One Response to “Is it true that in the past the Mormon temple ceremony inclu…”
Vicente Cruz
2008-02-18 01:21:38
Hi friend. The temple ceremonies are very symbolic. Human cultures constantly change, so it's necessary to change and update these symbols every once in a while so they'll continue to be relevant.
I think I know which old temple ceremony you're talking about. This ceremony was removed from the endowment (temple ceremony) many years ago; in all the years that I've been going to the temple, I've never participated in anything like the ceremony you mention; it's just not part of modern temple worship.
However, I have studied this old ceremony a bit. The ceremony had nothing to do with a penalty of death; this idea is anti-Mormon fiction. In reality, the symbol represented the highly sacred nature of the temple ceremony. Participants made a promise to God that they would not betray the sacred symbols of the endowment even if someone else threatened to take away their life. Notice how this is very, very different than a penalty of death supposedly carried out by the Church itself! The real promise (to keep the things of God sacred) is noble; the anti-Mormon misrepresentation is draconian. As always, anti-Mormons try to twist the facts in order to condemn the Church of Christ.
In the modern temple ceremony we also make a promise to God to not betray the sacred symbols of the temple. However, the symbol that was previously associated with this promise has been abandoned since it is no longer relevant in our modern culture.
I think I know which old temple ceremony you're talking about. This ceremony was removed from the endowment (temple ceremony) many years ago; in all the years that I've been going to the temple, I've never participated in anything like the ceremony you mention; it's just not part of modern temple worship.
However, I have studied this old ceremony a bit. The ceremony had nothing to do with a penalty of death; this idea is anti-Mormon fiction. In reality, the symbol represented the highly sacred nature of the temple ceremony. Participants made a promise to God that they would not betray the sacred symbols of the endowment even if someone else threatened to take away their life. Notice how this is very, very different than a penalty of death supposedly carried out by the Church itself! The real promise (to keep the things of God sacred) is noble; the anti-Mormon misrepresentation is draconian. As always, anti-Mormons try to twist the facts in order to condemn the Church of Christ.
In the modern temple ceremony we also make a promise to God to not betray the sacred symbols of the temple. However, the symbol that was previously associated with this promise has been abandoned since it is no longer relevant in our modern culture.