lds temple ceremony changes 2021

Regarding informed consent Simply informing participants that these are the 5 covenants youll make isnt informed consent. I have perfect trust that as I keep my mind and spirit open to light and truth, I will continue to be taught until all is clear, and it will be more beautiful and holy than my own small thoughts and ideas could have ever conjured up. The War in Heaven. The Lord responds by giving him the new and everlasting covenant. No more waiting. 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. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints instituted a number of revisions last week to the temple endowment ceremony. Congregations in the US and Canada will be able to participate every other year. More Jesus, less touching: 14 changes to the Mormon temple endowment ceremony Just four years after the most recent revisions, the LDS temple ceremony has undergone more changes.. I remember looking at my mother feeling shocked and betrayed. This new one? Im sure there were a number of reasons for the various changes. it at least places her at the center of creation Why does the women need to be at the center? I remember putting on my veil and trying to tie the bow above my ear per the instructions, when my mom said that was just for the men. A new Deseret Industries building was dedicated in Houston, Texas, by Elder Sean Douglas of the Seventy on March 24, 2021. My understanding is they were designed to minimize contact during Covid but Ive not seen explanations or attended. Like several of you commenting, I was a dedicated temple-goer for several decades, attending on average once a month. What follows is a provisional overview. Some clarification about that would help. Youre rightI was conflating the switch to the slide show in 2019 with the (presumed) covid changes in 2020. Setting aside that the changes were actually not changes, without apology and explanation there can be no healing. Now they have some friends, they have a district.. Re: The Law of the Gospel conflating covenant and ordinance: All covenants are established through ordinancesthough not every ordinance is utilized to establish a covenant. 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 You also mention that your foremothers were harmed by plural marriage. And Carol Lynn Pearsons book goes into the problems with current spiritual polygamy practices: I also loved Jennifer Finlayson-Fife LDS marriage & family therapist thoughts on polygamy: https://finlayson-fife.com/blog/post/jennifers-thoughts-polygamy. We covenant to live be covenant; were not truly loving until we love to love, and so forth. 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. Some didnt know where my homeland of Canada was. @lws, that whole series (I think its in 6 parts) is really good and eye-opening. I remember the change to hearken from obey. Detroit Michigan Temple In Phase 4 and a gradual return to normal operations, as of April 20, 2022. Originally planned to have a final run in 2021, the Hill Cumorah Pageant was canceled due to the pandemic. You also might note that women are no longer veiled in the temple. Though the people I spoke to tried, to the best of their recollection, to tell me what was new and different, this is not an exhaustive list, and in at least one instance, their memories conflicted with each other (see More diverse racial representation, below). Katie Ludlow Rich on Twitter: "If the changes to the LDS temple Previously, senior service mission assignments were available only to members living in the US and Canada. I have real life experience with this both with my husband and bishops. Get on board or dont, its happening! I havent thought about the specifics of the temple for years, and as I read about the changes, I realize they dont mean anything to me. Other resources (on the road, there are many more, this is just a quick list of two): https://exponentii.org/blog/mormon-male-privilege-and-how-to-make-apparent-gender-disparity-in-the-church/, https://bycommonconsent.com/2021/10/28/she-shall-believe-or-she-shall-be-destroyed-dc-121-and-132/, https://mormondom.com/letter-to-a-mormon-man-8d251aa1f062. Blogger at Wheat & Tares. One time I asked a temple presidency member and his wife in the temple about the penalties and was curtly told I shouldnt be asking. Read more about the notice at Church News. It is the second First Presidency announcement in five weeks dealing with marriage. Callings in the baptistry and ordinance support continue to be made by the temple president. They seem neutral at best to me. The symbol does not lie. In the ceremony I was shocked at the collared minister in the movie. Temple Ceremony / Masonry | Mormon Stories It felt so odd to sit in the same place I remember my dad and father in law sitting at my wedding. 1) No effect. I did just read it again, and youre absolutely right that [t]he whole chapter begins with Joseph asking questions about polygamy. However, the Lord *never* equates plural marriage with the new and everlasting covenant. By creating this site, I hope to discourage researchers from using temple exposs produced by individuals and organizations hostile to Mormonism. When it is all made up anyway, it makes no difference to reality. For me personally, however, the greatest evidence that Joseph was tuned into the ancient Israelite temple, is his tactful coordination of the first temple ordinances, directly with the Hebrew calendar and the ancient Israelite Festivals (King, Calendar, and Covenant: Joseph Smith, Restored Temple Ordinances, and Israelite Temple Festivals https://academia.edu/resource/work/94819636). Women ran for public office while their sister wives raised their kids. The linked site has its own terms of use, privacy policies, and security practices that differ from those on our website. Eliza If women are so amazing, I recommend we just let them decide how they want to be treated instead of men telling them how they should want to be treated.. 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. The First Presidency also released a statement saying the Church has supported vaccines for generations. But there. Amber Scorah wrote a book about leaving Jehovahs Witness. 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). This can just as easily suggest that he could have scooped these rituals and symbolism from several sources. Im at the point of believing that these secret/sacred rituals were only developed to keep a lid on JSs polygamy, for which I have such abhorrence and strongly believe its not from God. For some reason I thought that was in 2019. 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. Several symbols are used in multiple ways. It was very shocking and embarrassing because we then had to explain to this couple on the way to the temple what they were about to experience in terms of the described penalties My husband has a couple of books on the temple by LDS authors and I think they make a case for linking the temple rituals back to Israel. It represents the potential to bring forth lifeeven eternal lives, if you will. Why would Jesus care about that stuff? @kristi, thanks for your comment. Thats still there, but it says they are to be companions and helpmeets for each other, one person said, telling me it felt more equal and reciprocal. The point is that they are given the presiding position and women are not in the presiding position. I went to the temple this year for the first time in some years. Thank you for sharing. It was not a part of my religious ritual, and my wife and I dont feel like we have missed out on anything by not attending. Major changes to Mormon temple ceremony, especially for women (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. Updated July 16, 2021 A selection of temple from around the world where new temple presidents and matrons have been called to serve, beginning in August of 2021. Somehow I think maybe I knew these things about D&C 132 already but I couldnt connect them in my consciousness. 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? But I hope to never endure another endowment session. I applaud the changes and know they personally helped me gain a better understanding of the purpose of life and the plan for us to be able to return to the presence of the Father. 1) informed consentits about time, and while I agree that the social pressure is still huge and problematic, the covenants are also in the CHI now, Ive heard anyway, which should make them more clearly discussed in temple prep classes, etc. Im sorry you think Im not being honest with myself, that Im not allowing myself to see, but I think I see quite clearly. Read the statement from the First Presidency and see renderings of the renovated Salt Lake Temple at LDS Living. Our Church is structured, intentionally, as a patriarchy in which the men lead and the women follow. I think the church could easily increase temple attendance by having a ceremony that is 1 hour or less. I thought the endowment was a gift to us, not a gift from us? In what may be my favorite change, theres no longer a warning for temple attendees to guard themselves against loud laughter and light-mindedness. Why do men relate directly to God but women only in the new and everlasting covenant? And in particular given the context where previously the language was queens and priestesses unto their husbands? Though one may perform more of her operations more closely to the center than the other that is not to say that one is therefore above the other. The First Presidency letter includes a list of frequently asked questions addressing the redesign of ceremonial clothing. I mentioned in another post several months ago how my husband and I accompanied a couple to the temple for their first time after the priesthood ban was lifted. Study. 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. For the Strength of Youth conferences were postponed during the pandemic but will begin again in 2022 and 2023. 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. 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. Mom. But aside from being weird in a high church way, Im not sure its fundamentally objectionable in other ways (e.g. That means I no longer have to apply the mental gymnastics you just applied to make myself feel a little more equal to my husband and men in the church. What differences are you referring to? Dont we have a Father who knows us as individuals? So, credit where credit is due, but for many of us, its too little too late. 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. The temple, the covenants I make there, and every single thing I am taught in the temple are absolutely sacred to me. What use does he have for a temple ceremony? Complimentary relationships are nowhere in our doctrine.. Kristi, The Prophet Announces 13 New Temples - The Church of Jesus Christ of @decay, that may be the case. She showed him that her shoes were worn out and asked for a new pair. I feel bored, discounted and coerced by those who ask me to sit in silence and believe everything someone in authority says. 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). A couple comments for example: Id never thought about it before but it does make sense to remove it when given the explanation of the garment and priestly robes. Mormon Temple Ritual Changes | Watchman Fellowship, Inc. (Well, OK, I did). I remain steadfastly on my side, but Ive learned a lot and developed some respect for other view points by hanging around a bit here at W and T. Travis, @Anna, the grinch comment yes. My interviewees said that despite some time-consuming elements being cut, such as the passing of tokens by hand to everyone in the room, the additions mean the endowment is running about the same length it was shortened to in 2019, roughly 90 to 105 minutes. Maybe you dont experience that as problematic, but I dont think theres an argument that there is equality in the way men and women are represented in the temple. 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. Jana Riess. I think the second area is expanding the reach of our social media and digitization. New Temple Presidents and Matrons for 2021 - The Church of Jesus Christ Look, all I want is an afterlife with fly fishing. Not explaining what the symbols stand for is a problem. Elisa, the ordinances of the endowment bestow upon both men and women the same powerstheyre identical. I regularly attended for 20-25 years, each time diligently seeking to break through the symbolism to understand things. I also believe that thinking and considering religion in an honest way can help you think in a more grey, flexible way. 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. The robe, cap, sash and envelope will be made of the same material. If youre keeping track, this is the third change that Nelson has implemented during his reign. 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. No reconciliation. So what happens in an LDS temple? New guide offers first-timers real Multiple reminders that this is symbolic. I still have questions about some of the symbolic actions. Thanks for a great post, as usual. Even when I barely allude to those differences Im labelled a sexist. The First Presidency approved a new position, international area organization adviser, in March 2021. Announced Open Houses and Dedications. I guess it helps me have more empathy for how liberals might have felt during the administration of right wing conservative Ezra Taft Benson. 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. People sometimes confuse the ordinance of the endowment with the presentation of the endowment. Recognizing the fundamental differences between men and women is not sexism. Temple Square in Salt Lake City before the Saturday morning session of October 2021 general conference. that places the woman on a more sacred footing than the man Pedestal much?. New temple ceremony changes announced. I wonder if this means - Reddit I am the descendant of Matilda and John Douglas. There is less movement as a whole. Conclusion: a troll by any other name is still a troll. Read about Elder Bednars visit at Church News. I had initially thought some changes were designed to shorten the ceremony to encourage more people to comeif my stake and regional communications are any indication, I think temple attendance is still way down and nowhere near pre-pandemic levelsbut apparently thats not the case as some are reporting it is now 13 minutes longer. They do need their free labor, though, so the sexism gets repackaged every once in awhile to make everyone feel better. 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.. They also had their own room in the temple to perform special ordinances for women about to give birth. You dont physically touch anyone until you cross the veil (probably a covid change). For example, it talked about how the veil symbolizes Christ, one person reported, and how we have to go through Christ in order to get to God. She said that segment drew upon a passage in the Book of Hebrews. Is there any plausible argument remaining that the temple ceremony is of ancient, unchanging origin? Ive not done a sealing session since that change was made. I still do not believe in a God of tokens and signs. I have no issue with them. No witness couple. But, since I picked a husband that would not ask me to obey him if I didnt agree, I wasnt too worried with that. @Travis Im surprised that you dont see any connection to Masonry and the Temple endowment. The Tribune articlewhich, sorry Trib, I usually love you but that piece reads more like a puff piece than journalismalso says the changes increase gender equity in the temple ceremony, but I have yet to hear anything that supports that conclusion. I dont care. But it seems to me absurd to obey a law of obedience. Why not expend the same energy trying to convince people committing crimes not to harm others? In addition to sacred garments worn every day, adult members of the Church wear ceremonial clothing inside temples as part of these sacred ordinances, or ceremonies. Its amazing how we condition ourselves to ignore the actual text and context of D&C 132. I have to admit now dont take this wrong one of the reasons I enjoy reading your comments is because Im a mystic at heartthough not as informed as you seem to be. Color me not impressed. Latter-day Saints must take unprecedented measures to strengthen their spiritual foundations like the extraordinary effort to reinforce the original, pioneer-era foundation of the iconic Salt Lake Temple, President Russell M. Nelson said Sunday morning. Women tend to defer, like they always have. 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 . Previously announced adjustments to the sacred ceremonial clothing worn by church members in Latter-day Saint temples are now available globally. In January 2019, a recording came out where Sterling Van Wagenen, the director of those movies, confessed to having molested a teenage boy in 1993 (he was disfellowshipped back then for 2 years). Encouragements to come back to the temple. 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). Those who wish to apply as a senior service missionary or as a senior missionary can do so at SeniorMissionary.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. We do not obey covenant. It also creates a two-tiered membership for those who can and cannot or dont want to attend for whatever reason. Re: The Law of Obedience: I wouldnt get too fussy over the seeming double talkits just one of those things. I truly have no idea where your argument is coming from, and no, you shouldnt be surprised that people who read the text itself interpret it differently than you do. Too much has fallen apart in the interim. Remember the oft repeated verse from Moses 1: 39 For behold, this is my work and my gloryto bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (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.). But like I said, different symbols have different meanings in different situations. The argument that Joseph aligned the temple more with Kabbalah has been made by scholars such as Harold Bloom, Lance Owens, Hugh Nibley, and Hartley Lachter. Abraham did it, and it will come back someday, so stay tuned. I have no idea what prompted the changes, but based on my experience I suspect part of the reason was to help those participating in the rite to understand it better. The Temple Endowment Ceremony - Mormonism Research Ministry 5) Are we allowed to laugh now? Read more about the Ephraim Utah Temple and the Manti Utah Temple at Newsroom. The rite echoes some of the old morality stories that ask the viewers to put themselves in the place of the characters. Most of us havent. . My last trip to the temple was to see my daughter married last year and Ill not be back unless something miraculous happens. I dont get how you could read the New Testament and think any of this makes any sense. When I get tired of that Ill let yall know. Thats ultimately what the apron representsIMO. I stood in a prayer circle with sister missionaries a couple of times and no one said boo about it. The opportunity to gather and the power associated with gathering was very evident, Elder Bednar told Church News. 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. If they had happened 10 years ago, when I was regularly attending each month, they would have had more of a positive impact. Joseph synthesizes modern and ancient temple ordinance in this. Those are the three categories that I have in my mind right now, Leavitt told LDS Living in an interview. The letter outlines requirements for mission presidents, stake presidents, district presidents, bishops, and branch presidents officiating in the marriage. 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. I thought it was a nice comment on the beauty of our flawed humanity. The sexism piece is if you are saying those differences justify the basic inequity between men and women in final decision making opportunities in the church. More recently, first as a widow in 2015, then later remarried, I spent 2 years in the Caribbean on Church missions. Just after the PoX, I gave my bishop my recommend and told him I would let him know when I wanted it back. All prior to this weeks changes, and no actual details, of course. As for the hearken: it has been removed from the endowment since 2019. Learn more about FSY conferences at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Read more about the Deseret Industries in Houston at Newsroom. Travis, I typically enjoy reading your commentsbut I disagree with you on this one, brother. 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. They said there were gender equity changes. So when my sister was married in 1987 in Manti, I experienced a mostly live ceremony with a couple of parts a soundtrack. If that be the case, Im very sorry to hear that; but Im honestly not sure how that would be possible. The broadcast concluded with a message from President Nelson. As we have continued to seek the direction of the Lord on this matter, President Nelson said, we have been impressed to modify our earlier plans for the Manti Utah Temple so that the pioneer craftsmanship, artwork, and character will be preserved, including the painted murals loved by so many. And like many of you, I didnt love the experience, but the prophets and my local leaders said God wanted me to go often, so I did, and felt good about being obedient to God. Well, I completely missed the Wagenen scandal and the switch from the movies to slides.

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