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My wife and I let our recommends expire in the fall. Aside from our middle way of believing unorthodox, neither of us had any good reason for not getting them again. Neither of us really enjoy going to the temple, but we have done it as that is what we are supposed to do. Aside from sitting in the celestial room, I don’t get much out of my experience there. I also enjoy those same feelings when I meditate or commune with nature. Most of my temple service comes from taking the young men to do baptisms, but even then I have questions about what we are doing. Since there is a youth temple trip coming up, I was feeling pressure (from within) to renew my recommend, but it has felt like the wrong motive for me to renew. I have also been uneasy about my answers to the questions about belief in the interview, in a cup half or cup half empty kind of way. I think I believe in the godhead, but then there is also a part of me that wonders…
Anyway after talking it over with my wife, I took the plunge to renew my recommend, while she has decided to hold off. I can say it felt strange making the move without her, but I don’t judge her (or worry about her). It also felt strange heading into the interview knowing I have equal portions of disbelief as I do belief.
As I we went through the questions, I can honestly say that a feeling of peace came over me. I am never too sure how to discern between the spirit and personal emotion, but at that moment it was comforting to me. I really felt like it is OK to have a certain degree if disbelief, and even disagreement with the church on certain things. Although I am not particularly interested in attending soon, I like that I can keep the option of temple attendance open.
Just wanted to share that in case anyone else is juggling these feelings.
Thank you for sharing this, I am also debating renewing my temple recommend. I plan on going over the great series of discussions about the temple recommend questions that were done on this board over the summer. They were helpful to me then, and I anticipate they will be now. Thanks for sharing your experience. In the end, we only have to be comfortable with our answers before God, however we envision God. I’m cool with that.
It works for some people. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
i am in the midst of renewing now and had no issues at all in the first of the two interviews. next one next sunday. I’m coming up this summer and because of this site I feel more comfortable with the questions than I have for years. That doesn’t mean I am completely comfortable with the whole thing. rebeccad wrote:Thank you for sharing this, I am also debating renewing my temple recommend. I plan on going over the great series of discussions about the temple recommend questions that were done on this board over the summer. They were helpful to me then, and I anticipate they will be now.
I highly recommend reading the section on Temple Recommends in the
How To Stay LDSWayfarer, you have to go through 3 interviews? Is it your stake or mine that has reformed the policy?
Church0333, I think that level of comfort is related to the way I felt during the interview. This site has definitely helped me to understand my transition and see it in the scope of the big picture. Thanks everyone.
ihhi wrote:My wife and I let our recommends expire in the fall. Aside from our middle way of believing unorthodox, neither of us had any good reason for not getting them again. Neither of us really enjoy going to the temple, but we have done it as that is what we are supposed to do. Aside from sitting in the celestial room, I don’t get much out of my experience there. I also enjoy those same feelings when I meditate or commune with nature. Most of my temple service comes from taking the young men to do baptisms, but even then I have questions about what we are doing.
Since there is a youth temple trip coming up, I was feeling pressure (from within) to renew my recommend, but it has felt like the wrong motive for me to renew. I have also been uneasy about my answers to the questions about belief in the interview, in a cup half or cup half empty kind of way. I think I believe in the godhead, but then there is also a part of me that wonders…
Anyway after talking it over with my wife, I took the plunge to renew my recommend, while she has decided to hold off. I can say it felt strange making the move without her, but I don’t judge her (or worry about her). It also felt strange heading into the interview knowing I have equal portions of disbelief as I do belief.
As I we went through the questions, I can honestly say that a feeling of peace came over me. I am never too sure how to discern between the spirit and personal emotion, but at that moment it was comforting to me. I really felt like it is OK to have a certain degree if disbelief, and even disagreement with the church on certain things. Although I am not particularly interested in attending soon, I like that I can keep the option of temple attendance open.
Just wanted to share that in case anyone else is juggling these feelings.
I feel the same way. Thank you for posting this. While I believe and have had awesome spiritual experiences to confirm that faith, I also have doubt and logical assertions that give room for that doubt. I have chosen one over the other and move forward.
Old-Timer wrote:In the end, we only have to be comfortable with our answers before God, however we envision God. I’m cool with that.
I love this logic! Its the perfect way to think about it.I can’t see how to answer ‘do I have a testimony of the restored gospel?’ I can’t say I do. My bishop says a testimony can be a hope its true. But how can you hope it’s true when you know the true history. To me it seems like saying I know Santa is not real but I hope he is. I know he’s not so can’t have a hope or testimony of it.
I can’t see a way of getting around that question and keeping my integrity.
Quote:I can’t see how to answer ‘do I have a testimony of the restored gospel?’
It’s a very ambiguous question, so just about any definitions of those words that work for you are fine. Seriously, a question that ambiguous can mean just about anything – even nearly contradictory things to different people.
Quote:how can you hope it’s true when you know the true history.
It depends on how you define “true” (and there are multiple, legitimate, different definitions in the dictionary) – and, frankly, you don’t know “the true history”. None of us do. We just know more now than we used to know, but we still don’t see everything or see what we see objectively.
I’m not saying you should be able to answer “Yes” to that question, but I have no problem answering that way – and I guarantee I know as much of the history as you do. It’s not impossible – and it’s not even all that difficult if you simply create a different (but completely legitimate) paradigm than the one you have now. You don’t have to “deny” anything; you just have to learn to accept multiple possibilities and craft a new focus.
It’s not easy, but it’s more than just possible.
littlelostsheep wrote:I can’t see how to answer ‘do I have a testimony of the restored gospel?’
My bishop says a testimony can be a hope its true. But how can you hope it’s true when you know the true history.
For the record, there are many, myself included, who know the full history and believe. I on my worst days now have hope it is true. In no way saying that must be your conclusion, but the history alone doesn’t compel disbelief
littlelostsheep wrote:I can’t see how to answer ‘do I have a testimony of the restored gospel?’
My bishop says a testimony can be a hope its true. But how can you hope it’s true when you know the true history.
The answer is a simple “yes” or “no” to the question asked. And the question is whether you have a testimony — that is a ‘witness’ of any type about the restoration. It does not ask if the Book of Mormon is a historical record of the Nephites, it does not say anything at all about the “church”. It merely asks about the restoration of the “Gospel”. This leads me to ask certain questions of myself:1. What was the gospel at the time of Christ? Was it not faith, repentence, baptism, and living by the spirit of the holy ghost? Was it not an open book of scripture with revelation to the heart and mind of those who chose to follow Christ?
2. What was the “great apostasy”? Was it not that certain people decided to create creeds for which believers had to profess their belief in a certain way in order to be acceptable? was it not the act of accepting dogma even if it is not true? and then, locking down any dissent and “new revelation”?
3. What, then, was the “restoration of the gospel”? Was it not the undoing of creeds? was it not a return to the basics as described in the book of mormon? was it not the opening if canon to accept that revelation is an ongoing process?
The question does not require us to believe anything about the apostasy, even whether the apostasy was absolute, or that the restoration is fully complete. They need not be. But if I define the gospel as merely “truth” and that the gospel imperative is to have faith, repent, be baptized, and seek the spirit through following Christ, I find no issue with the restoration at all. I find no issue with the Book of Mormon on this matter, because it tends to explain this simple message rather nicely and completely.
[Edit:] I love your comments Wayfarer! :thumbup: littlelostsheep wrote:I can’t see how to answer ‘do I have a testimony of the restored gospel?’
It may help to consider that everyone has their view or “testimony” of everything, they are not asking you to recite the details of what your testimony of the restored gospel is. I think the wording of this question is inspired.
littlelostsheep wrote:But how can you hope it’s true when you know the true history.
Like Ray said maybe you imagine hoping for the wrong definition of “true.”
To illustrate my “hope” that the church is “true” I’ll play with your Santa analogy a little: As you say I know Santa is not “real” in the sense that I don’t imagine there is one man dressed in red that actually rides in a sleigh pulled by reindeer that magically makes it all the way around the planet in one night to personally deliver a gift to every single good boy and girl. But I DO honestly hope and believe that Santa is real in more authentic and meaningful ways. The spirit of Santa is
veryreal to me, and I see millions of people helping to carry out his work. The goodness, service, and ideal of Santa are all very much alive – and because we do his work the fruits of “Santa” are a physical reality to millions of children on Christmas morning. How in the world can you say you don’t believe in Santa. I tell my kids I absolutely believe in Santa, because I do. I understand that as they grow to adulthood their comprehension of this statement will also mature and change shape, but I hope they continue to “believe” and act as such instead of adopting the voice of the critics who claim a belief in Santa is hurtful and damaging. Oh you have given me much to think about. I was thinking do I have a testimony of what the missionaries teach about the restoration.
Do I believe Joseph smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. Do I believe heavenly messages came to ordain Joseph Smith with the priesthood. Do I believe the Book of Mormon was translated etc.
I just can’t get my brain around how to believe these things as literal facts and therefore couldn’t see answering ‘Yes’ to having a testimony of the restoration.
Do I believe in faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost and service to others as mentioned in Book of Mormon. ‘Yes’ I most definitely have a hope that all that is truth.
Does that mean I can honestly answer yes to that question?
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