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I recently did a walkthrough of a temple open house. Was there with my wife and kids. It’s a beautiful building and it was a reminder of the strength of commitment that we as a people and as a church have towards eternal families. As the tour ended my wife was crying and just so happy about the temple and eternal families. She wanted to take lots of pictures and read all the post-tour information. I was sad that I no longer have the unquestioning faith that “the church is true”. At most what I have is a hope that it’s true. It made me wish that I was still plugged into the matrix. Most days I’m glad I have a broader view but it was a poignant reminder of what I’m missing.
Roadrunner wrote:I recently did a walkthrough of a temple open house. Was there with my wife and kids. It’s a beautiful building and it was a reminder of the strength of commitment that we as a people and as a church have towards eternal families.
As the tour ended my wife was crying and just so happy about the temple and eternal families. She wanted to take lots of pictures and read all the post-tour information. I was sad that I no longer have the unquestioning faith that “the church is true”. At most what I have is a hope that it’s true. It made me wish that I was still plugged into the matrix. Most days I’m glad I have a broader view but it was a poignant reminder of what I’m missing.
Once again I find that I am not the only one with what seems like complicated circumstances related to my feelings about the church. I get pretty bummed about not truly being connected with the majority. The thing is with me, I still believe in the restoration but even when I was young I “couldn’t see the forest for the trees”. To me the church obscures the gospel with all the unwritten rules and doctrine. It’s too much of a community that dictates interests (known as distractions) rather than a place of worship and peace. Anyway, I feel for ya.
I know exactly what you mean, RoadRunner. I’m mostly fine with my new faith, hope, and understanding but sometimes I have that longing to believe again as well, even though I know it can’t happen. “Sunday will come.” RoadRunner, I know exactly how you feel. I have those moments as well that I long to believe as I once did (not that it was strong or deep before), but know that I just can’t no matter how much scripture reading, fasting, or prayer I might do. It will never be the same and most days I am glad for it, but some days it feels like a heavy loss.
Wishing you peace brother,
-SBRed
I went on a temple open house tour before the rededication of the Ogden temple. I remember that questions of any kind were not allowed. They said that there would be a place in the pop-tent outside where questions could be fielded. The actual tour ended as soon as you set foot outside. Going to the information booth pop-tent was optional. Once inside there were church representatives that were manning the various photo booths etc. but nobody that was obviously there for answering questions. I felt like I would have to go up to a young missionary taking pictures to ask them if there was any special significance of the rose motif found throughout the temple. I understand that difficult and pointed questions could ruin the experience but I felt that the result was effectively, “Don’t ask questions.”
Roy, I’m pretty sure the policy of not allowing questions inside the temple is to eliminate the opportunity for anti-Mormons to attend the open houses and start drilling everyone with loaded questions and causing major tension inside. I know that has happened in the past. I too miss the feeling of belonging by virtue of belief. It is still my tribe but I am starting to get to the point where I don’t need the tribe to tell me I am good and acceptable. Tonight we are going to see Meet the Mormons and it is something my wife wants to do more than me but I am hoping I can leave the theatre feeling good that the church is helping some of my brothers and sisters in their life. My wife told me she only wants me to go with her as long as I don’t go there looking only for the bad things. I hope I can see the good too and just keep my mouth shut if there is something I find distasteful. Old-Timer wrote:Roy, I’m pretty sure the policy of not allowing questions inside the temple is to eliminate the opportunity for anti-Mormons to attend the open houses and start drilling everyone with loaded questions and causing major tension inside. I know that has happened in the past.
I understand and agree that it would be most unfortunate to have hecklers inside the temple – it was just that they said there would be an opportunity to ask questions at the end and it didn’t seem like there was ever really such an opportunity.
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