- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
I want to draw something to everyone’s attention that struck me yesterday when I attended the temple with my daughter. It was her first time there, and, since she and her mother (escort) were doing first-time-attendee stuff that excluded me for the first hour, I did initiatory work. There are a bunch of promises involved in that part of the endowment, but what jumped out at me forcefully is the nature of the very first blessing pronounced there. It isn’t what anyone would assume or guess if they hadn’t experienced it personally, and I think it is absolutely important for everyone here to recognize, especially when the cultural garbage gets particularly rank.
The very first blessing pronounced at the very beginning of the endowment process is that our “
intellect” will be “ clear and active“. Those are extremely interesting choices of words for that blessing – and both of them are powerful in the implications they contain. I understand that this might be dismissed as less important than it was to me yesterday by some who would emphasize that it simply is the obvious place to start in the progression of blessings that follow, but it still is the very first blessing – and I believe it is a foundational blessing for much of what followed the rest of the time we spent in the temple.
For anyone who hears someone tell them that the heart is more important than the mind in the acquisition of a personal testimony of any kind, we have this simple example of why that is nonsense – and why it is important to create a personal understanding that harmonizes and balances heart and mind.
Great point. I think when we are looking for things like that we notice it more but it has been there all a long. I have noticed that I pay attention to the things that are important now at this minute. It’s only human nature I guess. Very insightful, thanks Ray, I always like what you have to say. On this post you said: Quote:The very first blessing pronounced at the very beginning of the endowment process is that our “intellect” will be “clear and active”. Those are extremely interesting choices of words for that blessing – and both of them are powerful in the implications they contain.
My HT came over yesterday. His daughter is going on a mission soon. She wants to go to Nauvoo for her endowments.
He asked us if we want to go too. Iam excited to go with them. We can visit the Grandkids at the same time. I will be sure to look for
this 1st blessing again. Thanks.
Mike, Just to emphasize it, this is from the initiatory (the washing and anointing – the beginning of “the endowment”), not the presentation we normally think of when we say “the endowment”. We tend to separate the initiatory and the rest of the endowment into two distinct ordinances, but, technically, they are differing aspects of the same ordinance.
I wanted to make that clear, in case you don’t do the initiatory part when you go.
Old-Timer wrote:The very first blessing pronounced at the very beginning of the endowment process is that our “
intellect” will be “ clear and active“. Those are extremely interesting choices of words for that blessing – and both of them are powerful in the implications they contain. Thanks for the reminder and taking the time to share it. At some point I would like to hear more, if appropriate, about your daughter’s thoughts on that day.
I always choose to do initiatory whenever possible at the temple. i find it so much more uplifting (well especially since they sewed up the shields) It is all promises of our potential….seems like something a loving parent would want his kids to understand. The endowment is so much more of a “you better behave” lecture to me.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.