Connie

Beyond speechless is a great description. This is amazing! GLENN BECK, WHERE ARE YOU???

But after thinking long and hard about the question, it has become plain to me that baptism is after salvation, not necessary to produce it. Apparently, on your view, this is a misinterpretation. But it is based on the Bible itself and a result of much consideration. Again, Christians need to get baptised. But it, baptism, is for the already Christian, not for the about-to-become Christian. That is, that is how I understand the issue. quote from evangelical I'd just like to say that we believe that baptism by immersion by one who has authority is the gate that a person enters to make a covenant with God after having faith, and repenting, and then, qualifying to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hand by one who has authority. quote from PapilioMemnon Is it possible that the same thing is being said here?? Maybe it would be a good idea to define the word "salvation" as we see it. I think we all need to be less argumentative here. I have known some really great evangelicals that i greatly admire for walking up to the light and truth they have in their life and who are better at it than a lot of LDS people i know. And, by the way, i have a sister who has decided to join the Catholic church. I have not rejected her for that decision. I maintain that i would rather see her a good Catholic than a less-than-good Latter-Day Saint.

There is nothing in the D&C about piercings in that context because it was not an issue in the 1800s. This is a matter of social or cultural context, much as beards. All the early LDS prophets had beards, except of course Joseph Smith, and then, all the sudden, they stopped wearing beards. Why? Because of the social context. Beards became associated with the hippie culture of the 60s and 70s, and the prophets did not want that image. Multiple piercings have similar negative connotations in today's society, at least for the LDS people, and the apostles would rather we avoided that image.

SLC, where i was married.

Hello. I'm new here but a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I thought maybe i'd try and follow some friendly apostolic advice on making my voice heard in the new media. It didn't occur to me until shortly after i began using my user name that it might give the impression that i am full of myself. But considering how shy i've always been, that might not be too far off. I'm here in LDS Central, AKA Utah. I am married to my high school sweetheart, and we have 4 children. We are trying our hand at homeschooling and learning a lot along the way. I love God! I love truth. I love to learn. -Connie

MarginofError had some great things to say. The doors can be used by anyone. I heard of Pres. & Sister Hinckley getting in through those doors one time to get them in quickly -- i forget what temple, however. The idea is the symbolism behind them. The same symbolism behind the East Gate in Jeruselem -- for the Savior's return. However, not all the temples utilize the same symbolism. The architectural symbolism behind the SLC temple is not the same as the Provo Temple, for example. They are very different structurally but both utilize different symbolism. The Provo Temple has a circular shape, perhaps symbolizing eternity. The three pillars of the SLC Temple are symbolic -- well, 6 pillars really, 3 on one side, 3 on the other. And so forth. Anyway, hope this helps. Symbolism is HUGE when it comes to temples.