What is a temple recorder?

[BlueDreams]

On August 17, 2016 at 2:47 PM, HappyJackWagon said:

This sounds a lot like it could be a senior mission. Aren't senior missionaries called to serve full time without pay?

It strikes me as odd that a temple recorder is a paid position when virtually every other position in the temple is volunteer, including his assistant recorders. If it's largely a facilities management type position why not utilize the regular facility management group. Also, if I'm not mistaken this is a male-only position. Women cannot be recorders. This would indicate there is a unique priesthood leadership function that he is getting paid for.

A lot of callings are callings based that are volunteer. But there a quite a few, particularly in larger temples, that aren't. Such as laundry/cafeteria roles (possibly head of security...maybe tech people as well). Volunteers often help with these but aren't the usual staff. 

I don't know if there's any real priesthood function to the call. If there's not, it may be one of those traditions that become expected male duties that could change in the future.

 

with luv, 

BD

[mfbukowski]

On 8/17/2016 at 1:47 PM, HappyJackWagon said:

This sounds a lot like it could be a senior mission. Aren't senior missionaries called to serve full time without pay?

It strikes me as odd that a temple recorder is a paid position when virtually every other position in the temple is volunteer, including his assistant recorders. If it's largely a facilities management type position why not utilize the regular facility management group. Also, if I'm not mistaken this is a male-only position. Women cannot be recorders. This would indicate there is a unique priesthood leadership function that he is getting paid for.

Ah, substitute one paid position for an accounting and HR qualified position with another paid person who is a qualified plumber. I can tell you have not much experience with the FM department

Great idea

Temple recorders also substitute for members of the temple presidency on occasion training temple workers, giving talks to those receiving their own endowments, etc. 

Edited August 22, 2016 by mfbukowski

[Gray]

On 8/17/2016 at 3:47 PM, HappyJackWagon said:

This sounds a lot like it could be a senior mission. Aren't senior missionaries called to serve full time without pay?

It strikes me as odd that a temple recorder is a paid position when virtually every other position in the temple is volunteer, including his assistant recorders. If it's largely a facilities management type position why not utilize the regular facility management group. Also, if I'm not mistaken this is a male-only position. Women cannot be recorders. This would indicate there is a unique priesthood leadership function that he is getting paid for.

I wish there were more paid positions. The temple recorder I know lost his livelihood with the housing market tanking. The temple recorder position has allowed his family to stay solvent. 

[mfbukowski]

54 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

A lot of callings are callings based that are volunteer. But there a quite a few, particularly in larger temples, that aren't. Such as laundry/cafeteria roles (possibly head of security...maybe tech people as well). Volunteers often help with these but aren't the usual staff. 

I don't know if there's any real priesthood function to the call. If there's not, it may be one of those traditions that become expected male duties that could change in the future.

 

with luv, 

BD

The problem is that your random senior missionary couple may or may not have experience managing money and people, hiring firing, evaluating performance etc.

In a tiny temple I am sure this would work just fine. But large temples may have a paid staff of 50 or more maintenance, cafeteria, grounds workers, laundry and security people. Maintenance is a 24 hour job, that is noisy and can't be done with the temple open. Repairs have to be done on a continual basis. With opposition to the church increasing, security becomes also a 24 hour concern in certain cities

Edited August 22, 2016 by mfbukowski

[mfbukowski]

Some temples, like LA , have large campuses including residences for mission presidents and temple presidents, visitors centers, temple patron apartments, and even ward buildings all on the same property all requiring repair and maintenance. SLC uses an entire city block full of buildings.

I don't think a couple of volunteers could handle that. Does anyone?

[BlueDreams]

2 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

The problem is that your random senior missionary couple may or may not have experience managing money and people, hiring firing, evaluating performance etc.

In a tiny temple I am sure this would work just fine. But large temples may have a paid staff of 50 or more maintenance, cafeteria, grounds workers, laundry and security people. Maintenance is a 24 hour job, that is noisy and can't be done with the temple open. Repairs have to be done on a continual basis. With opposition to the church increasing, security becomes also a 24 hour concern in certain cities

For the record (ha, punny), I don't have a problem with him being paid...or any of them being paid. My friend's husband works for laundry and it was a financial lifesaver for them. I was more saying that if it doesn't need to be a male job for other reasons than traditional expectations, it could be opened up for women who are qualified to manage as well.

 

also it could probably be reduced, the amount of paid workers, but it would come at the cost of efficiency/organization. I don't feel the temples I've worked at have been excessive, either, with their employees. The only complaint I have is with their food choice at times.

 

with luv, 

BD

Edited August 22, 2016 by BlueDreams

[mfbukowski]

3 hours ago, BlueDreams said:

For the record (ha, punny), I don't have a problem with him being paid...or any of them being paid. My friend's husband works for laundry and it was a financial lifesaver for them. I was more saying that if it doesn't need to be a male job for other reasons than traditional expectations, it could be opened up for women who are qualified to manage as well.

 

also it could probably be reduced, the amount of paid workers, but it would come at the cost of efficiency/organization. I don't feel the temples I've worked at have been excessive, either, with their employees. The only complaint I have is with their food choice at times.

 

with luv, 

BD

Yes and I agree that sisters could definitely handle it at least as far as I am aware.

But I personally know of occasions where temple recorders have been called upon to give talks to prospective male missionaries as a prelude to their own endowments- the usual talk given by the temple president about care for garments etc.  I am not sure who does those talks when the matrons are not available- as you know the temple really is run as almost 2 temples- the sister's temple and the brother's temple.  Yes of course the sister workers and matron are ultimately led by "the priesthood" but as you know the reality is that they function independently especially in the temple.

The food choices are another matter.  Sometimes outside contractors are employed to take on that task if it is more cost effective to do so rather than having the temple staff have its own chef.   I think the general membership has little idea of what it takes to run a temple in a cost effective manner. Does one leave the lights on Moroni all night, or how often does one water the lawn during a drought?

There was some public discussion about all the greenery on the temple lawn when the rest of LA was under mandated water rationing, and slowly the lawn 

 In my experience as a bishop and in the Stake and as a temple worker, the church has yet to waste penny number one.   I think the prophet keeps penny number one, dated 1830, in his pocket and pinches it daily as a reminder.   That is a little known ordinance I think.

In our temple the cost of food has escalated, but so has the quality. That trade off has to be a difficult decision, deciding if better food is worth extra expense to be passed on to patrons, or if it could help cover other expenses, or whether or not to hire a contractor who can do it more cheaply- but then we have the problem that the workers must have recommends.

Again, these kind of decisions would be inappropriate to foist off on some unsuspecting volunteers from Nebraska who simply wanted to go on a senior mission.

Edited August 22, 2016 by mfbukowski

[BlueDreams]

On 8/22/2016 at 2:23 PM, mfbukowski said:

In our temple the cost of food has escalated, but so has the quality. That trade off has to be a difficult decision, deciding if better food is worth extra expense to be passed on to patrons, or if it could help cover other expenses, or whether or not to hire a contractor who can do it more cheaply- but then we have the problem that the workers must have recommends.

Again, these kind of decisions would be inappropriate to foist off on some unsuspecting volunteers from Nebraska who simply wanted to go on a senior mission.

this is a really silly point to resurrect a thread over. But I wanted to explain my food comment. I'm not sure what the meals at your temple are like but when I worked at the Provo 1 temple, they were a serious meat fest. They had 3 sides where one was usually potatoes (it was the thing I actually liked to eat the most there). A soup option that almost always had meat in it...even for some soups that traditionally don't have meat in them. And two main courses that were some form of meat (usually large proportions too). There was a single dinky salad that had no meat. The big salads always had meat. Once I got a bread that just looked spiced that had meat in it too. Then there was a section filled with deserts. I kept trying to figure out if they were trying to kill off the older workers with vein clogging, diabetic spiking, meals. Most people vaguely health conscious usually brought at least a part of their own meals to their shift. It looked like good quality. I just found it a little ironic considering the WoW. And annoying as a vegetarian.  

 

With luv,

BD

 

[Tacenda]

8 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

this is a really silly point to resurrect a thread over. But I wanted to explain my food comment. I'm not sure what the meals at your temple are like but when I worked at the Provo 1 temple, they were a serious meat fest. They had 3 sides where one was usually potatoes (it was the thing I actually liked to eat the most there). A soup option that almost always had meat in it...even for some soups that traditionally don't have meat in them. And two main courses that were some form of meat (usually large proportions too). There was a single dinky salad that had no meat. The big salads always had meat. Once I got a bread that just looked spiced that had meat in it too. Then there was a section filled with deserts. I kept trying to figure out if they were trying to kill off the older workers with vein clogging, diabetic spiking, meals. Most people vaguely health conscious usually brought at least a part of their own meals to their shift. It looked like good quality. I just found it a little ironic considering the WoW. And annoying as a vegetarian.  

 

With luv,

BD

 

http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/01/01/25/whldeseret.asp

[BlueDreams]

11 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/01/01/25/whldeseret.asp

This would make sense....if what they were handing out was mostly cow. They had the range of farm animals being served up :P.  I actually don't mind the church's cow ownership (the florida farm also runs as a nature reserve and maintains conservation practices) or eating meat a little bit (for others, not me). It was just the sheer quantity.

 

with luv,

BD

[Tacenda]

7 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

This would make sense....if what they were handing out was mostly cow. They had the range of farm animals being served up :P.  I actually don't mind the church's cow ownership (the florida farm also runs as a nature reserve and maintains conservation practices) or eating meat a little bit (for others, not me). It was just the sheer quantity.

 

with luv,

BD

It'll probably change as the older generation passes away. The millennials with change things I'll bet.

[Tacenda]

19 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

This would make sense....if what they were handing out was mostly cow. They had the range of farm animals being served up :P.  I actually don't mind the church's cow ownership (the florida farm also runs as a nature reserve and maintains conservation practices) or eating meat a little bit (for others, not me). It was just the sheer quantity.

 

with luv,

BD

This youtube has an abundance of quotes from early leaders that might be turning over in their graves over our (speak for myself) eating so much meat.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/479211216579417780/

The quote at the very end by Hugh Nibley, hits it home.

Apologize if I derail, Bernard.

Edited August 28, 2016 by Tacenda

[mfbukowski]

1 hour ago, BlueDreams said:

this is a really silly point to resurrect a thread over. But I wanted to explain my food comment. I'm not sure what the meals at your temple are like but when I worked at the Provo 1 temple, they were a serious meat fest. They had 3 sides where one was usually potatoes (it was the thing I actually liked to eat the most there). A soup option that almost always had meat in it...even for some soups that traditionally don't have meat in them. And two main courses that were some form of meat (usually large proportions too). There was a single dinky salad that had no meat. The big salads always had meat. Once I got a bread that just looked spiced that had meat in it too. Then there was a section filled with deserts. I kept trying to figure out if they were trying to kill off the older workers with vein clogging, diabetic spiking, meals. Most people vaguely health conscious usually brought at least a part of their own meals to their shift. It looked like good quality. I just found it a little ironic considering the WoW. And annoying as a vegetarian.  

 

With luv,

BD

 

Yes I know what you mean, ours used to be that way but it has improved.  We have the regular hot options which are usually some kind of meat, potatoes and a vegetable.  But we also have a variety of salads packaged on plates covered with plastic wrap, and then a nice salad bar with soups- there is one vegetarian soup option usually to go with the salad bar.  The salad bar is sold by the pound so you can make a side salad or a meal size one if you want.  A meal usually runs $8-10.  And of course we have the usual huge choice of heart-stopping deserts including cheese cake various creme pies and cakes guaranteed to blast the blood sugar through the roof, and of course packaged ice cream bars.

I once knew a brother who had his foot amputated due to diabetes.  I later saw him at a ward dinner eating a huge slice of chocolate cake.   I sat down and casually discussed life in general, the weather, and other small talk while he ate his cake.  I asked him about his health and how is diabetes was coming.  He said "Oh- I don't have any problem with my diabetes!"

He was dead within a year due to complications to his diabetes.

Sugar is LDS cocaine!  

"They said it will kill me but they didn't say when"

[Bernard Gui]

22 hours ago, BlueDreams said:

this is a really silly point to resurrect a thread over. But I wanted to explain my food comment. I'm not sure what the meals at your temple are like but when I worked at the Provo 1 temple, they were a serious meat fest. They had 3 sides where one was usually potatoes (it was the thing I actually liked to eat the most there). A soup option that almost always had meat in it...even for some soups that traditionally don't have meat in them. And two main courses that were some form of meat (usually large proportions too). There was a single dinky salad that had no meat. The big salads always had meat. Once I got a bread that just looked spiced that had meat in it too. Then there was a section filled with deserts. I kept trying to figure out if they were trying to kill off the older workers with vein clogging, diabetic spiking, meals. Most people vaguely health conscious usually brought at least a part of their own meals to their shift. It looked like good quality. I just found it a little ironic considering the WoW. And annoying as a vegetarian.  

 

With luv,

BD

Gives new meaning to the phrase, "Meat you at the temple." Seattle Temple food is good, but the prices are going up. At times they have had vegetables growing in the gardens. There were 4 Asian pear trees on the east side, but those were removed recently. I used to take home a few to munch on the drive back to Puyallup. 

Another thing the recorder does that requires holding the Priesthood is verify recommends or grant admission to people who forgot them. On my last visit, the electronic scanner would not accept my recommend, so the desk worker called the recorder who checked me out and approved me.

 

Edited August 29, 2016 by Bernard Gui