@Jack Hughes, since writing this post Ive heard they also recite the BoM scripture that we are saved by Christ after all we can do. Im interested to see how they increase Christs role in the endowment. Those are the three categories that I have in my mind right now, Leavitt told LDS Living in an interview. I wanted to ask about it but realized my parents were probably not equipped to talk about it, and my bishophe had effectively disqualified himself as someone I couldnt trust. For conceptual covenant, if obedience, sacrifice, gospel, chastity and consecration, are more comfortable than sabbath, sacrifice, tithe, fast, and consecration, then stick to your guns. Continuing movement toward gender equality. And it is those important differences those things that make the cosmos go around that are reflected in the ordinances having to do with celestial marriage. Really? Im reading, reading, skimming, reading, skimming, skipping, skimping LOL. On the tragically funny theme, when I was a 19 year old virgin on my mission, not having been around girls for a long time, I found the endowment movie strangely erotic. I agree. I have sough that, most recently when I last went and found a friend to be a temple worker, but she could tell me nothing other than those are not the questions she asks. Law of Consecration. No settlement, no possession, no inheritance. LDS temples play an integral part in the Mormon experience, hosting the religion's most sacred rituals and ordinances. Honestly, I missed the richness of the other ceremony and the old movies. The ordinances will be performed Monday through Saturday by appointment for those in the temple district. As for the implications, maybe recognizing that the instructions change according to the needs of the people will help temple attendees to identify the endowment. Cain sought to skip the order and go right to the veil (an echo of Lucifers rebellion). 7) Who cares? President Henry B. Eyring announced the release of six General Authority Seventies during October 2021 general conference. The Church President, of course, has repeatedly spoken of the vital importance of using the correct name of the Church. Its long been said that men hold Priesthood offices because they need that to learn, while we dont. What do you think their impact will be? He used Masonry as a common denominator to collect Protestant men to the Restored ChurchMasonry for Joseph was a tool he used to figuratively unify the sectarianism that so haunted him from youth (what church to join?). Ive very happy with it, despite ongoing questions. I do forgive him, but I cannot forget. Even so, I hope that my last few comments will give you a sense of what Im talking about. But others are also correct in saying that the fig leaf is sacred and should be worn throughout the entire endowment. (Well, OK, I did). To be honestand I know this may be hurtful, but I promise I dont mean it that way the only sexism I see in this thread is the idea is that having men in certain leadership positions is somehow wrong. 2) Im assuming these Jesus pics are all going to be Nordic Tinder Jesus, but its still an improvement over Supercuts Adam Change it all they want. Blogger at Wheat & Tares. Whereas in the past, patrons were asked to stand up and sit down at various points in the ceremony, and to adjust pieces of their ceremonial clothing, now the endowment is more streamlined, and participants are seated for most of it. And what did all of *that* have to do with a carpenter from Nazareth? The LDS Body of Christ spoke up in various forums over the years that this was hurtful. Visiting the sites is a great way for individuals and families to enhance their understanding of Church history.. What a totally different culture. You lost me at 13 minutes longer Elisa. I have had many friends (sadly) leave their religious faiths, but it seems only Latter-Day Saints care enough to stick around and blog, gossip, speculate, comment, rehash, reassign, and reassault those who simply enjoy their religion. These volunteer advisers give training for local leaders of Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary outside of the US and Canada. Im not even going there. Unless you are a male primary teacher, no man in the church has to be accountable to a woman for how he carries out his calling. Its a reminder to me that I dont have to be perfect to merit his love. Our society is finally slowly but surely tearing patriarchy down.. . Latter-day Saints are taught about the creation of the world in this room. It can happen, and has happened. There is no reason for the covenants to be a secret. Those missionaries who choose not to receive the required immunizations, which will now include the COVID-19 vaccination, will be assigned to a mission in their home country in accordance with existing Church policies.. 13 MINUTES LONGER?? Travis, I typically enjoy reading your commentsbut I disagree with you on this one, brother. So theres that. Travis, I understand symbols slightly differently than you do. How is that for exalting fatherhood? . I spent years agonizing over how the God depicted in the Mormon temple ceremony could possibly love his daughters when he treated them, well not like daughters at all more like a daughter in law he disliked and expected to divorce his son any day. There are powerful social constraints put upon us to consent to our position in the hierarchy, and even to be unable to see the hierarchy and its effects on us. You make some points that polygamy was used by some families in a positive way. Of course not, but we see things as we see them, and his perceptions are every bit as valid as yours. The church immediately switched to the slide show, and then in April 2019, Van Wagenen was charged with sexual abuse of another child. I meant to write meditation, not mediation. I lost my trust. If you are dissatisfied with your temple experience, do these changes move the needle for you? We just dont understand that North America, for many, many millions of people, is NOT the center of the universe! My bishops credibility sank. I guess yes, but also, that takes away again from the embodied aspect of a ritual where you experience living something out. They really believed polygamy was a necessary part of salvation. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presidency of the Seventy, and the Area Presidency determine the need for the advisers. Inspired modifications and additions to the project and scope have been made so the temple and Temple Square can serve many generations yet to come. Of course Ive learned about Masonry and Joseph Smith over the years. I still think that most Mormons secretly dislike going to the temple. In my first interview, a woman told me how excited she was to see two women demonstrating on screen how to go through the veil and that the ordinance worker being depicted was a Black woman with gorgeous, long braids. The very next interview was with a woman who told me how excited she was that of the two men shown demonstrating how to go through the veil, one appeared to be Asian. Let's be totally honest here, the ceremonies are super weird and have a very culty feel. Trying to avoid links, my quick google search brought up numerous blogs and articles about people leaving Catholicism. Required fields are marked *. Just to be clear I am not blaming the church for poor treatment of women. True informed consent would be along the lines of yes, youre making these 5 covenants but youre also saying that if you dont live up the the letter of the law in every way youll be in Satans power. In my mind, sexism isto quote Dictionary.comdiscrimination or devaluation based on a persons sex or gender, as in restricted job opportunities, especially such discrimination directed against women. Im sure youve been the victim of sexism in your life, as have I; but I honestly dont see sexual distinction as discrimination or devaluation.. This couples job was to demonstrate the signs and tokens for other people. Mary actually raised one of Matilda and Johns daughters and it wasnt widely known the child wasnt hers. Senior service missionaries live at home and serve for a minimum of six months for eight to 40 hours a week. We inherit from the womb-like fig symbol, the Gate to the First Estate, which is the Mortal Body, identified by Flesh and Blood, and from the Second Estate, the Resurrected, Immortal Bodyidentified by the incorruptible linen garment, a skin, or covering of Light. All temples had live actors then. So I went from accepting it and not liking it to not accepting it and hating it. It was the wrong time for me, but I capitulated. The experience has given me a peaceful, joyful nudges. Thanks Elisa. And theres really only one way to inculcate it in such a way that we learn to comprehend itand thats by doing. Not only is it important that we receive an inheritance of flesh and boneit is also crucial that we take our first steps as life givers. We take Jesus Christs teachings about children and youth very seriously, President Jones said in a Newsroom press release. January 18, 2022. You do have a point that some people actually prefer the ritualistic elements, and it does sadden me that those analogies are no longer as apparent. Like several of you commenting, I was a dedicated temple-goer for several decades, attending on average once a month. Do you have any resources or references supporting your claims about the symbolism concerning figs? Ive heard from several people who have been that they dont see anything less sexist about it. We live at a time when there is increasing commotion and chaos in the world, and that will continue.. I could also say that now where is it proclaimed in our doctrine that only women are to bear children. Its so wishy-washy and just rehashes things we learn in SS. Still, a three-hour round trip is a lot better than 12, which is what it was when I was growing up; or even nine, which is what it was, a decade ago. They appear in an indoor setting that one person described to me as a temple altar but another said was nondescript. They are wearing temple clothing and receiving the tokens from the biblical Peter, who is also a character on the screen rather than being represented by a live officiant as in the past. Even then many members there sacrifice greatly just to buy (then eventually replace) their own temple garments, buy food for the trip, etc. That they perform ordinances. New book outlines what to expect at a temple ceremony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not enough has been changed still two fixes later. I remember looking at my mother feeling shocked and betrayed. Informed consent. the instructions surrounding the actual endowmentthen no, I dont think theres a plausible argument for that, nor do I think the Church nor the prophets have ever claimed them to be. A couple comments for example: New members of the Presidency of the Seventy, eight new General Authorities, and 77 new area seventies were announced during the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2021 general conference. But it remains their choice, not ours. Why does Jesus curse it before entering Jerusalem? A May 24, 2021, letter announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. Anyone familiar with LDS doctrine should easily equate Jehovah in the endowment with Jesus, so I dont know what some pictures of Jesus are really going to add. Fingers crossed, we are well on the path toward getting rid of garments once and for all. The Church's announcement emphasizes how much more efficient the renovated temples are going to be. Im sure there were a number of reasons for the various changes. It is something *else* besides faith in Jesus, baptism, and repentance that is needed to return to our Father. As I have been thinking more about Heavenly Mother, I longed to see Her included in the ceremony. Emma and her counselors were even ordained with the priesthood and told to pick deacons and teachers from among the sisters (see josephsmithpapers.org). These changes may not seem like much, but consider that we are only one generation removed from temple ceremonies that consisted of mock ritual suicide and inappropriate touching. Some of the changes that impacted children during their service included a revision to the Childrens Songbook, adjustments to Primary Sunday meeting schedule, and youth entering Young Men and Young Women classes at the beginning of the year they turn 12. Many people there will only attend the temple once, some mostly paid for by the One Time Temple Patron Assistance Fund. Callings in the baptistry and ordinance support continue to be made by the temple president. Was it kinda weird having someone put stuff on your body? I just dont see things the same as you, and thats okay. I work hard every week and at home to build something wonderful. Celestial Room, and in other areas in the Temple, if you need to communicate, I wonder what else in the book is dead on? This was the mid 1980s and the endowment ceremony was not only live where I attended, but we moved from room to room. All explained and laid out, nothing to have to remember from a possible temple trip 25 years ago (for the lucky ones). Are you seeing a greater contingency of non-temple Mormons in your circles? Ill never not think of that now. We sat on a back bench while they went through their entire ceremony, which included green aprons and robes, an alter, and had signs and symbols. After, the Masons invited us to the lodge to present. It felt so odd to sit in the same place I remember my dad and father in law sitting at my wedding. The First Presidency approved a new position, international area organization adviser, in March 2021. In total, the Church has 45 stores throughout Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon, and Texas. Finally, I think you may also have misunderstood my statement about the new and everlasting covenant. While unable to hold its yearly Christmas concert, the Choir and Orchestra taped a Christmas special for 2022 with special guests Megan Hilty and Neal McDonough. 2021, 4:00 p.m. . Thats an automatic net negative for me. We would do better to align our concept of covenant with Judaism, not Protestantism. I may have rushed to judgement a bit. Changing details about the endowment will not change the fact that it denies that the atonement is all we need to be reconciled to God. I appreciate President Nelsons efforts, but I hope this is just a beginning to correcting the churchs misogyny. We know people are anxious to visit and the missionaries are eager to welcome them. I just sit in dread the whole time until its over with. To call the first principles of the gospel the law of the gospel is equally absurdparticularly because doing so conflates covenant and ordinance. You ask, Where in the D&C does it distinguish between polygamous sealings and monogamous sealings? It doesnt, and thats exactly my point. God decides to send his son. The clothing adjustments do not change temple doctrine or symbolism but are designed to enhance members experience in the temple and make the ceremonial clothing easier to put on, care for and afford,the First Presidency said in January 2020 letter. (RNS) Last week marked the four-year anniversary since Russell M. Nelson assumed leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it's . I appreciate your engagement on this topic. Its amazing how we condition ourselves to ignore the actual text and context of D&C 132. By creating this site, I hope to discourage researchers from using temple exposs produced by individuals and organizations hostile to Mormonism. 3 Is there any plausible argument remaining that the temple ceremony is of ancient, unchanging origin? I went through in 1971, so I did the obey covenant. I did not expect the overall reverence that you feel just when you walk in the door. Mostly, the circle made my arm really tired & it was weird holding hands with a stranger for an extended period of time. He welcomed them into His presence and gave stern warnings against abusing, bullying, or hurting them in any way. . See photos of the missionaries arriving at the Provo MTC at LDS Living. If you are going to look at roles, you might consider Eves position of questioning and considering on her own, rather than obeying, and then exercising her own spiritual authority to disobey God, and then to lead Adam to follow after her. The robe, cap, sash and envelope will be made of the same material. Read it. Learn More about Temples. Watch or Read Inspiring Messages about Jesus Christ - Talks Available. I experienced the changes this week (and will do sealings tomorrow and see if theres any improvement on gender parity there?). . https://academia.edu/resource/work/94819636. My interviewees said this happened near the end of the ceremony, and also during the prayer circle. I suppose thats the best outcome we could hope for, short of Church leaders actually admitting that the previous versions were coercive and manipulative. I felt so happy. I believe the continued temple emphasis by the Church exists mainly as a way to keep members attending and paying money. It doesnt address any significant issue that anyone has with the temple. In fact, on Sunday you might see sitting in the next pew, smiling at you, keeping my covenants, sharing my talents and remaining faithful to my spouse, as always. Because what Anna said. Really appreciate the honesty here as well as the respect for what others find sacred and meaningful. You also state that there are plenty of LDS husbands that dont make their wives full partners, and youre absolutely right! Even when I barely allude to those differences Im labelled a sexist. Latter-day Saints believe that the Temple endowment is an eternal ordinance that Joseph Smith received by revelation from God. What use does he have for a temple ceremony? My apologies in advance, but this is a personal post and in that regard too long and a little selfish. As COVID-19 restrictions diminish in various areas and temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue to increase operations, Latter-day Saints are reminded of previously announced adjustments to temple ceremonial clothes and the availability of new styles. I know this because my non-heathen spouse is teaching the course in our ward at the moment and is constantly looking for better material. Sometimes there were just very small circles, and the officiator could barely get to the alter. I dont want to make this an argument, but I think you may have misunderstood my point about sexism, perhaps because were coming from different foundations. Ive tried! The first (2019) was the most significant revision to the temple ceremony that Ive seen in my lifetime (I am too young to have experienced pre-1990 temple). Thats how the adversary does his work. A phased reopening of Church historic sites was approved by the First Presidency in May 2021. It gets confusing. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News. I tried to understand and all I got were platitudes at best and treated like I was evil at worst. In a major change, LDS Church . There is no way to get around this. Like many of you, my first time through, pre-1988 changes, was extremely negative. It's 2023 and the LDS church still won't even name and own the harm caused by its racist doctrine and practices. Nearly all of us were male. Your email address will not be published. I shared a story of one of them in my last post to Elisa, so hopefully that will be up by the time I finish this. The cap will no longer come with a plastic insert or a tie from cap to veil, and the robe, cap and sash will have more durable fabric. Are you suggesting that my greatgrandmother should have focused on the positive aspects of having no relationship with her father? I thought it was a nice comment on the beauty of our flawed humanity. The 2019 version? That is a tragedy and frankly a cultural problem. Some didnt know where my homeland of Canada was. Ive heard so many stories, first hand, from people who felt they were not adequately prepared. Allow yourself to see. I used to be taught that Joseph Smith restored the ancient temple ceremony, but now I hear more of the sentiment that we will keep refining the temple ceremony until we have a beautiful gift to present to the Savior at His return (I cannot cite the source for this line of thought, anyone help here?) It was a whole different way of seeing women and family before the strong focus on the nuclear family and church correlation in the 1920s. So essentially Cains pattern ruins the order of Creation, while Enochs pattern restores it to a new Creation. I sincerely disagree, but I guess thats what makes the world go round, right? Cant remember what happened last week, let alone in January 2021? By the end, I felt tricked: Okay, so you folks got me to watch a poor quality video starring satan, and got me to walk around with this satanic symbol on my waist, and make covenants with this symbol (green amulet dark magik imagery), and these clothes are universally uncomfortable shopping bags. Too much satan in the previous endowment for my tastefreaks me out that most LDS were cool with it that much satan. (And I suppose if we were to get nit-picky about that arrangement we could argue that that places the woman on a more sacred footing than the man.) We do not obey covenant. Or teach literacy skills to children. There is less standing up and sitting down and rearranging the clothing (a good thing for those with physical disabilities). My recommend lapsed during COVID, and I no longer attend church. Missed yours @Glendale. Even so, I would say that complimentary relationships can be considered doctrinaldepending on how we define doctrine, that is. In April 2021 general conference, President Nelson announced 20 temples worldwide. Check out Viewpoint on Mormonism's 10-part series on the temple that originally aired from July 26-30, 2021: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Participation in what is called the temple "endowment" ceremony is an important facet of the LDS faith since it is in this ritual where Mormons learn secret "key words," "signs" and "tokens" that . I was more shocked that I had to covenant to OBEY my husband. But there are quite a few changes to other aspects of the temple endowment that merit discussion. Small changes to the creation narrative. So, yeah, Ill grant you that we do need men and women for sexual reproduction, but I really dont know about the cosmos (and I dont think anyone does). Regarding the 7 changes Elisa outlines in her first paragraph, my reactions are: The War in Heaven. And just like with them, Christ offers us covenants to bless us, despite our imperfections. @Jack, there is certainly a place for the fig in the presentation of the endowment, no question. @Jim Bennett, this is interesting. And that someone with failings, like me, through Christ, enters in. Too much has fallen apart in the interim. When I get tired of that Ill let yall know. The clothing adjustments do not change temple doctrine or symbolism but are designed to enhance members experience in the temple and make the ceremonial clothing easier to put on, care for and afford,the First Presidency announced in January of 2020. You are about to access Constant Contacts (http://visitor.constantcontact.com). I remember the change to hearken from obey. We obey commandment. As for the hearken: it has been removed from the endowment since 2019. There arent any changes that would make me want to go again. Rest assured the Church & temple remain steadfastly sexist , (Tongue in cheek but I do appreciate your comment. Color me not impressed. Therein, Mormons are instructed that the knowledge, tokens, and signs obtained within the temple will provide passage through the veil into . Thats what it means to be a good girl/woman, to quietly support this structure and not even see it. For the first time, the volunteer position of president includes a companion, and so Leavitt is joined by his wife and Utahs former first lady Jacalyn Leavitt. But dont hold your breath. First sentence: So say the racists, so say sexists. Does that men the Church is sexist against men? The point is that they are given the presiding position and women are not in the presiding position.
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