The Temple

[An Investigator]

I have just read the book The Holy Temple by Boyd K Packer... ( @zil sent me a copy as I struggled to get the full book in the UK).  

It is such an amazing book, it has totally changed my perspective on the Temple and I'm in the process of starting temple prep classes which I am most excited about.

The way the book goes on about what a privalage it is to serve God in this way, really made me appreciate the bigger picture, none of my husband not being a member etc matters, what matters is doing Heavenly Fathers will, that he has entrusted us with a responsibility and we must honour him by doing it.   In return he will give us great blessings. I also like how it describes wearing Garments as being ordained to do this privalaged work and how men and women are equal in the temple as the work would not exist without each other.

Clearly the book goes into great detail about things without revealing I would guess sacred things,  yet no one in my ward has ever talked to me this openly about the temple, so why do you think people find it so difficult to talk about? 

Edited May 21, 2017 by An Investigator

[CV75]

14 minutes ago, An Investigator said:

I have just read the book The Holy Temple by Boyd K Packer... ( @zil sent me a copy as I struggled to get the full book in the UK).  

It is such an amazing book, it has totally changed my perspective on the Temple and I'm in the process of starting temple prep classes which I am most excited about.

The way the book goes on about what a privalage it is to serve God in this way, really made me appreciate the bigger picture, none of my husband not being a member etc matters, what matters is doing Heavenly Fathers will, that he has entrusted us with a responsibility and we must honour him by doing it.   In return he will give us great blessings.

 

I also like how it describes wearing Garments as being ordained to do this privalaged work and how men and women are equal in the temple as the work would not exist without each other.

I am truly grateful for @zil sending me the book it's completely changed my outlook on the temple, the plan of salvation everything! 

 

Clearly the book goes into great detail about things without revealing I would guess sacred things,  yet no one in my ward has ever talked to me one on one about the temple or my circumstances.  I wish I could have read this book 6 months ago as it has made me really happy.  So my question to the forum is why do ward members find it so difficult to be open (as they can) about the temple with new converts? 

My wife and I were fairly recent converts when we decided to marry, and got married in the temple. I gave her this book a few months before our temple marriage in 1981, and she has cherished it (and loaned it out) ever since. I thin it depends on the member who is telling you about the temple. The temple preparation classes are supposed to be fairly through and I suppose cover the same material in Elder Packer's book.

[An Investigator]

I'm fairly up front type of lady certainly not shy! Maybe I scare people in my ward hahaha I dunno we had a whole Relef Society lesson once where the only thing I learned was the temple had carpets.

 

[Sunday21]

@An Investigator. I find most temple discussions to be as you describe. People are worried about discussing sacred things outside of the temple so they say nothing!

[zil]

I think what @Sunday21 said, combined with copying what our parents (or more experienced members) did (which was to not talk about the temple ordinances around us outside the temple) creates a reticence to talk in any detail.  And it's a lot easier to say nothing than to really ponder and pray about what's OK to say and what's not OK to say (and then follow the Spirit in each situation since the answer may be a bit different depending on who is present).

[An Investigator]

1 minute ago, Sunday21 said:

@An Investigator. I find most temple discussions to be as you describe. People are worried about discussing sacred things outside of the temple so they say nothing!

It's so discouraging for a new member though... most people have a very strong testimony of the temple because they have learned about it since Childhood.  As a convert you have no such testimony, I think open dialogue as far as practical is much better for all concerned. 

[Sunday21]

@An Investigator. Yes, it is very frustrating! No to worry. You are taking the temple course and you will be there soon!

[An Investigator]

Just now, Sunday21 said:

@An Investigator. Yes, it is very frustrating! No to worry. You are taking the temple course and you will be there soon!

Yes! And then I'm going to make it my personal mission in life to borrow my book to any convert considering going should they want to read it  

[zil]

I think any person who has reached a point where most people their age have received their endowment but they haven't, regardless of whether they grew up in the church, might be frustrated and curious about temple ordinances.  And I wonder if that's not actually a benefit in disguise - a motivator to get ready and go find out for yourself.

[An Investigator]

27 minutes ago, zil said:

I think any person who has reached a point where most people their age have received their endowment but they haven't, regardless of whether they grew up in the church, might be frustrated and curious about temple ordinances.  And I wonder if that's not actually a benefit in disguise - a motivator to get ready and go find out for yourself.

 

That's a good point,  I suppose the fact that it's sacred makes you think deeply about it, which can only be a good thing  I just can't wait now.. as soon as I made a decision I just felt so good! I knew it was the right thing to do.  I suppose with proper prayer and fasting anyone could reach that decision.

Edited May 21, 2017 by An Investigator

[Jane_Doe]

2 hours ago, An Investigator said:

It's so discouraging for a new member though... most people have a very strong testimony of the temple because they have learned about it since Childhood.  As a convert you have no such testimony, I think open dialogue as far as practical is much better for all concerned. 

It's also discouraging as a lifelong member prepping!  

I personally think that culturally we put way more shroud of hush-hush over the temple than it needs to be and it can be very counterproductive at points.  Obviously some discretion is needed, but I think we way overkill it.  Much of it can be discussed, and I think it's perfectly ok to discuss those things in a personal/private and reverant/sacred manner.  Similar to discussing sexual things (another super sacred-not-for-internet-spamming topic).

[Guest]

20 hours ago, An Investigator said:

It's so discouraging for a new member though... most people have a very strong testimony of the temple because they have learned about it since Childhood.  As a convert you have no such testimony, I think open dialogue as far as practical is much better for all concerned. 

I was going to give you some advice to find someone in your ward or stake that really has some understanding and go ask them.  But I was just thinking that outside the US, there may be some cultural things that are different and make it more difficult to find such a person.

The truth is that we will want to be more cautious when we first don't understand anything.  As we grow in the gospel, we begin to get an understanding of things that are sacred and what is fair game for discussion outside the Temple.

[seashmore]

I love the temple! It is my very most favorite place to be in the world. I get Music Time in Nursery excited about going. I could easily yak anyone's head off about my experiences there. In fact, it takes conscious effort on my part not to do so. Believe it or not, I reached a point in my life where temple attendance became a casual thing for me, and that made me a little uncomfortable. For me, personally, talking about it too much, even in a reverent manner, cheapens* my experiences in the same way wearing your best pair of shoes every day would quickly wear out the soles. 

*I'm not convinced that's the exact word I wanted to use...

That all being said, I had a blast preparing for my first time. The Church published excerpts of Packer's book in a pamphlet of the same name, as well as dedicated the Oct 2010 issue of the Ensign to temples.

Edited May 23, 2017 by seashmore

[seashmore]

On 5/21/2017 at 3:57 PM, An Investigator said:

I'm fairly up front type of lady certainly not shy! Maybe I scare people in my ward hahaha I dunno we had a whole Relef Society lesson once where the only thing I learned was the temple had carpets.

 

In defense of the carpet lady, there is symbolism even in the carpets at the Winter Quarters temple. (There's a vine-based design that is continuous throughout the halls. If you find a leaf in the design on the floor outside the baptistry, you can follow the vine, unbroken, upstairs to the hallways outside of the endowment and sealing rooms. Similarly, we are all connected via family history.)

[Traveler]

On ‎5‎/‎21‎/‎2017 at 2:36 PM, An Investigator said:

Clearly the book goes into great detail about things without revealing I would guess sacred things,  yet no one in my ward has ever talked to me this openly about the temple, so why do you think people find it so difficult to talk about? 

 

It is often difficult for many of us member to not go a little too far when discussing the temple.  Because of the vary sacred nature, most that have attended the temple error on the side of not divulging sacred things that could be a possible casting pearls before swine.

 

The Traveler