- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
In our training session this morning, the temple president made an awesome statement that I thought everyone here might like to read. He said, in a nutshell: Quote:If a patron asks you what something in the temple means, remember it is all completely symbolic – so don’t limit their possible insights by giving them one answer as the only true answer. They need to find what each thing means for them personally, and that might change over time for them. I would say something like what I just said – that they need to accept whatever they feel In their hearts and minds about what they experience here.
.
I could nit-pick that a bit in view of what he might or might not accept as far as individual answers are concerned, but I don’t want to do that – since it wouldn’t be fair to him and would be critical rather than charitable. His words were wonderful to hear, and I choose to take him at his word for what they mean as spoken.
I taught the temple prep courses about 4 or 5 months ago. It was a tag team effort, me and the 1C in the BP. I got to teach the lesson “Learning from the Lord through Symbols.” 😈 What your temple president said was along the same lines as what I placed emphasis on during the class. We are unique, the lord reaches us individually. Look for symbols that speak to you. I showed them some images, asked for their interpretations and then offered some of my own interpretations. I reiterated that the temple is a place where we find personal meaning, I may find a totally different meaning than someone else and the funny thing is that we are both correct.
It’s cool to hear those sorts of things from a temple president.
Wow – I wish this were repeated more often. Especially before you attend, as a church we are dedicated to literal except for the temple. Ray your karma is amazing. Wherever you land you bring hope and it spreads back. Thanks for your temple insights Ray. I have not been to the temple in almost a year. I have never gone that long before, and I wish I could say I miss it, but I don’t. Your comments do remind me of the peaceful spirit that is there. I miss the quiet, but honestly not the endowment session. I should go back while I can, I don’t know what the future will hold for me. No one does. Hmm… some parts are literal – live sealings IMHO. I would also argue that many people feel a tangible peace in many parts of the temple. Not disagreeing with you Ray just trying to put over another side.
I had one of my pre-mission monthly meetings with my Bishop not too long ago, and we got started talking about my attending the temple for the first time (as in not just to do baptisms) coming up soon. The things that stuck out to me from what he said were 1) it brings you peace and a chance to separate yourself from your busy life in a busy world for just a couple of hours, and 2) he pretty much implied that in his opinion, there are two experiences in the temple you can have: learning insight into doctrine by paying attention to the words actually spoken, and letting yourself the moment to have your own personal revelation. He emphasized the personal revelation aspect of the temple a lot. He doesn’t know my belief situation, and that I view a lot of the church as a very interesting and intriguing anthropological insight into a local culture. But I liked that he emphasized more that the temple experience was a personal one. I agree that it is personal, West, and I think everyone’s experience is different. Whether you get personal revelation all depends on what you think personal revelation is, I suppose.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.