The low down on us Mormons... (Salt Lake City, St. George: shop, moving, design)

[Hengist]

Originally Posted by uli2000

One or our best tools was service. I worked in many charity shops in my years there. Though my favorite service project was working with a convelecent home in Margate where we would befriend and entertain the residents. During these visits, we didnt talk about our faith, we were just friends playing billiards and darts. We did march with them in a summer parade and that was a blast!

That's interesting and nice to hear. Knocking on doors you are going to be lumped in with JWs, salesmen, and general con artists. Whereas working with people at grass roots level is making friends and living by example, rather than bothering them when they are trying to cook or put the kids to bed. To be frank, Margate is a town in need of community work, as is my former area of Medway, where according to that article I read they lived above a pizza store, which must have been torture when food was basic.

[1984vt]

Hello, Thanks for starting the thread and I have enjoyed reading most of the 13 pages.

Because Utah was part of a sales area I had, I have visited quite a bit and found everyone to be pleasant and welcoming and it never really crossed my mind that they were of a different religion - I am Southern Baptist. BTW - very nice looking LDS chapel in Gardendale, AL.

My question is this, one of the Utah rep's Mom and Dad were LDS and we were traveling to a small town in the state and her Mom and Aunt wanted to visit a chapel there because they were holding a special serice so there rode with us. I asked the rep what the special service was about and she said she didn't know because she wasn't an elder or married in the church. Are there certain ceremonies that only Sealed in the Church people can attend? Or elders?

I thought that was odd, not wrong mind you just kind of Masonic like in the secrecy.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by 1984vt

My question is this, one of the Utah rep's Mom and Dad were LDS and we were traveling to a small town in the state and her Mom and Aunt wanted to visit a chapel there because they were holding a special serice so there rode with us. I asked the rep what the special service was about and she said she didn't know because she wasn't an elder or married in the church. Are there certain ceremonies that only Sealed in the Church people can attend? Or elders?

I thought that was odd, not wrong mind you just kind of Masonic like in the secrecy.

I'm going to just take a stab at what I think you have in mind, since none of the pieces of information you've given me really make a whole lot of sense. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has tens of thousands of chapels throughout the world. These are our "churches," these are the buildings where we go to worship on Sundays and where various church activities are held throughout the week. Anyone is permitted to visit an LDS worship service. We encourage people from outside our faith to attend church with us on Sundays to see what our church services are actually like.

In addition to our churches, there are 130 temples worldwide. I am guessing that your question is referring to a temple. Temple worship is restricted to members of the Church who have demonstrated a high degree of commitment and obedience to the gospel, and who are ready to learn more about God's Plan of Salvation for His children and who are willing to make new convenants with their Father in Heaven. The temple is kind of like an institution of higher learning in comparison to a church. Just as a grade school child could not possibly get much out of a college class, a members of the church couldn't get much out of going to the temple until he or she is ready to take that step and take upon himself a greater commitment than before. For this reason, only those who are ready to appreciate what goes on in the temple are permitted to attend.

Now, every time a new temple is built anywhere in the world, there is an "open house" where anybody, regardless of religion, is welcome to come inside the building and go on a tour through every single one of the rooms, from the dressing room -- we wear special clothing while in the temple -- to the Celestial Room, which is always an incredibly beautiful room which is meant to symbolize heaven and being in God's presence. There are no services held in the temple during the open house. It's just a tour and a brief explanation of what takes place in each room. Generally, these open houses last anywhere from a week to a couple of months, depending on the interest in the area. I suspect that a temple open house was what your rep's mom and aunt were going to see.

[1984vt]

To give you more info, they took special clothes with them that they were going to change into once inside the temple. The daughter was not allowed to attend.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by 1984vt

To give you more info, they took special clothes with them that they were going to change into once inside the temple. The daughter was not allowed to attend.

Oh, okay... Well in that case, they were actually going to go to the temple to take part in the "endowment" ceremony. It was apparently the first time, though, since they didn't know what to expect. Once the open house is over and the building has been dedicated, it is open only to members of the church who have a current "temple recommend." That's a little piece of paper that has been signed by a person's bishop and stake president (the men who hold leadership positions over an LDS ward and stake -- which correspond roughly to a Catholic parish and diocese). A temple recommend is issued every two years after the bishop and stake president have interviewed the individual to determine whether he or she is worthy to begin to attend the temple. Temple clothing is available for rent inside many of the Church's temples, but many people take their own.

[kaytidid]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I'm going to just take a stab at what I think you have in mind, since none of the pieces of information you've given me really make a whole lot of sense. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has tens of thousands of chapels throughout the world. These are our "churches," these are the buildings where we go to worship on Sundays and where various church activities are held throughout the week. Anyone is permitted to visit an LDS worship service. We encourage people from outside our faith to attend church with us on Sundays to see what our church services are actually like.

In addition to our churches, there are 130 temples worldwide. I am guessing that your question is referring to a temple. Temple worship is restricted to members of the Church who have demonstrated a high degree of commitment and obedience to the gospel, and who are ready to learn more about God's Plan of Salvation for His children and who are willing to make new convenants with their Father in Heaven. The temple is kind of like an institution of higher learning in comparison to a church. Just as a grade school child could not possibly get much out of a college class, a members of the church couldn't get much out of going to the temple until he or she is ready to take that step and take upon himself a greater commitment than before. For this reason, only those who are ready to appreciate what goes on in the temple are permitted to attend.

Now, every time a new temple is built anywhere in the world, there is an "open house" where anybody, regardless of religion, is welcome to come inside the building and go on a tour through every single one of the rooms, from the dressing room -- we wear special clothing while in the temple -- to the Celestial Room, which is always an incredibly beautiful room which is meant to symbolize heaven and being in God's presence. There are no services held in the temple during the open house. It's just a tour and a brief explanation of what takes place in each room. Generally, these open houses last anywhere from a week to a couple of months, depending on the interest in the area. I suspect that a temple open house was what your rep's mom and aunt were going to see.

As a Catholic who visited the Oquirrh Temple open house, I really encourage anyone who isn't LDS to go and visit when/if you have the chance. They are incredibly beautiful! When you first arrive, you are shown a short film about the LDS history and then you are taken into the temple. There are members throughout the temple whom you can ask questions, but they don't preach anything nor are they pushy.

I really, REALLY enjoyed myself!

[uli2000]

Originally Posted by Hengist

That's interesting and nice to hear. Knocking on doors you are going to be lumped in with JWs, salesmen, and general con artists. Whereas working with people at grass roots level is making friends and living by example, rather than bothering them when they are trying to cook or put the kids to bed. To be frank, Margate is a town in need of community work, as is my former area of Medway, where according to that article I read they lived above a pizza store, which must have been torture when food was basic.

I remember that flat in Gillingham! My zone leader lived there!

[MovinOutWest]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Oh, okay... Well in that case, they were actually going to go to the temple to take part in the "endowment" ceremony. It was apparently the first time, though, since they didn't know what to expect. Once the open house is over and the building has been dedicated, it is open only to members of the church who have a current "temple recommend." That's a little piece of paper that has been signed by a person's bishop and stake president (the men who hold leadership positions over an LDS ward and stake -- which correspond roughly to a Catholic parish and diocese). A temple recommend is issued every two years after the bishop and stake president have interviewed the individual to determine whether he or she is worthy to begin to attend the temple. Temple clothing is available for rent inside many of the Church's temples, but many people take their own.

One more point of clarification based on the original post by 1984vt, entrance to the Temple isn't limited to married couples and men. My wife attended the Temple probably 3 or 4 years before we got married. Any adult member of the church, married, single, male, female, can attend after getting a temple recommend.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by MovinOutWest

One more point of clarification based on the original post by 1984vt, entrance to the Temple isn't limited to married couples and men. My wife attended the Temple probably 3 or 4 years before we got married. Any adult member of the church, married, single, male, female, can attend after getting a temple recommend.

Good point! Thanks for adding that.

[ccritter]

I've noticed a difference between "Mormon" the culture and "LDS" the church. I mean, we've got "Mormon" movies, bands, songs, "fashions", stores, books, etc. "LDS" is more about the principles and canon of the Gospel. I'm LDS, but it's been interesting living in Orem and seeing the culture part.

I was in for some culture shock when I came to Utah for the first time. Being from an area with a much smaller LDS population, I was used to dedicated members who had to defend themselves and their values against the frightening lack of morals in our high school. Then I come to Utah and find "Mormons" using inappropriate language, watching inappropriate movies, wearing inappropriate clothes, listening to inappropriate music... I'd just as soon live somewhere with less of us if it means more people live what they believe.