time I hear a church leader urge more temple attendance. Very clever indeed.