The differences between men and women is what makes the cosmos go around? I dont see how any of these changes add time to the endowment, let alone 13 minutes! I used to teach that class and after a few years I decided to include the covenants they will make. Articulating I covenant to obey the law of obedience is the most acute poisoning of the well. Amber Scorah wrote a book about leaving Jehovahs Witness. They are welcome changes, but not likely sufficient to move the needle for me to have a desire to attend again. What a totally different culture. Im not a big fan of all of these changes. She also knows that I think shes really *really* nice to look at. Elisa, thanks for your civil response. We must live the gospel in order to get it. Thats what covenant making has to do with primarily; its a way of drawing us into living in a manner prescribed by Deity without violating our agency. The broadcast concluded with a message from President Nelson. I still think that most Mormons secretly dislike going to the temple. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. I had assumed it was only temporary as they were changing up the ceremony, but it sounds like they kept this as a permanent feature? Too much has fallen apart in the interim. I appreciate your engagement on this topic. I wouldnt trade it for anything this world has to offer. In other words, if you want salvation, you must go through the temple, and so you have to come to church and pay tithing. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online, First Presidency Letter: Adjustments in Temple Ceremonial Clothing. Dont we have a Father who knows us as individuals? Loud laughter is gone. But even as heretical as I am I dont think that would go over well right now. Maybe this one primarily refers to baptism and confirmation? And why are we promising to give everything to the institutional church and not to God? Thats how the adversary does his work. I wear a tie at the temple. The 94-year-old temple had been extensively renovated over the past few years. Remember how the Pharisees were perfectly obedient, but widows and orphans were neglected, so Jesus condemned them (the Pharisees operated by commandment, not covenant). Trying to avoid links, my quick google search brought up numerous blogs and articles about people leaving Catholicism. I know some do like it, find it peaceful & spiritualbully for them!but a whole lot of the ones who claim to either like it or that they feel like they should go more often secretly dislike it and just dont want to admit it to others (due to social pressure) or themselves (due to thinking they arent good people for not liking it). Law of Chastity After reading Elisas OP, I realized just how far from the temple I am, and always have been. News of the changes in the ceremony was pick up by wire services and received nationwide coverage including a front page story in the New York Times, comments by Paul Harvey, and a report in Time magazine. 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. I felt the light of the Lord, Kristen Johnson, of Pocatellos Trinity Episcopal Church, told Deseret News. And once you have gone through the temple, well, youve made these covenants and if you break them, damnation awaits you. (2) It is not unusual that my ancestresses experience pain in polygamy. This can just as easily suggest that he could have scooped these rituals and symbolism from several sources. Somehow I dont think this positive is what our current church teaches today either whereas we are encouraged to exalt motherhood as our most important role. 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. Also, it's worth remembering the original purpose of the temple ceremony. I was glad to see it was removed last time I attended. Senior service missionaries live at home and serve for a minimum of six months for eight to 40 hours a week. Yes, The World, not the Church, is leading the way yet again. The temple has never been the place in which I found peace or inspiration. Do I care if the Grinch is green or blue? The work is truly remarkable and is being guided by the First Presidency. It *is* a necessary part of salvation! Ill admit that it felt a little weird the first time, but I knew the guy very well, so we pressed ahead. (3) D&C 132 is not about monogamous sealings, full-stop. We just dont understand that North America, for many, many millions of people, is NOT the center of the universe! Were thrilled that the Churchs historic sites will be open to visitors this summer, Church Historian and Recorder Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. of the Seventy told Newsroom. President Dallin H. Oaks rededicated the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 12, 2021. But the substance of the feelings expressed in my post (concern that changing norms in the word are what drives the changes in the church) still stands. Ditto to the changes they had already made to the initiatory. 5) ditching the injunction on loud laughter is good since absolutely no one pays attention to it anyway A May 24, 2021, letter announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. You need to have a little chat with my five daughters. But, as far as going through the actual motions, the weirdest part by far is the prayer circle. Certainly the Prophet Jacob had to deal with that, in the Book of Mormon. The temple, the covenants I make there, and every single thing I am taught in the temple are absolutely sacred to me. @dot, is that when they switched to the slide show? Disavow and disaffiliate. 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. See a list of historic sites on Newsroom. We either believe Jesus and follow him, or we follow the brethren and do what they tell us we need to do instead of what Jesus told us we needed to do. Thats part of why I dont really care much either. Its been a long 18 months apart. Thanks for a great post, as usual. God decides to send his son. President Russell M. Nelson recently celebrated the reopening of every temple that isnt under construction or undergoing renovations. Most of us havent. The conclusion of the creation story is no longer the end for Adam and Eve as major actors in the ceremony. As for polygamy, I think there are a lot of serious misunderstandings about it. Were just supposed to pretend that the many years we spent listening to the old language are wiped away. Its one of the best temple experiences Ive had. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints But, since I picked a husband that would not ask me to obey him if I didnt agree, I wasnt too worried with that. This is their choice. Its not fun to be out of step. 3 & 4) no witness couple is fine I guess, although the participatory elements (including the other ones eliminated) will probably make it more likely people will snooze through the whole thing, esp with 13 extra minutes of REM cycle The LDS Body of Christ spoke up in various forums over the years that this was hurtful. It is the opposite of the atonement. You dont physically touch anyone until you cross the veil (probably a covid change). Obfuscating this is worse than redressing it, and expresses that who ever is in charge of temple changes either doesnt fully understand it, or is manipulating it. So hearing they went to slide shows sounded like they took out the only interesting thing. Latest News on the Salt Lake Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org However I imagine the fundamental differences you are referring to might be different than the ones I am referring to. Another thing really bothered me that day: During my senior year of high school I was part of a leadership group that was selected to attend a national conference. (1) The LDS version of covenant is contractual, obligatoryinfantilized into a model of promises. Providing 15 minutes warning on covenants isnt meaningful. 2) No effect. What Im longing for is a double speed version, or a streamlined express version for those of us who have been dozens or hundreds of times and no longer need repetitive explanations I did appreciate the Christ focus and added prequel. If you are dissatisfied with your temple experience, do these changes move the needle for you? No, I suppose Adam would have sprung for a nice pair of white shoes. I have real life experience with this both with my husband and bishops. @Codeye, yep. I most enjoyed seeing familiar and strange faceseverybody seemed like angels, and I thought that was the best part. In any event, nothing in this post was criticizing ordinary Mormon folks who like to attend the temple. LDS Church changes policy about civil ceremonies and temple sealings, making way for more family members to be part of weddings . Id have to go back and look at the history but I dont think the rituals evolved till quite a bit later in Josephs life when he became quite taken with masonry. Heres a look at some of the announcements and other events that have taken place in the Church over the past 12 months. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Danielle is a features writer and editor for, Enter your email to receive updates on our LDS Living content, 2022 LDS Living A Division of Deseret Book Company, No more bathing caps? The indoctrination to temple worship works very well for keeping people in line and for paying tithing to an organization that no longer needs our money but does need our commitment to keep relevant. For a landing place for the awkward penalties presented in the past, consider Jesus and Judas at Gethsemene: the betrayal is represented by an embrace, the setting is the holy place, the veil is implied, and penalties personified thereafter (in Judas variation of death). Elder David A. Bednar addressed Latter-day Saints in Italy and Germany in September, making him the first senior Church leader to travel on assignment internationally since the pandemic. Latter-day Saints dont go into the temple with a notebook or a recorder or at least, they shouldnt. D&C 132 is the one that defines the sealing as the new and everlasting covenant.. Read the manifesto when polygamy was ended. Say it. Those are the three categories that I have in my mind right now, Leavitt told LDS Living in an interview. (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.) .. Them it just got changed and we werent supposed to even talk about it or ask why. All rights reserved. The robe, cap, sash and envelope will be made of the same material. There are tons, and tons, and tons of accounts of the pain that women (and men, and children) suffered under polygamy when practiced in early Church history AND spiritual polygamy (still practiced). In possessing a land [Canaan], the meat [Shepherds, flocks] go first to traverse and fertilize the land. As a woman,I need your respect, not your flattery. If youre automatically updated to the current version, does that mean I have to trust that no future leaders will ever change it to something I am not comfortable with? I think we see things pretty wildly differently and thats ok. We were pretty poor for many years , so that was as close to these vacation spots I was going to get . No witness couple. How interesting for you to have had that direct experience with Masonic ritual! What exactly is complementary in the temple between men and women? You may also like:Is there precedent for the First Presidencys involvement in encouraging members to be vaccinated? I have been recently. Read the accounts of early saints. Its the same with Adam and Eve. So when my sister was married in 1987 in Manti, I experienced a mostly live ceremony with a couple of parts a soundtrack. @Elisa I think I read that in the sealing part that husband and wife now give themselves to each other. They are trying to be more inclusive, showing that we each make our own covenants, rather than women having to go through someone else.. Their stake president is their ecclesiastical leader. So the new movies came out in 2013 and were used until January 2019. Some of us just wish the Church would move a little faster on this issue than it is. Barf. Prior to the open house, media and invited guests toured the building, including 15 members of other faiths. I think that we've noticed that relationships have already been built because they're seeing the members of their district here, said President Benson L. Porter, president of the Provo MTC. I get that even small changes are difficult for members to adjust to. They can choose not to delegate and to micromanage every last decision down to the ground. Travis, I understand symbols slightly differently than you do. But now, a couple of years following my experience at the Masonic lodge, as I pondered my first time in the temple earlier that day, the Masons ritual hit me like a thunderclap. I felt so happy. Our church leaders clearly intend that or they would not refer to the new & everlasting covenant. 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. Heck, even the First Vision falls into that category! I had no family to help me. I dont get why you think that evens things out. If you are uncomfortable with our discussion with various points of view discussed, please dont log on. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) In July, a groundbreaking was also held in the Philippines for the first FSY camp in Asia. But for the endowment to be instructive, the fig leaf is conceptually removed/exchanged upon entering the mortal body, the terrestrial world. The prayer included a blessing that the attendees would want to return and serve in the temple often. Lets not throw away our eternal inheritance because some differences between men and women must remain. They do need their free labor, though, so the sexism gets repackaged every once in awhile to make everyone feel better. I would only say three things: (1) While its nice that you dont feel that the Church is sexist, whether or not gender inequality persists in the Church organization is not about feelings but about structure, language, and facts. Learn more about how the Primary General Presidencys service impacted the children of the Church at LDS Living. I may find myself in the temple again one day for a wedding. I agree. The Choir, Orchestra, and Bells on Temple Square are tested for COVID-19 every time they rehearse. I would actually love to display my grandmas apron (that she made, and wore herself) somewhere in my home as its a beautiful part of my heritage. Kristi, And that someone with failings, like me, through Christ, enters in. Jul 12, 2021, 12:21pm PDT SHARE Latter-day Saints reminded of new ceremonial clothing as temples resume operations Flipboard A view of the Ogden Utah Temple on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. So, no. Questioning the terms of this discussion. See, we listen to feedback!. Even then many members there sacrifice greatly just to buy (then eventually replace) their own temple garments, buy food for the trip, etc. Ive very happy with it, despite ongoing questions. And the only ones who cant be saved are those who, like Satan, simply refuse it. I want to add that the church certainly doesnt treat women as equal, not in final decisions in our ward stakes or in the whole church. The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement on Monday, July 20, 2020, about the changes to the temple endowment ceremony: The sacred teachings, promises, and ceremonies of the temple are of ancient origin, and point God's children to Him as they make further covenants and learn more . 5 intriguing changes to early Church handbooks, 3 lessons one young mother was reminded of while watching the Friend to Friend event, Reminisce over bygone Church pageants and try out for the Nauvoo cast, What I learned about the limitless power of the Spirit during my virtual vacation to Church historic sites, A gift to the Master: 20 years of Tabernacle Choir Christmas magic, Is there precedent for the First Presidencys involvement in encouraging members to be vaccinated? In the past there have been times when Ive been distracted, frustrated, and questioned all sorts of things with the temple ceremony. In the past, there was a point in the ceremony when anyone not willing to make those covenants was invited to leave (though I have never seen anyone in the temple actually depart at that point). The script now seems to include reminders to attend the temple often. The Assembly Hall, Tabernacle, Family History Library, and Church History Library also began reopening this summer in July, followed by the Beehive House and Church History Museum in August.Read about the announcement on Newsroom. But if you could get past that (and I understand many couldnt), there was actually something quite beautiful as a woman to receive a kind of literal blessing and anointing by another woman. That said, I believe that wearing the apron at the adversarys behest is not unlike Eve partaking of the fruit. 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. It depends on what the fig leaf is symbolic of to you as an individual in different circumstances. As I said, Im sure there were other changes as well. Any decisions a woman makes in the church can be vetoed by a man over her. Our society is finally slowly but surely tearing patriarchy down. Concepts such as Law of Obedience and Law of the Gospel are nonsensical, incongruent. Previously announced adjustments to the sacred ceremonial clothing worn by church members in Latter-day Saint temples are now available globally. You are now leaving a website maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That they perform ordinances. Thats what it means to be a good girl/woman, to quietly support this structure and not even see it. Responsibility is to Covenant as Obedience is to Commandment. Rabbis say fig trees lay the keylines and terraces for grape vineyards in an idealized, restored Israel. I lost my trust. This just feels like Nelson likes tinkering with the temple, because none of these feel impactful enough to bother changing everything. They will no longer feel like Gods favorite. That is our choice in the frames of D&C 132, and often that is how our choices are administered in the framework and culture of the church. Whatever they do is too little too late and probably misses the whole point anyway, sort of like closing the barn window after the animals all walk out the open door. Kristi, I dont actually think they do anything to advance gender or racial equality so wondering what Im missing. As for the Fig leaf apron symbol, the understanding of the fig leaf to represent fertility and fecundity is mistaken: the symbol is the opposite: the fruit appears before the flower (out of order, going ahead, like Cain). Our Church is structured, intentionally, as a patriarchy in which the men lead and the women follow. Andy Larsen: Heres where National Weather Service forecasts flooding, in the short term and the long term, Murray police officers were justified in their use of force against a 52-year-old man who died after arrest, Salt Lake County D.A. I was fortunate to have a father than viewed everything (church history, doctrine, policy, practice, culture, temple) as an open book. Mormonism and temples/Endowment/Changes - FAIR I couldve cried from gratitude. 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. Interesting how everyday sexism contaminates us even when were trying. Sometimes there were just very small circles, and the officiator could barely get to the alter. I dont know how anyone could take a tour of this temple and not be moved by the presence of God in Christ. Your email address will not be published. Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies also provide them with support and instruction. And to know that this would be our first foray into participating in that creative effort meant that we would be on the high road of becoming like them. The Prophet Announces 13 New Temples - The Church of Jesus Christ of On Sunday, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to build 13 new temples throughout the world. I had one couple call me and say they didnt want more lessons. 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. That said, the proper covenants of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are as follows: Law of Sabbath @Travis Im surprised that you dont see any connection to Masonry and the Temple endowment. When I come across the phrase I associate it with the gospel in its entirety while emphasizing the role of priesthood ordinances such as baptism, sealing, etc. If you went through the temple for the first time during a different iteration of the endowment, which covenants did you make? Not enough has been changed still two fixes later. Cant the man and woman embrace each other, so they are both at the center and at the edge at the same time? In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake presidentwhere it is legalto officiate at the marriage ceremony, the letter reads. 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. Even so, we do renew our covenants on a regular basis by means of an ordinance pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood. (Yup, me too; of pioneer stock who literally came across the plains) In 2006 I spent 5 fascinating weeks in South Africa on a health research trip a place Id always wanted to see since my Uncles stories of serving there as a young missionary (and later as Mission Pres.). In making that determination, we recommend that, where possible, they counsel with a competent medical professional about their personal circumstances and needs, the statement reads.