Conference Discussions

[Rain]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

Isn’t that like spraying graffiti on and drilling holes in the Temple walls?

I don't like tattoos. The thought sometimes make me physical sick.  I often feel they look like a mess. 

However, no I don't think it is necessarily the same thing, especially when we think of putting on makeup, fingernail polish and even clothes.

But even if we find those things different because they are not permanent, I feel it matters why they got it.  Met a big, rough looking guy at the gym once, but really nice and kind.  He had music on his arm.  I asked him what the song was.  It was something like Clair de Lune. He got it because the music got him through rough times. In other words if we go with your idea it was like forming a spiritual choir on the temple grounds.

But overall I don't care why people get them. Only God can specify what it was like for each person.

[MorningStar]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

We are trying to guess where it will be. Gig Harbor is a definite possibility because it would better serve the folks on the Peninsula, but then the rest of the Pierce County people would have to deal with the Narrows Bridge.

Somewhere near a freeway, but not near the Joint Base McCord/Lewis flight paths? Maybe Puyallup/South Hill? Too much traffic on Meridian.  Federal Way /Auburn? Horrendous crime and traffic.

What do you think?

We were directed by the Spirit to where we are now, but the reasons did not become clear until we were about 6 months into the move. So many miracles that my DIL once said, “Stop the miracles! I can’t take any more miracles!”

Oh wow. I would love some miracles! Yeah, Federal Way is a nightmare. My husband found a body at work there - young man in his early 20's died of an overdose. Last time we had to get gas there, we had to go inside to pay and they don't unlock the door until you show your face to the camera. 

I can't imagine it in Auburn either. Trying to think of a part of Auburn that's both beautiful and in a very visible location. I thought the same about Puyallup - traffic is so backed up. My best friends begged us to move there and I said it was already bad when my husband was in the Air Force and we lived there. Longest part of the commute was just getting to 512. I can't wait to find out where it will be! Lakewood is also a dump. Lived there too. 

[The Nehor]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

Isn’t that like spraying graffiti on and drilling holes in the Temple walls?

We wear clothes so that is like putting on a house tent for perpetual fumigation.

Wouldn’t a tattoo just be a mural?

[Kenngo1969]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

Those guys are really good.

Orange Blossom Special is so much fun to play. If I can figure out how, I’ll post a recording of our band Uncle Lumpy and the Friends of Calvin Coolidge playing it at Snowbird Ski Resort. in 1972.

That would only be about thirty different kinds of AWESOME!   (Isn't one of your sons named Computerliteratissimo?   )

[JustAnAustralian]

42 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Wouldn’t a tattoo just be a mural?

Aren't temple murals mostly on the inside though? So a temple mural equivalent tattoo would be like that guy that tattooed his urethra. 

[The Nehor]

16 minutes ago, JustAnAustralian said:

Aren't temple murals mostly on the inside though? So a temple mural equivalent tattoo would be like that guy that tattooed his urethra. 

We are told that the inner vessel is the most important so internal tattoos would logically be holier.

[Calm]

1 hour ago, JustAnAustralian said:

Aren't temple murals mostly on the inside though? So a temple mural equivalent tattoo would be like that guy that tattooed his urethra. 

Ouch….

[JustAnAustralian]

11 minutes ago, Calm said:

Ouch….

It's more ouch when you read HOW he did it.

[Bernard Gui]

4 hours ago, The Nehor said:

We wear clothes so that is like putting on a house tent for perpetual fumigation.

Wouldn’t a tattoo just be a mural?

We are told that the inner vessel is the most important so internal tattoos would logically be holier.

No and no. We wear clothes to cover our nakedness and protect us from the elements.

Writing and drawing  on the outside of a temple is just graffiti.

We are also told to cleanse the inner vessel.

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

4 hours ago, MorningStar said:

Oh wow. I would love some miracles! Yeah, Federal Way is a nightmare. My husband found a body at work there - young man in his early 20's died of an overdose. Last time we had to get gas there, we had to go inside to pay and they don't unlock the door until you show your face to the camera. 

I can't imagine it in Auburn either. Trying to think of a part of Auburn that's both beautiful and in a very visible location. I thought the same about Puyallup - traffic is so backed up. My best friends begged us to move there and I said it was already bad when my husband was in the Air Force and we lived there. Longest part of the commute was just getting to 512. I can't wait to find out where it will be! Lakewood is also a dump. Lived there too. 

University Place is too hard to get to. Same with north Tacoma. Our stake was unable to get land for a stake center on South Hill for political and religious reasons. The huge Sunrise development set aside land for churches, but instead of selling a plot to us they donated it to an Evangelical church which then turned around and parceled it for residential use. 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

6 hours ago, SeekingUnderstanding said:

Is that what we call the stained glass windows and beautiful stone work at the temples?

Ummm…..no.

 

[Bernard Gui]

14 hours ago, HappyJackWagon said:

"Discourage" is interesting.

Most things in the church are more than just recommendations. There are usually consequences affixed, and the behaviors are usually a line in the sand. I think about things like the Word of Wisdom. It has become a commandment to NEVER drink coffee, tea, alcohol instead of a more moderate recommendation to avoid drunkenness etc. I don't know that the church teaches moderation in things very well. You either CAN do them or you CAN"T. The church doesn't usually make recommendations, but I think it would do very well to move more that direction.

For some people it is very hard to use substances moderately. Were I not a committed LDS I probably would have that problem.

Edited October 4, 2022 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

5 hours ago, Rain said:

I don't like tattoos. The thought sometimes make me physical sick.  I often feel they look like a mess. 

However, no I don't think it is necessarily the same thing, especially when we think of putting on makeup, fingernail polish and even clothes.

But even if we find those things different because they are not permanent, I feel it matters why they got it.  Met a big, rough looking guy at the gym once, but really nice and kind.  He had music on his arm.  I asked him what the song was.  It was something like Clair de Lune. He got it because the music got him through rough times. In other words if we go with your idea it was like forming a spiritual choir on the temple grounds.

But overall I don't care why people get them. Only God can specify what it was like for each person.

Yes, I understand that. I have many friends and close family members who have tattoos ranging  from a rose to both arm full sleeves, knuckles to shoulders. Some who have converted to the gospel cover them, some do not. One changed the f word on his knuckles to chains. 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

4 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

That would only be about thirty different kinds of AWESOME!   (Isn't one of your sons named Computerliteratissimo?   )

Yes. That would be Artisissimo‘s middle name. Maybe he can help me out. 

[Bernard Gui]

2 hours ago, Calm said:

Ouch….

It was an inside job.

[MustardSeed]

You know what would be great? If the conversation around tattoos and piercings went completely away.  Who cares? Why in the world would either of these things be discussed more than plastic surgery and permanent makeup? We just need to focus on the right things which was the whole point of conference IMO.  

[JAHS]

7 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Yes, I understand that. I have many friends and close family members who have tattoos ranging  from a rose to both arm full sleeves, knuckles to shoulders. Some who have converted to the gospel cover them, some do not. One changed the f word on his knuckles to chains. 

Would this be an appropriate tattoo?  😉

[pogi]

9 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Writing and drawing  on the outside of a temple is just graffiti.

There are probably a dozen other images I could include with the moons at different stages and the big dipper etc.  The Salt Lake Temple above all others is probably the most "tattooed" out there with images and words to give symbolic and visual appeal to its facade - just like people do on their bodily temples.

Edited October 4, 2022 by pogi

[bluebell]

14 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

You know what would be great? If the conversation around tattoos and piercings went completely away.  Who cares? Why in the world would either of these things be discussed more than plastic surgery and permanent makeup? We just need to focus on the right things which was the whole point of conference IMO.  

And plastic surgery and permanent make up is such a huge thing in Utah among members.  If you can get bigger boobs and that's not 'graffitti on the temple' then why is a tattoo?

[cherryTreez]

14 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Isn’t that like spraying graffiti on and drilling holes in the Temple walls?

Is there any art on the temples? Or designs or anything beyond basic nothing?  

[Duncan]

1 minute ago, cherryTreez said:

Is there any art on the temples? Or designs or anything beyond basic nothing?  

our temple has a prairie crocus motif on the temple exterior

[MustardSeed]

56 minutes ago, bluebell said:

And plastic surgery and permanent make up is such a huge thing in Utah among members.  If you can get bigger boobs and that's not 'graffitti on the temple' then why is a tattoo?

Louder for the people in the back, front and everywhere in the middle.  The utter hypocrisy is so obvious.  I get that we are all hypocrites but this topic makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills 💊 

[ttribe]

55 minutes ago, cherryTreez said:

Is there any art on the temples? Or designs or anything beyond basic nothing?  

 

52 minutes ago, Duncan said:

our temple has a prairie crocus motif on the temple exterior

Mesa Temple has a series of friezes of the pioneers near the top of the exterior that extends around the building.

[Rain]

I think a lot of the temples may have more than we think, but it is symbolic so we may not recognize it.  I remember inside the Jordan temple when they redid it had circles - they were not just design. The Gilbert temple has agave in its stained glass that definitely shows from the outside.

I want to be clear that I do think tattoos are a separate category than we put on the temple. I just think rarely, if at all, should we consider them graffiti especially if it is not our own bodies.

Edited October 4, 2022 by Rain

[T-Shirt]

15 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Kentucky ain’t so bad…..

Do you mind sharing where you are?

We're up in Everett.  There is still a lot about this State that I love and is beautiful, but the area on the West side of the mountains has become a literal sewer. It is so sad.