The Secret LDS Temple Ceremony [Mormonism/Anti-Christian]

Concerned Christians ^ | 2009 | Anonymous

[delacoert]

There are many activities which take place inside the Mormon church's temples. However, members are taught to keep ceremonial activities a secret because they are believed to be too "sacred" to discuss. They're not even allowed to discuss the details among themselves. Interestingly, most Mormons (some estimates as high as 70%) do not even regularly attend their own temples as is expected of them. 

While it is true that the Mormon temple ceremony is not biblical, many who are not Mormon have misspoken regarding the temple ceremony, resulting in some confusion. Concerned Christians has attempted to lay out, in a clear and concise manner, what takes place in their temples, what changes have been made and how their temple ceremony conflicts with the Bible. It is our goal to educate Christians and Mormons (who want to know) about the truths regarding the Mormon temple.

For those who are unfamiliar with Mormon temples we recommend reading Introduction to LDS Temples. This will give you a basic overview of their significance within Mormonism. In addition, we have provided a brief introduction to each activity of the temple ceremony to give the reader a better understanding.

The reader should also be aware that the bulk of this work is made possible by former Mormons who have come forward to expose these ceremonies. Information from the book Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony: 1842-1990 by Jerald and Sandra Tanner was used in this section as well. Copies of this revealing work can be purchased in our online bookstore.

1. Introduction to LDS Temples
2. The Bible and LDS Temple Ceremonies
3. Initiatory Ordinances
   • Washing
   • Confirmation of the Washing
   • Anointing
   • Confirmation of the Anointing
   • The Garment of the Holy Priesthood and the New Name
   • The Vicarious Presentation of the New Name
4. Endowment Ceremony
   • Comparison of 1984 Version to the 1990 Version (LONG, includes audio, visual and video)
   • Audio Recordings of the Endowment Ceremony
   • The Changes Made in 1990
   • 1879 Version of the Endowment Ceremony (LONG)
   • 1931 Version of the Endowment Ceremony (LONG)
   • 1984 Version of the Endowment Ceremony (LONG)
   • 1990 Version of the Endowment Ceremony (LONG)
5. Other LDS Temple Ceremonies
   • Temple Marriage/Sealing Ceremony
   • Ceremony for Sealing Children to Parents
   • Baptism for the Dead
   • Confirmation of the Dead
   • Ordination of the Dead
   • Reconfirmation

[ViLaLuz]

Interesting. I’ve never heard of the Mormon mountain massacre and will have to look into it.

[delacoert]

If you will pay attention to nuanced conversations between Christians, you will notice the presence of happy, joyous and free Christians who reject denominationalism. The reason for that rejection is much the same as you emphasize - rules and accompanying biases develop within a denomination and these rules and biases seem to detract from freedom in Christ and love of Christ.

[Leisler]

Just look at Washington for perversion.

[delacoert]

LOL. Yeah, what’s legalism without lawyers - and without intending insult to perverts, lawyers are monumentally perverted.

[Imnidiot]

IB4PD2...He must still be at work.

[ReverendJames]

I have a book written around the late 1800’s, I ‘m thinking around 1880’s or so. It’s pretty good considering it was written back then.

[erod]

Ping for later

[Paragon Defender]

Seekers of truth,

If you peruse the Free Republic religion forums you will notice a pattern. There's an anti-Mormon group of people here that spends a great deal of their time attacking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They post regurgitated propaganda on an almost daily basis.

They have a misguided obsession. You can witness many different tactics employed that you might find quite interesting. The straw man argument is a big favorite and is frequently preceded by cherry-picking quotes or other material. After the "quotation" the attacker will misrepresent what has been said or what was meant and then attack their own interpretation.Later they will have the audacity to claim they were "only" quoting our own material.  

They will of course insist ad nauseum that they are merely using our sources and are therefore innocent of any deceptive practice. LDS persons have no issue whatsoever having our scriptures or leaders quoted as long as it is presented fairly and accurately. This is rarely (if ever) done.

Another favorite is posting scripture or statements which on their own really present no dilemma. They make something out of nothing while never bringing up a single objection that hasn't been addressed a hundred times before.

You might note a couple of other tactics used to try to antagonize is the use of disrespectful or insulting terms or language and/or pictures. That's a Christlike thing to do right? Yeah I don't think so either. It does speak volumes about them though.

Some of them claim being some sort of special witness to you as being supposedly former Mormons. So someone who is an ex-member of any organization would never have an axe to grind or have reason to try to justify their actions by any means? Perhaps not but perhaps so. The LDS Church gains members from other denominations as well as others faiths all the time. This doesn't make them an expert on anything and you certainly won't hear them attacking their former Church.

Frequently they cruise the headlines of the day seeking any story that might be twisted into making the Church look bad. Anything will do, just watch the progression of posts following it and see what I mean.

After reading their posts, I invite you to seek the truth about whatever "issue" they seem to be "revealing" or "exposing". I promise that if you do so with honest intent, the "ahah" moments you will have will be many and frequent. You will start to recognize the tactics employed to cleverly twist and attack and will likely chuckle the more you see. In actuality, there's nothing new here. It's all been addressed many times before.

The latest twist in the anti-Mormon propaganda machine is to actually go to the links provided, but then they cherry pick what they want, quote and straw man attack that. Almost without fail you will see examples of this following this post.

Clever. It almost appears that they are helping you out by doing some footwork for you. Not so much. Don't be insulted, look for yourself. It's not the haystack they want you to think. So again, seek the truth. They aren't providing it. Use your God-given brain and discernment.

Here's a few links to get your started from a different viewpoint. I have found that the vast majority of the "issues" brought up can be found and addressed at http://www.fairlds.org/ but here's more:

http://scriptures.lds.org/
http://www.lds.org
http://www.fairlds.org/
http://www.mormonapologetics.org/
http://www.mormonwiki.com/Main_Page
http://www.lightplanet.com/response/index.html
http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml
http://www.answeringantimormons.com/index.htm
http://promormon.blogspot.com/

Now you will likely notice the "you never address or answer our points" posts pop up as usual. All after providing the answers just as you have here.

Sometimes it is claimed that these sites present a needle in a haystack. Far from it. But if you give up before you try you won't know will you? They often state that these sites provide no answer. They just don't want you looking. It is as simple as that.

Will you wear blinders too? Seek truth. Find out for yourself. Want to chat with someone on any topic? A few of these sites provide just that. So do your homework sincere seeker of truth. Listen and read from both "sides". Make up your own mind.

I witness to you of these truths and wish you the best, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

[ViLaLuz]

I see something on wikipedia called the Mountain Meadows massacre, is that the same thing?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre

[delacoert]

As usual, a post absent of any significant content - ignoring an interested reader’s inquisitiveness about any issues raised.

[dragonblustar]

At first glance, I thought it was some kind of dairy/cheese making place.

[dragonblustar]

[dragonblustar]

[ReverendJames]

That’s the one.

[Veritas01]

generic. boring. no thought. typical mormon post for pd

[delacoert]

I’ve come to the opinion that PD has sized up the only audience he thinks he can reach - a rather pathetic few.

[Bruinator]

“Protestants criticizing Mormons is like potheads criticizing cokeheads.”

“Protestantism was the “gateway drug” to Mormonism. When the individual (and his personal relationship with Christ) is made supreme over the accumulated wisdom of generations then it is no wonder that sects will emerge with all manner of practices and beliefs.”

“As ye reap so shall ye sow”

So you equate a Baptist to a Morman; that we believe the same things?

My personal relationship with God IS more important than my relationship with someone who gets his marching orders from the Pope.

Silly silly statement, you are saying that “The CHurch” is the only true Christian entity. PFFFT I say to that. “The Church” didn’t exist until man created it. The One True Church is for Believers in Christ. It doesn’t have structure, it doesn’t have buildings. It is of the Heart, Mind, and Soul. The Catholic Church is just another Christian church, just like the Baptist Church, The Methodist Church, The Lutheran Church. Not any more special than any other Church that believes in Christ as their Lord and Savior.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

**While many have asserted that Brigham Young may have been involved in organizing the incident, it has not been indisputably proven.***

The Fancher train was not the only one attacked. Others crossing Utah were also attacked. The Miltmore wagon train and the Shepherd wagon train were attacked with severe loss of life, A child mutilated and a woman raped and shot by five of the attackers.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Interesting. I’ve never heard of the Mormon mountain massacre and will have to look into it.***

Get a copy of MASSACRES OF THE MOUNTAINS by J R DUNN JR. Printed in the 1880s it will blow your mind about the Mormons and the Indian war of the west. You will see how we have been forcefed a fiction about many of the various Indian wars.