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Revision as of 20:48, 8 February 2011

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General: Always face east? Temples/Baptism for the dead Elias vs Elijah? Temples/Garments Obsolete after Christ? Endowment: Changes to endowment Penalties Oath of vengeance "Lecture at the Veil" Masonry: Relation to Freemasonry? Nauvoo temple symbols All Seeing Eye
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Early Christianity Joseph Smith, Jr.

Mormonism and temples

Baptism for the dead

Baptism for the dead

Summary: What is baptism for the dead? Is there any evidence baptism for the dead is an authentic ancient Christian practice?

• • Refusing baptisms for the dead—
    Brief Summary: What if I don't want proxy baptisms or other LDS temple work performed for my deceased family. What can I do to "undo" such baptisms and temple work? (Click here for full article)
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Endowment

Endowment

Summary: A number of criticisms are related to the Latter-day Saint Endowment ceremony. Latter-day Saints consider the ceremony to be sacred in nature. Note that as members of FAIR, we are fully committed to keeping our temple covenants, and we will not discuss certain details related to the ceremony. There are, however, criticisms that we can respond to. This set of articles addresses criticisms related to the Endowment.

• • Adam-God and the "Lecture at the Veil"—
    Brief Summary: Was "Adam-God" ever taught as part of the temple endowment ceremony? I've read about something called "the lecture at the veil" that was supposedly in the endowment at one time. (Click here for full article)
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  • Changes—
    Brief Summary: Latter-day Saints believe that the Temple endowment is an eternal ordinance that Joseph Smith received by revelation from God. Why, then, have changes been made to it several times since it was first revealed? God’s directives and how He deals with His people may vary according to His people’s understanding and needs. God doesn’t tell everyone to build an ark and wait for a flood. Changes sometimes occur as a result of God dealing with His children according to their changing circumstances. (Click here for full article)
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  • Freemasonry—
    Brief Summary: Some critics of Mormonism see similarities between the rites of Freemasonry and LDS temple ceremonies and assume that since Joseph Smith was initiated as a Freemason shortly before he introduced the Nauvoo-style endowment he must have plagiarized elements of the Masonic rituals. This viewpoint leads them, in turn, to conclude that the LDS endowment is nothing but a variant form of Masonic initiation and therefore not from a divine source. (Click here for full article)
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    • All Seeing Eye—
      Brief Summary: The claim is sometimes made by critics that since the All-Seeing Eye of God is displayed on the exterior and interior of the Salt Lake Temple[1] and the All-Seeing Eye is an emblem utilized by the Freemasons then the Mormon usage must be an indication of a connection between Mormon temples and Freemasonry. (Click here for full article)
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  • Oath of vengeance—
    Brief Summary: In nearly every anti-Mormon discussion of the temple, critics raise the issue of the "oath of vengeance" that existed during the 19th century and very early 20th century. These critics often misstate the nature of the oath and try to use its presence in the early temple endowment as evidence that the LDS temple ceremonies are ungodly, violent, and immoral. (Click here for full article)
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  • Penalties—
    Brief Summary: Critics point out that a former version of the endowment used to contain mention of various "penalties" associated with the breaking of the temple covenants. They use this fact to claim that the temple encouraged violence or vengeance against those who violated its covenants, or that the Church sought to use fear to motivate members to keep their covenants, however, critics misrepresent this part of the temple ceremony, which is relatively easy to do since members endowed since April 1990 will have had no direct experience with the penalties mentioned. (Click here for full article)
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Garments

Summary: Hostile critics of the Restoration often mock the LDS practice of wearing temple garments. They refer to these ritual items of clothing as "magic underwear" in order to shock, ridicule and offend.

Ordinances

Ordinances revealed

Summary: Critics claim that the LDS temple ordinances were either made up by Joseph Smith or borrowed, by him, from an earthly source.

Second anointing

Summary: FAIR often receives questions about a temple ordinance called "the second anointing." The questions usually revolve around the following issues: 1) "What is the second anointing?" and 2) "Is this account of the second anointing that I've seen accurate?"

Marriage

Symbolism

Symbols on the Nauvoo Temple

Summary: I've heard there are some strange symbols on the Nauvoo and Salt Lake temples. My non-member friend claims these have an "occult" significance. Some people are of the opinion that they are Masonic.

Inverted Stars on LDS Temples

Summary: Some critics of the LDS Church claim that the inverted five-pointed star on some of its temples are a symbol of evil and thereby demonstrate that Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.

Miscellaneous

The role of the Independence temple

Summary: What role will the temple to be built in Independence, Missouri fill in the Church?

Reports of Drunken Behavior at the Kirtland Temple Dedication

Summary: Were there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy.

Why does the Church build expensive temples?

Summary: Why does the church spend so much money on temples when children are dying of starvation in other parts of the world? Wouldn’t the money spent on these buildings be better used in feeding the hungry?

Work for Holocaust victims

Summary: In 1995, after it was learned that a substantial number of Holocaust victims were listed in the Church's temple records as having been baptized, an agreement was signed between the Church and leading Jewish authorities which officially ended baptizing Jewish Holocaust victims posthumously.

Worthiness to enter

Summary: This article addresses criticisms directed at worthiness requirements to enter the temple.

Temples made with hands

Summary: Critics claim that Acts 17:24-25 teaches that the idea of temple worship is foreign to Christianity, when Paul says: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things."

Do temples always face east?

Summary: Do LDS temples always face east? The front of the temple is the elevation where the phrase "House of the Lord" is found. Temples face whatever direction is most practical and artistically pleasing for the site they are on.

Elias and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple

Summary: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon reported a vision in the Kirtland Temple on 3 April 1836 (see DC 110:1-16). They reported that they received priesthood keys from three angelic messengers: Moses (verse 11), Elijah (verse 12), and Elias (verses 13-16) Critics points out that "Elias" is merely the Greek name of the Hebrew prophet "Elijah." Thus, they charge, Joseph Smith made a fatal error by having Elias and Elijah be two different people, when they are in fact one and the same.