Lax16,
Hi and good day to you.
The temple open houses are for several different reasons, and I suppose they may come across as “wowing” people (though I have never seen or heard that response as I have watched people and been with them as a bystander as they have gone to a temple open house as someone from another religion). The non-members come out of curiosity, mostly, I think. They are told what happens in the temple after it is dedicated, and come to understand why there are several rooms rather than only one large assembly room. Maybe since you already knew about LDS beliefs before going, nothing was new to you in the tour and so it didn’t seem you were there to “understand LDS beliefs”, but those with negative feelings about the idea of “LDS temple work” can at least come away with a better understanding about why the LDS do those temple ordinances.
I have never been to the Vatican, but if I were to go there I wouldn’t be going thinking it was going to be like an “open house” tour–more like a tourist type of tour but with the added significance of visiting a sacred place held sacred by many, many people. But I’m sure that would be a very different feeling I would have about being there than Catholics would have in visiting there.
Hi Parker - When the many people I know visited the Draper temple, they commented on the “imported limestone” and “those fancy chandeliers” and the rooms that “looked like my grandmother’s living room” - *not even one person *discussed with me the use of the temple.
When I received (yet another) invitation to tour the temple near Daybreak (not sure what it is called) I was told that I would see a “beautiful staircase where I could stand and look at the beautiful chandelier.” She never mentioned to me that I would learn about the importance of temple work. I have received phone calls, an engraved invitation, verbal invitations, and informal invitations to tour the temples.
I have not attended because by touring the building I will not have a deeper understanding of Mormon rituals. I need to read and study about them. Not drink punch and eat cookies after a museum-like tour.
My choice not to attend temple tours is not out of fear. I am just not interested in hearing the sales pitch after having negative experiences with missionaries and LDS neighbors. When I first moved here to Utah, I would have gone feeling it would be a way of getting to know the LDS culture. But now, I feel that I know too much.
The Catholics I know who toured the Draper temple said “It doesn’t come close to the beauty of the Cathedral of the Madeleine!” The cathedral offers tours on a regular basis. Have you gone? If not, is it out of fear?
Have you toured the Presbyterian church two blocks down from the Cathedral of the Madeleine? It is gorgeous. If not, is it out of fear?
My guess, Parker, is that you have studied Catholicism and Presbyterianism and do not feel the need to visit their opulent churches in order to get a better understanding of their beliefs.
I wonder if the Pope is even aware of the temple in Rome? Mormonism is not considered a major world religion and I am not sure how people in that region would even view it. I don’t know that I would say “fearful” - it’s more like “huh?”
(Kind of a unique story, I must say.)
