A Sin That Takes You Out Of The Temple

[thatjimguy]

Hey all,

 

We all know that not following the Word of Wisdom will get us out of the Temple, and toher stuff. But my question is what makes that imporant and other sins not? How come this sin gets top billing and others get a pass? And I do not mean the "big" sins here. Those more common sins that keep popping up in our lives?

[Storm Rider]

Hello Jim,

The Temple Questions are approved by the First Presidency and the Qof12.  They are solely responsible for what topics are discussed and which ones are not.

 

There has to be some quantifiable measure of worthiness and this is the manner in which the leadership has determined the most efficient and effective for local leadership to implement and for each member to respond. It may be arguable, but it also works.

[strappinglad]

Perhaps the answer lies in the introduction to D&C 89 where in the WoW is given even for the weak saints. Hence , it is the first of the low hurdles .

[thesometimesaint]

 We don't have to perfect, but the bar has to be set somewhere.

[rpn]

They aren't "sins".   WofW means you aren't in control of yourself.  Making covenants when you aren't cannot assuredly be voluntary covenants.  If you can't consistently pay tithing, no way will you be able to keep the covenant of giving everything you have to the Lord.   The prohibition is protective.   (And no, God hasn't said any of this, Himself.  He just sets it up, and humans speculate.)

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Hey all,

 

We all know that not following the Word of Wisdom will get us out of the Temple, and toher stuff. But my question is what makes that imporant and other sins not? How come this sin gets top billing and others get a pass? And I do not mean the "big" sins here. Those more common sins that keep popping up in our lives?

All sins are important and serious, but asking concerning all sins would mean no one would ever finish the interview or get into the Temple. Under the old law and still amount Jews there are 613 sins. The WoW is important as it deals with the inner Temple, that houses the Holy Spirit..."US".

[Tacenda]

I heard something from a non LDS Christian the other day (on a show)...the 10 commandments were given to show us how much we need a Saviour since it's impossible to keep all of them, I quite like that.

[thesometimesaint]

He was quite wrong. The Savior himself asked the rich young man if he had obeyed all the laws and commandments of God. That young rich man had. It wasn't until Christ asked him to sell all he owned and give it to the poor that the young man faltered.

[Kenngo1969]

What one is asked to determine one's readiness to enter the Temple also has a lot to do with the covenants one makes when one enters.  If the answer to any of those questions is "No," given the covenants involved, then it's a good indicator that one has more work to do to get ready.  Not allowing one into the Temple based on those answers is an act of mercy.  My $0.02, actual value $1,735,350,175,075,025.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I heard something from a non LDS Christian the other day (on a show)...the 10 commandments were given to show us how much we need a Saviour since it's impossible to keep all of them, I quite like that.

People who have morals can keep them, I understand The need for them, but most good people keep than and are not religious.

[daz2]

Temple entrance requirements have varied over time. I believe it was around the 1920s or 1930s when the WofW became a requirement to enter the temple, under President Heber J. Grant who pushed the emphasis on the word of wisdom (some argue it was in connection with the Temperance movements and Prohibition). Many of us have ancestors who were active in the Church and had to struggle to give up coffee or mild drinking in order to meet those new qualifications. My grandmother once told us how hard it was, saying something like "If you haven't had coffee, you have no idea how hard it is to give it up." I also understand there was some controversy in the FP and 12 over the years until then. I believe Lorenzo Snow believed that the word of wisdom should be interpreted in almost a vegetarian way, and that should be the way it was "enforced." I would personally favor some accommodation to smokers who are striving to give it up and taking smoking cessation classes and the like, that allowing them to enter the temple might help give them additional spiritual and emotional strength to give up smoking. But the FP and 12 have not solicited my opinion. (I would also favor allowing an alcoholic (or drug addict) with one day of sobriety to enter the temple for the same reason. But I suppose the degree and length of compliance is a local decision that ward and stake presidency's make.)

[ERayR]

Hey all,

 

We all know that not following the Word of Wisdom will get us out of the Temple, and toher stuff. But my question is what makes that imporant and other sins not? How come this sin gets top billing and others get a pass? And I do not mean the "big" sins here. Those more common sins that keep popping up in our lives?

 

Because it is adapted for the weakest of the weak.  If you are unable to adhere to that then you have some work to do.

[thatjimguy]

First off, thanks for your answers. In response to all three of your posts....

 

 

They aren't "sins".   WofW means you aren't in control of yourself.  Making covenants when you aren't cannot assuredly be voluntary covenants.  If you can't consistently pay tithing, no way will you be able to keep the covenant of giving everything you have to the Lord.   The prohibition is protective.   (And no, God hasn't said any of this, Himself.  He just sets it up, and humans speculate.)

 

 

What one is asked to determine one's readiness to enter the Temple also has a lot to do with the covenants one makes when one enters.  If the answer to any of those questions is "No," given the covenants involved, then it's a good indicator that one has more work to do to get ready.  Not allowing one into the Temple based on those answers is an act of mercy.  My $0.02, actual value $1,735,350,175,075,025.

 

 

Because it is adapted for the weakest of the weak.  If you are unable to adhere to that then you have some work to do.

 

 

But isn't all sin a result of not controlling ourselves? For some, like myself, following the WoW is easy. It's defeating other sins that is difficult. It doesn't seem fair.

[CV75]

But isn't all sin a result of not controlling ourselves? For some, like myself, following the WoW is easy. It's defeating other sins that is difficult. It doesn't seem fair.

What sins are you not defeating that might keep you out of the temple? Would your lack of eligibility be self-imposed, or be directed by your Church leader if known by him?

 

I'm sure we could come up with many reasons for the questions that exist. What is another question you think might be worth including in the temple resommend interview that isn't on there now, or wouldn't be included in the last question?

[Calm]

I think one of the reasons why it is used is that most other things we consider sinful that are easily identified are considered sinful by the rest of the world and everyone is working on improving in those areas anyway.  The WoW is something in addition to what others do thus demonstrating a willingness to make a deeper, broader commitment to God than just trying to live a good, charitable and generous life.  The WoW  is a covenant that is not unique behaviour to LDS, but much less common than say a covenant not to lie or partake in adultery...plus many, many other sins are covered in the general questions of honesty if you think about it and treating our families well.

[thatjimguy]

What sins are you not defeating that might keep you out of the temple? Would your lack of eligibility be self-imposed, or be directed by your Church leader if known by him?

 

I'm sure we could come up with many reasons for the questions that exist. What is another question you think might be worth including in the temple resommend interview that isn't on there now, or wouldn't be included in the last question?

 

This isn't about me entering the temple, it's a general question.

 

What sins does anyone defeat? Aren't we all repeat offenders to some sort of sin or another? Far worse ones than drinking or smoking? 

 

I guess if someone is truly following the ideas of God, this really doesn't matter, because they will be worried about all of their sins and know if they are blowing it off or not. I guess it's just my main concern is that it allows people to get a false sense of being righteousness. You know what I mean? Like someone who makes "good appearances" in all facets but whose heart really isn't very cool?

[Calm]

One thing about the very concrete nature of the WoW requirement is there isn't much wiggle room with it as there could be with other sins...like Jesus chastising those who claimed to have devote their money to God so they didn't need to financially support their parents, see Matt 15:3-8.  So it is harder to make a "good appearance" without it being pretty black and white at least to oneself that one is being deceptive about it.

[VideoGameJunkie]

So caffeine drinking will get you kicked out of the temple? I better avoid energy drinks.

[Blah]

So caffeine drinking will get you kicked out of the temple? I better avoid energy drinks.

 

Caffeine, in and of itself, is not the issue. I drank a caffeinated Coke in the Temple this afternoon and no one cared.

[AndyDnom]

Caffeine, in and of itself, is not the issue. I drank a caffeinated Coke in the Temple this afternoon and no one cared.

 

you appeared to be evil? did you break a dollar using the change machine, thus changing money in the temple?

 

Is drinking non alcoholic beer in the temple ok? What about smoking ground cinamin in 100% tobacco free rolling papers? What about a Blu E-Cig just filled with water vapor?

 

You are not contributing anything but mockery.  Stop it if you want to remain in the thread.

[Calm]

you appeared to be evil? did you break a dollar using the change machine, thus changing money in the temple?

 

Is drinking non alcoholic beer in the temple ok? What about smoking ground cinamin in 100% tobacco free rolling papers? What about a Blu E-Cig just filled with water vapor?

Please tell us what appears evil in drinking a soda.

 

As to the rest....don't know where that is even coming from....

[thatjimguy]

Now before we turn this into a entirely a Word of Wisdom thing, I just want to go back to the idea that why not following the WoW will get you kicked out of the temple, but holding on the so many other sins in our lives is ok?

[Calm]

but holding on the so many other sins in our lives is ok

 

Not sure where you got this idea from.  Has any interviewer told you it was okay to go out and gossip, etc. just because it is not on the list?

[thatjimguy]

Not sure where you got this idea from.  Has any interviewer told you it was okay to go out and gossip, etc. just because it is not on the list?

 

 

No, and I know better than to think there should be a list of each sin possible. But, have you ever heard about people who do not go to the temple based off of something like unrepentant gossiping or something similar?

 

I

[Tacenda]

I think a bigger sin than breaking the WoW, is not paying a full tithe. That will keep you from the temple more, imo. But I don't consider either one a sin.

Edited November 24, 2013 by Tacenda