Posted on 04/24/2012 1:28:27 PM PDT by Jeff Head
As I stood in front of the new Mormon Temple in Liberty, Mo., it struck me as ironic that close to 175 years ago, Mormons were forced out of this same state.
Whereas the Missouri public once urged their governor to force Joseph Smith and his followers out of the area surrounding Kansas City, Mormons began to return to the region in the 1900s, eventually gathering in such large numbers that the Church organization decided the region needed a temple.
Which is why I came to visit.
Latter Day Saints restrict temple access to members of their denomination who have proven themselves to be faithful and dedicated adherents. Because Mormons believe temples are the most sacred places on earth, one needs to be prepared to enter them by being an active member of the Church. (In contrast, chapels, where Mormons hold Sunday worship, are open to everyone. Temples are used only for certain rituals and are not open on Sunday so that Mormons can be at their chapel services.)
When a new temple is built, anyone may enter prior to its dedication. So, always curious to learn about the faith of others, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to see a site normally closed off to an Episcopal priest like myself.
My visit seemed all the more timely because Mormons have been in the news a lot lately, and so have their temples. Elizabeth Smart recently married her husband in a temple in Hawaii during a ceremony called a sealing, in which the couple and close Mormon friends and family gather together to witness God joining the couple together for time and all eternity. In less complimentary news, Elie Wiesel took Mitt Romney to task for his faith's practice of baptisms of the dead, which also take places within temple walls.
These headlines, in addition to my own curiosity, motivated my visit to the new temple in Kansas City, and with my curiosity came some questions:
What does a Mormon temple look like, and what happens inside it?
Would I feel God's presence in this space, even though it's not a space that's sacred for me?
Before I go any further -- and because I know it's the question at the front of your mind, dear reader -- no one tried to convert me. In fact, everyone was very welcoming. Members volunteered en masse, clad in pressed suits and dresses. They offered guided tours, bent down to put protective boots onto my feet so my shoes wouldn't dirty the carpeting, and offered me a chewy snickerdoodle at the end of the tour. They showed me every space from changing rooms to sealing rooms where marriages take place and answered every question I asked, no matter how challenging or controversial.
And in the end, yes, I did have a God moment.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Mormons go to temples to be close to God. Much like the ancient Jewish people believed God lived at the heart of the temple in Jerusalem, Mormons believe that followers can meet God most intimately in the temple. The reasons they visit temples vary: In addition to having their marriages sealed in the temple, Mormons also have sealing ceremonies that unite parents and children for time and all eternity. Others come to participate in baptisms of the dead, which are intended to be used only for deceased family members of active Mormons, though the Church acknowledged in the wake of Elie Wiesel's comments that others -- such as Anne Frank -- have had baptisms performed on their behalf. These baptisms are not intended to convert the deceased but rather to give them a choice in the afterlife to embrace the revelation of Mormonism: Assuming an afterlife exists, the baptized deceased are free to say yes or no as they please. Finally, Mormons come to the temple to receive their endowment, a ritual ceremony where followers make promises to God and receive knowledge about God.
Unlike a cathedral, which is primarily composed of one large worship space, a Mormon temple has a variety of smaller rooms that serve different purposes. There are sealing rooms and rooms for men and women to change into white clothes (every male or female Mormon who enters a dedicated temple wears the same white clothing) and instruction rooms where individuals learn about God in preparation for receiving their endowments.
It was in these rooms, and the final Celestial Room, where I caught a glimpse of God.
You see, as part of our final stop on the tour, our guide took us to a room with a mural of the Missouri countryside painted by a local artist. The room had earthy colors, browns and greens and rows of cushioned seats. This was the first instruction room. From there, we took a step up -- as if ascending closer to heaven -- and entered a second room, similar to the first in shape and size but all white. This was the second instruction room. When we left that room, we took another step up and entered the Celestial Room, a space designed to give those who sit in it a foretaste of heaven.
It was a simple room yet ornate at the same time, all white with sparkling crystal chandeliers, large mirrors, and plump sofas and chairs reminiscent of those that must have existed in Joseph Smith's day. Our guide asked us to be silent and said we were welcome to sit wherever we liked and take a moment to pray. So I sat down on a sofa that seemed to envelop me, folded my hands on my lap and closed my eyes.
Like Dante, who saw God face to face but had no words to describe the encounter, I have few words to describe what I felt in that moment. But I can say this: While it did not convert me, nor did it make me want to be a Mormon, the silence and peace I felt reminded me of the many other times I've felt close to God, whether in an Episcopal cathedral, in a clear, warm ocean or in my ratty old car. And because of that, I came to understand why temples exist and why they are so important to Mormons across the world.
And along the lines of Mormons being across the world: As I wrote earlier, Mormons were ironically driven out of Liberty, Missouri and the surrounding region nearly 175 years ago. It cannot be lost on those who visit the new temple that almost two centuries later, Mormons are often still held in suspicion by society, but they are far from being as vulnerable as they were in their early years. They are building stronger foundations every day, and striving, as they do so, to catch a glimpse of heaven.
Yet they played a major roll in this nations founding. Jefferson was POTUS number three. So IOW if we had a modern Thomas Jefferson a man who help his political beliefs on freedom, rights, and roll of government you would not vote for him?
I reject Romney based on his long standing liberal political record alone. That is very sufficent. Attacking his religous beliefs does him no harm and your cause no favors. It may well backfire on you.
Paul was well into missionary travels when he corrected Peter, and the Gospel was well into INdia by the time the eleven were killed. John on the Island of Patmos was the last, many years after the Gospel had reached Spain and even what became the British Isles.
Jeff...you indeed need to 'stop' attending the temple...and more importantly 'stop' teaching false teachings which oppose the true and living Christ of Christianity. Jeff, you have already been told by those who are the true Christ's Representatives, and this many times over throughout your membership within this church.....and each time you have determined yet to remain in the darkness which LDS teachings engulf their participants in.
The Mormon church has from it's inception to this day surrounded itself with a 'Counterfeit Christianity' presenting a 'Impostor Christ', known and observed by the true body of Christ....and within the shadows of it's walls continues to entrap and fully deceive it's members to believe in it's pretend and artificial Priesthood of which you claim as one...there is only one Great and High Priest and HE is the Christ of true Christianity...the curtain was torn from top to bottom...man-made Priesthoods are a counterfeit and usurp his rightful place before men.
As noted thus far in this thread it is not difficult to see it's intended purpose is to promote Mormonism in a favorable light under the deceptive disguise of "Interesting" and other clouded verbiage as I see it.... Further, an opportunity for you to give your Testimony and Experiences in replying to those who show interest or challenge it. It is after all the Mormon way of baiting the uniformed.
Unfortunately Mormons who do so cannot see their own agenda thru the maze of their indoctrination....and especially those who have been instructors, teachers and or in leadership positions, for as they teach others their false doctrines they reinforce to themselves what they want and desire to believe, and this regardless of the many attempts of the true Christ to provide them a way of escape.
One can be sincere, kind, a good person, and yet be sincerely and dangerously wrong, and in fact in opposition to the true Christ of Christianity.....Mormons are simply that as they pander their cult, it's rituals and their program of deception to the uniformed.
One thing I have certainly observed in these last years is the great attempts now to "rescue" and "bring out" those who have at one point truly given their life to Christ, yet remain deceived and in the stronghold of the cults they've been entrapped in. Mormonism is one of those.
May the true Christ of Christianity reveal to peoples very hearts and souls ...it is time to come out...and that you would be willing to heed that call to come back to the Body of Christ.
Yep now so you can understand what I am saying where was Paul at when Stephen was stoned? A very young Paul held the garments of Stephens killers. It all didn’t happen overnight is my point. What you are describing took place between those two times. Paul was in exile among believers for some believe as long as a decade after his conversion. In the mean time they all had their personal struggles and learning experiences.
LDS is “first” a corporate entity...using the veil of being a religion to remain free of the otherwise government restrictions and controls it would have to otherwise contend with...which also allows them a strong degree of “secrecy” regarding those investments and holdings...as well assures them of a free flowing channel of revenues thru it's required membership tithes and offerings. Thus it upholds and enables their powerful and wealthy leaders to sustain and enlarge their personal profiles....all very legal but also greatly deceptive.
That program is to keep the membership sustained at a defining level in order to maintain the revenue sources the leadership requires for their continued investments in land, real-estate, and various other business ventures.
Of course it would be well organized...it's been years in the making and refined to do exactly as it's purpose is intended... sometime take a long look at their holdings and where they have investments throughout the world. Those investments far exceed their "alms" to the poor and less privileged.
Rather like the governments of nations where the cash flow is great thru those governments, but 'little' by comparison trickles down to those who are making the greatest sacrifices....
http://www.garyhabermas.com/video/habermas_unc_04-11-07_pt1.wmv
You will enjoy listening to Gary explain the early History of The Church and earliest written records.
I often find many who are not well informed of LDS have great difficulty understanding the counterfeit Christian verbaige they use does not have the same meaning of true Christianity.
It’s much like when you attempt communicating with those of the Islamic faith....an example is the word Peace...to us it is without conflict...to them there is only one peace possible and that is thru Islam, with what ever conflict needed to attain the conversions to Islam.
To an observer, who does not understand the difference in language meaning, it would appear they are saying the same thing, when in fact they are speaking in two very different meanings from two opposing postions. It is likewise for Mormonism’s deceptive use of Christian verbaige..
On the other hand another Hospital named after Mary ran by another denomination had Nuns ministering to patients including my then girl friend and later wife whom they hid her for several months. That hospital tanks to the mandates against conscience by federal government was sold. Every hospital but one in my nearby city has church origins. The one that isn't is state owned and ran. Oh yea The Baptist hospital was bought up by the Catholic hospital due to it's nearly going under money wise. The Methodist still have on in the area by name. The Catholic hospital was also sold in the past year due to pending government mandates against it's church doctrines.
Same with the general way men or woman fall into adultery...it “appears” lovely, handsome, intellectual or whatever one might find as an “attraction”.
“Fruit” can look and sound appealing, and generally appeals to the senses, but be poisonous within....rather like poisonous mushrooms....you have to ‘Know’ the 'real thing fully' before you can tell the difference.
I think Scientology has a similar program throughout their organization.
Beats all these places do this thru the mask of religion. But then makes perfect sense...the enemy of mens souls loves to counterfeit everything that is Gods.
I’m on slow speed dial up MH. At 45 kbps connect I won’t be seeing anything. I’m back in the sticks with no cable, no DSL, no high speed internet.
You are probably correct.
No, words mean things and there is a significant difference between a DOCTRINAL difference and a personal failing.
Had the persecution not happened The Gospel may well have not let Jerusalem.
Poor study of early church history. It was already outside of Jerusalem well before the persecution, starting at the very birth of the church. If something other is what you are "standing" on, it is very poor scriptural knowledge.
As believers fled the persecution they took the message of The Gospel with them.
Believers took the message across the roman empire after Pentecost snipe. Forget to read Acts 2?
Tradition has it before the chosen 12 had died it may have reached as far as Spain.
Most certainly by 90AD it had spread across the empire. So
Hospitals have gone the way of Universities....most of the well known...Harvard etc. were all started by Christian Churches...now they have all become liberal colleges promoting the progressive agenda.
When a conservative speaks at these colleges it’s amazing the reception they are given....the students hound and interrupt with a host of other antics to these speakers. Shameful but is the time of which we are living.
Do you have “Century Link” phone service in your area? If you do give them a call. They give outstanding service and “speed” I understand even for dial up.
Ch 8 v1Saul was one of the official witnesses at the killing of Stephen. 2. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria. 2(Some godly men came and buried Stephen with loud weeping.) 3Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail. 4But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus. 5Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6Crowds listened intently to what he had to say because of the miracles he did. 7Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
The expansion from Jerusalem came mainly after Stephens death due to the persecution and people fleeing Jerusalem. The Bible say so.
I'm about 8 miles wire wise to the phone company. There is only one way I can get Internet via phone lines and it is very expensive. It would involve a four wire data circuit. Those must be perfectly balanced from Central Office to modem.
I'm about a half mile from The SLICK cabinet that helps somewhat. To obtain DSL type speeds I think three miles from the central office is about it unless they have the necessary repeating system like fiber optics.
I'm on a buried hard wire cable all the way back to the C.O. Comcast stops a half mile away and where I am at on the back of a dead in road a quarter mile long with only about 4 residents it's not going to happen. Not even wireless broadband service from ones like from Verizon is possible here. I have to stand on my head to make a cell call in the house LOL.
But I did just check Century Link's site. Nope.
LOL you read but cannot see. Pentecost was one of those holy days Jews were called to be in Jerusalem for at least once in a life time pilgrimage and, since it is 50 days after Passover, it makes sense they were "dwelling" and not living. Since they were Jews, if they were living there, why the reference to their countries of origin. They were there on a pilgrimage snipe, thus the reference to their homeland. Since they were from all over, it makes perfect sense they would stay for the both passover and pentecost.
But reading on down the chapter read v 43-47. Now they basically remained in Jerusalem till chapter 8 living among each other in a common community sharing property etc.
and you forget that among those 3000 were Jews who had their permanent residence in Jerusalem and Israel - not all were Jews living out of country.
Look at what transpired in chapter 8. The Apostiles were too later venture out as well.
And NO WHERE does it indicate that the persecution was the result of the Holy Spirit punishing the believers for not going out. Further, there is every reason to believe that others remained with the Apostles. So? The word was already moving out since Pentecost. The bible in no place links that persecution to chastisement from the Spirit.
Ok...here’s aother option. Microsoft and I think IBM got together and have developed “sun” powered computers which they have a mass give away program, worldwide, in giving these to areas in Africa and South America where there is no chance of Internet Service. Might be interesting to find out about these. Bill Gates is at the head of this program if I remember right.
You can tell unless you try...you might end up with a free computer!
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