Day 91-Temple Questions-6-27-06
Today's the day! We called S. and all systems are go for the DC Temple Visitors Center. Elder D. and I will be picked up here at our apartment by Sister H. We will all go and see the exhibits for a while, then catch the Joseph Smith movie. Afterwards, we'll head back home. It should be a fun day.
We'll have to take two cars. S. will follow us. R. is available to come. He asked if he could bring his girlfriend. Why not? The more the merrier. I'll write how things went when we get back. It's raining hard again. (Sigh)
Our visitor center experience: We saw "The Christus." That's the huge statue of the Savior. Next, we went to a temporary exhibit. In the room were several paintings of the prophet Joseph Smith and key events in his life. We never made it past the first painting. We stopped and discussed the prophet and the church. S., as always, had lots of questions. Sincere questions.
We talked about the primitive church, the Apostles. S. said, "Well, the Apostles were all men who walked with Jesus, and you're saying that there are Apostles on the earth now?" I said, "Well, not all of the Apostles in the New Testament were with Jesus during his earthly ministry. In the Book of Acts, for example, after Judas kills himself, the eleven remaining Apostles got together and prayed to know who would fill his place." "And the lot fell on Matthais; and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles." Acts 1:26
Elder Davis added, "or Acts, chapter 9". Saul, who later became Paul was persecuting the church and the Apostles. The resurrected Christ appeared to him and said, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Acts 9:4 Saul was called, much like Alma the Younger, to repent and preach the Gospel. So, yeah, you didn't need to walk with Christ during his earthly ministry to be an Apostle. You still have to be called of God, "for no man taketh this honor unto himself..." Hebrews 5:4
Before we knew it, it was time for the movie. We were the only ones there. The movie was good as always. I cry every time I see the Carthage jail scene. The problem is, it's too short. At 65 minutes, everything just zips by, one scene after another. I wanna' see the extended directors cut. (haha)
When we got out of the theater, I asked S. what she thought of the movie. She said that she did not realize how many spirits and resurrected beings visited Joseph Smith. I personally think the movie should be extended to 4 hours long. At least. (The movie really needs special features. The movie is too short, not the Carthage jail scene. Although, now that I think about it, the jail scene could be longer. They should sing, "A Poor, Wayfaring Man of Grief". It doesn't show it.)
After the movie, we stayed and walked around the grounds. S. told me that when they moved here, they drove past the temple. Her kids got all excited. They thought it was Cinderella's castle. They did not know there was a Disney land here. Kids are so funny.
S. then asked us, "I hope you don't mind, but don't you think this whole temple thing is a little grandiose?" "What do you mean?", I asked. "Well, the lavishness of it all. You don't have to build a flashy temple to worship the Lord. It seems from my point of view that temples are "members-only". I mean instead of building these huge temples, why not take that money and give it to charities?" ( I just want to say that when S. asks these questions, she is always nice and really just curious. There is a desire to know the truth)
Well, first of all, why are temples so big and expensive? Why not just a simple, humble, modest little meeting house? To put it simply, nothing but the best for the Lord.
What I told S. was that in the OT, when people offered animal sacrifices to the Lord, only the best would do. When you took a lamb to be sacrificed, it had to be your best lamb, without blemish. Sometimes, when it comes to His Holy Temple, God expects our best.
As to the temples being "member's only", S. said that since she was not a member, she could not go in. Why is that? "Jesus did not turn anyone away", she said. "In my church, we are all welcome, even non-Christians."
Elder Davis tackled this one. "Just because you are a baptized member of the church doesn't mean that you are allowed to enter the temple. Some members can't go in. Everyone who wants to enter the temple must have an interview with the bishop. Only those living the standards of the gospel are allowed entrance into the House of the Lord. As for not turning anyone away, we don't turn anyone away from our churches. All are welcome. But, just as you would not allow someone who wasn't trying to follow God's commandments, access into God's presence, only obedient members can go into the Lord's house. The temples are different. Sacred.
"In biblical times sacred ordinances were administered in holy edifices for the spiritual salvation of ancient Israel. The buildings thus used were not synagogues or any other ordinary places of worship. They were specially constructed for this particular purpose. While the people traveled in the wilderness, they used a portable tabernacle. This tabernacle is called Âthe temple of the Lord, and it was there, for instance, that SamuelÂs mother went to pray. (1 Sam. 1:9.) When they ceased their wanderings and obtained a stable government, they built a glorious temple in Jerusalem to take its place.
Following the pattern of biblical days, the Lord again in our day has provided these ordinances for the salvation of all who will believe and directs that temples be built in which to perform those sacred rites." "Why Mormons Build Temples", Mark E. Peterson, Ensign Jan.1972 www.lds.org
To answer the question about charity, we have many different programs going to help people here get food and clothing that they need. Every first Sunday of the month is what is called Fast and Testimony meeting. That is when we fast for two meals and give the money we would have spent to the church to buy food for those who need it. Our church gives service through that and other humanitarian charities that we have established.
We then began to talk about baptisms for the dead and being sealed together as a family for time and eternity. We showed S. a picture of the baptismal font inside the DC Temple. "Wow," she said, "I wasn't baptized in anything that grand." "Neither was I," I said. I told her that the baptismal font used in the temple is used only for baptisms for the dead. "Okay," she said. "You guys keep talking about baptisms for the dead." I don't know where it talks about that in the Bible. (most people don't)
We showed her 1st Corinthians 15:29. Elder Davis gave some background. He said, "at this time, Paul was writing a letter to the saints of the church in Corinth." (Yes, the followers of Christ who heeded the words of the Apostles were called saints. Look in 1st Corinthians 1:2) Paul had heard that some of the members did not believe that there would be a resurrection. Paul asked them, "how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" Then he says in the next few verses that if there is no resurrection, that means that Christ isn't risen. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain(1st Cor. 15:17) Then he mentions, almost as an afterthought, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead raise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1st Cor. 15:29) He tells them that of course there is a resurrection. It's because there is going to be a resurrection that we are baptized in behalf of those who didn't have the chance in this life.
(Long day-continued in part II)
We'll have to take two cars. S. will follow us. R. is available to come. He asked if he could bring his girlfriend. Why not? The more the merrier. I'll write how things went when we get back. It's raining hard again. (Sigh)
Our visitor center experience: We saw "The Christus." That's the huge statue of the Savior. Next, we went to a temporary exhibit. In the room were several paintings of the prophet Joseph Smith and key events in his life. We never made it past the first painting. We stopped and discussed the prophet and the church. S., as always, had lots of questions. Sincere questions.
We talked about the primitive church, the Apostles. S. said, "Well, the Apostles were all men who walked with Jesus, and you're saying that there are Apostles on the earth now?" I said, "Well, not all of the Apostles in the New Testament were with Jesus during his earthly ministry. In the Book of Acts, for example, after Judas kills himself, the eleven remaining Apostles got together and prayed to know who would fill his place." "And the lot fell on Matthais; and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles." Acts 1:26
Elder Davis added, "or Acts, chapter 9". Saul, who later became Paul was persecuting the church and the Apostles. The resurrected Christ appeared to him and said, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Acts 9:4 Saul was called, much like Alma the Younger, to repent and preach the Gospel. So, yeah, you didn't need to walk with Christ during his earthly ministry to be an Apostle. You still have to be called of God, "for no man taketh this honor unto himself..." Hebrews 5:4
Before we knew it, it was time for the movie. We were the only ones there. The movie was good as always. I cry every time I see the Carthage jail scene. The problem is, it's too short. At 65 minutes, everything just zips by, one scene after another. I wanna' see the extended directors cut. (haha)
When we got out of the theater, I asked S. what she thought of the movie. She said that she did not realize how many spirits and resurrected beings visited Joseph Smith. I personally think the movie should be extended to 4 hours long. At least. (The movie really needs special features. The movie is too short, not the Carthage jail scene. Although, now that I think about it, the jail scene could be longer. They should sing, "A Poor, Wayfaring Man of Grief". It doesn't show it.)
After the movie, we stayed and walked around the grounds. S. told me that when they moved here, they drove past the temple. Her kids got all excited. They thought it was Cinderella's castle. They did not know there was a Disney land here. Kids are so funny.
S. then asked us, "I hope you don't mind, but don't you think this whole temple thing is a little grandiose?" "What do you mean?", I asked. "Well, the lavishness of it all. You don't have to build a flashy temple to worship the Lord. It seems from my point of view that temples are "members-only". I mean instead of building these huge temples, why not take that money and give it to charities?" ( I just want to say that when S. asks these questions, she is always nice and really just curious. There is a desire to know the truth)
Well, first of all, why are temples so big and expensive? Why not just a simple, humble, modest little meeting house? To put it simply, nothing but the best for the Lord.
What I told S. was that in the OT, when people offered animal sacrifices to the Lord, only the best would do. When you took a lamb to be sacrificed, it had to be your best lamb, without blemish. Sometimes, when it comes to His Holy Temple, God expects our best.
As to the temples being "member's only", S. said that since she was not a member, she could not go in. Why is that? "Jesus did not turn anyone away", she said. "In my church, we are all welcome, even non-Christians."
Elder Davis tackled this one. "Just because you are a baptized member of the church doesn't mean that you are allowed to enter the temple. Some members can't go in. Everyone who wants to enter the temple must have an interview with the bishop. Only those living the standards of the gospel are allowed entrance into the House of the Lord. As for not turning anyone away, we don't turn anyone away from our churches. All are welcome. But, just as you would not allow someone who wasn't trying to follow God's commandments, access into God's presence, only obedient members can go into the Lord's house. The temples are different. Sacred.
"In biblical times sacred ordinances were administered in holy edifices for the spiritual salvation of ancient Israel. The buildings thus used were not synagogues or any other ordinary places of worship. They were specially constructed for this particular purpose. While the people traveled in the wilderness, they used a portable tabernacle. This tabernacle is called Âthe temple of the Lord, and it was there, for instance, that SamuelÂs mother went to pray. (1 Sam. 1:9.) When they ceased their wanderings and obtained a stable government, they built a glorious temple in Jerusalem to take its place.
Following the pattern of biblical days, the Lord again in our day has provided these ordinances for the salvation of all who will believe and directs that temples be built in which to perform those sacred rites." "Why Mormons Build Temples", Mark E. Peterson, Ensign Jan.1972 www.lds.org
To answer the question about charity, we have many different programs going to help people here get food and clothing that they need. Every first Sunday of the month is what is called Fast and Testimony meeting. That is when we fast for two meals and give the money we would have spent to the church to buy food for those who need it. Our church gives service through that and other humanitarian charities that we have established.
We then began to talk about baptisms for the dead and being sealed together as a family for time and eternity. We showed S. a picture of the baptismal font inside the DC Temple. "Wow," she said, "I wasn't baptized in anything that grand." "Neither was I," I said. I told her that the baptismal font used in the temple is used only for baptisms for the dead. "Okay," she said. "You guys keep talking about baptisms for the dead." I don't know where it talks about that in the Bible. (most people don't)
We showed her 1st Corinthians 15:29. Elder Davis gave some background. He said, "at this time, Paul was writing a letter to the saints of the church in Corinth." (Yes, the followers of Christ who heeded the words of the Apostles were called saints. Look in 1st Corinthians 1:2) Paul had heard that some of the members did not believe that there would be a resurrection. Paul asked them, "how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" Then he says in the next few verses that if there is no resurrection, that means that Christ isn't risen. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain(1st Cor. 15:17) Then he mentions, almost as an afterthought, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead raise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1st Cor. 15:29) He tells them that of course there is a resurrection. It's because there is going to be a resurrection that we are baptized in behalf of those who didn't have the chance in this life.
(Long day-continued in part II)
posted by Garden Anywhere Box | 4:29 AM
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