And about Peterson's claimed hebrew/jewish scholar contacts

[_RockSlider]

Rockslider -
...
"And please, no one chime in and say "you can discuss it in the CK room" because that is completely absurd."
...

Yes, this is a very sad story ... When I first started working at the Provo temple, the temple president at the time was well known for standing at the pulpit in the chapel and field questions from those waiting for the next endowment session to start. No holds barred.

Lots of things started to change around this "pedersen letter" era of time (i.e. the keep your mouth shut era). Of course these question/answer sessions were one of the first casualties.

Over time things became stricter. For example as ordinance workers, we were first instructed to not answer any inquires of the patrons, but to send them to the member of the presidency who was on duty to answer the questions for them. Of course, at threat of their position (and even membership in the church) they were not about to share any “meat” (i.e. don’t bother asking).

In answer to your question about the book, no I’m not familiar with it … I was lucky to be tutored at the hands of some wonderful men some of which had been workers for over 20 years. The likes of Hyrum Andrus and Stan James (waiting for veils to come off is where much was shared).

But … then the instruction comes down, “Temple workers are NOT to discuss things pertaining to the temple among themselves. If you have questions … go talk to a member of the Temple presidency”

Come to think of it, No wonder about the fly in the mouth, a small percentage of us did not honor this “instruction from the brethren” and would wait for the next veil in more secluded places, continuing to ponder/teach/share, in secret.

Unfortunately, many of these good men are already gone and very few remain to teach someone new. And if they do they do it in secrecy of the “brethren” because it is officially forbidden.

So, now even try to find a place to personally ponder/pray/meditate. You will find workers all over the upper floors, watching for people trying to sneak into … say an empty sealing room (wow, perfect place to ponder/pray eh?)

I spent a lot of time, in the basement just off of the laundry room, in a workers study room that was never occupied (nor watched).

If you want to utilize the temple for personal seeking, you will need to “sneak it” and do it in secret.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I can't say that I've learned something new every time. But I often do.

This is an interesting assertion. What kinds of new things did you often learn?

I don't discuss such things publicly, let alone on message boards, let alone on this message board.

I already pointed that out, above.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

This is an interesting assertion. What kinds of new things did you often learn?

I don't discuss such things publicly, let alone on message boards, let alone on this message board.

I already pointed that out, above.

Hello Dr. Peterson,

So you make an assertion that you are completely unwilling to discuss. Interesting.

Very Respectfully,

Doctor CamNC4Me

[_Daniel Peterson]

So you make an assertion that you are completely unwilling to discuss. Interesting.

Yes, I made a statement about my personal experience. I don't need your input in order to determine whether it was true or not, and I won't, as I've said three times now, discuss temple matters here on this board.

You'll just have to live with that.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

Over time things became stricter. For example as ordinance workers, we were first instructed to not answer any inquires of the patrons, but to send them to the member of the presidency who was on duty to answer the questions for them. Of course, at threat of their position (and even membership in the church) they were not about to share any “meat” (i.e. don’t bother asking).

...

If you want to utilize the temple for personal seeking, you will need to “sneak it” and do it in secret.

What an interesting irony. Members are told to go to temple for answers, yet questions there are discouraged (unless you go through the "official" filter of the temple presidency). Egads.

[_RockSlider]

Yep, the temple, jewish mystics … take the well known Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof), Hitting the nail on the head with the verse in “If I were a rich man”

If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.

As painful as its all been … I’m grateful that I did have this opportunity. It’s sad that my children’s generation have very few “learned men” and my grandchild … likely none.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Dr. Peterson,

I am terribly sorry for having crossed a boundary. I do apologize. I was not aware the "new" learning you experienced was exclusive to Mormon doctrine. I thought, perhaps, you had experienced something extra-templar during your experience.

Very Respectfully,

Doctor CamNC4Me

[_harmony]

Yes, this is a very sad story ... When I first started working at the Provo temple, the temple president at the time was well known for standing at the pulpit in the chapel and field questions from those waiting for the next endowment session to start. No holds barred.

Lots of things started to change around this "pedersen letter" era of time (i.e. the keep your mouth shut era). Of course these question/answer sessions were one of the first casualties.

Over time things became stricter. For example as ordinance workers, we were first instructed to not answer any inquires of the patrons, but to send them to the member of the presidency who was on duty to answer the questions for them. Of course, at threat of their position (and even membership in the church) they were not about to share any “meat” (i.e. don’t bother asking).

In answer to your question about the book, no I’m not familiar with it … I was lucky to be tutored at the hands of some wonderful men some of which had been workers for over 20 years. The likes of Hyrum Andrus and Stan James (waiting for veils to come off is where much was shared).

But … then the instruction comes down, “Temple workers are NOT to discuss things pertaining to the temple among themselves. If you have questions … go talk to a member of the Temple presidency”

Come to think of it, No wonder about the fly in the mouth, a small percentage of us did not honor this “instruction from the brethren” and would wait for the next veil in more secluded places, continuing to ponder/teach/share, in secret.

Unfortunately, many of these good men are already gone and very few remain to teach someone new. And if they do they do it in secrecy of the “brethren” because it is officially forbidden.

So, now even try to find a place to personally ponder/pray/meditate. You will find workers all over the upper floors, watching for people trying to sneak into … say an empty sealing room (wow, perfect place to ponder/pray eh?)

I spent a lot of time, in the basement just off of the laundry room, in a workers study room that was never occupied (nor watched).

If you want to utilize the temple for personal seeking, you will need to “sneak it” and do it in secret.

This is absolutely astounding.

That temple workers are forbidden to answer questions... or ask them.

That temple workers are "watched".

That temple workers are ... waiting for the veil to come off? What the heck is that about? I know I've often torn the veil off as soon as I walk out the Celestial room door... (I despise the thing) but I suspect you aren't talking about that.

[_RockSlider]

...
That temple workers are ... waiting for the veil to come off? What the heck is that about? I know I've often torn the veil off as soon as I walk out the Celestial room door... (I despise the thing) but I suspect you aren't talking about that.

I worded that badly --- "waiting for the next veil" is what I meant. As an ordinance worker, you would be assigned a "line" which was a line on a schedule. This schedule covered about a 6 hour period of time (the shift). An example of a line might be

1. Do initiatory
2. Following in a endowment room
3. Take a lunch break
4. Take a watch position in the chapel
5. Work the veil the rest of the shift

The veil in this case is the “Veil of the Temple”, not those horrible things with combs that always fell off the women.

In the larger 6 endowment room temples (like provo and timp) The various rooms were staggered about 20 minutes apart (try hanging out in the CR for more than 20 minutes and see what the nice women in there does). When workers are “between veils” i.e. nothing to do … there are dedicated places where the workers are suppose to wait for the next one. If you were lucky enough to have lots of “veil workers” (temporary 3 month callings that only worked the veil) then you would not even be needed at the veil … leaving lots of time/quite to share. But even if not you usually had some time to talk.

[_Daniel Peterson]

What an interesting irony. Members are told to go to temple for answers, yet questions there are discouraged (unless you go through the "official" filter of the temple presidency). Egads.

I go to the temple for answers. I bring questions. I get answers.

If there's an irony in my own experience, I've missed it completely.