- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
The following is a summary I read from a source I trust about the changes to the endowment that went into effect worldwide yesterday. I am highlighting the aspects I think people here will like the most: 1. It begins with a short, two minute message from the First Presidency, explaining that at times we update the endowment. This explanation is not part of the Endowment, per se, but will play for a temporary period to explain.
2. The movie is new, consisting of little live action at all, mostly still pictures, even of Adam and Eve, with voice-over narration. There is new music, beautiful and appropriate.
3. Much of the repetitive “return and report” was eliminated.
4. God no longer speaks just to the man, but to both Adam and Eve equally.5. The separate covenants of obedience for man and woman are integrated into a single covenant for all, with new language to obey god.6. The robes are no longer applied for the Aaronic Priesthood, but rather, only done once for the Melchizedek/Terrestrial Kingdom. Slippers are no longer considered part of the robes and thus are not removed.
7. Instead of “That will do” after covenants, the text now says ‘Thank you’.
8. The Law of the Gospel is now referred to as the “Higher Law”.
9. The Law of Chastity is expressed with more equality.10. At the end of the dramatic / movie section, BOTH Adam and Eve direct comments to the audience, and Eve has the last word.11. No veiling of women.12. Total time was between 1 hour 20 and 1 hour 22 minutes, compared to over 1 hour 40 for the prior endowment.
This might shake some orthodox members. It certainly is in a different category than the other recent changes we have discussed.
My husband just sent me the same list. My first thought was, three cheers for tireless feminists and their supporters.
I am going to be curious how orthodox members see this. My guess is, it’s just more revelation.
I wonder if some of the earlier changes were intentionally in preparation for these – so that members could get used to changes coming at them fast and furious and not be as blindsided by this. It’s good to see changes, especially ones people have been wanting for a long time now. Though I do see how these changes may affect both the orthodox member and the less than orthodox member that sees change as evidence that there was something wrong or flawed with what was done before. I’ve read rumors that the 2 minute video that will be temporarily playing ahead of the endowment session includes language that:
…is designed to soften the blow of the changes for the orthodox. Don’t worry folks, this is revelation.
- …is the standard, “Don’t talk about the temple.” hedge.
- …asks people to not talk about the fact that there have been changes.
I have no way of knowing whether any of that is true and by the time I get around to attending the temple (it’s several hours away) I’m sure the 2 minute video won’t be playing anymore, but I take issue with the last bullet. If true, it feels like we have learned absolutely nothing from our whitewash history to maintain an appearance of perfection days. A kinder interpretation would be to say that they don’t want people talking about changes because it’s extremely difficult to talk about changes without comparing things that happen in the temple, which would be a violation of bullet point number two.
Wow! Amazing! I saw that the first presidency statement said that we can expect changes to the temple experience pretty much always. I like that. To me it goes along with the concept of a continuing restoration. I very much hope it helps members less certainty and permanence on topics where it just isn’t sustainable.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Nibbler, There is also the difference in language in the sealing ceremony where the bride gives herself to the husband whereas the husband receives the bride (a vestige of a cultural tradition where wives were viewed as a form of property and polygamy). My hope is that many of the things that seem to be unequal in the temple experience will be changed eventually. I believe that the First presidency message is saying that there is very little that cannot be changed. That in itself is huge IMO. P.S. the unequal covenant language from the endowment ceremony prior to this most recent change mirrors pretty closely with Paul in the NT in 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5: 23-32. As an interesting side note, 1 Cor 13 also discusses the dishonor of women praying without a head covering. This is particularly relevant with the reported change concerning the veiling of women.
It’s not the first set of massive changes, and it won’t be the last. It’s interesting to see how religion gets shaped and reshaped by culture. Another one?! There were at least three or four ones introduced, how many more do we need? Personally the film is the one thing I enjoy about the endowment. It’s the other stuff I don’t like so much.
A more gender equal endowment is no bad thing though.
I can see a few reasons behind cutting the film. It could be a temporary measure, they wanted these changes to go live quicker than they could produce a new film that accommodates all the changes. They could release films in the near future that include the updates but they wanted to make the changes sooner rather than later.
It could be an indication that more changes are in store. If there’s no film it’s easier to change aspects of the endowment.
I am ready for drive through endowments. mom3 wrote:
I am ready for drive through endowments.
:clap: These seem like good changes and support my feelings that anything at church can change when leaders feel there is a good need for it to happen. They don’t bow to activist groups or culture…but they do open their minds to common sense and spiritual impressions of good changes that are helpful. I’m not sure they know where the inspiration comes from, but I’m sure they believe it is of God when it feels right to them.
I like these changes.
This list makes me happy. Huge step in the right direction, kudos to the Q15 and other GAs. I think changes for those putting them into effect can be among the most difficult – to some extent they have to consider that what they previously created and administered needed improvement. I’ve been visiting Salt Lake City all week and I’ve heard a few people talking and speculating. They are all orthodox faithful members. I don’t think these will shake many people.
These are clearly positive changes towards a more comfortable and egalitarian ceremony. I imagine only those who hold to a view where the endowment is a literal revelation divinely revealed in exactness and not to be altered would have a problem. Those who know much about the history of the endowment know this isn’t the case and that it’s changed many times throughout history, including changes to make it a more comfortable experience for participants. Those who separate the presentation of the endowment from the endowment itself will have even less of a problem. I think most temple going members will see these changes as revelation and be grateful for them. I applaud these changes and hope it is just another step towards full female participation including priesthood and all church positions eventually being open to include calling females. One can dream…
The changes to make the ordinances nearly gender-equal are great. Unqualified, full-stop. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if President Oaks is behind them. He’s been an advocate for such things in the past. For example, he was the apostle who said his mother was the presiding authority in his home after his father passed.
Now, after that gushing, I have an idea. The First Presidency isn’t going to apologize, admit wrongdoing, admit to causing harm, admit to causing pain, or even
acknowledgepain (probably). But that last thing – acknowledging pain – might finally be something faithful nuanced members can do publicly. These changes happened for a reason. Every revelation in the D&C has a reason. Mormons love to speculate on the reasons when they’re unknown. When the speculation starts, saying “Maybe they empathized with women for whom the temple experience was painful and took it to the Lord” could create space for them to talk about it.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.