Thirty Years from now

[_Mercury]

Merc

I am a bit slow today. Horrible headache. Could you clarify your second sentence? It is not sinking in.

Sure thing. I'll give it a whirl:

Do you only rely on others to set your perception of something?

[_Jason Bourne]

Sure thing. I'll give it a whirl:

Do you only rely on others to set your perception of something?

Nope

How do you conclude that from what I reported?

[_Mercury]

Sure thing. I'll give it a whirl:

Do you only rely on others to set your perception of something?

Nope

How do you conclude that from what I reported?

As the only thing that you have discussed concerning the temple "weirdness" factor has been your relating others feelings concerning the experiences they had in teh temple.

Also keep in mind that as someone who acted/acts as an authority figure, your subjects mental state cannot be accurately polled properly. Its always sunny in Mormonville. Don't for a second think that everyones doubts are aired as easily as I do now.

[_Jason Bourne]

As the only thing that you have discussed concerning the temple "weirdness" factor has been your relating others feelings concerning the experiences they had in the temple.

So are you interested in my own view? My first experience was not that great. I found it odd, a big let down. I wondered if this was my Church. I also thought "Wow, all this big hush, hush over something this mundane? As I have attended more over the years I personally have viewed the temple as almost 100% symbolic and figurative. I have approached it this way and thus perhaps appreciated my experiences there better by this approach. That said I will honestly say I don't find temple attendance all the exciting or even fulfilling. It is one of the least enjoyable part of my LDS experience but I do not shudder at it. I can attend and contemplate things that are spiritually important to me. I realize that this is not the TBM thing to say. But I have discussed this with a number of other LDS friends and we have exchanged ideas about this.

Also keep in mind that as someone who acted/acts as an authority figure, your subjects mental state cannot be accurately polled properly. Its always sunny in Mormonville. Don't for a second think that everyones doubts are aired as easily as I do now

Yes I understand this. In the setting where I would outline the temple if people still doubted they most likely would not have talked about it to me.

[_Mercury]

I also thought "Wow, all this big hush, hush over something this mundane?

For me this was the big thing. Such secrecy and at times dishonesty through omitting this fact to the uninitiated create the atmosphere.

The ceremony becomes secondary to the binding nature of "the secret". The temple then is transformed into somehting that cements a group together, kind of like polygamy which is ironic as polygamy is why Mormons practice an obfuscated "secrecy" ceremony to begin with.

As I have attended more over the years I personally have viewed the temple as almost 100% symbolic and figurative.

All humans try to find meaning in the irrational. Its natural!

I have approached it this way and thus perhaps appreciated my experiences there better by this approach.

Yep, that worked for me at first. Then I realised what I was doing and corrected my actions in order to produce a more productive result.

That said I will honestly say I don't find temple attendance all the exciting or even fulfilling. It is one of the least enjoyable part of my LDS experience but I do not shudder at it. I can attend and contemplate things that are spiritually important to me. I realize that this is not the TBM thing to say. But I have discussed this with a number of other LDS friends and we have exchanged ideas about this.

Do you believe that those you confide in share other doubts?

Yes I understand this. In the setting where I would outline the temple if people still doubted they most likely would not have talked about it to me.

As always, thank you for your candidness and honesty Jason.

[_Jason Bourne]

That said I will honestly say I don't find temple attendance all the exciting or even fulfilling. It is one of the least enjoyable part of my LDS experience but I do not shudder at it. I can attend and contemplate things that are spiritually important to me. I realize that this is not the TBM thing to say. But I have discussed this with a number of other LDS friends and we have exchanged ideas about this.

Do you believe that those you confide in share other doubts?

Some toe the line and think I am off base. A few have said that they don't really enjoy the temple all that much. The wife of a couple that are friends says she does not like temple attendance at all but she did not elaborate.

[_Mercury]

That said I will honestly say I don't find temple attendance all the exciting or even fulfilling. It is one of the least enjoyable part of my LDS experience but I do not shudder at it. I can attend and contemplate things that are spiritually important to me. I realize that this is not the TBM thing to say. But I have discussed this with a number of other LDS friends and we have exchanged ideas about this.

Do you believe that those you confide in share other doubts?

Some toe the line and think I am off base. A few have said that they don't really enjoy the temple all that much. The wife of a couple that are friends says she does not like temple attendance at all but she did not elaborate.

Sounds like what I have been related to at times. Like I said, the secrecy of the temple binds those who take it seriously and silences criticism of its futility. Its a perfect mix of forced participation and agrandizement of what is a tawdry and empty act.

[_harmony]

Some toe the line and think I am off base. A few have said that they don't really enjoy the temple all that much. The wife of a couple that are friends says she does not like temple attendance at all but she did not elaborate.

I have an aunt who refuses to go, unless forced by circumstances. Since attendance is not kept of who attends, she keeps her recommend current but uses it only seldom. So no one knows her feelings about it, not even her bishop. (Her bishop is a nice guy, but not someone I'd ever confide that sort of thing in).

[_Mercury]

I have an aunt who refuses to go, unless forced by circumstances. Since attendance is not kept of who attends, she keeps her recommend current but uses it only seldom. So no one knows her feelings about it, not even her bishop. (Her bishop is a nice guy, but not someone I'd ever confide that sort of thing in).

You actually believe they do not track this information? Theres a friiggin barcode on them now! What better than to tie it to a database. They would be stupid if they did not.

Unless you have anything to substantiate that they destroy records on a daily basis, do not back up the database every night, etc then I remain (always playfully) skeptical of this.

[_Jason Bourne]

Sounds like what I have been related to at times. Like I said, the secrecy of the temple binds those who take it seriously and silences criticism of its futility. Its a perfect mix of forced participation and agrandizement of what is a tawdry and empty act.

To be honest, and I am sure I will get slammed by some here, they way the temple is talked up in the Church and how absolutely enlightening it is, etc, etc-has for a longs time (even when I was TBM) brought to my mind the story of the Emperor's new clothes. We say what we say and build up such high expectations, an then yes there is that which binds, so nobody is really willing to say that it is really rather mundane.