Duncan Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Does anyone know the origin and purpose of these cultural celebrations for Temple dedications? To me they seem at odds with one another! It's like hottubbing while watching General Conference, they seem like an odd pair. I am all for celebrations and I am all for Temples but thrown together...anyone know how and why they started?
volgadon Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Does anyone know the origin and purpose of these cultural celebrations for Temple dedications? To me they seem at odds with one another! It's like hottubbing while watching General Conference, they seem like an odd pair. I am all for celebrations and I am all for Temples but thrown together...anyone know how and why they started?I don't know when cultural celebrations started for us, but I must say that there is a very strong sacral element in most folk cultures. The various dances in the Ukrainian temple cultural celebration are perfect examples of this. Another factor, most church members tend to be patriots of their respective countries, so when a temple is dedicated in their country, it is such an immense joy that one wishes to pay tribute to it with what is held dear- culture. 4
Robert F. Smith Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Does anyone know the origin and purpose of these cultural celebrations for Temple dedications? To me they seem at odds with one another! It's like hottubbing while watching General Conference, they seem like an odd pair. I am all for celebrations and I am all for Temples but thrown together...anyone know how and why they started?David's own wife, Michal, was displeased when he shamelessly danced and celebrated (apparently with very little clothing) the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the tabernacle in Jerusalem. The people were simultaneously shouting and blowing their trumpets, II Samuel 6.Sounds very much like a cultural celebration. 1
CV75 Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Does anyone know the origin and purpose of these cultural celebrations for Temple dedications? To me they seem at odds with one another! It's like hottubbing while watching General Conference, they seem like an odd pair. I am all for celebrations and I am all for Temples but thrown together...anyone know how and why they started?Personally, I think it is a nod to the children turning their hearts to the fathers, which is a very temple-centric principle. Some traditions are worthy of perpetuation and co-opting into a gospel context. 2
rpn Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 A lot of good came out of the regional and area dance festivals held in the church through the early 70's. These festivals give young people a way to participate and sacrifice for their temples. And I think the first one was within the last ten years. (I'd bet it was proposed TO salt lake as a local gift, and when leaders saw the good was made part of all.) 2
Deborah Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 I think the cultural celebrations speak to the respect the Lord has for each culture that embraces the gospel. It shows how diverse the church is on one level and yet we are all unified when it comes to the gospel itself. 2
halconero Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 David's own wife, Michal, was displeased when he shamelessly danced and celebrated (apparently with very little clothing) the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the tabernacle in Jerusalem. The people were simultaneously shouting and blowing their trumpets, II Samuel 6.Sounds very much like a cultural celebration.I think this point wins me over to the cultural celebration side. 1
Duncan Posted October 29, 2012 Author Posted October 29, 2012 yeah, it seems like a fairly recent innovation as I don't recall them being done in places like Regina or Halifax, Canada
cinepro Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Does anyone know the origin and purpose of these cultural celebrations for Temple dedications? To me they seem at odds with one another! It's like hottubbing while watching General Conference, they seem like an odd pair. I am all for celebrations and I am all for Temples but thrown together...anyone know how and why they started?In addition to the general benefits of meeting other youth and "putting on a show", I suspect the idea is to focus the youth on the Temple and make them somehow feel involved and connected to it. 2
poulsenll Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 As near as I can tell, the first first cultural celebration was held in conjunction with the dedication of the San Antonio Texas Temple in May of 2005. Sometime around this time (may have been before or after) President Hinckley asked that a cultural celebration take place at all Temple Dedications.Larry P
MiserereNobis Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Man, I'd love to go to a temple cultural celebration in Appalachia... we could have bluegrass and moonshine! Whoo whoo!
mfbukowski Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) yeah, it seems like a fairly recent innovation as I don't recall them being done in places like Regina or Halifax, CanadaWell of course it would help if Canadians actually had a culture, heh? Maybe everybody could wear red plaid shirts, suspenders, boots, furry hats and carry lumberjack axes? Edited October 29, 2012 by mfbukowski
MiserereNobis Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Well of course it would help if Canadians actually had a culture, heh? Maybe everybody could wear red plaid shirts, suspenders, boots, furry hats and carry lumberjack axes?Take off, eh! You hoser!
Duncan Posted October 29, 2012 Author Posted October 29, 2012 Well of course it would help if Canadians actually had a culture, heh? Maybe everybody could wear red plaid shirts, suspenders, boots, furry hats and carry lumberjack axes?watch this and enjoy it!
mfbukowski Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 watch this and enjoy it!Very cute! I take it all back! 1
Scott Lloyd Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 I can tell you that the president of the Church is very much a booster of these celebrations. The word I got is that when the Draper and Oquirrh Mountain temples were being dedicated in the Salt Lake Valley, the initial intent of the committee was not to hold a celebration. President Monson got wind of that and mandated that the celebration (two nights, one for each temple) would indeed be held.My teenager still has fond memories of his participation in the festival which was held at the Conference Center. It was much more memorable to him than the general conference priesthood sessions we have attended together in the Conference Center.
Scott Lloyd Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) Does anyone know the origin and purpose of these cultural celebrations for Temple dedications? To me they seem at odds with one another! It's like hottubbing while watching General Conference, they seem like an odd pair. I am all for celebrations and I am all for Temples but thrown together...anyone know how and why they started?I think it is something of a misconception that temple dedications, while calling for reverence, are to be altogether solemn. The cornerstone ceremony held in conjunction with the first dedicatory session typically has a something of an atmosphere of levity and joviality associated with it, as does the groundbreaking ceremony.And the Hosannah Shout and Hosannah Anthem are intended to be a vocal outpouring of joy and rejoicing, although I have been somewhat disappointed at some of the temple dedications I've attended where the congregation has seemed rather reserved at these points in the service. Edited November 1, 2012 by Scott Lloyd
cinepro Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 I can tell you that the president of the Church is very much a booster of these celebrations. The word I got is that when the Draper and Oquirrh Mountain temples were being dedicated in the Salt Lake Valley, the initial intent of the committee was not to hold a celebration. President Monson got wind of that and mandated that the celebration (two nights, one for each temple) would indeed be held.My teenager still has fond memories of his participation in the festival which was held at the Conference Center. It was much more memorable to him than the general conference priesthood sessions we have attended together in the Conference Center.Unless Elder Packer decides to take up rapping, it's unlikely any conference will every be more memorable than this festival (go to 2:17):
Duncan Posted November 1, 2012 Author Posted November 1, 2012 Unless Elder Packer decides to take up rapping, it's unlikely any conference will every be more memorable than this festival (go to 2:17):[media=] I could die a million deaths, a million deaths
Robert F. Smith Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 Man, I'd love to go to a temple cultural celebration in Appalachia... we could have bluegrass and moonshine! Whoo whoo! Yeh!!Choctaw Hayride, for example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTkudBvWfA0 .
MiserereNobis Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 Ooooo, I love Union Station!Bluegrass is second only to Gregorian chant
mfbukowski Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Ooooo, I love Union Station!Bluegrass is second only to Gregorian chant Dang.That's a tough call but I might just agree!
WalkerW Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Unless Elder Packer decides to take up rapping, it's unlikely any conference will every be more memorable than this festival (go to 2:17):[media=] My reaction is the same as it was the first time I saw it: Holy...hell... 1
Robert F. Smith Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 My reaction is the same as it was the first time I saw it: Holy...hell...But you know, Walker, the evangelicals are doing the very same thing in order to appeal to the youth. And Joseph Smith would have approved.There might be other ways to keep youthful attention on things which are Holy, rather on those which are hellish. When explaining priesthood power, for example, we might describe it as analogous to the "force" used by George Lucas in his Star Wars series, and the holders of priesthood power as akin to his heroic Jedi Knights. Update Arthurian romance and make a modern beau geste of such high minded and selfless goals. 1
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