You can do a lot even without a Temple Recommend

[Anonymous]

This thought occurred to me as I left the home of one of my home teaching families. I have two elderly families in my long list, both of whom have been struck with health issues lately. I ended up giving a blessing to one of the families yesterday. They were very appreciative, comforted, and I can see that after a couple years now they trust me.

A comment Brian made a while ago struck with me — in spite of being unusual in the Church now, I still feel the efficacy of giving blessings as they really do comfort people who have faith in them as Brian said. So, as I left the person’s home, not holding a TR right now (by choice), not having a calling, and not really feeling engaged with the Ward or the whole Mormon experience, I did have this thought — “You can still do a lot without a TR”.

You can hold a calling, give blessings of comfort and healing, serve others, teach classes, inspire others as you talk to them in the hall, and make contributions in classes. There are a lot of ways you can still have fulfilling experiences at Church even though you may not be part of the TR-holding group.

[Anonymous]

SD, a while back I did a “rant” about not being able to service anonymously or without a TR in the church.

By anonymous, I mean have an interview, sustain in a meeting, set a part, etc.

The reality is you can. The following are examples:

Clean the chapel.

Home teach.

Visit teach.

Missionary work. (If inclined.)

Feed missionaries, etc.

Thanks for the ideas.

Mike from Milton.

[Anonymous]

You can do all those things — if they inspire you.

For me, it’s been:

a) Have quality social events with Church members in your own home. On Sunday we had a cake decorating contest where people came and sampled the cake, voted and a winner was declared. Everyone loved it. And so did we. Then we talked about expanding it to other families and everyone was stoked.

b) Find a hobby that you love, and teach an under-resourced child how to do it (in my case music).

c) Volunteer to help when there are bona fide needs announced in priesthood meeting.

d) Volunteer to organize a quorum service project.

….anything you feel is consistent with the Church culture, that you feel you can support with your time and energy. It’s nice to do it on your own terms.

Have to say, I was pretty engaged in Church-like things this weekend without doing anything that was officially Church-oriented, except for perhaps the blessing I gave…opens up new possibilities for what it means to be “engaged” within the LDS Community.

[Anonymous]

Actually if you don’t have a temple recommend, you can still get temple work done. In Family Search, there’s an option to get temple ordinances done on temple file, which means you don’t have to visit the Temple. I got my mother’s work done this way, as well as getting my parents sealed to one another.

[Anonymous]

SD, that is alot of good ideas. It would be great to keep this going.

I like what you said

Quote:

… I was pretty engaged in Church-like things this weekend without doing anything that was officially Church-oriented, except for perhaps the blessing I gave…opens up new possibilities for what it means to be “engaged” within the LDS Community.

I’m beginning to wonder… Isn’t that what we (I) should be doing anyway? (Defined along our own personal circumstances.)

Instead of being sensative about what is defined as an official church position or calling?

It sounds like you are really trying to live a more “Christ-like” life.

Thanks for the ideas. Keep them coming.

Mike from Milton.

[Anonymous]

Mike wrote:

I’m beginning to wonder… Isn’t that what we (I) should be doing anyway? (Defined along our own personal circumstances.)

Instead of being sensative about what is defined as an official church position or calling?

I think the church would say “yes” this is what we’re supposed to be doing, but it would not be given much resources; instead attendance at meetings and other things that are part of the official programs of the Church are what tends to be emphasized.

In my own case, the pure gospel got lost in the organizational ‘shoulds’ and busy-ness of our religion. It became a chore to do pure service to others inside and outside of our church community when I had the equivalent of a part-time job in the church and was always stressing about how I was going to meet financial goals when so much of my time and resources went out to church things. With that adjusted, I feel more “free” and able to pursue those things my heart really wants.

[Anonymous]

A temple recommend has a very specific purpose – and there are FAR more things that can be done regardless of temple recommend status than can be done only with a recommend.

Attending the temple is important to me (and the principle and concept of temple work as part of Mormonism is more than just important to me), but it’s nowhere near central to me in terms of being actively Christian – and, if I had to choose one or the other in isolation (having a temple recommend or being a true Christian), I would choose being a true Christian every time (and twice on Sunday). Luckily, I can have a temple recommend AND strive to be a true Christian – but I agree totally that you can and should do a lot without one.

[Anonymous]

SamBee wrote:

Actually if you don’t have a temple recommend, you can still get temple work done. In Family Search, there’s an option to get temple ordinances done on temple file, which means you don’t have to visit the Temple. I got my mother’s work done this way, as well as getting my parents sealed to one another.

I was despairing at one point at ever getting the work done for my female ancestors. But Temple File seems to get it done reasonably quickly, with the exception of the endowments.

[Anonymous]

It might be easier to list what you can’t do, because you can DO so much without one.

Without a TR, you can’t:

– Go inside the temple

– Hold a piece of paper in your wallet that says “Temple Recommend”

You can pretty much do anything else without it (including things that other TR holders can’t do 😈 )

Now, I think there are guidelines in the CHI of things that they check to see if you have one for:

– Certain leadership callings

– Giving blessings or doing ordinances or confirming priesthood.

But I believe these callings and ordinances are subject to the bishop’s discretion of allowing under some circumstances, but I’m not sure about it.

In other words, it seems like the new version of the CHI wants anyone receiving a calling to have one, but they allow an out for a bishop to make the final call.

Is that incorrect?

[Anonymous]

I think it’s probably worth asking WHY someone doesn’t have a TR. The answers are as varied as the members of the church. Some people don’t go/live nearby enough to a temple (or live very near one), so don’t see the point, or have done most of their close family work… some people are disaffected… and a tiny minority of people don’t have one, because they’ve done something bad. (And I don’t just mean the WoW folks!)

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

In other words, it seems like the new version of the CHI wants anyone receiving a calling to have one, but they allow an out for a bishop to make the final call.

Is that incorrect?

I thought it was Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances…didn’t think it meant you can’t give blessings. If they want to make a TR a requirement for holding a calling, well, then we really are two-tier religious system.

[Anonymous]

No, holding a TR is not required for most callings – but it is for some of the more obvious leadership positions.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

Now, I think there are guidelines in the CHI of things that they check to see if you have one for:

– Certain leadership callings

– Giving blessings or doing ordinances or confirming priesthood.

But I believe these callings and ordinances are subject to the bishop’s discretion of allowing under some circumstances, but I’m not sure about it.

In other words, it seems like the new version of the CHI wants anyone receiving a calling to have one, but they allow an out for a bishop to make the final call.

A few weeks ago I was asked to join in the circle for both a baby blessing and in addition a confirmation of membership (after baptism) of infants older siblings. As a non-temple reccomend holder but very active in exemplifying Christ daily living with continual love and service garnishing every thought (100 % home teacher and the guy everybody calls on for a hand on their home repair, which is never ending I’ve pleasantly found out:). I have participated in

the circle for baby blessings (non- saving ordinance) in the past and not felt I was in error. But

this time with the baptism confirmation after for in the same meeting I

started to second guess myself. I had joined the circle just minutes earlier for the

infant blessing and decided to go ahead and participate in the confirmation as well. Now

after reading through this thread I have started to think: Did I do wrong? (on the confirmation

decision… or even both for that matter) Sometimes I feel I have no idea what I’m doing as

someone who is trying to bless their families life by living as much of the LDS church life as I

can without leavening it all together. Undoubtedly this site helps myself and others to stay

which brings an measurable amount of good for us… but my mind keeps going back to scripture

such as the Lord does “spew out the Luke warm” Maybe it is all hot or cold or light or dark ie.

all on or all off with the LDS Gosple-Did i mock God by participating in priesthood circle? I

really want to know and avoid crossing any boundaries that would offend my FIH. I feel like I

need a real detailed list of what I can and can’t do- as a non-temple”ite” I have no problem

humbly taking my seat at the back of bus- I just need to know the do’s and don’ts because the

last thing I want is my actions to null someones confirmation of the Holy Spirit. Final question

“can you sometimes do more harm than good to yourself by staying not as lock-stepper? What

has any of us gained here if we just once mock God in our struggle to stay and live our own revealed truth at the same time? ~ thank you in advance by a very confused SOG

[Anonymous]

Every person at Church is lukewarm in some respect, even active TR holders. I know that first hand from having been one and being a leader trying to get TR holders to do certain things without success.

I don’ think you mock God by standing in on certain blessings either. For decades non TR holders have participated in certain ordinances and blessings. Also, was it in your Ward? If so, would your Bishop have known you were a TR holder and said nothing?

Personally, I think this whole “must have a TR to do X” is a softer commandment and if I was a Bishop, and saw a good, faithful active person I wouldn’t open a can of worms by refusing him certain ordinance-giving and blessings either.

[Anonymous]

Quoting the CHI regarding the administration of saving ordinances (baptism, confirmation, MP ordination, endowment, sealing):

Quote:

20.1.1 Participation in Ordinances and Blessings

Only brethren who hold the necessary priesthood and are worthy may perform an ordinance or blessing or stand in the circle. Those who participate are usually limited to a few, including priesthood leaders, close family members, and close associates such as home teachers … Leaders encourage worthy brethren who hold the necessary priesthood to perform or participate in ordinances and blessings for their family members.

The requirement that someone be “worthy” seems somewhat subjective. Continuing:

Quote:

20.1.2 Worthiness to Participate in an Ordinance or Blessing

Only a Melchizedek Priesthood holder who is worthy to hold a temple recommend may act as voice in confirming a person a member of the Church, conferring the Melchizedek Priesthood, ordaining a person to an office in that priesthood, or setting apart a person to serve in a Church calling.

So the only requirement is that the “voice” be temple recommend worthy. Note that he needn’t have a temple recommend.

Now, for the blessing of children, the only explicit requirement is that those who participate hold the Melchizedek priesthood.

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