Big Time Temple Questions

[foolmeonce]

Ha ha. Click bait! More like Temple questions that are small time, but funny.

Were locks and keys on Temple lockers weird for anyone else? When I went through as a youth, I was shocked to see locks. I mean, as part of getting an admission ticket, didn't everyone commit to being super honest? And couldn't the bishop see straight into my soul when I answered those questions and surely would prevent me from getting a ticket if I was capable of stealing from others at the Temple???

This was a big issue for me as a Youth.

[foolmeonce]

Another big issue for me the first go round was that I totally did NOT see, hear, feel, touch, or smell any spirits, ghosts, ghouls, angels, or phantasms of any sort. I did not get a feeling that I was being thanked for my service, or that there was even a miniscule amount supernatural awareness of the service I was performing. I was promised by Primary leaders that if I was reverent enough I would totally have an other worldy experience of some sort and I was TOTALLY reverent and did not get the payoff.

Anyone else have that problem?

[AllieOop]

Ha ha. Click bait! More like Temple questions that are small time, but funny.

Were locks and keys on Temple lockers weird for anyone else?

Yes, I agree! I always thought that was strange. My Dad was a veil supervisor in the Provo temple for years and he told me there was a big theft problem in the temples. I didn't ask how big "big" was, though.

Here's something else my Dad shared with me:

He helped one of the 12 through the veil one night (my Dad was on the other side of the veil and didn't know who it was until he pulled him through). Dad said that this man needed a lot of help and most especially needed help with the final part. When Dad pulled him through, he was shocked to see who it was. The Apostle winked at my Dad and said, "I guess one of these days I'm going to have to learn that darn thing!". At the time, I think my Dad thought it was funny (that's why he shared it), but he was also taken aback by it too. He would never tell me who the Apostle was though...I tried to get it out of him, but couldn't


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[Korihor]

The click bait worked for me.

The locks and keys weren't a big item for me. I thought something similar if everyone here is honest, why do we need keys? But I quickly didn't get concerned. I simply thought, a lot of people go through here, the locks aren't to keep people honest, just to avoid confusion and simple errors. Without locks, I think getting lockers mixed up would become an issue. Now I know better, I'm glad there's locks 'cause I know some petty theft would be an issue.

But what did bother me were the actual lockers. I thought "really, the house of god has the same lockers as my Jr High School?" They are so loud and ugly. I would slam mine occasionally just make extra noise that the patrons couldn't complain about.

Given the costs that go into a temple, you'd think they could put in some simple durable wood lockers instead of industrial grade stuff.

[Red Ryder]

Theft is a big issue. My MIL was a shift worker and got complaints all the time.

The month before my son turned 8, the baptism rules changed and suddenly I needed a TR to do the confirmation. So after a quick interview and a check made out to the corporation for 3 months tithing, I had the TR. Later that summer we went to Nauvoo and did a session. When I walked out, someone was complaining to one of the sentinels about their carpet bagger suitcase missing. Yup, it was stolen or mistaken taken. Who knows.

The last time I went to the temple was about a year after. The session was extremely hot. Not like "100 virgins dressed as Princess Leia in a veil and they're all yours if you're righteous" hot. But like the air conditioning was broken and nobody gave a crap hot! It was packed full and I found myself crammed between the two largest human beings in the building. There's nothing worse than being dressed up as a white Masonic baker with polyester pants and a plastic topped hat that squeezes the common sense out of your brain tissues.

When it came time to repeat the narrative and pass through the veil, one of these heavy dudes was 5 or 6 words ahead of me and he wasn't whispering. He was so loud I couldn't even concentrate and stumbled through the words. Frustrated I just stopped and waited while the veil worker kept whispering it in my ear. Now I'm hearing double the speak while trying to repeat it. I shut down and told the guy I was going to wait until the big dude was done.

I finally let the guy tell me every word like I was a 3 year old kid at the pulpit bearing testimony.

Once I get through the veil, I see my wife sitting on a couch and I begin to walk over to sit next to her. Suddenly Brother Tubby steps into view and sits right next to my wife! I glance over and give her the "let's go" nod.

I dressed as fast as I could and tried to rub the bakers hat indention out of my forehead. I slammed the locker door and put the key in my pocket. On the way out by the gates surrounding the temple was a trash can. I tossed the key into the can and said "never again!"

[wtfluff]

Were locks and keys on Temple lockers weird for anyone else?

Not weird, nor an issue for me, just one if those things in the back of my mind... Why?

Another big issue for me the first go round was that I totally did NOT see, hear, feel, touch, or smell any spirits, ghosts, ghouls, angels, or phantasms of any sort. I did not get a feeling that I was being thanked for my service, or that there was even a miniscule amount supernatural awareness of the service I was performing.

This wasn't an issue for me either. First time 'round, I was WAY to busy thinking: "This is really f*ing weird!!!". Then, in the celestial room: "Really? That's it? No, Really? That's the PINNACLE of mormon worship? Really???"

[foolmeonce]

Another big issue for me the first go round was that I totally did NOT see, hear, feel, touch, or smell any spirits, ghosts, ghouls, angels, or phantasms of any sort. I did not get a feeling that I was being thanked for my service, or that there was even a miniscule amount supernatural awareness of the service I was performing.

This wasn't an issue for me either. First time 'round, I was WAY to busy thinking: "This is really f*ing weird!!!". Then, in the celestial room: "Really? That's it? No, Really? That's the PINNACLE of mormon worship? Really???"

I should clarify, it was a big deal for me when I was 12 doing my first baptisms. I told my mother about my experience and she chalked it up to a perceived lack of reverence from "other kids." We went back with some cousins later and afterwards she followed up asking me if I felt differently. I lied and told her I did because that's what I was supposed to do.

This was actually a pretty big deal for me and made me question the existence of God for the first time. I didn't really recover my faith until High school when I discovered some fair damsels who would certainly not be courted by anything other than mission bound knights in shining armor. This discovery helped greatly with my faith building process.

[deacon blues]

Before going through the temple I had been taught that it was "the Lord's school/university. I expected to learn the secrets of the universe in the temple. I remember thinking "I know all this already." That was my main beef.

[foolmeonce]

Taking .... I mean er .... RECEIVING my endowment was also pretty rough for me as well. Once again, great expectations going in, only to find grown men that I REALLY respected wearing togas, Chef Boyardee hats, and chanting prayers. While in the circle I had the thought "holy crap, the Baptists are right, THIS IS A CULT."

But, as fate would have it, I had that mission call and dang it, those waiting damsels to worry about. It's interesting that these spurts of rational thoughts ended up being so easy to bury.

[wtfluff]

Before going through the temple I had been taught that it was "the Lord's school/university. I expected to learn the secrets of the universe in the temple. I remember thinking "I know all this already." That was my main beef.

You knew all the secret handshakes, names, and pretend-to-kill yourself motions before you went?



I might not have been so freaked out if I had any idea what I was getting into...

[MalcolmVillager]

I had no idea about the celestial garb and as I turned the corner from renting my clothing from the money changers I ran into someone who had just descended from the CK room. I was surprised and thought, oh cool, we have some people from the middle east here today.

An hour later, I realized the joke was on me. I didn't even have a hand sewn loin cloth like all the really commited folks.

As a previously gullible and literal TBM, I stressed over all the details and imagined all the angels and sentinels I would have to pass so I took all the fist bumps super serious. My eternal life hung in the balance.

IDK if I will ever go back, despite the fact that I still carry a membership card. Not if I can help it. I probably will be dragged in again at some point. Luckily DW never wants to go watch the new movies either.

[20/20hind]

HOW did that guy change his stuff around so effing fast.

And where do i put this bag of green loin cloth and potatoe helmet when im trying to change this stuff around.. i know none of it should touch the ground or this old guy is going to kick my a$$.

"We desire all to receive it"


Me, wait what? Do i have to stand up again?

Why do i have a pink card instead of a blue card? Um i think you guys messed up some where.

My card says Albert Einstein. I thought we were not doing that any more.?

Albert's new name is e=mc2

"tender mercies "

[Corsair]

I had an accidentally enlightening conversation with my mother a few months ago. She and my father are temple workers. I mentioned in a generic way that one of the complaints voiced by young adults about the temple was that it's actually kind of boring and repetitive. She went into "mildly offended" mode that someone might say that out loud. She also praised a local elderly man that did a session in their temple several times per day even when other activities might be more interesting. This was his sacrifice to God when he could be doing so many other things in his retirement.

Since this was my dear mother with the defensive response, I did not push this idea further with her. I will not disparage anyone who enjoys the sober discipline of temple service. But this bit of raw honesty from her is not at all how the LDS church teaches children and converts about the temple. We are allegedly learning the most important lessons of the (LDS) gospel. It turns out that the (LDS) gospel is colossally boring once details start to emerge. The most interesting parts of the LDS church (godhood, polygamy, eternal creation, multiple heavens) are slowly disappearing in favor of a long, systematic, repeated prayers in a drama that we can't discuss.

[tryingtogetitright]

Ha ha. Click bait! More like Temple questions that are small time, but funny.

Were locks and keys on Temple lockers weird for anyone else? When I went through as a youth, I was shocked to see locks. I mean, as part of getting an admission ticket, didn't everyone commit to being super honest? And couldn't the bishop see straight into my soul when I answered those questions and surely would prevent me from getting a ticket if I was capable of stealing from others at the Temple???

This was a big issue for me as a Youth.

Was this before or after you lied about p or m? (Rhetorical question meant to point out that it shouldn't surprise most people, who lied or obfusticated to one or more of the questions, and/or who have heard about people loaning recommends, defrauding or molesting people while owning current TRs.)

[Meilingkie]

My first time was in German Week, but for us they put the Dutch dubbed film on.
Really weird to hear the voices of people you know personally talking like HF , Peter, Adam etc.
Translation-office was in our Ward, so personnel attended there and they dubbed it all.......

Afterwards we went to German sessions, and to this day, when I go to our Temple, I translate things back from Dutch to German.
Because that´s how I remember it best, in German.

The germans made the temple to be run efficiently, smooth and quiet.
The Dutch Temple is noisy, loud, and haphazardly.
That was a tripping-point, during Dutch week the temple seemed so irreverent......
And the lockers, yes, that too, and the celestal room whch was so small in Frankfurt, just a Crossroads between 4 endowmentrooms.

[fh451]

Was this before or after you lied about p or m? (Rhetorical question meant to point out that it should surprise most people, who lied or obfusticated to one or more of the questions, and/or who have heard about people loaning recommends, defrauding or molesting people while owning current TRs.)

I always had the J. Goulden Kimball attitude of "I repented too damned fast!" to assuage my conscience in the TR interviews.

And yes, I got to go through in the 80's when they still had the pantomimed penalties - creepy stuff looking back on it.

fh451

[Newme]

Growing up, I imagined the temple to be so beautiful - very simply and spiritual.
When I was little, I was sealed to my family - and that was great, so I was assuming it would be equally great to get my endowments.
I was shocked.
It really bothered me - so much that several people tried to help me make sense of the freemasonry ritual from a gospel perspective.
Ultimately, I took it on faith that it was somehow symbolic of Christ-like principles.
But I don't think that shock and disappointment ever completely wore off, as much as I tried.

I will admit that I had a great spiritual experience in the temple - but again, it wasn't about freemasonry - as it was the simply sealing.
I believe that the temple is very complex. From one perspective, it's an evil way to make money for the church - a way to break up families at the most significant moments when families should be together, and it's a way to make most people (who are not temple worthy) to feel less-than and excluded - NOT Christ-like at all.

Yet, from another perspective - maybe it is a tool to connect spiritual dimensions - a way to connect generations of families living and passed. But I imagine there are other ways to connect - and to keep the memory and love of those who've passed, alive.

[Phil Lurkerman]

Another big issue for me the first go round was that I totally did NOT see, hear, feel, touch, or smell any spirits, ghosts, ghouls, angels, or phantasms of any sort. I did not get a feeling that I was being thanked for my service, or that there was even a miniscule amount supernatural awareness of the service I was performing. I was promised by Primary leaders that if I was reverent enough I would totally have an other worldy experience of some sort and I was TOTALLY reverent and did not get the payoff.

Anyone else have that problem?

Yup. All the same issues with not understanding the weird stuff, but more than anything I was expecting a supernatural experience and it was just a bunch of really old people acting out some sort of semi-biblical allegory. I'm getting old now myself, so yes my first experience was with a live action, all scary penalties included, early-morning performance.

With all the high-security, hush-hush, promise-never-to-reveal build up to the whole thing, I assumed there must be angels officiating, three Nephites making guest appearances, clear explanations of the nature of creation - or at least something to justify all the secrecy. Nope.

But I went on my mission anyway.

[foolmeonce]

Yet, from another perspective - maybe it is a tool to connect spiritual dimensions - a way to connect generations of families living and passed. But I imagine there are other ways to connect - and to keep the memory and love of those who've passed, alive.

Yes, like many things in the LDS faith, good concepts are wrapped around control and dogma. I think that the Buddhists have some good ways of honoring ancestors.

[foolmeonce]

Was this before or after you lied about p or m? (Rhetorical question meant to point out that it should surprise most people, who lied or obfusticated to one or more of the questions, and/or who have heard about people loaning recommends, defrauding or molesting people while owning current TRs.)

I always had the J. Goulden Kimball attitude of "I repented too damned fast!" to assuage my conscience in the TR interviews.

And yes, I got to go through in the 80's when they still had the pantomimed penalties - creepy stuff looking back on it.

fh451

You older dudes had to work through much heavier stuff in there than us whipper snappers. I had a pretty hard time with chanting prayers, semi-naked oil applications, and weird uniforms. I don't know how I would have handled throat cutting charades. Maybe I would have questioned more (probably not).