I Speak to Dead People

[Anonymous]

Margaret Blair Young is one of my favorite Mormon writers. She has worked with Darius Gray for years to bring greater awareness to church members about the experiences of black members, and I am convinced she has been a key player in that arena. I don’t think it is hyperbole to say that there might not be a white member who understands those issues better than Margaret.

The following is an article she wrote at Patheos entitled, “I Speak to Dead People“. In it, she talks about her experiences in the temple over the years.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/welcometable/2014/01/i-speak-to-dead-people/

We have had multiple discussions about the temple recently, and I am sharing this article NOT to imply in any way that it is “the one true way to see the temple” but simply to show how someone who understands very well the issues we discuss here can view this topic – and because I like the statements she makes periodically acknowledging that not everyone sees the temple the way she does, and that it’s okay to see it differently. Also, she has some really interesting insights into ancient Jewish culture and non-Mormon interpretations in the article, as well.

Finally, I’m sharing it simply because she writes so beautifully, and beauty ought to be shared and appreciated.

[Anonymous]

The author makes a common mistake. Women *have* taken part in masonic rituals – the Order of the Eastern Star runs female lodges. Some forms of masonry also have marriage rites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Eastern_Star

[Anonymous]

Yes, Sam, but that wasn’t the case in the areas where Joseph lived and at that time, and he was criticized heavily for allowing women into the temple by other Masons. The Order of the Eastern Star was established in 1850, after Joseph was killed.

[Anonymous]

That’s one example of female involvement with masonry. Women had been into Masonic areas long before this, sometimes through trickery. Women have always had some kind of social role on the periphery of masonry – widows were often looked after for example.

Masonic weddings do go on. Notably in Turkey.

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/Masonic%20Wedding.htm

[img]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/philipcarter/masonry/weddingcups.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/images/masonic_wedding_pic_1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/images/masonic_wedding_pic_14.jpg[/img]

[Author]

Posts