Actually, the animal sacrifices and all other Temple functions continued to be performed by the Jews, long after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. They didn’t end until the Temple was finally destroyed by the Romans, circa 70(ish) AD (which Jesus prophesied). The Jews were still actively practicing their religious rites and rituals in the Temple, right up to that point in time.
Not only was the OT preserved by Christians and Jews, but the Jewish religion has also been in existence since that time. It’s not likely that they have lost anything of their own history, especially concerning the Temple rituals. They are very good about remembering all of their ancient traditions. If any of those LDS rituals were actually performed by the ancient Jews, I’m pretty sure they’d know about it. From what I understand, coming from Jewish sources, the Jews do not look very favorably on what the LDS church portrays as being ‘ancient rituals’, that they attribute to taking place in the ancient Jewish Temple.
Yes, this is a very interesting thread. Thank you for starting it, PattyPryor!Thanks everyone… great topic
Oh yes they do, members of my family have had quite a problem with this. Over on MD&D (an LDS board) there are many tales of people who were converted as children behind their parents back. There may have been one poster over there who expressed being uncomfortable with that kind of behavior but everyone else thought it was just fine “the ends justify the means” or “all’s well that ends well” as far as they are concerned. One poster even described how a teenager was encouraged to sneak out of the house to attend LDS teen functions. They praised the teen for standing up for what he believed. Any adult who would encourage a child to sneak out of the house and lie about where they were going to be is despicable.
So am I to understand that your belief, as stated earlier, that “Masonic ritual stems from ancient temple ritual, specifically the temple of Solomon, as the Freemasons themselves portray.” is based on what the Freemasons say themselves in their own rituals? Do you have any actual historical evidence to demonstrate that Masonic rituals are connected to what was going on in Solomon’s Temple? As another mentioned, Masons view this as allegorical, and not an actual connection to ancient Judaism.
Why do you assume that comparing certain rooms in the temple to hotel lobbies is finding fault? Have you never been in the lobby of a fancy hotel? They are quite nice. Nice, comfortable couches and chairs. Beautiful tables and floral arrangements. A fancy chandelier. Kinda like a celestial room. I will say that every couch or chair I ever sat on in the celestial room of an LDS temple was quite comfortable.
Why do you assume that a comparison to a fancy hotel lobby is offensive? It is a statement of observation. Fancy hotel lobbies are nice. The celestial rooms of LDS temples are also nice. My problem is that people have to pay 10% of their income to be considered “worthy” to go there. It has nothing to do with what the temple looks like or how Mormons feel there. There is nothing wrong with private, personal worship. However, it should not be shocking to LDS when non-LDS find what you do strange since religious worship with others at the majority of churches in our culture is done publically with no requirement of providing a monetary donation to attend.
This is not true. Leviticus chapter 16 provides a detailed description of what the priest is supposed to do in the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. No one was supposed to enter any other day. The priest sprinkled blood of the sacrificed animals (a bull and a goat) before the Ark of the Covenant and burned incense.
I re-read through the entire thread and did not find anyone “making fun of” or “ridiculing” the LDS temple. Perhaps you can let us know which specific posts or sentences you thought were “making fun of” or “ridiculing” the LDS temple?
We don’t worry over what tourists think. If we did, we’d close our churches.
Which deserves to be ridiculed if you ask me. The general idea of a sacred space, to do what you like, doesn’t bother me at all. It is better that you live your faith in God, as you understand it, than not. But the claim that Mormon temples are a restoration of something lost, has no evidence going for it, and evidence against it. As already brought up in this thread.You are upset because Mormon temples look like fancy hotel lobbies and St. Peter’s doesn’t?
Dunno Diana, I guess, depends on the lobby, but I think the comparison here has been to a NICE hotel. Not some seedy casino with brown shag carpet and tobacco-stained ceilings. Why try so hard to make posters here the bad guys/gals?
Does that mean one decor is better than the other? There was a Mormon here who posted for a while who told me point blank the paintings in the Cathedral of the Madeleine were ugly. Well, I don’t find them ugly, but maybe I should have scolded him for punching my sister.If St. Peters was a room with nice couches, chairs, tables, floral arrangements and a chandelier, I would also say that it looked like a nice hotel lobby. But that’s not what St. Peters actually looks like.
Funny that you say this because LDS temples do have a “front desk” where they check everyone’s temple recommend and allow patrons to enter and participate in LDS temple ordinances. This is similar to a hotel front desk that checks to make sure a guest has a reservation and then allows the guest to enter and use the facilities. Not that LDS temples and hotels have the same function. I agree on this point. Temple patrons and hotel guests do very different things. If you hadn’t continued to complain about my posts, I never would have thought of this. Maybe you need to stop digging.
But I didn’t, and you don’t need to fabricate any insult. I think you don’t like the fact that I made an observation on temple decor because you know I am a former Mormon. You have stated in other threads that you have a problem with former Mormons saying anything that can be remotely construed as critical of the LDS church. This says more about you than it does me.
No, I don’t see the point of your anecdote in relation to this thread. Please see the bolded part of your post. I have never stated that my goal in this forum is to help you or anyone else “see the light” and leave Mormonism. That is way, way above my pay grade. It’s the Holy Spirit that helps people see the light. Please don’t make up intentions that are not clearly stated.
That’s a bummer. I was told as a missionary not to teach minors or invite them to church, etc without parent’s consent. In some places they actually require a paper signed by a parent before any teaching.
I don’t know much about Masonic ritual besides what I have read.
That’s right. The washing represents cleansing from sin through the atonement of Christ, and the anointing represents spiritual blessings, and the Holy Spirit poured out upon the individual. Whether the person has a bath-like washing or the ordinance is done symbolically, if done with divine authority the blessings are still received.
So what is it that you’ve read that makes you claim that Masonic ritual stems from ancient temple ritual? Is it only because the claim is made in Masonic rituals (which Masons themselves believe are allegorical)?