Temple Video Discussion

The church has released a new video discussing the difference between meetinghouses and Temples. The video goes on to discuss and show pictures of the inside of a Temple. 

After viewing the video, all are encouraged to participate in a discussion here on this blog by posting your questions or comments.

Religion Matters? Is religion influencing your vote?

While the poll numbers are indicating that a majority of people are changing their minds, there are still individuals out there who say that they can't or won't vote for a Mormon. There has been some information circulated about why someone should vote for a Mormon, like this article from the
New Media Journal

There's a lack of information about why an individual wouldn't for for a Mormon. I'd like to understand and discuss some of these reasons. Please post your comments and stay tuned for an honest open discussion of the topics.

My latest project. This is what it's all about friends. If there are any questions or comments about this video or it's teachings feel free to share them with me Jeff Wright

Name

Temples

Temple Question

Why can't people who are not members of your church go inside your Temples and why is the LDS church so secretive about what goes on in there?
__________________________________________________________________________

What a good question. This comes up often. I'll start with the second part of your question. Sometimes, even amongst members of the church, the line between sacred and secret is blurred. In the Temple some very sacred things take place but none of them are necessarily secret. The bulk of what goes on in Temples is learning. We learn more about Where we came from and why we are here. We learn about some of the sacred rules and laws that govern our actions while we are here. We make promises to obey these laws and are promised blessings if we do so. There are other sacred ceremonies that take place in Temples such as an eternal marriage and proxy baptism for someone that did not have a chance to be baptized during their lifetime.  Now the first part of your question. Even in the days of the Temple of Salomon and the Temple at Bountiful and other ancient Temples, admittance to the Temple was regulated with certain worthiness requirements. In the church today, we believe that while the beauty of the Temple can be appreciated by anyone, the spirit can't be fully appreciated by someone that does not already have an understanding and even made a commitment to our beliefs. Not all church members can enter the Temple. 

Newsweek Mormon Moment Article (magic underpants)

"An article written by McKay Coppin, sparked by the recent Broadway play about the Mormon church, brings up a few points. Most I take with a grain of Salt and consider that they play was mostly disrespectful satire written by the same guys that write the South Park television show. First, based on a previous post, I notice there is a problem with calling the church but it’s nickname in the title of a Broadway play but that aside, Mr. Coppin does refer to “magic underpants” and while this seems to be a pretty disrespectful way to address one of your beliefs, I have heard of them before and wondered. What are they?"









We do believe in wearing undergarments that remind us who we are and what we believe. Much like a Crucifix can be a symbol, which serves as a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ to many people around the world, these garments serve as a constant reminder of the ongoing beliefs and promises that make up critical elements of our faith. The difference is that while some choose to publicly display their symbol or reminder and wear it around their necks for all to see, members of the Church keep these personal reminders close to them and private. Members choose to display their personal actions, prompted by the sacred reminder, as opposed to the symbol itself. It’s also true that the belief extends to sacred garments providing protection; this is similar to the belief that a Crucifix or St. Christopher's Medal provides its wearer protection.