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This is cool! – Here goes, might be my last post after some of the answers…. Blacks – Not sure things have changed enough, still in progress.
Polygamy – Works for me wish we did it.
The means of translating the BOM – Gift and power of God, no more or less.
The 3 witnesses – Not surprised, who else would Satan target?
The 8 witnesses – Ditto.
The Pearl of Great Price (that’s a BIG one) – It is what it says it is.
Brigham Young – A real Prophet, saved the church.
The Blood Doctrine – Not sure this ever really gelled so I don’t know if it is/was a doctrine anyway.
DNA evidence not aligned with BOM – Give me studies that don’t have an axe to grind…..
re-baptism – Tragic that we don’t do it more often, should be allowed.
Homosexuals – ALL have sinned and fallen short, should be dealt with like any other chronically sinful behavior, like mine…
Masonry similarities to the Temple – Masonry is the counterfeit.
The fact that prophets no longer testify of actually talking/seeing/speaking with God – I don’t think God feels like talking to us as much as he used to
Adam-God Theory – Theory – this is one of the truest things ever taught, why the fuss?
Mountain Meadows – Be grateful we have modern communication.
Secret Tunnels – Must be really secret as I never heard of them.
Dannites – JS made a mistake ignoring this Praetorian Guard, they might have killed HIM eventually.
Lafferty Brothers – Natural born killers who found their rationale.
White Salamander – Do they exist in nature?
The Wave Stone – They’re always after me lucky charms….
The Sword of Laban – I am glad it is gone as it would have ended up over some rich Zoramite’s fireplace in SLC.
Mummies – The GA’s do the best they can to look young on TV
😳 Parchment – I think we mean papyrus?
Dolemite – Hate the game, not the Playah.
Zelf – Alf’s father.
Cain – The epitome of the natural man.
Three Nephites – Hope I get to see them.
John the Beloved – Ditto.
Jackson County – Beatuiful Zion, built above….
Destruction of The Nauvoo Expositor – If it wasn’t that it would have been something else, too cowardly to put a bullet in the Prophet, so….
Kirtland Financial Crisis – The Church needs to re-examine this as part of a real reckoning of how we get and use money, how beholden we are to our enemies, and how deep in Babylon’s pocket we might have sunk.
Spiritual Eyes vs. Actual Vision – Hard to tell the difference – 2 Corinthians 12:2
Different Accounts of the First Vision – Like the facets on a diamond.
The “real” origin of The Word of Wisdom – No revelation is an answer looking for a question.
Quakers on the Moon – I have a testimony that things like this and Zelph were Joseph’ tongue-in-cheek sense of humor at work.
The lost 116 pages – “Now that’s a fire!”
Solomon Spaulding – I prefer JF Cooper.
Philastus Hurlbut – Doctor was his real first name, a great way to save money on grad school.
hawkgrrrl wrote:Quote:1) the temple ceremony has changed – WHY. i understand that its mean to be symbollic but what i dont understand is – why would huge bits of it be taken out
Most of the recent changes were to take things out that people found offensive or alarming (penalties, role of women, physical touching) or that some people couldn’t physically do well (standing up & sitting down). Cultural sensibilities change over time which changes perceptions. But those things detracted from the central points of the ceremony so that some individuals couldn’t participate or felt uncomfortable.
Quote:2) symbols in the temple
how much of it is symbollic and am i going to be in any trouble (for want of a better word) if I cant remember what i apparantly need to from the temple when i pass on
It’s all symbolic. I don’t think memory tests are literal, but if so, I’m sure one’s faithfulness is a better hallmark of worthiness than memory; otherwise, what happens to those with dementia who die? The problem with the symbolism is: 1) there’s no guide to the symbolism provided, 2) there’s almost no open discussion due to sacredness, 3) as a result of 1 + 2, people have forgotten or no longer understand the symbols. We no longer value symbols in our day & age. We tend to take things very literally. Even the human body was used as a symbol in the Bible (and can be viewed as a type of the temple in another way). While masonry provides some exposition on building symbols like a square, compass, etc., there are other symbols that are better understood by looking at world mythology: the serpent, the hero’s journey, the symbolic nature of ceremonial clothing. Some compelling symbols of the temple that I’ve read:
1 – the temple rites are a symbolic rebirth/resurrection process.
2 – the temple rites are a hero’s journey (like in a fairy tale), in which the hero has to see what others do not see, make use out of what others have discarded (like in an RPG), avoid deception, and progress to an ultimate reward.
3 – the temple rites are symbolic of an initiation process, with tests of trustworthiness and covenants at each step (similar to the Masonic rites). As there are no real tests inherent in the process, this is subtly woven into the wording of the covenants.
4 – the temple is a rite in which we take upon us not only the name of Christ, but truly take upon us what He took upon Himself on our behalf. All temple symbols point to Christ if you consider them in this way.
Just a few thoughts that might render the temple more meaningful for some.
This is from a while ago but I am new – what a great post., particularly the 4 symbols..
Zebedee
Thanks for the encouraging news. I look at the Church like I looked at my family sometimes – I love them but some parts are really embarrassing and I never wanted people to see it. My wife hates the missionaries. I think our mission program needs to get real and maybe take a page from the past. The way it runs now it is more for the missionaries than the people they minister to. I have had to do some things at a Methodist church recently and the atmosphere was a lot more hospitable and warm than in our Ward. WE are the ones who have the most truth, we should be even happier and warm, no? I don’t see anything like this happening where i am, though. GA came here for stake conference and seemed to want to put the hammer down even more, particularly on the sisters.
Best – Z
Hi – I am new here as well. I am a firm believer but do continue to have cultural issues. I am following good advice from this board and other “non-virtual” sources to relax a little and not worry about it. It’s funny – Even in the last week some folks I thought were “pod people” opened up to me a little bit (maybe because they sense I am looking at them from a different optic?). Must be answers to my prayers. Best
Zebedee.
Thanks – I feel better already. It was very heartening to read these quick responses. After I wrote my initial message I managed to get out for a little while and do some genealogy with one of the brothers who lives nearby. I was particularly glad to find at least one person around here who has a wife out of the church and not dealing with it well – Much appreciate the advice. I’ll be hanging around for a while. Best
Z
