TR Question Survey – Summary

[Anonymous]

Thanks MIke — what I get from your story is that our church experience is heavily dependent on how we respond to the challenges that are connected with it. That has been my personal challenge, although in a much different sphere than yours. Thanks for sharing what you did, I appreciate it very much and it gives me hope.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Mike.

[Anonymous]

For the purpose of helping those who are interested in the results of this survey, this message identifies a process to follow about the Temple Recommend, with links to all the threads with answers.

The Temple Recommend interview is not the time to discuss faith issues before the Priesthood. The questions are simple, and should be answered “yes” or “no” as appropriate. Because many of us are in a faith transition or hold unorthodox beliefs, our answers are often more complex and nuanced than the typical true believing, white-or-black response. As well, we often think we need to answer the question according to what we impute the intent of the question to be according to the interviewer or standard church definition of things. This is not the case.

There are multiple approaches to a Middle Way in the church.

– If I want to have a temple recommend and be authentic and honest, then basic observance to the behavior norms is in order.

– If I do not feel that basic observance (chastity, WoW, Tithing…) is in the stars for me, then I would not seek a temple recommend.

– I personally do not recommend outright lying.

Before the interview, I believe preparation is in order.

1. Determine what I personally believe regarding each point–not yet how I would answer the question, nor what the church’s intent is with the question, but what do I really think and feel about it.

2. Determine whose rules I live by and reconcile myself to my judge’s standards.

a. if I believe that the church determines my worthiness before god, then I should reconcile the areas of difference between my compliance to the questions and the church’s standards, by repenting of any area of noncompliance – if I’m not sure whether the church would agree with my compliance, then I can ask my bishop about whether my sins have risen to the level of church discipline. This involves something called “Priesthood Roulette”, in that Bishops do not uniformly treat faith questions from ward to ward.

b. if I believe that only the Lord determines my worthiness, then I should reconcile myself before the god of my understanding, and repentance/reconciliation may also be necessary.

3. once I have reconciled myself to whose rules I live by, then I prepare to confidently and authentically answer the questions as asked.

With this preparation complete, I am ready for the interview, should I freely decide that I want a TR.

During the interview, I consider the model of accountability used in the temple, where the interviewer represents the Lord. I answer the questions as asked authentically and confidently as if my own personal judge were at the other side of the table. There is no deception or subterfuge: I answer truthfully according to my judge’s expectations and definitions of terms.

Maybe this only works for me, and I know that many reject my unorthodox views as being unacceptable for a TR. But I believe, firmly, that I have squared my worthiness with the god of my understanding, and that my judge fully accepts me, warts and all.

I am not saying that the outcome will be or even should be a temple recommend. I think the process is very useful in helping me determine my priorities and my position vis-a-vis church and god.

In working through these questions, I found a new freedom: once I anchor my practice and understanding in what I truly believe, then I can move forward unapologetically with authenticity. In spight of my lack of orthodoxy and orthopraxy, I can be completely square with my judge, and that is all that matters.

on StayLDS, we proposed a Temple Recommend survey, allowing participants to express how they address each question.

Here are the responses to each question:

1a. God

1b. Jesus Christ

1c. The Holy Ghost

2. Atonement

3. Restoration

4. Sustaining LDS Leadership

5. Law of Chastity

6. Family Conduct

7. Affiliating with Apostates

8. Keeping Covenants

9. Honesty

10a. Tithing

10b. Word of Wisdom

11. Divorce Obligations

12. Temple Covenants

13. Unresolved Sins

14. Worthiness

Summary

I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, wayfarer. I agree with your approach and phrase it this way:

I answer each question according to the dictates of my own conscience, without regard for how the interviewer might interpret them differently.

I figure God knows my heart and my reasons for being able to give the answers I give. I think he cares about me being there and my own reasons for my answers, and I tihnk he couldn’t care less about the surety that, at some point in my life, the interviewer is going to see things differently than I do. My reasons for my answers might stay constant throughout my life; their consitency with the interviewers’ reasons for their answers won’t be consistent. That is certain and sure, so I can’t let others’ views (and my preception of them) affect my answers.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Wayfarer for this whole process.

Although having a temple recommend isn’t the right choice for me right now, this gives me hope that if I decide to obtain one in the future it is a possibility.

[Author]

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