Temple recommend interview questions

[Scott Lloyd]

15 minutes ago, rockpond said:

Again, I haven't since I have never suggested that those were the only options.

These are great examples.  Thank you.

So, if you invite the newlyweds to a family gathering, send them birthday cards/gifts, call or write them to express your love and respect, etc. you feel that doesn't condone the homosexual behavior?

It need not do that, no, especially if they understand how you feel about said behavior. 
 

A wedding, on the other hand has the express purpose of celebrating and honoring the marriage, not merely showing love and respect. 
 

Edited to add: The question you pose here betrays your attitude that you can’t show love and respect to a gay couple without condoning their behavior. I find this utterly wrong-headed. 

Edited October 8, 2019 by Scott Lloyd

[MustardSeed]

3 minutes ago, Ahab said:

No, there are other true Christians in the world who are not members of the true church of Jesus Christ.   Christians who have found Jesus and know at least a little about how to be happy, even if they haven't found and joined the true Church of Christ.

We invite everyone to join with us, or if not to at least be the best kind of Christian that they know how to be.  Only through Christ can we become happy, and the more we know him the more we know about how to be happy.

Gee.  I just spent the weekend with the happiest couple I’ve ever met.  

Jewish, by the way. 

[gopher]

On 10/6/2019 at 7:12 PM, Hamba Tuhan said:

Interlinear comparisons (with updates in red) in case that helps:

Very helpful!  Do you have the comparisons to the changes made to the statement on wearing the garment too?   I noticed the wording is now different in the letter that came out yesterday from the 1st Presidency.

[Ahab]

Just now, MiserereNobis said:

So all non-Christians are unhappy...?

 Yes.  But it doesn't take much to be a Christian, at least a little bit.  People don't even necessarily need to know his real name.  All it takes is a desire to do good and follow those promptings that come from him. Following their own conscience, basically.

Thinking in terms of the kind of person Jesus Christ is, and how to be good or more good than a person currently is, it is fairly easy for anyone to be Christian.

[Ahab]

3 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Gee.  I just spent the weekend with the happiest couple I’ve ever met.  

Jewish, by the way. 

Jews were Christians long before most Christians in the New Testament, and some of them were Jewish, too.  Their father Abraham is the father of our faith and religion, too.  There are more Christians in the world than you may realize.

[Hamba Tuhan]

8 minutes ago, gopher said:

Do you have the comparisons to the changes made to the statement on wearing the garment too?   I noticed the wording is now different in the letter that came out yesterday from the 1st Presidency.

I haven't seen that yet.

[Teancum]

24 minutes ago, Ahab said:

Yes we do.  There is only one way to be happy and I and the "LDS" Church (as you call it) do know which way that is.

Not shoving. Just offering. You can always exercise your free will to choose by rejecting what you are offered.

Actually, likely, it will, and it likely won't be much longer until I find out for sure that it will.

1: No you and the LDS Church don't. You think you do. You think you know. But you really don't. And if you are really right the Church is doing a poor job at convincing the masses of humanity. But I understand. I used to believe like you do. 

2: Yea you are shoving.

3: Your forever marriage in a beautiful wish. But that is it.

[etana]

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Did you read my question clearly? Are you saying you think it proper to give congratulations for those things?

That’s the sense of tryout response to my question, whether or not you intended it to mean that. 

Did you read my answers clearly. I don't think you did.

[Scott Lloyd]

20 minutes ago, gopher said:

Very helpful!  Do you have the comparisons to the changes made to the statement on wearing the garment too?   I noticed the wording is now different in the letter that came out yesterday from the 1st Presidency.

 

11 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

I haven't seen that yet.

Here it is. (I wasn’t able to copy the last line). 
 

Wearing the Temple Garment
The temple garment is a reminder of covenants made in the temple and, when worn properly throughout life, will serve as a protection against temptation and evil. The garment should be worn beneath the outer clothing. It should not be removed for activities that can reasonably be done while wearing the garment, and it should not be modified to accommodate different styles of clothing. Endowed members should seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to answer personal questions about wearing the garment.
It is a sacred privilege to wear the garment and doing so is an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow the Savior Jesus Christ.
In each interview, emphasize to the member the need to safeguard his or her recommend. It must never be loaned and should be reported immediately to the issuer if lost or stolen. (See “Lost or Stolen Recommends” in the instructions for issuing recommends in Book 1: Temple Recommend

[Scott Lloyd]

5 minutes ago, etana said:

Did you read my answers clearly. I don't think you did.

Yes, I read them several times. They did not make sense as a response. Hence, my follow-up question. 

[Ahab]

6 minutes ago, Teancum said:

1: No you and the LDS Church don't. You think you do. You think you know. But you really don't. And if you are really right the Church is doing a poor job at convincing the masses of humanity. But I understand. I used to believe like you do. 

Yes we know.  We really do. You think we don't but we really do. And there is only so much we can do to show you or tell you or to try to convince you.  Ultimately you need to get your own assurance from God so you can know too. 

It takes more than understanding and believing.  You need a bona fide miracle to convince you, just like I got one that our Father gave to me to convince me.

6 minutes ago, Teancum said:

2: Yea you are shoving.

No you are just standing too close to me now.  Back up a little bit.  I have my arms outstretched but I am only trying to offer what I know to you.  Shoving is actually pretty hard to accomplish online. You have some strange ideas and you are not getting those from me.

6 minutes ago, Teancum said:

3: Your forever marriage in a beautiful wish. But that is it.

Ye err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

[rockpond]

25 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

It need not do that, no, especially if they understand how you feel about said behavior. 
 

A wedding, on the other hand has the express purpose of celebrating and honoring the marriage, not merely showing love and respect. 
 

Edited to add: The question you pose here betrays your attitude that you can’t show love and respect to a gay couple without condoning their behavior. I find this utterly wrong-headed. 

It was an honest question.

I think the examples you gave are great ways to show love and respect.  Sincerely.

But I readily admit two issues with that:

1.  I don't see the the hug and "Congratulations!" at their wedding to condone their marriage any more than most of the examples you gave.  Though, I understand why you feel that way given your response that the wedding ceremony specifically honors and celebrates the marriage.

2.  I struggle to understand how a person can feel loved and respected by you if they know that you feel their marriage is "morally repugnant".  I understand (or perceive) your sincere intent here to walk the "fine line" that President Oaks referred to in his address last Saturday night.  I just can't comprehend it personally.

[Ahab]

21 minutes ago, rockpond said:

2.  I struggle to understand how a person can feel loved and respected by you if they know that you feel their marriage is "morally repugnant".  I understand (or perceive) your sincere intent here to walk the "fine line" that President Oaks referred to in his address last Saturday night.  I just can't comprehend it personally.

I can understand that being difficult to comprehend.  Comprehend is a big word with a big meaning.  Try to understand it just a little bit from an intellectual perspective if not able to totally comprehend it.

We are told that our Father in heaven loves all of us, everyone on this planet, even though some of us are choosing to sin, sometimes.  And some of all of us are choosing to sin a LOT!!!

And yet he doesn't physically come to any of our weddings, although some people claim to be able to sense he is with us, or them, somehow, in some sense.

Edited October 8, 2019 by Ahab

[Scott Lloyd]

36 minutes ago, rockpond said:

It was an honest question.

I think the examples you gave are great ways to show love and respect.  Sincerely.

But I readily admit two issues with that:

1.  I don't see the the hug and "Congratulations!" at their wedding to condone their marriage any more than most of the examples you gave.  Though, I understand why you feel that way given your response that the wedding ceremony specifically honors and celebrates the marriage.

2.  I struggle to understand how a person can feel loved and respected by you if they know that you feel their marriage is "morally repugnant".  I understand (or perceive) your sincere intent here to walk the "fine line" that President Oaks referred to in his address last Saturday night.  I just can't comprehend it personally.

it was an honest question that betrayed a fallacious attitude on your part.

If I make gestures such as those I have suggested here and the individual or couple refuses to accept them in the spirit I have intended, there is not much I can do about that except hope they will have a change of heart. 
 

I‘m entitled not to forsake my moral convictions just so others will accept my sincere expressions of love and respect. It would be selfish to require that of anyone. 

Edited October 8, 2019 by Scott Lloyd

[Calm]

5 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

What other sinful behavior do you think it proper to congratulate someone for?

Having a baby out of wedlock they plan to love and care for to the best of their ability the rest of their lives.

Choosing to live together so their children can have two parents in the home.

There is okay, good, better, best choices that I feel are all fine to congratulate people on.

Edited October 9, 2019 by Calm

[Ahab]

5 minutes ago, Calm said:

Having a baby out of wedlock they plan to love and care for to the best of their ability the rest of their lives.

You mean planning to love and care for the child after they have already had the baby, right?  That is not a sin. Never was, and never will be.

Quote

Choosing to live together so their children can have two parents in the home.

In separate bedrooms, I hope. Even with more adults than those 2 in the same house it could be a good thing.

Quote

There is okay, good, better, best that I feel is fine to congratulate people on.

Nothing bad, though, right?   You wouldn't congratulate people for doing some bad thing, would you?

Edited October 8, 2019 by Ahab

[Scott Lloyd]

7 minutes ago, Calm said:

Having a baby out of wedlock they plan to love and care for to the best of their ability the rest of their lives.

Choosing to live together so their children can have two parents in the home.

There is okay, good, better, best that I feel is fine to congratulate people on.

Are you congratulating them on their premarital sex (and perhaps their intention to continue it) or on their determination to care for the child? 
 

I believe there’s a distinction to be drawn here. 

[Calm]

7 minutes ago, Ahab said:

You mean planning to love and care for the child after they have already had the baby, righ

Nope to both and the separate bedrooms requirement, though I would add admiration if they made that additional choice...not a requirement though.

I don't congratulate a married couple on having sex when they announce they are pregnant.  Don't see why I need to worry about that for singles.

If someone consulted me, I would teach them the applicable gospel principles. 

Edited October 9, 2019 by Calm

[Ahab]

3 minutes ago, Calm said:

Nope to both.

So you would actually congratulate people for choosing to have sexual relations outside the bonds of a proper marriage, before they do it, as long as their desire was to love and care for any baby that would (probably) come from that?

Edited October 9, 2019 by Ahab

[Calm]

2 minutes ago, Ahab said:

So you would actually congratulate people for choosing to have sexual relations outside the bonds of a proper marriage, before they do it, as long as their desire was to love and care for any baby that would (probably) come from that?

Read my edit.

[Scott Lloyd]

5 minutes ago, Calm said:

Nope to both.

I don't congratulate a married couple on having sex when they announce they are pregnant.  Don't see why I need to worry about that for singles.

If someone consulted me, I would teach them the applicable gospel principles. 

What if they already understand the applicable gospel principles but have chosen to reject them? 

[etana]

13 minutes ago, Calm said:

Having a baby out of wedlock they plan to love and care for to the best of their ability the rest of their lives.

Choosing to live together so their children can have two parents in the home.

There is okay, good, better, best that I feel is fine to congratulate people on.

Exactly.
And this is similar to the day my friends or family members get to commemorate a lifelong commitment to be with the one they love, to have each others backs and take joy in one another is a day that i can celebrate and in my love for them take great joy in their happiness without dirtying things with judgements based on my own understanding and lack of knowledge of their own hearts.

I can wish god didn't make them gay, just as i can wish he didn't make me ugly, but we must all act and decide and live within the spheres we find ourselves given to.

[etana]

Edit:
In any event, as i clearly don't understand the WoW, i can't be going back to the Temple anytime soon anyway.

[Scott Lloyd]

7 minutes ago, Calm said:

Nope to both.

I don't congratulate a married couple on having sex when they announce they are pregnant.  Don't see why I need to worry about that for singles. 

The question was “What other sinful behavior do you think it proper to congratulate someone for?”

You gave the example of a couple having a baby out of wedlock. Since it is not a sin to love and care for a child, the logical conclusion was that you are saying it is proper to congratulate a couple for having pre-marital (or extra-marital sex). 
 

Do you really want to go there?

 

[Calm]

5 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

What if they already understand the applicable gospel principles but have chosen to reject them? 

Loving children and wanting to care for them to help them grow to fulfill their potential as children of God is a gospel principle.  I can recognize and approve and congratulate people for the godly principles they strive to follow even if some of the ways they stumble on to get there are less than godly or even sinful.