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Posted

We had dinner with our neighbors last night, and afterwards went to their place to play settlers after the kids wend to bed.

Anyways, the topic of temples came up, and someone said that some folks join the church just to see the inside of the temples, and once they've done this, they fall away from the church. I suppose it's possible such people exist, although it seems like an awful lot of work. How common do you think this practice is?

Posted

We had dinner with our neighbors last night, and afterwards went to their place to play settlers after the kids wend to bed.

Anyways, the topic of temples came up, and someone said that some folks join the church just to see the inside of the temples, and once they've done this, they fall away from the church. I suppose it's possible such people exist, although it seems like an awful lot of work. How common do you think this practice is?

I have been a member all my life here in the midwest....thats the first time I have heard of such a thing....nothing would surprise me anymore
Posted

If that's the only reason to convert, they will be sadly disappointed when they finally get through it all, only to find what they could have bought a magazine distributed by the church which shows the rooms anyway. What a waste of a couple years of your life!

Posted

I can't imagine going through all the steps of repentance, baptism, being active, paying tithing, fast offerings, praying, etc., for any length of time and not have the Spirit speak to your heart at some point.

Maybe I'm naive.

Posted

I can't imagine going through all the steps of repentance, baptism, being active, paying tithing, fast offerings, praying, etc., for any length of time and not have the Spirit speak to your heart at some point.

Maybe I'm naive.

That's actually one thing they mentioned too- that even though they started off being curious, that they would become converted along the way.

I'm with you guys though... talk about an expensive and time consuming (callings?) method of satiating your curiosity!

Posted

That's what I did. But I got impatient, because for some reason, my bishop never thought I was worthy enough.

So I left. :P

j/k

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, and I am very familiar with stupid.

Elphaba

Posted

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, and I am very familiar with stupid.

Wow talk about reading something that wasn't there. When I first read this I read "This is one of the stupidest things I've ever DONE. Then I reread it. hahahaha

Posted

I've heard similar stories, but nothing first hand.

It's not about seeing the inside of the temples, but the ceremonies being performed. They think they can learn about everything and then "expose the secret mormon rituals" and make a lot of money selling books and videos.

Ed Decker come to mind?

Posted

That's what I did. But I got impatient, because for some reason, my bishop never thought I was worthy enough.

So I left. :P

j/k

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, and I am very familiar with stupid.

Elphaba

"...for some reason, my bishop never thought I was worthy enough. "

You are worthy. Maybe you missunderstood your bishop. All are worthy with Jesus. Ask Him to walk with you and you will feel His love. Do not let one person disrupt your walk with God. My suggestion, read the gospels again and listen to what Jesus wants you to know. If you know of some LDS scripture with quotes from Jesus then read them too. It is all about Jesus. Listen to Him. God Bless, Jim

Posted

Two stories:

Many moons ago on the old Zion's Lighthouse Message board, one lady who was very much not a believer claimed she stayed observant LDS, and lied in her temple rec interviews, for the sole purpose of being able to watch her daughter get married.

I read a 1st hand account story about a lady who was very critical of us (either a member in a very critical church, or actually worked for a professional counter-cult organization, I forget which). She decided to go 'undercover' for a year to get a temple recommend for the sole purpose of taping it and 'exposing the mormon truth'. She came clean eventually to her Bishop, who was directed by the spirit to take no action and let her find her own path. She became fully converted and was an active LDS at the time.

Does anyone have a link to that story?

LM

Posted

"...for some reason, my bishop never thought I was worthy enough. "

You are worthy. Maybe you missunderstood your bishop. All are worthy with Jesus. Ask Him to walk with you and you will feel His love. Do not let one person disrupt your walk with God. My suggestion, read the gospels again and listen to what Jesus wants you to know. If you know of some LDS scripture with quotes from Jesus then read them too. It is all about Jesus. Listen to Him. God Bless, Jim

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Prepare for Blessings of the Temple

Jim,

The Temple is not open to the public. It is a sacred house of the Lord. As such, there are worthiness questions that our Judges in Israel ask to be sure that we are living our lives in harmony with the Lord's will for us.

The link above may help give more perspective on this process and the purpose behind it.

If we do as Christ wants us to do, we will be eligible to enter the Temple. Our Judges in Israel (Bishops and Stake Presidents) are there to help guide us and help us along the path. One symbol of our faith and of how well we are doing is always holding a current temple recommend and living our lives so that we are always eligible to hold that recommend.

Posted (edited)

You are worthy. Maybe you missunderstood your bishop.

Actually, I was joking. I had never been seriously interested in going through the temple, and never approached, or talked to, my bishop about it. No authority in the Church ever told me I wasn't worthy.

Sorry for the confusion, and thank you for the kind words.

Elphaba

Edited by Elphaba
Posted

Actually, I was joking. I had never been seriously interested in going through the temple, and never approached, or talked to, my bishop about it. No authority in the Church ever told me I wasn't worthy.

Sorry for the confusion, and thank you for the kind words.

Elphaba

you would have to be a Republican before you could go and we know thats not going to happen anytime soon.....LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D:D
Posted

Anyways, the topic of temples came up, and someone said that some folks join the church just to see the inside of the temples, and once they've done this, they fall away from the church.

My husbands 2nd wife did this very thing. He was quite surprised when she started taking the missionary discussions. She was a staunch catholic- had once been a nun too, then left the order.

Several months after getting her endowments, she went back to the Catholic church, a few months later she hit him with divorce papers. That was an even bigger surprise.

Posted

I like that OP story as an old Mormon Wives Tale. Doubt anyone world put in that much effort, even to peer into the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. My assumption is that everyone who goes through the Temple is sincere.

Posted

I like that OP story as an old Mormon Wives Tale. Doubt anyone world put in that much effort, even to peer into the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. My assumption is that everyone who goes through the Temple is sincere.

I agree. I have heard of people leaving after going to the temple(Culture shock, pre temple prep classes) but joining and being active for a year to go in. I doubt it.

Reminds me of the other Wives tale. People leave so they can sin.

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