- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
I’m curious about the symbolism behind a woman needing her husband to know her temple name. Then there is the part where she does not become privy to his-it is a secret kept from her. So here are the main questions up for discussion. I’d be interested in both the negative and positive symbolism we can derive.
*Symbolism of the new name
*Why the man is given his wife’s new name
*Why the man keeps his new name secret from his wife
just me wrote:I’m curious about the symbolism behind a woman needing her husband to know her temple name. Then there is the part where she does not become privy to his-it is a secret kept from her.
So here are the main questions up for discussion. I’d be interested in both the negative and positive symbolism we can derive.
*Symbolism of the new name
*Why the man is given his wife’s new name
*Why the man keeps his new name secret from his wife
I’ve liked the positive symbolism of the new name being similar to Saul being renamed Paul as he accepted Christ and dedicated his life to God.
The man needs to know her name so he can allow her into heaven.
He doesn’t reveal his name because it is a “keyword”.
Symbolism of new name: Quote:D&C 130:11
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.
This name is used 3 times in the temple. I can’t document what the symbolism is, but I think it represents our new relationship with HF as a result of the commitments made in the Temple.
There are additional verses using “The New Name” but they may relate in other ways.
Quote:JST Rev 3:12
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, this is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.
Quote:JST Rev 2:17
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knowest saving he that receiveth it.
I need to do more work on the other questions before I can reply. Not to sound too critical. but I’m more worried that my hubby remembers my name then if I know his or not.KK, I would enjoy hearing why you are worried about your DH not remembering your new name. Thanks for the quotes. MC, the man doesn’t reveal his name because it is a “keyword” but isn’t it also a “keyword” for the woman or is it something different? IOW, what sets the man’s name apart from the woman’s name do you suppose? I’m guessing that it boils down to the woman must go through the man to get to CK and the man has direct access.
When we stand at the veil we are there with someone who represents the Lord. However, before a woman gets married it is her future husband. So, when I am at the veil is the person on the other side representing the Lord or my DH?
Was my DH representing the Lord or himself?
Some of you guys who have worked doing temple ordinances correct me if I’m wrong here… On any given day, aren’t all males getting their first endowment and all females getting their first endowment given the same name?
I can check with my brother who is an ordinance worker in the San Antonio temple but I believe that’s correct.
Of course it’s very symbolic…otherwise, if a man gets old and forgets his wife’s new name, she would have a problem
😆 I love the symbolism of a new birth. New names have a LONG traditional in religion.
Men know their wives’ and don’t tell their wives their own because of the LONG, traditional, deeply ingrained sexism of the system – imo, of course. I’m fine with it, but I’m neither a woman nor a wife.
Honestly, I honor the restriction about revealing it, but only to honor the system that is in place now. I would have NO problem whatsoever with telling my wife my new name, since I believe it is totally symbolic. As Bruce pointed out so well, if it wasn’t, those with Alzheimers or any other form of dementia would be in BIG trouble.
Bruce, you are right about daily names. As was mentioned, the idea goes back very far – right to Abraham, from what we can tell. Abram became Abraham after he made a covenant with God (Genesis 17:4-5). Even Peter received his name from Jesus himself (John 1:42) after being known as Simon. It is meant to be a beautiful symbolism, marking a significant change in a person’s life (Saul to Paul is a really good example of this drastic change). I wonder if we have lost some of the significance of this symbolism by assigning “mass produced” new names, so to speak. Does it seem less special knowing that everyone else received the same new name that day?
Also, the secrecy of it may go against the original intention. Abraham was known to all as Abraham, Peter known to all as Peter (or Cephas, in Greek), and Paul known to all as Paul. They were open about this radical change in their lives. I wonder if the secrecy of it takes away from what may have been meant to be a radical outward change?
What about all of the other women that I personally know, that also went to my temple sealing AND went through the endowment .. AND also know “My Name”. It just didn’t seem too special after DH told me everyone kind of knew what it was that day. 
I haven’t really studied it alot, but I know that tons of cults, the occult, most secret societies, have a ritual of individuals being given new names. There’s also the social construct of giving nicknames, which tends to bond close-knit groups, creating a type of insular exclusion to outsiders, similarly to the ritual of the secret societies, just less formalized. LaLaLove wrote:What about all of the other women that I personally know, that also went to my temple sealing AND went through the endowment .. AND also know “My Name”. It just didn’t seem too special after DH told me everyone kind of knew what it was that day.
Yeah, my mom would also know my new name if she actually knows about the daily name. And my DH’s dad would know all his sons new names.
Hmmm. The whole secret name thing is getting less secret.
I do agree that the secret name probably stems from the “mystery religion” type thing. And possibly has some roots not only in scripture but in Masonry. Anyone know?
Quote:What about all of the other women that I personally know, that also went to my temple sealing AND went through the endowment .. AND also know “My Name”. It just didn’t seem too special after DH told me everyone kind of knew what it was that day. Bummer. Unless that is wrong?
Yeah, that’s the practice. I know my sister’s because I was there when she went through. You can hear at the veil what others are saying, especially given how many veil workers and temple goers are hard of hearing.
I agree with Ray that the husband knowing the wife’s, but not the other way around is just a sexist holdover that hasn’t changed and is unnecessary. I view it symbolically as well, not literally (some dead guy racking his brains while his dead wife is giving wild charade-like clues so she can enter).
The other thing I liked about the new name is that the names used are all from scripture – I like the feeling of affiliation that gives us with someone specific from the scriptures. In the case of women (who are seldom mentioned by name in scripture), that is sometimes a pretty obscure person!
A few scriptures about “new names”:
Quote:Rev 3: 12.Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. D&C 130: 11. And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. Isaiah 62: 2.And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new bname, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Rev 2: 17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. I also did a post that is related to possible symbolism of the new name on Mormon Matters:
http://mormonmatters.org/2008/08/20/is-the-internet-a-urim-thummim/ ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://mormonmatters.org/2008/08/20/is-the-internet-a-urim-thummim/ Here’s my take on it: The new name cannot be seen alone. What happens at the same time?
You receive your garments that may symbolize your physical body (which you are commanded to allways wear).
The new name is the new physical you. After you are born you receive another name, given by your parrents. This is also the chronology during the endowment session. Do you see the connection?
IMHO
Old-Timer wrote:New names have a LONG traditional in religion.
In some tribes, it is thought that knowing someone’s real name gives you power over them, and hence the tribal members all have a real name, plus one that people call them by.
Tony Hillerman writes about the ceremonial name in Native Amercian Indian culture that Sam mentioned and the power that is associated with knowing it. Also, many people are really uncomfortable with strangers using their “familiar” nicknames. It jars on the ears – kind of like a friend calling my mom “Nora” when I was young.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.