Latter Days Guy

Thought as much myself but wanted to make sure I'd not got it wrong. The OT temple was primarily to do with the sacrifice system and atoning for the Jewish nations sins. But since that was done away with through the atonement of Jesus Christ that part of temple worship was no longer needed. Also with the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood as you state the full benefits and ordinances of that priesthood are now available in the temple today. I've been learning so much over the last few weeks about the temple and how it all fits into the plan of salvation, it's just amazing what Heavenly Father has done for us, and what he makes available to us through the churches temples. They are the house of the Lord!

Came across an interesting statement tonight during my private study time. I'm preparing to go to the temple for endowment and have been reading through the various manuals and scripture references for preparing to enter the temple. One question popped into my head, how does the current temple compare to the jewish temple of the old testament? Doing a bit of google fuing I came across several people saying that the temples services today are as they were carried out in the time of Solomon, without going into specifics regarding sacred temple stuff, would this be an acurate understanding of LDS teaching on the link from OT temples and temples today?

Isn't the Revelations reference to Gog and Magog referring to the nations of the world uniting against the returned Christ and his church?

Thanks for replying, in your previous post you said you agreed with the majority of the teachings of the church, is it just a question of not following the WoW or are there other things about the church that you aren't in agreement with? From personal experience I used to love a nice whiskey, malts or blends didn't matter, just loved the taiste and smell of a good highland brew. But when I first began to think about returning to church I decided that I needed to give up on that particular pleasure as the Gospel was more important to me than a few drinks now and again.

I'm rooting for Holland, and not just because of the Falklands or Maradona's hand of God goal either!

Its also taught in secular theology department in the universities that I've had contact with. I've not read or heard anyone teach that deaconess was simply the wife of a deacon. It is clear in the NT and in the documents of the early church fathers that there were female deacons, there are even secular accounts of female deacons being tortured for information on Christianity. So from a purely historical point of view, and from the sources of the time we can only come to the conclusion that there was in some way, shape or form a position in the early church for female deacons. What that role was or even if it was a priestly office is where the contention lies. As I have said previously, it has been said that it was a role relating to ministry to other women, and that role simply was withdrawn or seen as redundant and never re-organised with the restoration of the Gospel and the church, or is what is now the relief society. Let me make it clear, I'm in no way saying that this is evidence that there should be female members of the priesthood today. As clearly that is not the case as revealed to the prophets of the restoration in whom the keys of the priesthood reside. Heavenly Father has clearly laid out his teachings on the priesthood in these latter days through his servants the prophets, from Joseph Smith to Thomas S Monson, that the priesthood is available to and bestowed upon all worthy male members in the church is clearly the teaching of the restored church today.

It would be the first time ever I believe.

Interesting comment, if its not too personal, is there a particular reason for you not joining the church?

After reading through my previous thread about how long people had been members of the church, there were several who said that they had periods of inactivity. Was wondering what people did during their time away from the church, did you attend another church or explore other faiths or just not attend any other place of worship? I've always had a belief in God and during part of my absence from the LDS church was part of a local Baptist congregation. I also did three years at the Assemblies of God bible college in the UK where I studied Biblical Theology to degree level.

I would agree with you!

That its no longer a position that is needed in the restored church maybe?

When I read my greek new testament, the reading I get is deacon. Its the same word used to discribe every other reference to the position of deacon in the NT, why would it suddenly change its definition/meaning just because its mentioned in the same sentence as a woman?

I'm not the one saying it, its what is being taught in bible colleges, it is what I was taught at bible college. Clearly the NT refers to woman deacons, what their roles where other than that which Paul talks about is not known. Does that mean that there should be woman deacons now? Well if they are supposed to be then surely that office would have been restored when the church was restored in 1830. As that hasn't happened then obviously it is a redundant position.

There is speculation that female deacons had roles relating to other woman only, maybe as the church grew this role diminished until it was no longer needed. This could be a reason for it not being brought back into use with the restoration of the church, as unlike those of the NT times who were encountering Christianity as a new faith, those in the restoration had some knowledge of the Christian scriptures so had a foundation for the restored gospel to build upon.

Maybe because you have always been taught that women aren't allowed to have the priesthood? Clearly in the NT there is reference to woman deacons, what that role was is unclear, though there is speculation that it was limited to service to other females only.

Actually it is clear, the wording is exactly the same as Paul uses to describe himself, does that mean that he didn't hold the priesthood either or is this just a example of turning a blind eye to an inconvenient truth?

That is correct but the context of the word used in Romans 16:1 refers here to a Christian designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Phil. 1:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8-12. My NT greek is a bit rusty having not done any serious study since leaving bible college but it is clear from the passage that Phoebe is a deacon and served in that position within the structure of the early church.

Interesting, but what about the female deacons mentioned by Paul in his NT letter to the Romans?

There you go, I fixed it for you!

I hadn't even noticed it until you pointed it out! Kong Follet!!

Where can you find this version and how does it differ from the ensign version? I've only ever heard of this on here and a brief mention of it in the work and the glory books. I've printed off the ensign articles to read but would like to compare it to other versions as well.

So this isn't how it goes? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uWqMPAYizw

Well I've been to the temple and it was amazing! Here's what I put in my blog: If that wasn't enough of a spiritual high, on Saturday I attended the Temple for the first time. A group from my ward took a coach to the Preston England Temple where I was able to do some temple work for some of my own family from my family history work. We arrived at the Temple in the rain but that didn't dampen my spirit, after a look around the distribution centre those who were to be doing baptisms and confirmations for our departed relatives gathered together and were led by our bishop up to the Temple itself. We walked through the immaculately kept gardens and then the Temple was finally in full view. What a beautiful building this house of the Lord is! Though it took three hours to get there it now didn't seem that long to finally be able to enter the holy ground of the Temple! We gathered together and after some final instructions we were taken into the Temple itself. I immediately felt that tingling feeling wash over me as I entered into one of Heavenly Fathers sacred places. It was almost over whelming the feeling of the presence of the Lord. The building is furnished to such a high standard, with paintings of scenes from many scriptural sources depicted. We were taken through the Temple to the baptistery and then given our white baptismal clothing to change into. We then had a brief talk and sang a hymn and a prayer before we were seated before the most exquisite baptistery I had ever seen. It was a lot bigger than I had envisaged and all decked out in the most marvellous marble. The twelve oxen which stood below the baptistery were awesome in their beauty, it was a truly marvellous place to come to do the work of the Lord on behalf of our dearly departed relatives. We left after completing our sacred ordinances and gathered together on the coach for a final word of prayer before returning home. It had been a most uplifting and humbling experience, even though we had risen very early and would be returning home late I didn't feel the slightest bit tired. I was how ever filled peace and joy at having had such an amazing encounter with the living God!

Hasn't Richard Dutcher made a film about this?