Temple Symbolism Outdated? (Break Off From "Temple Talk Guidelines")

[Rob Osborn]

I think several of the posts actually reflect the real issues with the temple and how it is privately viewed in ones heart. Personally i find it a peaceful yet strange place.

[bjw]

I said this on another post once but I think its appropriate here. Albert Pike of Scottish Rite Freemasonry once said that for any ritual or initiation to be effective it must be the opening of a problem and give you something to think about. The Endowment opens up a whole new field of study for you and you can spend a lifetime studying the ancient symbolism. I think studying masonic symbolism as well as Hugh Nibley has helped confirm my testimony of the Restored Gospel and makes me feel more and more that man could not have made up our church.

I think if people approach the Endowment thinking the knowledge will be spoonfed to them without the Spirit or without much outside research they will be very disappointed. "Endowment" means gift, and in my opinion this gift is the ability to piece together the ancient mysteries and understand God's plan in a way that you can learn for a lifetime.

[Garden Girl]

The Temple Prep class is not one of them

But who, the Temple workers? They don't see a problem,

Your escort? - they usually don't see any problems either.

I asked my Bishop about the symbolism the 2nd time I was at the Temple (with him in the Celestial Room) he just gave (what was to me) an evasive answer and left.

You are welcome to ask questions of the temple matron, asst matrons... or any of the temple presidency. Even the ordinance workers are able to answer general questions, but deeper ones should be the matrons/presidency.

GG

[thesometimesaint]

verum:

As I believe both represent what God wants us to know, and do. The parts that are different really make no diference. Just like the changes a few yeaars ago don't change the meanings, but they do involve less standing. I'm now disabled so the changes were a big help to me, and those whom standing is difficult.

.

[cinepro]

You are welcome to ask questions of the temple matron, asst matrons... or any of the temple presidency. Even the ordinance workers are able to answer general questions, but deeper ones should be the matrons/presidency.

GG

I admit I'm not a huge fan of the Temple, but I think my greatest disappointments are in the "congregational meetings" we have in the Temple before Stake Temple nights. We meet inside the Temple in a large chapel, and get exactly the same kinds of talks that we get in every other Sacrament Meeting and Stake Conference. I've never heard anything said there that couldn't be said anywhere else. What a tragically wasted opportunity.

We make a big deal about how we're not supposed to talk about the Temple outside the Temple, but from my experience, people don't like to talk about the Temple inside the Temple either. I've never heard of anyone asking a straightforward question to a Temple matron or President and getting any kind of illumination or insight (including my own inquiries). Evasion and platitudes seem to be the preferred method of responding to honest questions.

Obviously, I find the Temple Prep course to be abysmal as well. In the unlikely event that I were ever involved in such a class, I would teach a lesson based on the following Church-published Brigham Young quote:

“Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.” ³

I would then spend a few minutes discussing what a "key word" is, what a "sign" might be (for example, sign language), and what a "token" is. I suspect just being aware of these concepts, and how important Brigham Young taught they were, might be immensely helpful to someone first going through the Temple.

Edited October 17, 2011 by cinepro

[volgadon]

I would then spend a few minutes discussing what a "key word" is, what a "sign" might be (for example, sign language), and what a "token" is. I suspect just being aware of these concepts, and how important Brigham Young taught they were, might be immensely helpful to someone first going through the Temple.

Very good idea.

[KevinG]

What can you do with the volunteers? Perhaps a professional church education system would clear up all this poor education?

[Nathair/|\]

Again, I'm leery about changing esoteric symbols without necessity. Symbols, and especially esoteric symbols, gain power and efficacy every time they are invoked with a given meaning.

[mfbukowski]

I admit I'm not a huge fan of the Temple, but I think my greatest disappointments are in the "congregational meetings" we have in the Temple before Stake Temple nights. We meet inside the Temple in a large chapel, and get exactly the same kinds of talks that we get in every other Sacrament Meeting and Stake Conference.

I thought you were in the LA area? I guess not.

We have some INCREDIBLE chapel sessions on stake temple nights- I used to be an ordinance worker and these chapel sessions are as good as the instructional sessions given to ordinance workers.

And then sometimes we discuss them further in the celestial room- just a few of us in hushed tones. It's fantastic!

[thesometimesaint]

cinepro:

Of course I don't have questions every time I go. Sometimes I go just for the spiritual peace it brings to me. Other times when I have had questions I ask. How else am I too find out?

[Maidservant]

verum:

Without being explicit they mean the same.

Interesting. Now I have to admit my curiosity has shot through the roof.

On the other hand.

I have located multiple meanings in ALL the temple symbolisms, including [the "they" referenced above], and I think I would be sad to have thought they only had one meaning because it was given to me. To repeat . . . every time I go through the processes of tokens, signs, etc, I am involved in multiple intersections of knowledge and meaning (attached to one physical process or movement, etc), that is being revealed to me . . . and when I learn a little more, that "more" is still within the symbolisms . . . they are an infinite vessel for infinite revelation, as far as I'm concerned, and yet each time that "infinity" is brought to mind/body/spirit by one "movement" (or etc).