129 replies to this topic

[ERMD]

Cobalt-70, on 23 July 2012 - 05:11 PM, said:

I think, first of all, that everyone ought to at least see a picture of somebody dressed up in their full temple clothes before they go to the temple for the first time. That was the most jarring thing in my experience. I had honestly thought that people just wore normal, white clothing in the temple. The temple clothing is no secret. We routinely bury people in this clothing. (Why, I'm not quite sure--it seems like if you had just been resurrected, the first thing you would do is take off your rotted clothing and put on something fresh. Besides, I don't think anybody of significance ever saw an angel wearing this clothing. Moroni, for example, was naked except for an open robe. Apparently, in heaven they don't have the same hang-ups as we do regarding modesty.)

Also, I think everybody ought to know the full text of every covenant they are going to be making in the temple. The few seconds between hearing the covenant and the time when you have to bow your head and say yes is not enough time to make a meaningful and thoughtful commitment. Why don't we just publish this in a church manual?

I emphasize that the robes/other regalia are not meant to be fashionable, but rather symbolic, and some articles have very specific meanings.  We speak in detail about the covenants.  I don't find their explanation in the endowment that difficult to follow.

[LifeOnaPlate]

I am a fan of better temple prep classes. I think we could avoid some of the bad experiences (however few they may be) for first-time attenders by being a bit more specific in our instruction. And we could even employ the scriptures in very easy ways to do it, IMO.

[volgadon]

LifeOnaPlate, on 23 July 2012 - 06:05 PM, said:

I am a fan of better temple prep classes. I think we could avoid some of the bad experiences (however few they may be) for first-time attenders by being a bit more specific in our instruction. And we could even employ the scriptures in very easy ways to do it, IMO.

I agree. There is actually no need to print our covenants in the PoGP. They are mostly found already among the pages of the standard works.

[Ticketyboo]

I take a similar approach to ERMD by emphasising the importance of the covenants that are being made. I also stress that garments are not magical, but they act as a reminder of the covenants we have made, as well as the blessings that can be accrued through the faithful observance of those covenants.
I wasn't sure how to post pictures, but if I've done it correctly there are two attached that we labelled, " If Carlsberg did Temple prep lessons...."
I'm editing to add that both of these lads have since been through the Preston Temple for the first time & both had very uplifting experiences.
Also I'm not sponsoring Domino's or their injudicious use in Temple Prep lessons
 If Carlsberg did Temple Prep lessons 1.jpg   88.59K   28 downloads  If Carlsberg did Temple prep lessons 2.jpg   100.46K   27 downloads.

Edited by Ticketyboo, 25 July 2012 - 03:37 AM.

[Duncan]

Ticketyboo, on 25 July 2012 - 03:22 AM, said:

I take a similar approach to ERMD by emphasising the importance of the covenants that are being made. I also stress that garments are not magical, but they act as a reminder of the covenants we have made, as well as the blessings that can be accrued through the faithful observance of those covenants.
I wasn't sure how to post pictures, but if I've done it correctly there are two attached that we labelled, " If Carlsberg did Temple prep lessons...."
I'm editing to add that both of these lads have since been through the Preston Temple for the first time & both had very uplifting experiences.
Also I'm not sponsoring Domino's or their injudicious use in Temple Prep lessons
If Carlsberg did Temple Prep lessons 1.jpg If Carlsberg did Temple prep lessons 2.jpg.

Now, that is my kind of a meeting!!! awesome that they had great experiences at the Temple!

[cinepro]

volgadon, on 23 July 2012 - 06:41 PM, said:

I agree. There is actually no need to print our covenants in the PoGP. They are mostly found already among the pages of the standard works.

Or among the pages of Elder Hales' book "Return".... (as pointed out by David T a while back)

[Pa Pa]

volgadon, on 20 July 2012 - 01:12 PM, said:

I can see what you saying. If I had to teach about it, I would explain that loud laughter is not the volume or intensity of laughter, it is, rather, a flippant or frivolous attitude towards anything sacred. I would then use Psalm 1 to illustrate the kind of behaviour expected of us. I'd also bring up similar things when teaching D&C 59.

Loud laughter usually means to laugh someone to scorn...this is where the evil comes in.

[mfbukowski]

LifeOnaPlate, on 23 July 2012 - 06:05 PM, said:

I am a fan of better temple prep classes. I think we could avoid some of the bad experiences (however few they may be) for first-time attenders by being a bit more specific in our instruction. And we could even employ the scriptures in very easy ways to do it, IMO.

Absolutely.   I would love to teach a class reading "temple scriptures" only and just discussing the meaning of the scriptures.

No direct references to the temple would even be necessary.  Imagine discussing the implications of Hebrews 10, just as you would in a Sunday School class:

Quote

¹⁹ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
²⁰ By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

[Ticketyboo]

Thanks to Cinepro for reproducing that graphic, I never read all of the previous posts. It's a great help, because you tread a thin line in Temple Prep about how much you can reveal. I did in fact name the covenants of the Endowment & emphasise that the initiatories are indeed a covenant too.
I also tried to explain that avoiding light-mindedness does not mean that we can't be light-hearted. Whilst we always wish to be reverent in the Temple, there are many times that the ability to laugh at ourselves and our circumstances is the greatest safeguard.
I have to say that my greatest fear echoes those that are shared so many times throughout this topic; namely that the first time experience of the Temple should be a spiritual experience and not an overwhelming of the senses with the unfamiliar.
I think that herein lies the great benefit of good Temple prep lessons, along with some judicious words, thoughts & support by the escort throughout that first Temple experience.
I might also underline the immense value of considerate officiators & the patience of the other patrons.

[mfbukowski]

Ticketyboo, on 26 July 2012 - 03:38 AM, said:

I might also underline the immense value of considerate officiators & the patience of the other patrons.

The church is strongly encouraging workers to make sure every patron has an excellent temple experience.  The tendency for workers is to rush through ordinances for the dead to do as many as possible.  We are now being encouraged to avoid that tendency and understand that each ordinance is done for a person who is as real as the patron, and is also learning along with the patron who is his proxy.

By so doing, the patron also benefits spiritually by having a better experience hearing the ordinances as real, incredibly beautiful spiritual blessings instead of a virtually non-understandable monotone recitation,  done as quickly as possible.