Josephs links and personal access to Jewish Mysticism via Alexander Niebaur are plentiful. Ive heard so many stories, first hand, from people who felt they were not adequately prepared. See, we listen to feedback!. Each had turned 70 years old and was granted emeritus status. Back then sisters gave blessings of healing. The flower blossoms inwardly, within the fruit, never seeing sunlight (blind, perverse). 1. 4) I dont really know what this one means. Particularly, the bishops right. I might be getting a little nit-picky herebut I think its important to point out that not only does the symbol have to do with the means provided to get us into the mortal world it also represents our ability to be involved with those means. And thats one of the reasons why I believe this life is vital for everyoneeven those who have never so much as heard the name of the Savior. Just to be clear I am not blaming the church for poor treatment of women. So, you are correct that the fig leaf has some meanings under which the apron should be removed. @Elisa I think I read that in the sealing part that husband and wife now give themselves to each other. Somehow I think maybe I knew these things about D&C 132 already but I couldnt connect them in my consciousness. You may have heard that the LDS Temple ceremony changed to (1) provide an explanation of five temple covenants before people agree to continue, (2) show pictures of Jesus, (3) eliminate the roles of the witness couple, (4) change it so that certain elements are only shown on screen, not performed during the ceremony, until the end (which I assumed shortened the ceremony but have heard that it is actually 13 minutes longer now), (5) tweak some language (mostly immaterial except potentially something about laughter ), (6) provide different images during the presentation (including Adam and Eve dressed in temple clothing, which is new), and (7) remove the who is dead language from ordinances being performed vicariously for the dead. As for the new and everlasting covenant: I have read D&C 132 over and over. We all know the people are dead, were just leaving three words out, which will make some sentences a little less cumbersome. @jacalyn it is too bad that your judgey, self-righteous tone actually detracts from a good point you make: that making things more explanatory may be better for people who attend infrequently. 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. See a list of historic sites on Newsroom. 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? As Temple Operations Increase, Here's a Temple Clothing Reminder The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints What do you think motivated these changes? Heaven in not like an armed camp where we need secret passwords to get in. A view of the Ogden Utah Temple on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. @Jim Bennett, this is interesting. That is kind of anti-atonement, then we can add a picture of Jesus with a certificate saying you have been forgiven, charge $50 for small sins, $1,000 for big sins and of course have a better quality picture of Jesus, maybe with a guided frame, and now selling indulgences is what Jesus would do. I also believe that thinking and considering religion in an honest way can help you think in a more grey, flexible way. There was no temple prep then. Complementarity might help, as opposed to complimentarity. More sanitized, more sterile, more boring. 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. One was not having a direct relationship to God, but only knowing him through my husband. Also, I dont think its improper for a covenant to require the reception of ordinances in order to live up to it. Of course, and I frankly think they are! This is a great and positive story. LDS Church changes policy about civil ceremonies and temple sealings, making way for more family members to be part of weddings . @Elisa, WellI guess I was just reacting to the article in the SL Tribune. If she doesnt defer and speaks up too much about that he can release her as well. If you are dissatisfied with your temple experience, do these changes move the needle for you? The First Presidency letter includes a list of frequently asked questions addressing the redesign of ceremonial clothing. If they had happened 10 years ago, when I was regularly attending each month, they would have had more of a positive impact. I have to remind myself constantly to breathe and be kind to myself. This couple represents each of you as if you were at the altar . Well, the short answer is: intent. He would occasionally come to dinner but he never spoke to my great grandmother. They will be constructed at or near the following locations: Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Barf. As for polygamy, I think there are a lot of serious misunderstandings about it. You can see one example with Pilgrims Progress and the main character Christian, which is a stand in for the reader. 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. My bishop lied and made me feel like I was wrong to ask questions. A lot has happened in the Church this past year, and between the announcements, callings, and changes due to COVID its hard to keep track of them all. New Names in the Latter-day Saint Temple Initiatory 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. To call the first principles of the gospel the law of the gospel is equally absurdparticularly because doing so conflates covenant and ordinance. Them it just got changed and we werent supposed to even talk about it or ask why. You are now leaving a website maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1. @lws, that whole series (I think its in 6 parts) is really good and eye-opening. Read it. I do have issue with the men in suits who claim to be the mouthpieces of God when they are in fact simply turning their own opinions into doctrine and dogmaat the expense of those ordinary Mormons (who I love) and my predominantly Mormon community (which I cant escape). My great grand mother who I knew personally was the daughter of a polygamist who had 4 families. Latter-day Saints are taught about the creation of the world in this room. I appreciate your engagement on this topic. Its fine that you feel that in the Church, women do not have the power, authority, or influence that men do, but I honestly dont see it that way. Of course not, but we see things as we see them, and his perceptions are every bit as valid as yours. I think every person in this organization is just so very much looking forward to being back together. I was prepared pretty well by him and so I was not shocked my first time. Even Elder Oaks doesnt justify this with the idea that women are different than men. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Like several of you commenting, I was a dedicated temple-goer for several decades, attending on average once a month. My view of the temple has changed radically in the past few years as I learned more about the origins (or non-origins) of the ceremony and of course how much it has changed over the years. . The point isnt how well they treat us. Are you seeing a greater contingency of non-temple Mormons in your circles? By referring or linking you to this website, we do not endorse or guarantee this content, products, or services offered. The policy changes do not impact marriages that can be performed by Latter-day Saint chaplains, as directed by the handbook. 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. How could Jesus, when he was on the Earth, not at some point say by the way, Im not going to get into the specifics, but there is a completely separate ordinance out there everybody has to have, some special words and signs and more covenants. And thats why the apron is (IMO) such a marvelous symbol. Interesting discussion with linking Jewish symbolism to temple ritual. Yes, the new and everlasting covenant is also spoken of, but how many sections of the Doctrine & Covenants consist of the Lord giving Joseph way more than he bargained for? Id never thought about it before but it does make sense to remove it when given the explanation of the garment and priestly robes. The only way to fix the endowment is to accept that it was not what Jesus told us was needed and throw it out as false. 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. I like Jesus, so why not have more of him on screen? Read the accounts of early saints. Some clarification about that would help. My bishops credibility sank. (1) While it may be possible to believe that men & women are different in a way that is not negative, that is not the reality in our Church. that places the woman on a more sacred footing than the man Pedestal much? This is a great example of "trickle up" revelation. 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.. In fact, I dont think they particularly care about women at all. And why are we promising to give everything to the institutional church and not to God? Either way, Im good with it. As you said, A textual reading [of Doctrine & Covenants 132] is quite clear, but I feel that that clarity proves that the new and everlasting covenant is *not* plural marriage. Its still manipulative and coercive; these changes feel more like a half hearted concession to advocates for change. But it remains their choice, not ours. I thought well why didnt they specify that? I felt pretty invisible as a woman in the endowment , especially as Eve never said a word after leaving the Garden. My understanding is they were designed to minimize contact during Covid but Ive not seen explanations or attended. (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.) 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. I dont actually think they do anything to advance gender or racial equality so wondering what Im missing. Their (the officiants) only role was starting the session and then saying the prayer at the end of the session, one person told me. One possibility is that they will remove or lessen physical touch in. All of my interviewees noted that the images on screen now include multiple depictions of Jesus, some of which they had never seen before. You ask, Where in the D&C does it distinguish between polygamous sealings and monogamous sealings? It doesnt, and thats exactly my point. (2) It is not unusual that my ancestresses experience pain in polygamy. Trying to avoid links, my quick google search brought up numerous blogs and articles about people leaving Catholicism. Emma and her counselors were even ordained with the priesthood and told to pick deacons and teachers from among the sisters (see josephsmithpapers.org). The public open house of the Pocatello Idaho Temple began on September 18. I get that even small changes are difficult for members to adjust to. So essentially Cains pattern ruins the order of Creation, while Enochs pattern restores it to a new Creation. A prominent place. Color me not impressed. Are you suggesting that my greatgrandmother should have focused on the positive aspects of having no relationship with her father? I have enjoyed hearing how you interpret the symbols and I agree with you on some and learned a new perspective on others. 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. THE MORMON TEMPLE ENDOWMENT CEREMONY . The letter was addressed to General Authorities, General Officers, Area Seventies, stake, mission, district and temple presidents, and bishops and branch presidents. Cant remember what happened last week, let alone in January 2021? Cant the man and woman embrace each other, so they are both at the center and at the edge at the same time? 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. I have real life experience with this both with my husband and bishops. @Angela, yep. President Nelson talks about temple and spiritual foundations - Deseret Our Church is structured, intentionally, as a patriarchy in which the men lead and the women follow. But rather, they must be constantly studied and lived in order to be understood. After, the Masons invited us to the lodge to present. The revised endowment includes, for what I believe is the first time, a ritual performance of what Latter-day Saints call the War in Heaven. It gets confusing. You may have heard that the LDS Temple ceremony changed to (1) provide an explanation of five temple covenants before people agree to continue, (2) show pictures of Jesus, (3) eliminate the roles of the witness couple, (4) change it so that certain elements are only shown on screen, not performed during the ceremony, until the end (which I And that God knew in some things wed choose poorly. To sum up, (1) our LDS concept for covenant is limited, incomplete, arguably misleading, and (2) to carry satans symbol right into the celestial room is an abomination.. Instead you can say Yeah, some things are great about the church and the members and leaders, others not so much. and stay in the church and do what you can to make it a safe welcoming place for everyone. 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. Promising to obey my husband doesnt match my values. 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? My last trip to the temple was probably in 2017ish. She showed him that her shoes were worn out and asked for a new pair. About men, and the hierarchy, no man is dependent upon a woman over him in the church, to allow him to receive ordinances essential to his salvation. I really dont mean to be rude, but your explanation sounds like metaphysical mumbo jumbo to me. (Be comforted, though: it once lasted between three and nine hours.). You make some points that polygamy was used by some families in a positive way. Really appreciate the honesty here as well as the respect for what others find sacred and meaningful. @jack, nope, nope, nope, and nope. 1) Im not dissatisfied with my temple experience, though I do wish it were closer. They also participate in councils with men and women in the areas where theyre called, serving under the direction of Area Presidencies for three to five years. @decay, the symbols and conduit metaphors for the temple are Hermetic in nature, and Josephs temple motifs run far closer to Rosicrucianism and especially Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) than to Freemasonry. A phased reopening of Church historic sites was approved by the First Presidency in May 2021. 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. I couldve cried from gratitude. Getting signs and tokens to pass by the angels and get you into heaven is kind of the opposite of accepting Christ, repenting, and getting to Heaven through the atonement. I never said to my husband: lets go! My recommend expired in 2020 and I decided not to renew it. I had a friend in 1990 who promised me everything had been fixed and I HAD to give it another chance. The first time I went to the temple was in the 70s. The Church officer is legally authorized to perform a civil marriage in the jurisdiction where the marriage will take place. Aaaand, Michael just answered Kristis question about whether folks in the Church make space for non-temple Mormons. 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 sum, these seem like tiny changes that I suppose are positive-ish (other than A&Es clothes) but not meaningful. As the fleshly body puts on the linen garment, the idea is that we bring celestial lifestyle to the terrestrial earth to restore Creation (for context, see Tikkun olam). D&C 132 is the one that defines the sealing as the new and everlasting covenant.. 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? Even at the height of plural marriages in mortality, the men in Utah outnumbered the women, so it would have been physically impossible for that to happen. Certainly the Prophet Jacob had to deal with that, in the Book of Mormon. Columbus Ohio Temple. I remember the change to hearken from obey. While attendees see images of the galaxies on screen, they hear the voices of Elohim, Satan and Jesus discussing how to save humanity. 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. I sincerely disagree, but I guess thats what makes the world go round, right? Why, then, have changes been made to it several times since it was first revealed? All prior to this weeks changes, and no actual details, of course. We now read Section 132 differently but only because we ignore the actual text. Hey Holly, I find membership and attendance at church and temple very fulfilling. Boredom has been another top issue that I have with the temple. Yes, The World, not the Church, is leading the way yet again. They gave me one-piece garments that had long sleeves and long legs! If the Lord or His prophets tell me not to do something and I do it anyway, that disobedience isnt their fault; they tried! Israel was placed under covenant to be the Lords peopleand what did he require of them in order to live up to that covenant? To sum up, (1) our LDS concept for covenant is limited, incomplete, arguably misleading, and (2) to carry satans symbol right into the celestial room is an abomination. I am deeply relieved it is gone. Read more about Leavitts call at LDS Living. Read the statement from the First Presidency and see renderings of the renovated Salt Lake Temple at LDS Living. But until this week, the covenants themselves were not described beforehand, prompting many to note that its unfair to expect people to decide whether to stay or leave when theyre not told in advance what the promises will be. Things may have changed either before or since I was there many, many years ago. The Kirkland Temple wasnt used the same way as our temples are now used for example. I wouldnt trade it for anything this world has to offer. One full year has passed since their confirmation. Thank you for educating me. I dont get how you could read the New Testament and think any of this makes any sense. . Another said there were still four ordinance workers in the session, but that most of them didnt have much to do until the veil portion at the end. In any event, nothing in this post was criticizing ordinary Mormon folks who like to attend the temple. I also realized after reading this blog post that I havent talked to any Millennials or Gen Zers about their temple experiences, and I wonder how these modifications have changed the temple experience for them. The statistical report in April 2021 general conference announced growth in Church membership by just under 100,000. And unifying men and women in an eternal complimentary relationship is the key to eternal life and felicity. Your email address will not be published. New Temple Presidents and Matrons for 2021 - The Church of Jesus Christ I havent gone to the temple in years, so Im not affected by these changes, but Im extremely skeptical that theyve resolved the sexism. Should I let myself just be soothed by it all, like a crying child with a loving parent saying, there, there, darling, it will all be fine, just trust me I got this. It's 2023 and the LDS church still won't even name and own the harm caused by its racist doctrine and practices. Even so, I think women need both (generally speaking) as do menespecially from their significant other. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Find out more about senior missionary opportunities at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. What differences are you referring to? Also, since I got to use my grandmothers apron that she had made, it was a meaningful part of the ceremony to be connected to my deceased grandmother and wear the same thing she had worn. Unspecified changes underway for Mormon temple ceremony Adam and Eve in temple clothes. But I no longer warp my vision to see things differently than they are. Latest News on the Salt Lake Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org To me the only part of the endowment ceremony I really looked forward to were the movie scenes with great underwater shots, soaring fjords, and exotic animals. These renovations include safety improvements and filmed presentations of temple ceremonies, increasing the number of languages sessions in which they are available. @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. Over the past few days, Ive been interviewing people off the record about their impressions of the changes. For me, it didnt matter how much the ceremony wording changed over the years, my first experience always played through my mind when I went to the temple. As the project has progressed, we have learned a great deal about the condition of the temple and its surroundings. (2) I do not misunderstand polygamy. Read the manifesto when polygamy was ended. Symbols seldom have *one* hard and fast and unchangeable meaning. Should the Saints be better? I dont care. (RNS) Just four years after the most recent revisions, the LDS temple ceremony has undergone more changes. I also disagree that the church certainly doesnt treat women as equal. Of course any decisions a woman makes in the church can be vetoed by a man over her, but the same goes for any decisions a man makes in the Church. What I cant see is how they can be coregents while one presides. Therefore, effective immediately, all temple patrons and workers are asked to wear face masks at all times while in the temple. To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use. There is no textual basis for applying it to monogamous marriage. To download all photos or videos related to this article, select the links at the bottom of each section. She did the right thingthough at the wrong time. Changing the ceremony to movies was a big change except that a couple of temples (SLC and Manti) kept the live ceremonies. Required fields are marked *. Indeed, similar to my post from last week (sorry, I guess its week two of downer posts from me), there is little that could be done to the temple ceremony in anything resembling its current iteration that would seem meaningful to me so I honestly just dont care. I welcome these changes and look forward to more. Primary General President Joy D. Jones also shared a message of love and encouraged Primary children to serve others. During October 2021 general conference, the prophet announced 13 temples, bringing the total number of temples announced this year to 34. Ive long complained that in the narrative of the endowment, Christ is at best a minor character who does little more than delegate instructions. You dont physically touch anyone until you cross the veil (probably a covid change). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints instituted a number of revisions last week to the temple endowment ceremony. It is anticipated that the temple and its surroundings will be completed in 2025. What if we had a second income from a second wife? Flimsy little slippers? I always find what you have to say interesting and illuminatingeven when I disagree with you. Kristi, I just looked up misandrist. if I have it right, everyone commenting here is North American Caucasian, is that right? Today I feel like Ive experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.. Jesus said there was nothing else needed. But as this is listed as a new change, I dont know what it refers to. More temple changes - LDS Gospel Discussion - ThirdHour Youre rightI was conflating the switch to the slide show in 2019 with the (presumed) covid changes in 2020. 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 I didnt even know, for about 20 years, that there had ever been any changes! 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. President Eyring also noted the death of Elder Dean M. Davies, who had served as General Authority for one year and in the Presiding Bishopric for eight years. So I havent gone through the endowment ceremony since before the switch to the slide show. The 94-year-old temple had been extensively renovated over the past few years. Implied consent means youd know much more about the next 4 hours in the temple than simply another Sunday school lesson about 5 vague principles.