Husband's TR expired

[MerrieMiss]

We went to an out of town baptism last week and my husband was asked to witness and help confirm. The bishop asked to see his TR. Unbeknownst to my husband, it was expired by about six months. He was terribly embarrassed, but the bishop said it was okay and he got to witness and help confirm anyway. My husband asked if my TR is current, which it is.

It’s so funny to me that I, who have no intention of going to the temple, don’t believe in the church, only attend sacrament meeting, and do everything I can to minimize the influence of church in my life, I make sure I have a current TR to keep everyone off my back. I even know which month and year I need to renew. My believing husband on the other hand, didn’t even notice his was six months expired. It’s a strange world.

[Red Ryder]

That's funny.

I think I have an old one I could put in my wallet for occasions like that. I wonder what would happen if I was asked to see it and I pulled it out with an expiration date in 2011?

In one ward I was in, the ward clerk would hunt you down a week after it expired and set an appointment to get it renewed. He was the super duper ward clerk who wouldn't take no for an answer.

[wtfluff]

I've never witnessed this "TR Verification" of anyone non-local at any of the LDS Corporation rights of passage that I've attened.

More than 40 years in the belly of the beast, and Not. Even. Once.

Every baby blessing I've participated in, whoever does the blessing usually walks to the front and starts pointing out folks from the audience who "need" to be in the circle. No worthiness checks ever. And most of the baptisms I've been to lately, the grandpa who is always a witness is a complete jack-mo who's never attended the temple. No-one ever asks a question, and how does a bishop verify "worthiness" of someone who's never been trough the plagiarized masonic induction ceremony?

What a weird, crazy game of roulette this corporation plays...

[MalcolmVillager]

I saw this verification of TR once and it was super awkward. The grandpa was resistant to the high counselor, possibly just to ouch back, but maybe to protect a son or GS without a golden ticket.

Seriously, who cares. It doesn't make the ordinance less valid for believers or more valid for apostates.

[Anon70]

I've seen it. I don't get it because you dont have to be endowed to hold the M priesthood.

[redjay]

Never seen it, in the UK here.

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

I've only seen it done once to an out of town individual that was performing the actual baptism and confirmation. Not on witnesses or circle participants. That said, I performed both of these without one for my kid a few years ago after a very interesting interview. Leader roulette.

[Linked]

My niece asked me to speak at her baptism right after I opened up about my disbelief to my wife and bishop. My bishop had told me I was welcome to continue doing my calling (youth SS teacher at the time), so I figured this was fine and told my sister I would be happy to. The next day my sister called and told me they had a new bishop and that he wanted to call my bishop to make sure I was on the up and up. I told her that of course that is fine, and gave her my bishop's phone number. Immediately after the phone call I texted my bishop to let him know if was coming, and half asking what he was going to say. I got a message a bit later that my sisters bishop had called and that of course he said I was totally worthy to speak.

Other than that I've never been checked for TR or worthiness, including when I spoke at that niece's brother's baptism.

[MerrieMiss]

My niece asked me to speak at her baptism right after I opened up about my disbelief to my wife and bishop. My bishop had told me I was welcome to continue doing my calling (youth SS teacher at the time), so I figured this was fine and told my sister I would be happy to. The next day my sister called and told me they had a new bishop and that he wanted to call my bishop to make sure I was on the up and up. I told her that of course that is fine, and gave her my bishop's phone number. Immediately after the phone call I texted my bishop to let him know if was coming, and half asking what he was going to say. I got a message a bit later that my sisters bishop had called and that of course he said I was totally worthy to speak.

Other than that I've never been checked for TR or worthiness, including when I spoke at that niece's brother's baptism.

That is so strange. I have never heard of anyone needing to be "worthy" (being interviewed/TR worthy/tracked down) for a talk. I wonder if they'd do that for the opening prayer and playing the piano too? Where does the insanity end?

[MerrieMiss]

No-one ever asks a question, and how does a bishop verify "worthiness" of someone who's never been trough the plagiarized masonic induction ceremony?

I've seen it. I don't get it because you dont have to be endowed to hold the M priesthood.

Yeah, it's weird. I really don't know what the point is. I thought it was weird that the bishop asked, an expired TR was presented (and my husband didn't know it was, so the bishop inspected it enough to notice), but it didn’t stop anything. I’m not sure what the point was. If he hadn’t a TR on him, would it have mattered? Why ask if it doesn’t matter? And it wasn’t like it expired the week before, it was a good six months – half a year. And yes - what if he had the MP, but not a TR?

The more I think about it, the incident reflects the differences my husband and I have about the church. I’ve always taken it very seriously. When I was TBM, I made sure my TR was always current and went regularly to the temple. As a non-believer, I still take it seriously. Having a TR keeps leadership off my back and lets everyone know I'm still in the club. My husband is a believer, but hasn’t been to the temple since the last time I dragged him there at least four years ago (when I wanted to hear the words for myself) and before that, maybe a wedding/sealing? It’s odd he went six months without noticing. I wonder how long the TR would have been expired had the baptism not occurred.

My husband was so embarrassed. I was amused.

[LostMormon]

The more I think about it, the incident reflects the differences my husband and I have about the church. I’ve always taken it very seriously. When I was TBM, I made sure my TR was always current and went regularly to the temple. As a non-believer, I still take it seriously. Having a TR keeps leadership off my back and lets everyone know I'm still in the club. My husband is a believer, but hasn’t been to the temple since the last time I dragged him there at least four years ago (when I wanted to hear the words for myself) and before that, maybe a wedding/sealing? It’s odd he went six months without noticing. I wonder how long the TR would have been expired had the baptism not occurred.

My husband was so embarrassed. I was amused.

I don't think it's that odd, My wife and I never attend the temple, so after 2 years, you totally forget you even have the thing because it's never used for anything else. I have never had anybody ask to see my TR for participating in baby blessings or anything else, after awhile you forget all about it. Heck I can't even remember where I put mine after a few months. (crap!, I better go look for mine when I get home)

I find it interesting that your husband is TBM, your NOM, but you're the one dragging him to the temple. I assume he doesn't go now, as 6 months passed without him even noticing, do you know why he doesn't like attending the temple, he must believe it's "very important work" as this is drilled into our heads almost every Sunday.

[MerrieMiss]

I find it interesting that your husband is TBM, your NOM, but you're the one dragging him to the temple. I assume he doesn't go now, as 6 months passed without him even noticing, do you know why he doesn't like attending the temple, he must believe it's "very important work" as this is drilled into our heads almost every Sunday.

Oh, I haven't gone to the temple it at least four years. Four years ago our ward was doing proxy sealings and we went together because I really wanted to hear for myself what was being said. I hadn't paid much attention the day I was married, and I've only been to one other temple sealing. I have no desire to go ever again.

I would describe my husband as a Temple Recommend Mormon. He believes in the church and does everything he's supposed to to keep that temple recommend. Of course, going to the temple isn't one of the questions asked.