Temple Secrecy

[Viking]

The sight of my 300 pound gigantic dad in a white cap and green apron was more than I could handle my first time. I was laughing periodically throughout the endowment at that visual.

[Clark Addison]

I really don't get why MY face has to be veiled.

This is my wife's number 1 pet peeve.

[byu71]

This is my wife's number 1 pet peeve.

Interesting. It would be interesting to hear women in a forum discussing it.

I will bet it would be kind of like hearing women in the Muslim faith discussing having to wear the veil. I have heard interviews of such women and some don't like it and a surprising (suprising to me) number defend it's practice strongly.

[Art Vandelay]

I really don't get why MY face has to be veiled.

This is my wife's number 1 pet peeve.

I had never heard never even thought about this before. I assume it doesn't bother my wife, since she has never said anything about it. However, the nature of this forum allows all of us to share feelings/beliefs/worries we might not otherwise. I wonder if this is a common sentiment?

[I.J. Reilly]

I had never heard never even thought about this before. I assume it doesn't bother my wife, since she has never said anything about it. However, the nature of this forum allows all of us to share feelings/beliefs/worries we might not otherwise. I wonder if this is a common sentiment?

My wife has a hard time with it. Every time we go she wonders what the point is and why she must veil her face and not I.

[Clark Addison]

My wife has a hard time with it. Every time we go she wonders what the point is and why she must veil her face and not I.

To show solidarity I generally spend the first 20 minutes or so with my eyes closed.

[I.J. Reilly]

Lol. I'll have to tell my wife that's what I'm doing too. That's great cover.

[thumper300zx]

Can anyone think of a better way to introduce the temple endowment? I was not well prepared for the endowment. It was one shock after another, starting with the introduction, which essentially said this:

You are about to receive your own endowment, or you are here to receive the endowment on behalf of someone who has died. If this is your own endowment, you will make serious promises to keep some things private from the world. If you break these promises there will be eternal consequences, however because of the sacredness of the promises you will not have learned what they are yet. If you aren't ready to make a bunch of promises that have never been fully explained to you, and for which you will be severely punished for breaking or abandoning, now is the time to walk out of the room, in front of the friends and family who have probably all traveled here at some considerable personal expense to experience this glorious day with you. You now have five seconds to choose.

Interesting thoughts. My Dad went decades ago, and he felt the same way (back when penalties were much more "clear"). He did not enjoy his experience. The public aspect of the promises also makes it tougher (embarrassing) for anyone to think about what they are deciding (particularly when the recording just keeps going). It's embarrassing enough to forget things you're supposed to remember.

I would say, ideally, candidates interviewed for their endowment should be instructed about what they are going to promise. Probably not in an open class, but maybe one on one with a bishop. Don't get what would be so wrong about that.

[Soccermom]

I had never heard never even thought about this before. I assume it doesn't bother my wife, since she has never said anything about it. However, the nature of this forum allows all of us to share feelings/beliefs/worries we might not otherwise. I wonder if this is a common sentiment?

It bothers me. I have tried and failed to understand it many times.

[TheBYUGuy]

I would say, ideally, candidates interviewed for their endowment should be instructed about what they are going to promise. Probably not in an open class, but maybe one on one with a bishop. Don't get what would be so wrong about that.

When I got my first recommend, my SP clearly explained to me the covenents I would be making in the temple. I guess that's why I'm surprised that so many people don't have any idea. I'd be interested to know what the ratio is of people who had it explained to them compared to those who didn't.

[Soccermom]

When I got my first recommend, my SP clearly explained to me the covenents I would be making in the temple. I guess that's why I'm surprised that so many people don't have any idea. I'd be interested to know what the ratio is of people who had it explained to them compared to those who didn't.

Nothing was explained to me. There was even a part of the temple endowment itself that wasn't explained well to me in the temple that led to a very uncomfortable session (for me).

[byu71]

It bothers me. I have tried and failed to understand it many times.

Out of curiosity have you or any of the ladies in CUF heard this discussed openly. I have never heard anyone mention this. Of course I have never attended relief society nor have I ever really talked about the temple with any of the women in my family.

I have honestly never thought about it, but now that it has come up, it does seem rather "fundamentalist".

[byu71]

When I got my first recommend, my SP clearly explained to me the covenents I would be making in the temple. I guess that's why I'm surprised that so many people don't have any idea. I'd be interested to know what the ratio is of people who had it explained to them compared to those who didn't.

We could do a poll. I was shocked, I tell you shocked. Especially one part that is no longer part of the session.

The rememberance of that is clear in my mind. I thought at that part, this is BS, I don't believe this stuff, how do I get out of this mission thing. I knew there was no way to get out of it.

I was able to reconcile things and had a great mission experience. However, I still think that part was BS.

[thumper300zx]

To tell you the truth, I don't remember what all my bishop or stake president told me. But it was certainly nothing I wasn't expecting. The temple itself -- definitely a new experience I wasn't used to. But it was well after the detailed penalties were removed, and my Dad being a pretty open person (who hated his endowment session), I had heard plenty about the temple before I ever went. It wasn't all special and warm, but it was meaningful to me, and I understood it. My grandpa took the gentle approach, and had me read Abraham, Moses, and the first part of Genesis. My brother told me it was so cool and would be a great experience. My other brother said, "cool".

I think the word SECRET is contextual. The fact people feel like they can't express their concerns is the bad part. To the outisde word, SECRET = CULT, and it makes them feel excluded and uncomfortable. Talking about it less, and in more appropriate circumstances, I understand and respect.

[Clark Addison]

The full content of my temple preparation involved my older brother telling me:

"Don't get freaked out about the clothes."

Other than that, I went in blind.