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So last week I went through the Temple again for the first time in many years. It is not something I enjoy doing, but it was important that I go to support a family member who was going through for the first time.

Afterward, we were standing around in the Celestial Room and said family member was looking a little freaked out. I remember how I felt so many years ago, and walked over to them and said "So let me guess...it was just what you expected, right?" (Nervous chuckle). Then I continued "Yeah, I think my Temple preparation instructor had the wrong manual, because I don't know which Temple they thought they were preparing me for, but it sure wasn't this one!" (Nervous laughter...quick exit.)

As for the ceremony itself, I've spent so much time discussing Adam and Eve and evolution recently that I just couldn't believe how anti-evolution the Temple ceremony is. Either the ceremony is way, way off (or super-duper metaphorical), or evolution is a farce.

Good times.

As for the ceremony itself, I've spent so much time discussing Adam and Eve and evolution recently that I just couldn't believe how anti-evolution the Temple ceremony is. Either the ceremony is way, way off (or super-duper metaphorical), or evolution is a farce.

It's just based on scripture and scripture is lacking in detail on the process. So what you have is a retelling of scripture with no details added in or assumed. I'm amazed anyone wouldn't realize this. Nothing in the temple preludes evolution.

bcspace wrote:It's just based on scripture and scripture is lacking in detail on the process. So what you have is a retelling of scripture with no details added in or assumed. I'm amazed anyone wouldn't realize this. Nothing in the temple preludes evolution.

I know.

It was just a little surreal to have the phrase "after their own kind" reiterated like a bazillion times, and thinking how less informed Church members might think this means that lower forms of life weren't evolving into higher forms of life, or to see the scenes in the Garden and to think of how Adam and Eve didn't seem aware of the thousands upon thousands of homo sapiens running around outside the Garden, farming, reading, writing, and just kind of getting along. It would have been cool if they had walked out of the Garden and found a small village of people cooking dinner.

It also would have been cool if Adam had gone to shake Peter's hand, and Peter said "I'm sorry Adam, but I will not be born for another 4,000 years, so I do not have a body yet, and I would be deceiving you if I tried to shake your hand."

It was just a little surreal to have the phrase "after their own kind" reiterated like a bazillion times, and thinking how less informed Church members might think this means that lower forms of life weren't evolving into higher forms of life,

Indeed. Evolution it's teaches that the species are born after their own kind as well. Many people just assume evolution means a human is born from a monkey mother and monkey father (although I have seen some modern examples of this....lol)

or to see the scenes in the Garden and to think of how Adam and Eve didn't seem aware of the thousands upon thousands of homo sapiens running around outside the Garden, farming, reading, writing, and just kind of getting along. It would have been cool if they had walked out of the Garden and found a small village of people cooking dinner.

Depends on the Adamite theory you adhere to and/or the extent of the "state of no death". But it makes sense that if you couldn't get in, you probably couldn't see out.

It also would have been cool if Adam had gone to shake Peter's hand, and Peter said "I'm sorry Adam, but I will not be born for another 4,000 years, so I do not have a body yet, and I would be deceiving you if I tried to shake your hand."

Sure. But I think it would defeat the purpose.

bcspace wrote:Indeed. Evolution teaches that the species are born after their own kind as well.

So how does "descent with modification" fit in?

My first experience in the temple was somewhat outside my comfort zone at the time.

I have also had similar disquiting reactions the first time I attended Catholic and Greek Orthodox Mass or when I first observed a Jewish Bar Mitzvah or watched a Muslim going through the Pillars of Islam.

I understand now that my discomfort wasn't because of anything untoward occuring during any of the ritualistic practices mentioned above, but because I had been so steeped in Western thinking and hadn't been exposed much at all to Eastern methods of instruction.

However, once I was sufficiently exposed, my comfort levels were expanded, and now I enjoy the temple experience, understanding better what is its intent and how best to derive the most from it.

I don't know if this can be taught prior to going through the temple. In fact, I think it is something that is best experienced, even given the potential for adversive reactions. Besides, it's not always a bad thing to be pushed, at times, outside our comfort zones. I know I have grown as a result thereof.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Just because smoking causes cancer doesn't preclude little undetectible devils from playing a part in how all that comes about within the lungs.

Indeed. Evolution teaches that the species are born after their own kind as well.

So how does "descent with modification" fit in?

Ah. Gene frequency.

It's all a matter of resolution. If you look up close, one generation after another, you'll detect little significant change (of the type you are looking for, not just some change in size or coloration) and species are born to their own species. If you step back over thousands of generations you'll detect more differential bewteen the first and the last.

wenglund wrote:My first experience in the temple was somewhat outside my comfort zone at the time.

I have also had similar disquiting reactions the first time I attended Catholic and Greek Orthodox Mass or when I first observed a Jewish Bar Mitzvah or watched a Muslim going through the Pillars of Islam.

I understand now that my discomfort wasn't because of anything untoward occuring during any of the ritualistic practices mentioned above, but because I had been so steeped in Western thinking and hadn't been exposed much at all to Eastern methods of instruction.

However, once I was sufficiently exposed, my comfort levels were expanded, and now I enjoy the temple experience, understanding better what is its intent and how best to derive the most from it.

I don't know if this can be taught prior to going through the temple. In fact, I think it is something that is best experienced, even given the potential for adversive reactions. Besides, it's not always a bad thing to be pushed, at times, outside our comfort zones. I know I have grown as a result thereof.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Please give me a rational/empirical example what of the "Ceremony" reflected or pertained real world experience.
It is a terribly written allegory with imaginary characters.
The concept of "Creation" runs diametrically opposed to any scientific ways I know of. It is a terrible copy of Genesis, (copied word by word shamelessly from masonic Rituals) teaches supernatural
gifts and rules which we mortal humans absolutely cannot grasp with any of our cognitive faculties.

The Temple Ritual story is more absurd than worse Hollywood movies, "Superbad". American Pie", "Napoleon Dynamite" make more sense.
That is why The Church goes extra lengths to hide this absurdity.
There is nothing rationally palatable in this fiction.
It is embarrassing.

Anybody opposed please signify by raising your right hand.

bcspace wrote:It's all a matter of resolution. If you look up close, one generation after another, you'll detect little significant change (of the type you are looking for, not just some change in size or coloration) and species are born to their own species. If you step back over thousands of generations you'll detect more differential bewteen the first and the last.

Doesn't it seem strange, though? The temple and the scriptures, God's bestest and most inspired words, present the "up close" view, where nothing significant can be noted. The "step back over thousands of generations" view instead comes from Darwin and science. God is getting scooped by mortals.