Prayer Request from Houston Temple Presidency

[mfbukowski]

2 hours ago, Navidad said:

Do you really no kidding believe that Mormons are the only faith group who have "social barriers to remind us who we are in the world but not of the world?"  Do you not realize there are most likely millions of Christians who don't drink out of the same conviction? I don't drink coffee because I don't like coffee, not out of conviction; I don't want to sound noble about that. What I am saying is that I have probably lived my life with greater "social barriers" than any Mormon I know; and I would only like to suggest there are many more just like me.  It doesn't make me or them more spiritual or "better than" Mormons. Although in candor, I will confess to thinking the last few weeks that Mormons might even be a bit better off spiritually if there was something in the Word of Wisdom or in the temple interview about "spiritual humility." 

The bottom line in my experience (I am carefully identifying it as that) is that your having proscriptions to ensure faithfulness to a strict standard of faithfulness does not "set you apart." Sorry about that. It is not special, unique, or different. There are many, many, many non-Mormon Christians, and Christian traditions with, in many cases identical and in some cases different, and yes, stricter standards to achieve separation and to commit to an identity apart from the "world."

It is Mormons who talk about others have "lesser values," assuming as I have read on this forum that if a Mormon and a non-Mormon are in the same room the Mormon will be sure to have the higher standards, great commitment, etc, not the Amish, Pentecostal,  or Baptist. I read that Mormons should not date non-Mormons because they will be pressured to "lower their standards." That is an apriori assumption that, in some cases may be true, but in many not. It is Mormons who assume a moral and spiritual superiority, "being set apart" by their uniquenesses.  Certainly, you cannot have such a blind-spot (in a Johari window sense) so as not to recognize that.

Oh, and to answer your question; yes, I am a Master Mason. I understand the rule about non-Masons being in the lodge when it is in session. It is a rule, no more; no less. I became a Mason after much the same process of exploration that I began when I began studying Mormon history and doctrine.

I am happy, willing, and came to this forum granting my Mormon friends a spiritual, moral equivalency to my faith's commitment to living a Christ-honoring life, one that was neither above nor below my own. This forum in just three short weeks has revealed to me a Mormon spiritual superiority complex that disappoints me. Let me reiterate; I don't want to get in anymore. The culture is much more a barrier to me than the doctrine.

Oh, and I live every day without a thought to ever asking God to make me a better Mennonite. I do pray every day for God to help be to be a better Christian. 

Well we seem not to be advancing. I never said or believed virtually anything you ascribe to me here, and it us not our fault that the word "Christian" has been redefined to exclude us.

It seems to me you make yourself "superior" in a way by accusing US of having a superiority complex while you do just as much.

And what's this about having your name read from the pulpit if your tractor has the wrong tires? Do Mennonites actually do that?

Is that Christian behavior?

So being a better Christian is ok, but being a better Mormon is not.

This is going nowhere, sorry it us going this way

[mnn727]

On 8/29/2017 at 2:00 AM, Thinking said:

I'm guessing the temple has some upper levels that are dry.

The newer smaller Temples do not have upper levels.

[jkwilliams]

5 minutes ago, mnn727 said:

The newer smaller Temples do not have upper levels.

The endowment, sealing, and washing and anointing rooms in the Houston Temple are on the second floor. The first floor is the lobby, a meeting room, locker/changing rooms, the laundry, and the baptistry.

[mfbukowski]

8 hours ago, mnn727 said:

The newer smaller Temples do not have upper levels.

Endowment rooms on the first level? Are you sure?

I have never seen that anywhere

[Hamba Tuhan]

1 hour ago, mfbukowski said:

Endowment rooms on the first level? Are you sure?

I have never seen that anywhere

John has already addressed Houston, but yes, smaller temples are all on one floor. All. Even medium-sized temples are sometimes all on one floor.

[mfbukowski]

1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

John has already addressed Houston, but yes, smaller temples are all on one floor. All. Even medium-sized temples are sometimes all on one floor.

Thanks

LA is actually the largest above ground temple in the church- SLC is larger in square feet because of all the subterranean annexes etc, but within the four walls it is the largest.

Four stories plus a basement.  I forget the others are smaller sometimes.  The assembly room on the 3rd floor is as long as a football field and is only used usually once a year for a devotional around Christmas time.

http://thetrumpetstone.blogspot.com/2010/11/lds-temple-assembly-halls.html

It's really kind of an embarassment of riches.

[Hamba Tuhan]

5 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

SLC is larger in square feet because of all the subterranean annexes etc, but within the four walls it is the largest.

Not just annexes, etc. are underground. If you check out the scale model that's available online, you can see that the Creation Room and Garden Room are both underground. The World Room, Terrestrial Room and Celestial Room are all on the ground floor.