Apostate Buried in Temple Clothing

[_aranyborju]

When my mom was Relief Society pres she hated dressing corpses in temple clothes. That's a lot to ask of someone for something cultural, and not important for salvation. Yuck!

[_sock puppet]

It seems like an odd cultural phenomena for two reasons.

One, are not those temple clothing items part of what is 'sacred'? So why is it okay to parade them in front of the non-endowed?

Second, since it has no more than cultural significance, why do TBM family members push for it? Why is it important to them to have the body of an apostate so clothed when it does nothing more than signal that at one time this person went through the temple? It seems to send a message that you can apostatize but you'll still get dressed up, buried and saved. Or, is it to put another aspect of division between those segments of the deceased's family/friends that are TBM and those that are not?

[_zeezrom]

I'm sort of glad they do it. It feels like a true, cultural tradition.

[_just me]

The tradition began in Utah (not too worried about non-endowed seeing anything) in the 19th century. When a tradition makes it for 150 years or so it takes on its own kind of meaning.

In other words, even though there is no godly reason to do it that doesn't mean Mormons haven't imbued it with a deep significance. They probably think it is necessary. And since people aren't really allowed to talk about it or ask questions and get good answers...it stays.

[_Willy Law]

My wife and I had this added to our will. It makes it very clear that we are not to be buried (or for me cremated) in LDS temple attire.
I have read where this originated. I'll try and dig it up.

[_Falcon A]

At my mother's funeral, my inactive non-endowed sister was not allowed to place the veil over mom's face. It was done by a daughter in-law. Mom was very close to my sister and she's the only daughter. Sis stood by while the new addition to the family actually pulled down the veil. I think it meant something to my sister, not so much to the rest of us.

There was much discussion with the bishop who is a lifelong family friend. He repeatedly, with all the arrangements, referred to the CHI.

I like Sethbag's comment also. Since everything in the Temple is symbolic, this too is symbolic of the control.

This discussion has led me to wonder the answer to this:

If one is cremated in Temple clothes they ___________?

Please fill in the blank, I'm just curious, that's all. I see that it's screaming for a punch line so comedic or not...?

Peace.

[_Sethbag]

At my mother's funeral, my inactive non-endowed sister was not allowed to place the veil over mom's face. It was done by a daughter in-law. Mom was very close to my sister and she's the only daughter. Sis stood by while the new addition to the family actually pulled down the veil. I think it meant something to my sister, not so much to the rest of us.

Did anyone quote chapter and verse of some authoritative Mormon scripture or handbook explaining that pulling the veil down was an actual priesthood ordinance that must be done by only a worthy, endowed member? Anyhow, if your sister-in-law could do it, it obviously was't a priesthood ordinance anyway.

Sounds to me like just the traditions of man, mingled with scripture.

[_luc]

By the way, my wife will make sure I'm not so clothed when my remains are cremated.

Hi SP--Why do Mormons seem to be so against cremation? When I mentioned to some TBM family members that I wanted to be cremated the room went silent. I mentioned the cost savings, how I'd rather have my family go on a nice post-funeral trip instead of paying for a fancy box in an expensive plot for my remains to de-compose. I got some nervous laughter and a nice subject change. I don't get it.

[_sock puppet]

By the way, my wife will make sure I'm not so clothed when my remains are cremated.

Hi SP--Why do Mormons seem to be so against cremation? When I mentioned to some TBM family members that I wanted to be cremated the room went silent. I mentioned the cost savings, how I'd rather have my family go on a nice post-funeral trip instead of paying for a fancy box in an expensive plot for my remains to de-compose. I got some nervous laughter and a nice subject change. I don't get it.

I've heard cremation is a desecration of the body, a ver boten in LDS circles. Hell, they even tell women the number of piercings they may have.

But, I'd always wondered why god, the author of the universe, would allow the body to decay into a puddle of muck over time in the fancy box?

If in his omnipotence he can resurrect you in perfect form from a pile of bones (and if recent enough, a bowl of stew), he'd have no trouble from doing so from ashes.

It seems to me that objection to cremation is one more incident of the LDS resisting new technologies and ideas.

[_Falcon A]

Hi Sethbag,

To answer your question, the only official church doctrine on the matter cited was "The Unwritten Order of Things" by BKP. :-)
The bishop dropped that line a couple of times.

I think you and just me are correct. Tradition and 'cuz I said so' are the best explanations.