Where Do I Turn for Official Answers???

I’m feeling kind of put off right now because I have sincere temple questions about women performing ordinances in the temple and by what authority, and then the 2nd anointing came up (not even by ME) and now I’m being told by someone here to forget about it and discuss something else. Pfffft. What? 👿

Where do I turn for answers to my temple questions? Would the temple president speak with me and answer my questions or is he told NOT to answer questions? I’m a convert…I have no parents or other LDS relatives to turn to for answers. And of course we’re not supposed to talk about it…which I think is INSANE and the kind of talk you hear in abusive homes….shhhh…..don’t talk about it….it’s our little secret……which seems SO UNHEALTHY! There are certain things we aren’t supposed to talk about but there are a WHOLE lot of things about the temple we CAN discuss.

If I go through an initiatory, could I ask the woman that is laying hands on my head about her authority to do so? I’m not feeling very satisfied with help I’m receiving here. I doesn’t feel like this is a group of people that even WANT me to stay LDS. I want to stay LDS but I want answers to my temple questions. Where do I turn (besides to God) for answers?

God is a good choice, but failing answers from Him, ask whomever you wish.

I think we on this site can do pretty well for you, personally. Just don’t worry about the irritated poster that said they didn’t want any questions to be asked. They can go elsewhere, if they *really* object.

HiJolly

My mom is a temple worker. I will send her an email and ask about the authority question. I know she refers people to the temple matron a lot and I know the temple president answers questions too.

I don’t think its a matter of not talking about it. I think rather its the place. My father and I have talked freely about things inside the celestial room. In fact, when I have a question, he will suggest we do a session so we can talk about it there.

On April 3, 1836, the prophet Elijah came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. He conferred upon them the sealing power of the priesthood, making it possible for families to be sealed throughout the generations. In conferring this power, he fulfilled the prophecy that the Lord would send him “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers” (see D&C 110:14–16; see also Malachi 4:5–6).

Through family history work, we can participate in the continuing fulfillment of this prophecy. We can learn about our ancestors and increase our love for them. We can be inspired by their stories of courage and faith. We can pass that legacy on to our children.

These are lasting benefits that come from family history work, but they are not the principal reasons for the Church’s great effort to gather genealogical records. All of the Church’s family history endeavors are directed to the need to form a “welding link—between the fathers and the children” (D&C 128:18). This welding link is formed by the power of the priesthood, through sacred temple ordinances we receive in behalf of our ancestors.

Many of Heavenly Father’s children have died without having the opportunity to receive the fulness of the gospel. In His mercy and infinite love, the Lord has prepared a way for them to gain a testimony of the gospel and receive the saving ordinances of the priesthood.

In the spirit world, the gospel is “preached to those who [have] died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These [are] taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that [are] necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (D&C 138:32–34).

Many in the spirit world embrace the gospel. However, they cannot receive priesthood ordinances for themselves because they do not have physical bodies. In holy temples, we have the privilege of receiving ordinances in their behalf. These ordinances include baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (for men), the endowment, the marriage sealing, and the sealing of children to parents. The Lord revealed this work to the Prophet Joseph Smith, restoring a practice that had been revealed to Christians shortly after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:29).

As we receive priesthood ordinances in behalf of those who have died, we become a savior on Mount Zion for them (see Obadiah 1:21). Our effort approaches the spirit of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice—we perform a saving work for others that they cannot do for themselves.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=85a60bbce1d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

My understanding is that all ordinances in the temple are done with the priesthood, and as brothers and sisters in the temple, we are all under this authority through the temple president. As others said it’s difficult to get a direct answer but according to what’s posted above, it’s clear in my mind that it is the priesthood. This makes perfect sense why women were able to give blessings during Josephs life. So does that mean women have the priesthood by default? In my mind, yes. Also this is my point of view:

we receive priesthood ordinances in behalf of those who have died

The ordinances of the temple are for receiving priesthood blessings.

Priesthood authority functions in both the family and the Church. The priesthood is the power of God used to bless all of His children, male and female. Some of our abbreviated expressions, like “the women and the priesthood,” convey an erroneous idea. Men are not “the priesthood.” Priesthood meeting is a meeting of those who hold and exercise the priesthood. The blessings of the priesthood, such as baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, the temple endowment, and eternal marriage, are available to men and women alike. The authority of the priesthood functions in the family and in the Church, according to the principles the Lord has established.

When my father died, my mother presided over our family. She had no priesthood office, but as the surviving parent in her marriage she had become the governing officer in her family. At the same time, she was always totally respectful of the priesthood authority of our bishop and other Church leaders. She presided over her family, but they presided over the Church.

There are many similarities and some differences in the way priesthood authority functions in the family and in the Church. If we fail to recognize and honor the differences, we encounter difficulties.

Keys. One important difference between its function in the Church and in the family is the fact that all priesthood authority in the Church functions under the direction of the one who holds the appropriate priesthood keys. In contrast, the authority that presides in the family—whether father or single-parent mother—functions in family matters without the need to get authorization from anyone holding priesthood keys. This family authority includes directing the activities of the family, family meetings like family home evenings, family prayer, teaching the gospel, and counseling and disciplining family members. It also includes ordained fathers giving priesthood blessings.

However, priesthood keys are necessary to authorize the ordaining or setting apart of family members. This is because the organization the Lord has made responsible for the performance and recording of priesthood ordinances is the Church, not the family.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=e9796169b62fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Again, the temple president has the keys within the walls of the temple which we as a collective perform and receive. This is my point of view but may not answer your question. I hope that you find what you are looking for. I know it can be frustrating. Just remember that God loves you for who you are, and this is more important than anything else.

“the women and the priesthood,” convey an erroneous idea. Men are not “the priesthood.”

I really like this statement!

When my father died, my mother presided over our family. She had no priesthood office, but as the surviving parent in her marriage she had become the governing officer in her family.

Again, I believe women have the priesthood in the temple. Keys only open doors, once the door is open the house is ours. Plus, women hold the keys to creation, having children. I believe that priesthood is really the “power of creation.” Since women have that power, they must have a part of the priesthood. But that’s my personal view. Either way it is clear that the women have the priesthood as a “governing officer” through line of authority.

What LaLa said!!

The only pieces of information not allowed to be discussed on this site are descriptions of the signs and tokens, per the rules of etiquette: http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=21

Everything else is fair game (as long as respectful of course), and it has been discussed on several other threads. Feel free to ask and discuss. That is why we are here.

We’re not “official” by any definition though. While not being an “official” source, I would say that there are people here who can give very well-thought and inspired answers. The temple is a topic many of us are very interested in, we having our own questions as well, and people here have done a lot of personal research and meditation on the topic.

In fact, nobody here really has the “right” answers. We just have ones that have worked for us. You will find your right and official answer if you look long enough.

The temple is a place of symbolic ritual and ceremony. Does anyone really have “the” answers? I am not personally sure there is a single answer to something like that with so much depth and potential meaning. We see a reflection of our soul when we engage in religious ritual. What do we see? What is the meaning? I think that tells us a lot about our self, not so much what everyone else is supposed to see. That makes it quite genius IMO! Perhaps God is a clever being at that